360 Systems DigiCart E User Manual
®
ETHERNET AUDIO HARD DISK RECORDER
OWNER’S MANUAL
MODEL E-3000
SOFTWARE VERSION 1.17
Third Edition
July, 2006
P
R O F E S S I O N A L D I G I T A L A U D I O
SAFETY COMPLIANCE
DigiCart/E complies with the following safety standards:
•
UL 60950, 3rd Edition, dated December 1, 2000, Standard for Safety of Information
Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equipment.
EU ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
Type of Equipment: Professional Use Audio Equipment.
Conforms to the Following Standards:
•
EN55103-1 (1997) (Emissions) Electromagnetic compatibility – Product family standard for
audio, video, audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use.
•
EN55103-2 (1997) (Immunity) Electromagnetic compatibility – Product family standard for
audio, video, audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use.
FCC COMPLIANCE
The equipment was tested to FCC Class A (using CISPR 22 Limits), EN55103-1 and EN55103-2: 1996 (for
Environment 4). The unit complies with the standards.
This equipment complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used in
accordance with the owners manual, may cause interference to radio communications. Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at his own expense.
This device will accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation. The user is cautioned that changes made to the equipment without the approval of the
manufacturer could void the user's authority to operate this equipment. It is suggested that only shielded
and grounded cables be used to ensure compliance with FCC rules.
NOTICE
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirement of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Regulations.
Français: Cet appariel numérique de la classe A respecte toute les exigences du Reglement sur le matériel
brouilleur du Canada.
The information contained in this Owner’s Manual is subject to change without notice or obligation, and is
furnished for informational use only.
© 2002, 360 Systems. Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved.
Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of
360 Systems. Reproduction or reverse engineering of copyrighted software is prohibited.
Contents
OVERVIEW _________________________________________ 1
Introduction to the DigiCart Recorder
What’s New in DigiCart/E
Supported File Formats................................................................... 2
File Format Indicators on the Front Panel LCD 3
Notes on file formats 3
Disk Storage Times
Accessories
RC-320 Remote Control ................................................................. 4
RC-305 Infrared Keyboard ............................................................. 6
CHAPTER 1_________________________________________ 7
Installation
Mounting ........................................................................................ 7
Rear Panel Connections .................................................................. 7
Power 8
Control Signals 8
IEEE-1394 10
Digital Audio 10
Analog Audio 10
CHAPTER 2________________________________________ 11
Control Panel
LCD Display................................................................................. 11
LED Indicators.............................................................................. 11
Peak Level Meters ........................................................................ 12
Headphone Jack ............................................................................ 12
Selection Knob.............................................................................. 12
Buttons.......................................................................................... 13
The Navigation Arrows 13
The ENTER Button 13
The EXIT Button 13
The DRIVES Button 13
The DIRS Button 13
The FILES Button 13
The SETUP Button 14
The UTILITY button 14
The EDIT button 14
The RECORD Button 14
The PLAY Button 15
The STOP Button 15
The VIEW LIST Button 15
The LOOP Button 15
The PAUSE Button 15
Bank Select and Hot Key Buttons 16
Contents •••• i
Zip Drive .......................................................................................16
Zip Disk Loading 16
Zip Disk Removal 16
CHAPTER 3 _______________________________________ 17
File Organization and Navigation
Overview of Drive and Directory Structure ..................................17
Drive Organizational Strategy.......................................................18
Network Playlists and Hot Keys 19
Structure Details............................................................................20
Directories 20
Files 20
Playlists 20
Network Drive Error Messages.....................................................20
No Network Link 20
Server Unavailable 20
Waiting for NFS 21
Waiting for Mount 21
File Navigation User Interface ......................................................21
Navigation Controls 21
File Find Function .........................................................................22
Using the FIND Function with a Keyboard 22
Using the FIND Function with an RC-320 22
CHAPTER 4 _______________________________________ 23
Setup and Utility Menus
Menu Navigation...........................................................................23
Setup Menu Features .....................................................................23
D-Net Receiver 23
D-NET Receiver Input 23
D-NET Receiver Dir 23
D-NET Receiver Name 23
D-NET Receiver Echo 24
Play Digital Format 24
Play Hot Keys Using 24
Play Restart Mode 24
Play Sample Rate 25
Play Word Size 25
Record Audio Source 25
RECORD SAMPLE RATE 26
Record Data Format 26
Record Dithering 27
Record Overwrite 27
Record Threshold 27
Record Time Limit 28
Set Aux Protocol 28
Set Contrast 28
Set Headphone Level 28
Set Input Monitor 28
Set IP Address 29
Set Keyboard Type 29
Set Sort Order 30
Set Time Display 30
ii •••• Contents
Utility Menu Features ................................................................... 30
Assign Hot Key (Preset) 30
Copy Original 34
Copying a Cut using Copy Original 35
Copying a Playlist (Stack) using Copy Original 35
Copying a Directory using Copy Original 35
Copy Edited 36
Delete 37
Rename 37
Format Disk 37
Mount Network Drive 39
Update Directories 40
D-Net File Transfer 40
CHAPTER 5________________________________________ 41
Recording
Transport Controls ........................................................................ 43
Setup to Record............................................................................. 43
Selecting a File Location for Recording 43
Setting Record Levels 43
Recording Commands 44
Secondary Cues 45
Recording a Secondary Cue 45
Deleting/Erasing a Secondary Cue 45
CHAPTER 6________________________________________ 46
Playback
