How does a controller interpret the Status Sense and Edit Preset Sense returned bits : "Insert" and "Assemble". Actually I always return them at 0 and everything seems to work well, but maybe I should store those bits when given by the Edit Preset command and give them back when requested. In a DAW Insert or Assemble have no real meaning, for me Edit On or Record does the same, but maybe a controller assumes something else.

You should set the Insert flag to indicate an insert edit, insert gives a clean in and a clean out and always requires formatted media.
An Assemble edit will edit on all tracks simultaneously and reformat the media, this gives a clean in but a dirty out. and requires formatted media up to the in point.
A crash record gives a dirty in and a dirty out and does not require formatted media.

We've come across the old problem again in mastering DVD's. The film scanning is done from a 24 fps film, spun up to 25 fps, we get the original soundtracks on DA-88 which don't match since they are the original speed of 24 fps.
I'm sure you have the tools to solve this for us. Could you tell me which box to get from you and how it works. (I can hardly imagine that you solved the pitch as well on 6 tracks AC-3.

We have a new product, the Timecode Gearbox (TG-1) this can accept timecode at any standard and rate and output timecode at any standard and rate. The Input and Output ratios availabe are as follows:-
23.97 : 24 : 24.97 : 25 : 29.97 : 30

24-25 DVD Set-Up:

Input timecode standard : EBU (25) (This is automatic)
Input ratio : 24
Output Timecode Standard : EBU (25)
Output Ratio : 25

To use with the SR-4

Connect the timecode output from the SR-4 to the input of the TG-1
Connect the output of the TG-1 to the timecode input of the DA-88
Ensure that you select Chase type =0 for the DA-88 on the SR-4 (This is the normal setting)
Use as normal.

AC-3 Verification

We are currently designing a AC-3 synchroniser, this will enable you to playback a AC-3 file and slave a video machine to the data stream by taking the timecode information from the AC-3 data stream. If there is a similar problem on AC-3 files we could incorporate this within the TG-1 gearbox.

now we can control DD-8, DD16, DA-88 correctly, but how can we go on with protools??

To check the cable and the A input on the SR-24 conect as follows:-

1) Select serial port A as an input

2) Select Port B as Master

3) Connect the Tx-Rx invert cable between port A and port D

4) Select port D, you should then be able to control the machine connected to port B from Port D. If not check the cable and toggle the port A selction Key.

Will the FC-1 work to sync a projector that has either the Magna-tech tach or the MTM tach to a D88

We have three products as follows:-

1) FC-1 will convert biphase to timecode which can then be used to lock a D88

2) SS-1 as FC-1 but with RS422 output to slave a video machine

3) BS-1 will accept a timecode and lock a projector

The question is which do you wish to use as a master, the projector or the D88. The most normal is to use the projector as the master. The FC-1 will then accept the biphase output from the projector and generate timecode. The timecode may then be used to lock one or more D88's.

If the Master (controlling device) is permanently connected to port A on the SR-5 synchroniser, what is the function of defining a Master on the remote panel when there isn't a button for the actual Master on that panel?
Does a Master defined from the panel take control away from the port A master or are they both able to control?

There are two controlling devices on the system the Desk or Pro-tools which are connected to port A and the MR controller. The selected master machine is always controlled from the desk, the MRcontroller may be switched to any machine on the system including the currently selected master. When two different commands are recieved at the same time the last processed will be the command sent to the machine.

We can also supply a six port controller this allows for two input ports, and 3 master ports, if added to the system that you have there it would allow the pro-tools and the desk to control the system without the need for re-patching.

To put this another way, the Sony protocol allows for the control of one machine only, to controll more than one machine one machine is designated as the Master. All commands from the RS422 input are routed to the master, status and position requests from the RS422 input are answered with the Master status and position. There are three exceptions to this:-

1) Record status is global, if any machine on the system is in record then the Record and Edit bits will be set.

2) Lock status is global, the lock bit will only be set once all machines are locked to the master.

3) Record Commands are global, the record or edit commands will be sent to any record enabled machine.

