RM-6/SR-4 Software update

It has been to long since I made my last entry, I must try and post updates more frequently!

Today I found a bug in the SR/RM software when running NTSC Drop code together with Non Drop code . The bug is only evident when using slow responding machines where the controller only communicates once per frame, for instance Pro-Tools. The new software fixes this problem.

The office will be shut for Christmas and New Year from the 23rd of December to the 2nd of January. I am looking forward to my first trip to Japan on the 4th of January I will be there until the 14th of January. No doubt I will be very tired after my trip!

Happy Christmas and a enjoyable New Year to you All

Colin

Q2Midi: VM-15 Cue list to .mid file conversion

We have received an enthusiastic initial customer reaction to the VM-15 HD streamer, one of the first customers has immediately started using the Midi trigger, the only problem they had was the time taken to manually enter the timecode numbers from a .pdf, .txt or .doc file onto a midi track within Protools or any other DAW.

To solve this problem I have written a small program for both mac and PC 'Q2midi' that will convert .pdf or .txt files to .mid files (You can export a .doc file as a .txt file) here is a screenshot

more information at http://www.colinbroad.com/cbsoft/vm15/vm15.html

VM-15 HD Streamer

We now have the VM-15 HD streamer  in stock,

 The main features are as follows

• SDI or HDMI input, SDI and HDMI output
• Trigger from contact closure, Beep, Midi, timecode list
• Up to 4 simultaneous wipes
• Timecode insertion
• Text insertion
• Price £2,500

The designer of the VM-15 Jim Ketcham is well known in the film industry for numerous products including Biphase, Counters, and the timecode for DTS

More information at http://www.colinbroad.com/cbsoft/vm15/vm15.html

New chase parameter for SR-4/RM-6

In Jog and shuttle the SR/RM uses a combination of locate and fast wind commands to keep the slaves in sync with the master machine. On linear machines fast wind commands are used when the difference is greater than one minute, on non-linear machines and on linear machines when the difference is less than one minute locate commands are used.

In an ideal world the locate is updated on a once per frame basis, unfortunately some machines get confused when receiving frequent locate commands. and in earlier software we sent locate commands on 10 frame intervals.

On current software we have introduced a new parameter to determine the interval between locate commands:

Setup/Root/IFACE/chase/Menu 067 Locate Interval.
0= 1= 2= 3= 4= 5= 6= 7= 8= 9=   +1 Frm

On a Bonsai drive for instance I am able to set a locate interval of =0 in this case a locate command is sent every frame. I will update this post with more information once I have the figures back from other machines.

External Timecode display for CBServer

CBServer now supports the PunchLight Studio Display as shown below.  The display connects to the computer running CBServer via USB for both data and power. Other PuchLight displays may be connected using a USB to Midi converter.

  

Using the UR-422 as a remote to the RM-6 or CBServer(2)

The UR-422 is a small flexible keyboard with user definable keys which may be used to control two RS-422 machines or as a remote directly to the RM-6 or via CBServer(2). Some special commands have been aded to increase the functionality of the UR-422 when used in this mode.

When used as a remote to the RM-6 directly or via CBServer a number of settings have be made as follows

UR-422

Setup/Root/Serial port A(B)/Menu  Position Request Type to 6=XMC

Configure Keyboard as required,

RM-6/SR-4

Setup/Root/Ext/Menu 097 Remote Control of 1= Selected Machine

Setup/Root/Ext/Menu 098 External Machine ID 0=Mast

CBServer

The S9 I/P port must be defined on the S9 I/P window (Access from the popup menu or a macro key)

CBServer2

The Device(Input) port must be defined in the Ports page of the Preferences window

RM-6 and CBServer(2) Commands		CBServer(2) only Commands
Label	Function	Lable
A	Select Port A	CBSrvr A
B	Select Port B	CBSrvr B
C	Select Port C	CBSrvr C
D	Select Port D	CBSrvr D
E	Select Port E	CBSrvr E
Master	Make Current Port Master	CBSrvr F
Chase	Chase Enable Current Port	CBSrvr G
Rec Enable	Record Enable Current Port	CBSrvr H

CBServer(2) Macro Commands

CBServer Macro Commands may be assigned to any CBServer macro in the S9 I/P window (CBServer) or Preferences / Ports window (CBServer2). 

Timed Start on RM-6 and SR-4

I recently developed a new synchronisation algorithm - timed start, this will be available on software after 13th March  2012. Beta versions exist on earlier software, these work to differing degrees. Here are the details



When synchronising multiple machines the time taken to lock is proportional to the
error in frames. The larger the error the longer it will take to synchronise.

In SR and RM synchronisers there are two factors that determine the initial error as
follows
•  The time taken for the master to enter play
•  The time taken for the slave to enter play

With Linear Audio tape machines a park offset (Menu 056) is used together with Start
Advance (Menu 055) to minimise the effect of these two factors.

Non-Linear Audio and all Video machines are parked on the same position as the
master making it impossible to use park ahead. The solution is to use a timed start, this
allows all machines to play with a minimum offset. The tables below shows results with
and without timed start using chase type 1= P (Play command only).

Note: It is not possible to use the timed start algorithm on a timecode chase synchroniser!

To get the best advantage of using timed start it is important to set the Start Advance for the machine and timecode standard as follows

1. Enable “Menu 22 Timed Start” for example set to 5 for a 10 frame delay 
2. Select the Generator as master
3. Select a machine as slave
4. Note the Chase type of the Slave
5. Change “Menu 052- chase type” of the slave to 1=P
6. starting from stop note the Error
7. Adjust “Menu 055 Start Advance” as required so that the slave Error is normally 0, using Stop Start repeatedly
8. Change the Chase type of the machine to the original setting
9. Repeat for all machines including the master

Note1: If timed start is set up incorrectly this can increase the error and increase the time taken to lock.

Note2: Check the complete system using Chase type 1=P, if there is an error on an individual machine then adjust the start advance of that machine. If all slave machines are out by the same amount then adjust the start advance on the master.


Note3: I am working on learning software at the moment so that the start advance in learnt, On current sotware only chase type 2=LP has learning implemented.