Front Panel Indicators ................................................................... 46
Transport Controls ........................................................................ 46
Playing a Single Cut ..................................................................... 47
Hot Keys ....................................................................................... 47
Playing Multiple Cuts — Follow-On Play ................................... 47
Quickstacks................................................................................... 48
Creating a Quickstack 48
CHAPTER 7________________________________________ 50
Playlists
Playlist Types 50
Creating a Playlist 52
Playing a Playlist 53
Viewing a Playlist 53
Playlist Edits ................................................................................. 54
Scan Mode 54
Insert 54
Append 55
Remove 55
Truncate 55
Change Playlist Type 56
Converting a Linear Playlist to a Cut............................................ 56
To Convert a Linear Playlist to a Cut 56
Contents •••• iii
CHAPTER 8 _______________________________________ 57
Audio Editing
User Interface ................................................................................57
Edit Audio Files ............................................................................57
Head 58
Tail 58
Pre-Roll 59
Fade In 59
Fade Out 60
Output Gain 61
CHAPTER 9 _______________________________________ 62
Maintenance
General Cleaning...........................................................................62
Calibration.....................................................................................62
Disk Maintenance..........................................................................63
Program Updates ...........................................................................63
Update the Program from a Network Server 63
Update the Program from a Zip Disk 63
Restoring Previous Version 64
Zip Drives and Disks.....................................................................64
Handling and Care of Zip Disks 65
Special Button Sequences .............................................................65
APPENDIX A_______________________________________ 66
Interface Wiring
Audio Connector Wiring ...............................................................66
GPI/O (General Purpose I/O)........................................................67
Remote Control .............................................................................68
Remote Bus ...................................................................................68
Aux Serial Port ..............................................................................69
Keyboard Port ...............................................................................69
Network Port .................................................................................69
1394 Port .......................................................................................69
Audio I/O Interface Table 66
Sync Input 66
APPENDIX B_______________________________________ 70
Serial Control Protocols
ES-Bus ..........................................................................................70
Host Device Message Summary 70
Hardware Format 70
Data Format 70
Peripheral Bus ...............................................................................71
Hardware Format 71
Data Format 71
iv •••• Contents
APPENDIX C _______________________________________ 72
DigiCart History
DigiCart ........................................................................................ 72
DigiCart II..................................................................................... 72
DigiCart II Plus............................................................................. 72
APPENDIX D _______________________________________ 73
D-Net File Transfer
Key Features ................................................................................. 73
D-Net Setup .................................................................................. 74
Transfer Messages ........................................................................ 78
D-Net Messages............................................................................ 79
D-Net Implementation on Instant Replay® and Short/cut™ ......... 79
Transfer Rates 73
Electrical Specification for D-Net Transfers 74
Making a File Transfer 77
Wildcard Transfers 77
Source Machine Displays 78
Aborted Transfer 78
Receiving Machine Displays 78
APPENDIX E _______________________________________ 80
Recording Encoded Digital Data
APPENDIX F _______________________________________ 81
Technical Specifications
General Specifications .................................................................. 81
Internal Hard Disk 81
Removable Cartridge 81
Miscellaneous 81
Physical Dimensions (nominal) .................................................... 82
Audio Configuration Specifications ............................................. 82
Audio Performance Specifications ............................................... 82
Zip Drive & Cartridge Reliability................................................. 83
Environmental Limits (Operational)............................................. 83
Environmental Limits (Shipping & Storage) ................................ 83
INDEX ____________________________________________ 84
Contents •••• v
WARRANTY AND REPAIR POLICY
The DigiCart/E recorder is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year
from date of original purchase. This warranty includes parts and labor. This warranty excludes units that
have been modified, repaired by unauthorized personnel, or damaged by rough handling, abuse, improper
operation, dirt, lightning strike, or static electricity.
360 SYSTEMS ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR REAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS, INCONVENIENCE OR ANY OTHER LOSSES DUE TO
OPERATIONAL FAULTS OF DIGICART/E RECORDERS. 360 SYSTEMS’ SOLE LIABILITY
UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF
DEFECTIVE PRODUCT OR COMPONENTS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
Products being returned under warranty shall be sent to 360 Systems or one of its foreign service centers,
freight prepaid, in the original or equivalent packaging. Please call 360 Systems for a return authorization
number before returning any merchandise for any reason.
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES
360 Systems reserves the right to make changes and/or improvements to its products without incurring any
obligation to incorporate such changes or improvements in units previously sold or shipped.
COMPANY ADDRESS
Please use the following addresses for shipping and correspondence. The Corporate Office in California is
open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific Time.