VS-1 - unit ref led is always flashing with the appropriate ref input, have tried a hard reset with no results, please advise

I looked at the software this morning, you were correct on the latest version of software the XTAL LED will flash, I have modified the software

VS-1 Not locking even while ref to XTAL

There are three possibilities:-

1) the reference selection on the Power Supply PCB is incorrect

2) the PLL on the timecode generator is not working correctly

3) The timecode generator frame rate is different to the reference frame rate

PSU PCB (right hand side from front of unit) You can check the reference selection on the PSU at Pin 6 of U7, this is a monostable with a period of approx 25mS you should have an 30Hz signal at this point. If you do not find this signal check backwards through the circuit as follows

reference selector o/p pin 14 of U1

decoded video reference pin 7 of U3

video reference input pin 2 of U3

Timecode Reader Generator (Lower PCB on left hand side)
Assuming that the reference signal is present then it is connected via pin 23b on the edge connector to the timecode reader generator board

You can trace the reference at the following points on the Reader/Generator card

U27 pin 11

U21 pin 15

The timecode generator PLL may be checked with at pin 1 of U22, when working correctly this should be high (+5v) with very narrow pulses at the frame edge. Adjust VR-3 if incorrect

VS-1 I would like to be able to trigger the transfer button remotely. The VS1 will be located in a rack with the Doremi and the Protools in the machine room. But I need the Foley mixer in the control room to be able to capture the in point with a remote button. My first thought is to simply run two wires into the unit to parallel the front panel switch. But I'm hoping that there might be a better way, possibly with the audio trigger?

The 37 way connector on the back of the VS-1 has both an Audio Trigger input and a contact closure input. Both may be used in real time to trigger an event.in real time, the contact closure may also be used to capture an event to the internal list.
See sections 10.56, 10.562 and 12.11, 12.13, 12.14 of the manual

As the trigger input is an opto coupler you will need to link pins 23 & 24 connecting the opto(+) common to the internal +5v to use this with a switch.

For your information the latest protools 5.1.1 and 5.2 will allow you to control the protools by RS422 and use our SR-4, SR-24 or SR-32 ADR systems.

When the system is in 30 drop mode and I recieve a frames per day position message - how do I convert this to an actual timecode value ??

In response to your question

Drop frame code

In drop frame code frames 0 & 1 of every minute except for modulo 10 minutes do not exist.
i.e. 00:01:59:29 is followed by 00:02:00:02
but 00:09:59:29 is followed by 00:10:00:00

The algorithm that I use is as follows:

Hours := fpd Div 107892

frames := fpd MOD 107892

min_tens := frames Div 17982

frames := frames MOD 17982

min_units := frames Div 1798

frames := frames MOD 1798

seconds := frames Div 30

frames := frames MOD 30

// extra drop frame check,

IF (mins_units <> 0) AND (seconds = 0) THEN frames:= frames+2

How do I get Record-On and Record Off outputs from an SR-4 GP Port

The Record GP output, (pin 17) is active high whenever the SR shows a record tally
GP outputs 4,5,6 are user selectable for different functions see section 7.29 of the manual
Set up GP outputs for Record on, and record off,
Set-up, Unit, Generic, Menu 29:- GP Outputs 4,5,6
Select 1= rec
Record ON is found on pin 6 and is Active High
Record OFF is found on pin 19 and is Active High
If there is no machine producing a Record tally then a Virtual Record tally may be generated as follows
Set-up, Unit, record, menu 06: Virtual record Tally
Select 1 to enable

We want to integrate a new DigiBeta recorder in our system. How do we enable it as a recorder in general and activate track arming keyes for it ?

1) When connected do you see A500 in the display when selected, if so then it will be set correctly

2) If you see $XXXX where XXXX are four hex digits then you will need to tell the system the number of record tracks the A500 has.