Corporate Office and Customer Services
31355 Agoura Road
Westlake Village, CA 91361-4613 USA
Telephone: (818) 991-0360
Fax: (818) 991-1360
E-mail info@360systems.com
Website www.360systems.com
Please call 360 Systems for a return authorization number (RMA) before returning merchandise for any
reason.
vi •••• Notices
TRADEMARKS
The following trademarks may appear in this manual:
DigiCart and Instant Replay are registered trademarks of 360 Systems.
Short/cut, Quickstack, Bit-for-Bit, and Ethernet Audio are trademarks of 360 Systems.
Zip is a registered trademark of Iomega Corp.
Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Licensing Corp.
All other product and brand names and any registered and unregistered trademarks
mentioned in this manual are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive
property of their respective owners.
is a registered trademark of 360 Systems.
COPYRIGHTS
Software contained in this product is copyrighted by 360 Systems, and Dolby Laboratories.
PATENTS
Designs incorporated in this product are the subject of current or pending United States and foreign patents.
Notices •••• vii
WARNING SYMBOLS
THE FOLLOWING WARNING SYMBOLS ARE USED ON THE PRODUCT IN THIS MANUAL:
ENGLISH ATTENTION: REFER TO OWNER’S MANUAL FOR IMPORTANT
FRANÇAIS ATTENTION: VEUILLEZ VOUS RÉFÉRER AU MODE D’EMPLOI
ITALIANO ATTENZIONE: FATE RIFERIMENTO AL MANUALE PER
ESPAÑOL ATENTCION: FAVOR DE REFERIR AL MANUAL DE OPERACION
INFORMATION.
POUR UNE INFORMATION IMPORTANTE.
INFORMAZIONI IMPORTANTI.
POR INFORMACION IMPORTANTE.
ENGLISH
FRANÇAIS AVERTISSEMENT: DANGER DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE.
WARNING
:
ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD.
ITALIANO AVVERTIMENTO: PERICOLO DI SHOCK ELETTRICO.
ESPAÑOL ADVERTENSIA: PELIGRO DE CHOQUE ELECTRICO.
GENERAL CAUTIONS
Please heed the following important cautions regarding the DigiCart/E:
•
Do not remove the cover. No user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified
service personnel.
•
DigiCart/E recorders contain a hard disk drive. While today’s hard disks are very reliable,
they may be vulnerable to shock. Please handle with care, and exercise caution not to drop
or bump the recorder — damage to the internal hard disk may result. Ensure that power is
off before moving the unit.
•
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this unit to rain or moisture.
viii •••• Notices
Overview
Introduction to the DigiCart Recorder
As the 1980s came to a close, the promise of high-quality digital audio became a reality with the
introduction of compact disks – but only for pre-recorded music. 360 Systems responded by designing the
first practical digital cart machine, introducing it to the broadcast industry at the 1990 NAB Convention.
Aptly named DigiCart®, this new broadcast standard rapidly replaced the industry’s analog NAB tape carts.
By including an internal hard disk as a standard component, the DigiCart recorder provides fast access to
many thousands of cuts, plus a degree of reliability never before achieved with tape recorders. Remote
controls, networking and distributed storage now make the DigiCart recorder a standard in broadcast
facilities throughout the world.
There have been several advances since the original DigiCart, but all models share these common features:
The ability to record and store thousands of cuts and play them back instantly, the ability to do routine
editing, convenient front panel controls, automation control, and removable disk media for backups and file
transfers. Transportable recordings for archiving and backup are stored on removable Zip disks. These
economical, re-recordable compact magnetic disks are DigiCart's "carts".
DigiCart offers several recording formats and sampling rates. Generally, linear recording is recommended
because it will produce the highest quality playback and because today hard disk storage space is
inexpensive. However, for compatibility with earlier DigiCart recordings, DigiCart/E can record and play
files using Dolby AC-2 compression. AC-2 uses 5 times less disk space, while delivering full bandwidth
stereo.
DigiCart/E stores supplementary information along with each individual audio recording, including:
• A quick index file ID reference that identifies drive, directory and cut
• A name of up to fifteen alphanumeric characters
• Total running time
• Sampling rate
• Recording format
• Editing information for Head and Tail times, Fade In, Fade Out, Gain and Secondary Cue timing
Much of this information is displayed on the front panel of the DigiCart to assist in managing a large audio
library.
Overview •••• 1
What’s New in DigiCart/E
DigiCart/E is the most advanced hard disk/cart system in the broadcast industry. Building on the proven
design of the industry-standard DigiCart II, your new DigiCart/E delivers many significant enhancements,
such as network connectivity through the 360 Systems’ Ethernet Audio network, 24-bit audio, WAV file
format, a separate sync input, larger display, larger standard internal disk drive, a new 2U rack-mountable
chassis, and many other refinements. Please refer to 360 Systems Ethernet Audio Network Manual for
information on setting up the network.
The star feature of the new DigiCart/E is its connection to the Ethernet Audio™ network. This 100Mb
Ethernet connection allows file transfers, playback over the network, and recording to a network drive.
With Bit-for-Bit™ technology, DigiCart/E and the Ethernet Audio network are also fully compatible with
non-PCM audio data such as Dolby-E and AC-3.
A notable feature of DigiCart is selectable recording formats. Choices include linear sampling rates of 96,
88.2, 48, or 44.1 kilosamples/second in stereo, or 48K Dolby AC-2. All formats can coexist. Further,
DigiCart/E has a built-in sample rate converter that can be switched into either the incoming or outgoing
audio path. Now, each digital recording can be converted on-the-fly so an entire library can be maintained
in at one sample rate standard. Alternately, a library of recordings may be maintained as a mixture of
native sample rates; DigiCart/E can convert these files on output to a predetermined standard (e.g. 48K, for
broadcast).
DigiCart/E can now build and store Playlists on network drives that can be accessed from any DigiCart on
the network. Playlists can be used concurrently from many locations, or can be accessed from anywhere in
the plant as a production moves from studio to studio.
Hot Keys have always been a DigiCart accessory, but fixed Hot Keys have now been added to the front
panel of DigiCart/E. Hot Keys allow pre-assignment of a cut or Playlist to a trigger key, so that it can be
played immediately. This takes the work out of searching for a file when it is needed in a hurry.
An important new feature in DigiCart/E is network Hot Key assignments. Hot Keys can now be stored and
recalled in two ways, either Network Drive or Local Drive. The chief benefit of using Net Drive Hot Keys
is that those Hot Key assignments can be accessed by more than one user concurrently from anywhere on
the network.
DigiCart/E now has a separate AES-11 sync input. An AES-75 ohm input connection is dedicated to this
task. Also new are gain adjustment trims on the analog outputs so that DigiCart/E can be matched perfectly
with downstream equipment.
DigiCart/E now provides power to the 360 Systems RC-320 remote control via the serial cable, so there is
no need for a separate wall-mounted power supply. Additionally, there is now a second serial port available
for ES-Bus or Peripheral Bus controls, so that the RC-320 remote control can always remain attached.
Finally, DigiCart/E’s LCD display and menus have been organized to provide a clear understanding of the
machine state and settings.
Supported File Formats
DigiCart/E normally records audio in WAV format. Previous DigiCart models used a proprietary recording
format. To ensure compatibility with existing DigiCarts and recordings, DigiCart/E can also play and
record those proprietary file formats.
2 •••• Overview
DigiCart/E displays a three-character abbreviation for each file’s format on its LCD display (Format Code).
Certain operations are compatible with, or limited to, specific file formats. Understanding the formats will
be useful in getting the most out of your DigiCart/E.
The file suffix, noted in the table below, is the file name suffix assigned to recordings made by DigiCart/E.
These suffixes can be seen when viewing files on the Ethernet Audio network using Microsoft Windows
File Explorer. WAV audio files created on DigiCart/E can be played by any program supporting that
standard.
F
ILE FORMAT INDICATORS ON THE FRONT PANEL
LCD
DigiCart II Compatible
Format Format
Code
Compressed 5 AC2 48000 (Play/REC) .DC2
16-bit stereo linear 5 S16 44100, 48000 (Play/REC) .DC2
16-bit mono linear
3,5
M16 44100, 48000 (Play only) .DC2
Sample Rate DigiCart/E
Support
File Suffix
New to DigiCart/E
16-bit stereo linear W16 44100, 48000 (Play/REC) .WAV
24-bit stereo linear W24 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000 (Play/REC) .WAV
16-bit mono linear 3 T16 44100, 48000 (Play only) .WAV
24-bit Non-PCM Audio 4 D24 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000 (Play/REC) .WAV
N
OTES ON FILE FORMATS
1. DigiCart/E will play DigiCart II files obtained via D-Net or Zip100 disk.
2. DigiCart/E does not support 32K sample rate files.
3. Mono recordings (made on earlier DigiCarts) will be played from both channels. DigiCart/E does not
make mono recordings.
4. The data from non-PCM Audio files (Dolby-E, AC-3, etc.) can be recorded and played through the
digital I/O port, but DigiCart/E will not decode it into a linear PCM format. DigiCart/E does not
encode or decode the data by using “Bit-for-Bit” technology to play exactly the same data as it recorded
in this mode.
5. D-Net can import or export DigiCart II-compatible file types (AC2, M16, S16). No file type
conversions are performed during the D-Net transfer process. In the DigiCart/E, files may be converted
between WAV and Linear DigiCart formats (not AC-2) using the COPY EDITED utility.
6. Non-destructive edits (Head/Tail Trim, Fade In/Out, Gain) can be performed on all playable formats.
The edit parameters are saved in a vendor-specific area of the file header. When playing WAV files on
non-DigiCart machines, the edits will not be recognized. However, the “COPY EDITED” utility can be
used to render Head/Tail Trims to WAV files playable on other machines.
7. The “COPY EDITED” utility can be used to convert between DigiCart II formats and WAV file
formats. This applies only to linear 16-bit stereo recordings, not AC-2.