Set-up | Interface | Record | Menu 34 Record tracks

Set to 2= 8

3) You then need to set the record track arming keys to point to the A500

Select MB51 key groups (use the lowest key in the group of three to the right of the track arming keys)
select the A500
check the machine number: Recall followed by the machine key
Chose four keys for the track enables
Specify each track in turn, I will assume that it is machine number 7 for this

Track 1 Type in 00:00:07:01 followed by [SHIFT], followed by [STORE] followed by the key for track 1

The display should show Mcn:Trk 00:00:07:01

Track 2 Type in 00:00:07:02 followed by [SHIFT], followed by [STORE] followed by the key for track 2

The display should show Mcn:Trk 00:00:07:02

Track 3 Type in 00:00:07:03 followed by [SHIFT], followed by [STORE] followed by the key for track 3

The display should show Mcn:Trk 00:00:07:03

Track 4 Type in 00:00:07:04 followed by [SHIFT], followed by [STORE] followed by the key for track 4

The display should show Mcn:Trk 00:00:07:04

You can check the assigned machine and track for any track arming key using [Recall] followed by the key

The Track arming should remain until you hard reset the system

sometimes DA98-tracks loose their arming during a session although the machine is still record enabled. This doesn´t bother me as long as I listen to those tracks, but it becomes pretty annoying if these tracks are recording a stem which is not monitored. Do you have any idea how to get rid of this?

You can enable the reinforce track arming command to do this

Select the DA-98 on the system
Enter the menu [Setup]
Select the Renforce menu
Root | IFACE | Record |.. Menu 38:- Command Reinforce
Select 2= Track Arm

This will send a Track arm command approximately once per second to the selected machine, provided that the panel does not lose the track arming then this should solve the problem.

Loosing track Arming settings

Track arming will be remembered provided that the Menu Setup | Root | Unit | Generic | Menu ??: Macro protection Is set to 1= Keyboard
If you change the machine type on a port then the setup will return to the default setup.
If you allways want to be able to layback to video machines then you can set
Setup | Root | Unit | generic | record | Menu 14?: Default Analogue & Video ready as you require.

If we use the PCI Audio Vision Vers. 4.1. things run well but if we use the Nubus Audio Vision with the Software Vers. 3.6 the machine is running in remote mode, but we can not get in record mode, system says "NOT RECORD ENABLED" and nothing happens.

To Record enable

ensure that the system is in stop
depress the record key and hold depressed
The system will then display the currently record enabled machines by illuminating the leds in the machine keys
Whilst holding the record key depressed use the machine keys to record enable/disable each machine.

Is it possible to get ProoTools TC as an external TC | input for DA 60.

Running from a remote source of code (eg. the pro-Tools Timecode output.)

To use the pro-tools timecode output connect the timecode from the protools to the rerader input on the GPI port (pins 1, 14, 2)

By selecting the Reader as master (If the reader macro is not fitted then assign one of the Macro keys to Macro 113) the main timecode output will follow the Pro-Tools timecode.

The DA-60 doesn't go in TC rec. with tr.no3 we just can record enable the audio tracks and we want to record them all at the same time !!

To record on all tracks at the same time you have to use assemble mode on the DA-60, I have now updated the SR24 Record keys to be the same as the SR-4 and tell you this information!

The keys should be labelled as follows Record 5(Video), Record 6(Assemble), Record 8(Crash).
The video and Assemble keys are defined by the sonny protocol and we are responsible for Crash!
To record on the timecode track as well as the two audio tracks enable track 6 (Assemble)

We want to record enable the sonny bvu 1800 beta video too crash rec?

To crash record on a Video machine you will have to first enter the set-up to remove the protection on the video
Set-up | Root | Iface | Record | Menu 41:- Analog & Video Rec Rdy
Set this to 3=Asmb (Note: This may not be Menu 41 on your system but a lower number)
Then Enable track 8 (crash record) as above
To send a crash record command, from stop hold the record key depressed and then depress the play key.

RM-6 If I connect our console to the connector "Keyboard" (as planed), the incoming comands from the console are only sent to the master machine, rather than to the selected one. I would like to control the selected machine from the console, not only the master.

To control the selected machine instead of the Master Machine you have to select this in the Menu as follows:

Setup|Root|Record|Menu 10: External Commands & Track Arming
setting this to 2 or 3 will send commands to the currently selected machine

RM-6 The machine E seems to be special. We cannot make any machine work on that connector. I've been trying to browse through setups and stuff, but it doesn't work. Machines A-D work fine and recognize what's connected.

Port E may be configured as an Input or Output in Software:

Setup|Root|Generic|Menu 27: Serial E Type Port E is connected as an input and requires a TX-RX Invert cable as described in section T5.04