8. If WAV and DC2 files have the same sample size and sample rate, they may be mixed in a Playlist that
is to be converted into a cut.
Overview •••• 3
Disk Storage Times
Storage time on DigiCart/E drives will vary depending upon the sampling rate and recording format used.
The table below shows approximate recording times, based on stereo recording at different sampling rates.
Dolby AC-2 operates only in 48K stereo, 16-bit format.
DRIVE STORAGE TIMES
(16-
BIT
STEREO)
Storage per
1GB
Zip 100 MB
Zip 250 MB
Storage per
1GB
Zip 100 MB
Zip 250 MB
96K/16-bit
LINEAR
Not available Not available
Not available Not available
Not available Not available
96K/24-bit
LINEAR
28 min 31 min 57 min 63 min
Not available Not available Not available Not available Not available
7 min, 14 sec 7 min, 50 sec 14 min, 27 sec 15 min, 40 sec
88.2K/16-bit
48K/16-bit
LINEAR
86 min 94 min 462 min
8 min, 40 sec 9 min, 25 sec 46 min, 20 sec
21 min, 40 sec 23 min, 30 sec 115 min, 45 sec
DRIVE STORAGE TIMES
(24-
BIT
88.2K/24-bit
48K/24-bit
LINEAR
LINEAR
STEREO)
LINEAR
44.1K/16-bit
LINEAR
44.1K/24-bit
LINEAR
48K/16-bit
DOLBY AC-2
48K/24-bit
DOLBY AC-2
Not available
Not available
Times quoted are approximate. Storage times may vary with actual use, depending on the combinations of
bandwidths, formats and sample rates stored on a drive and the length and number of cuts and Playlists.
Direct recording to a Zip disk is possible only using AC-2 format. Therefore, linear recordings times listed
in the tables above indicate archival space available for file transfers or backups.
Accessories
The following accessories are available separately from 360 Systems.
RC-320 Remote Control
• Fast, Easy Total Control of All DigiCart Functions
• Clear, Intuitive Display of All Operations
4 •••• Overview
• Sixteen Hot Keys for Single Keystroke Playback
• Full Functions for Production Room Operations
• Controls four DigiCart/E recorders
Remote control Model RC-320 provides full access to DigiCart functions. Each unit is housed in a low
profile package that allows for convenient placement. User interface with DigiCart is enhanced through
large format, color-coded keyboard-type buttons sensibly placed across the panel. The RC-320 is especially
practical when building and editing Playlists and assigning Hot Keys.
A bright display duplicates the command line display on DigiCart/E and is readable even in brightly lit
rooms.
Programmable Hot Keys play back cuts with single-keystroke speed. Once the Hot Keys are assigned, they
will remain in memory even if power is turned off between uses. Linear Playlists may also be directly
assigned to Hot Keys. Hot Keys are ideal for frequently used cuts, such as sound effects, jingles, and
station IDs.
In operation, cuts are found by simply typing in an ID number or scrolling through the directory listings.
The RC-320 Pause button works in playback or analog record mode, while the Loop button is handy for
repeating a cut without breaks.
The three menu choices, Utility, Setup and Edit, allow access and decision making on all related items. Use
the Setup and Utility menu functions to reconfigure DigiCart to best accommodate current operational
needs. The Edit menu works for both cuts and Playlists.
Four Machine Select keys allow a single RC-320 to independently control four DigiCarts.
RC-320 Operational Features
Display
Position Arrows
Select Arrows
Hot Keys
Find
(
NO DEDICATED KEY
Keypad
Playlist Directory
Cancel
Enter
Assign Hot Keys
View Playlist
Make Playlist
Play-Stop-Record
Loop
Pause
Edit Menu
Setup Menu
Utility Menu
In the cued position, the display shows cut name, Index number, length of cut, assigned
directory and drive source. It also shows the cuts sampling rate and recording mode— linear
or Dolby AC-2 encoded. In the play mode, it shows remaining or elapsed time, current cut
and the next cut cued up.
Select drives and directories.
Review cuts by scrolling through directory listing. Displays cut name and time.
Provide rapid playback of sixteen pre-assigned cuts or Playlists.
)
Access cuts from any directory (including the Playlist directory), by entering the ID number.
Use these 10 keys to enter cut ID numbers. Simply punch in the number and hit
visual verification of the proper cut— then press
Direct access to the Playlist directory.
Cancels incorrect entries.
Enters/confirms new selections or entries.
Selected cuts or Playlists are "mapped" to the sixteen Hot Keys.
Visual preview of a Playlist before use.
Assemble groups of cuts together.
Control DigiCart transport functions via RC-320.
Plays a cut or a Playlist continuously.
Places machine on "hold" in both Play and Record modes.
Selects Edit Menu options.
Selects Setup Menu options.
Selects Utility Menu options.
Play
.
Enter
for
Overview •••• 5
Mechanical Specifications
Dimensions
Weight
Display
Power Supply
Cable
1.875" x 11.5" x 7" (47.6mm x 292mm x 178mm) (H-W-D)
5 lbs. (2.3 kg)
2-line x 20 character display.
External UL/CSA/VDE approved 9-volt modular supply. Feeds RC-320 through 9-conductor
cable via connector at DigiCart end.
25 foot (7.5 meters) highly flexible 9 conductor cable. Connects directly to DigiCart.
RC-305 Infrared Keyboard
The RC-305 wireless keyboard is designed for remote control of the DigiCart/E recorder from a distance of
25 feet. The absence of a connecting cord makes it convenient to set the RC-235 aside when not needed.
The infrared receiver plugs into the DigiCart/E keyboard jack, and may be positioned to facilitate pickup
from the keyboard. Fifteen different channel settings are available for each keyboard/receiver pair, so
multiple units can be operated in the same room without interference.
Function keys are fully labeled and emulate DigiCart/E front panel controls. Any alphabetic character key
may be used as a Hot Key, including CTRL, SHIFT, and ALT variations. Keyboard arrow keys are used
for navigation and selection. Multiple keyboards can be used in the same room with unique receiver codes.
• 88 keys with embedded numeric keypad and 12
function keys
• Full functioned 104 key Windows 95 enhanced
layout
• Wireless input with built-in Infrared technology
• Transmission up to 25 feet
• Excellent response during off-axis alignment with
receiver
• Space saving - 11.4 inch by 6.5 inch slim footprint
• Keyboards and receivers are black
6 •••• Overview
Chapter 1
Installation
Mounting
DigiCart/E may be used on a tabletop or mounted in a 2U, 19” equipment rack. Rack mounting ears are
provided as part of the faceplate and chassis. Four 10-32 truss head screws with washers are provided for
this purpose. In some cases, it may necessary to support the back end of the chassis or attached cables. 360
Systems does not provide a bracket for this purpose.
Depending on the space available in the rack, you may need to remove the four rubber feet from the bottom
of the chassis to allow the chassis to fit into the rack space. Simply pry these rubber feet from the chassis
holes with a small flat blade screwdriver.
Rear Panel Connections
Rear Panel Interface Connector Type
Power cable connector and switch IEC-320
Thumbscrew for chassis ground,
Remote Control Port – dedicated to RC-320 Remote Controls 9-pin “D” female
Remote Bus Port - EIA-485 (EIA-422 compatible) – connection of
Remote Bus to other DigiCarts
GPI/O interface 25-pin “D” female
Serial Port - EIA-485 (EIA-422 compatible) serial communications
including ES-Bus and Peripheral Bus
Connection to Ethernet network RJ-45
Port for QWERTY keyboard 6-pin Mini DIN
Connection for IEEE-1394 device IEEE-1394
Connection for AES-11 Sync Input BNC female
AES/EBU digital audio input, left and right; AES/EBU digital audio
output
IEC-958 TYPE II or AES/SMPTE 75Ω digital audio input
Right and Left balanced analog audio outputs 3-pin XLR male
Right and Left balanced analog audio inputs 3-pin XLR female
not for safety ground
Thumbscrew
15-pin “D” female
9-pin “D” female
3-pin XLR female
3-pin XLR male
Dual BNC female
Installation •••• 7
P
OWER
WARNING
CONNECT ONLY TO A GROUNDED 50/60 HZ AC OUTLET PROVIDING THE
CORRECT VOLTAGE (115 VAC OR 230 VAC, AS DELIVERED).
DO NOT REMOVE OR DEFEAT THE GROUNDING PIN ON THE AC POWER CORD.
A SERIOUS SHOCK HAZARD MAY RESULT FROM FAILING TO
MAKE CONNECTION TO A PROPERLY GROUNDED ELECTRICAL OUTLET.
DO NOT USE THE CHASSIS SIGNAL GROUND THUMBSCREW AS A
SAFETY GROUND POINT.
DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT OUT OF DOORS, IN RAIN, OR
IN DAMP OR WET ENVIRONMENTS.
Each DigiCart/E is factory configured for only 115VAC or 230VAC operation. Please check the marking
on the rear panel to see if you have the correct DigiCart for your power supply. Use the AC service cord
provided to connect the unit to utility power. Use only Underwriters Laboratories recognized replacement
cords.
Chassis Ground Screw
A thumbscrew is provided to reduce longitudinal grounding errors between devices having interconnected
low-level signals. This feature may reduce hum on the analog input ports.
C
ONTROL SIGNALS
Several of the most useful standards have been selected to interface DigiCart/E with professional
audio-video equipment and allow functionality with automation systems for the development of
custom applications. Detailed technical information about the interfaces will be found in the
Appendices.
Remote Control
A Remote Control port is included on the rear panel for connecting DigiCart/E with a 360 Systems
RC-320 desktop remote control.
The control port provides bi-directional serial communication and power. This port is dedicated to an
RC-320 remote. Since an RC-320 remote can control more than one DigiCart, a Remote Bus
connector is also supplied on DigiCart/E to daisy-chain remote commands to several DigiCarts. The
Remote Bus can be connected to a mix of DigiCart IIs and DigiCart/Es. The pinout used on the
Remote Control port can be found in Appendix A, Interface Wiring. Specifics of supported protocols
can be found in Appendix B, Serial Control Protocols.
Remote Bus
The Remote Bus connector on DigiCart/E is used to daisy-chain remote commands to several
DigiCarts. The Remote Bus can be connected to a mix of DigiCart IIs and DigiCart/Es. Automation
systems can also control DigiCarts through this port. (The Remote Bus connector should not be used
as an input when an RC-320 is connected to the Remote Control port)
8 •••• Installation
See “Set Remote Control” in the Setup menu for machine addressing. The pinout used on the Remote
Control port can be found in Appendix A, Interface Wiring.
GPI/O Connector
T
RANSPORT CONTROLS
The PLAY, STOP, RECORD, PAUSE and LOOP remote control inputs are optically isolated from
DigiCart/E's circuitry; a common floating return is provided. +12V may be sourced from pin 17, or
provided from an external source. Current limiting devices are provided within DigiCart/E so that
voltage may be applied directly between ground on pin 4, and any of the transport control inputs.
NOTE: If +12V is sourced from DigiCart/E, the optical isolators no longer provide isolation. Refer
to the partial schematic of the DigiCart/E interface circuits in,Appendix A, Interface Wiring.
T
RANSPORT LAMPS/TALLY OUTPUTS
Open-collector outputs are provided for the PLAY, STOP, RECORD, PAUSE and LOOP tally
outputs. An open-collector transistor is used to bring the low side to ground to turn on the external
lamp. A +12V source is available on pin 17 of the remote connector for use with external lamps.
Refer to the partial schematic in Appendix A, Interface Wiring.
C
UE OUTPUT — SECONDARY
Just as with NAB analog tape carts, cue markers can be recorded to trigger the PLAY buttons on other
machines, or as an "alert" or end-of-message cue. For applications other than broadcast, they may be
used to provide flag codes or a status output for interface with show controllers, automation systems,
or lighting and special effects devices.
An open collector output for the Secondary Cue signal is provided on Pins 18 and 19. This low-level
control is designed to switch a maximum of 28V at 500mA. Refer to the schematic in Appendix A,
Interface Wiring.
Aux Serial Control
An EIA-485 (RS-485) serial port is included on the rear panel. DigiCart/E supports ES-Bus and
Peripheral Bus protocols, selectable from the Setup menu. All of the functions of DigiCart/E can be
accessed and controlled via this serial port. EIA-485 is a multi-drop version of the EIA-422
specification, and is fully compatible.
With properly terminated lines this port can communicate over 1,000 meters. The pinout used on the
Remote Control port can be found in Appendix A, Interface Wiring. Specifics of supported protocols
can be found in Appendix B, Serial Control Protocols.
Alphanumeric Keyboard
An alphanumeric keyboard may be connected to the keyboard connector on your DigiCart/E for
controlling the machine and adding names to cuts, directories, Playlists and disks. Available models
include a standard 101-key keyboard, a small footprint mini-keyboard (Model RC-205), or an infraredlinked mini-keyboard (Model RC-235) available from 360 Systems. Contact 360 Systems for details
on these accessories.
The SETUP menu must be set to your choice of the standard 101-key PC-AT style keyboard or minikeyboard types.
Network
An RJ-45 connector is provided for connection to the Ethernet Audio network.
Installation •••• 9
IEEE-1394
This feature is not currently implemented.
D
IGITAL AUDIO
The pinout for the digital audio ports can be found in Appendix A, Interface Wiring.
A
NALOG AUDIO
The pinout for the analog audio ports can be found in Appendix A, Interface Wiring.
10 •••• Installation
Chapter 2
Control Panel
LCD Display
DigiCart/E employs a 240 x 64 pixel graphics LCD with a backlight as it’s main display. The display is
generally divided into three areas. In the upper left area are the command lines that show machine dialogs,
status, and menus. The upper right area is used to display context sensitive navigation clues. The lower
area is used to display lists of files in a directory. The selection knob or navigation arrow buttons can scroll
lists.
LED Indicators
There are a series of LED indicators located below the LCD on the front panel to indicate machine settings
and I/O conditions. These indicators are arranged in three groups, I/O, Format, and a miscellaneous group.
I/O
Four front panel I/O indicators note the sample rate printed to the disk during record. Available
sample rates are 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K. During Playback, the I/O indicators show the sample rate at
the connectors, while the recorded sample rate of the file being played is displayed on the LCD.
DigiCart/E has separate Setup menu settings for record and play sample rates, see “Setup Menu
Features” on page 23 for descriptions.
Format
Two front panel Format indicators note the word size (24- or 16-bit) of the recorded file. During
Playback, the I/O indicators show the sample rate at the connectors, while the recorded sample rate of
the file being played is displayed on the LCD. DigiCart/E has separate Setup menu settings for record
and play word size, see “Setup Menu Features” on page 23 for descriptions.
Control Panel •••• 11
Miscellaneous
Ext Sync illuminates to indicate that sync source is set to an external reference in the Setup menu. The
LED blinks if there is no valid sync signal presented at the connector.
The Dithered LED illuminates during record when 24-bit digital audio is being dithered down to a 16bit word size. It is also turned on during playback of a 24-bit cut when the output word size is set to
16-Bits. Dithering settings can be changed in the Setup menus.
SRC illuminates to indicate that the Sample Rate Converter has been switched into the data path
between the recorded file and connectors. SRC may illuminate during either record or playback. SRC
settings can be changed in the Setup menus.
When the machine is idle with Input Monitors on, or in Record Ready, or while recording; the front panel
indicators show the state of the signal to be recorded.
When the machine is idle with Input Monitors off, or while playing a cut; the front panel indicators show
the state of the currently selected cut.
The EXT SYNC indicator shows the state of the receiver when D-Net Receiver is on, or a D-Net Receive is
in progress. All other front panel indicators are turned off. EXT SYNC is off when there is no signal at the
receiver. The indication is on when there is a valid signal at the receiver, and the indication blinks when
there is a non-conforming signal at the receiver.
All front panel indicators are off while a D-Net send is in progress.
Peak Level Meters
DigiCart/E uses quasi-peak reading LED level meters for monitoring left and right channel audio levels.
These meters have been selected over standard VU meters for their advantages in monitoring digital audio.
When a +4dBu reference signal is applied to an analog input, the amplitude of the resulting digital signal
will be 16dB below digital full scale. Unity gain is always maintained from analog input to analog output,
unless the cut’s output gain has been adjusted.
The meters on DigiCart/E have a Clip level indication. The Clip LED will turn on during record whenever
the signal exceeds digital full scale. If a clipped file is played, the Clip LED will only turn ON during the
period when the signal exceeds digital full scale.
Headphone Jack
DigiCart/E has a ¼” stereo headphone jack on the front panel for convenient monitoring. The master
volume control for this jack is set via a menu item in Setup|Set Headphone Level. The level can be adjusted
from 0-64 (1dB per step), and is saved in non-volatile memory.
Selection Knob
The front panel selection knob can be rotated to:
• Select audio files (Cuts) for playback or editing
• Scroll and select items in a list
• Select from different values in a menu
• Adjust values in editable fields
12 •••• Control Panel
Buttons
T
HE NAVIGATION ARROWS
The NAVIGATION ARROW buttons provide an alternate selection method to the front panel selection
knob and are similarly used to:
• Navigate between drive, directory and cut levels
• Select audio files (Cuts) for playback or editing
• Select from different values in a menu
• Select units for editing operations
• Move the cursor during naming operations
T
HE
The
ENTER B
ENTER
UTTON
button is used to:
• Confirm, execute, or continue an operation
• Answer “Yes” to a query from the display
• Save a playlist
T
HE
The
EXIT B
EXIT
UTTON
button is used to:
• Exit from a menu
• Cancel or abort an operation
• Answer “No” to a query from the display
On keyboards, the Escape
T
HE
DRIVES B
The
DRIVES
UTTON
button is used to immediately display a drive selection list. The button illuminates when the
[ESC]
key is the equivalent to the
display is at the Drives level.
T
HE
The
DIRS B
DIRS
UTTON
button is used to immediately display a list of all available directories on the current drive. The
button illuminates when the display is at the Directory level.
EXIT
button.
T
HE
The
FILES B
FILES
UTTON
button is used to immediately display a scrollable list of all available files in the current
directory. The button illuminates when the display is at the Files level.
Control Panel •••• 13
T
HE
SETUP B
The
SETUP
selecting
change the parameter setting. Setup options are displayed alphabetically in a rotating list. Press
SETUP
to exit the setup menu.
UTTON
button is used to access functions related to machine preferences and configurations. After
SETUP
, use the selection knob to choose the parameter to be changed. Use the Arrow buttons to
EXIT
or
Setup settings are stored in non-volatile memory. The button illuminates while in Setup mode.
T
HE
The
UTILITY
UTILITY
BUTTON
button is used to access functions such as Hot Key assignments, copy, rename, delete, and
disk format operations. Use the selection knob to select a particular Utility function. Utility options are
displayed alphabetically in a rotating list. Press the
EXIT
to terminate the selection. Press
UTILITY
or
ENTER
EXIT
button to initiate the chosen function. Press
to exit the utility menu.
Your last menu selection is stored in temporary memory. For example, if you need to repeat a copy
operation, that option will be displayed first upon subsequent presses of the
UTILITY
button. After
recording, the Rename utility is pre-selected. The button illuminates while in Utility mode.
T
HE
EDIT
BUTTON
The
EDIT
button is used to access non-destructive editing functions such as head and tail trims, and fades.
It is also used to edit a playlist. Rotate the selection knob to view options.
Your last menu selection is stored in temporary memory. For example, if you need to repeat a fade-in
operation, that option will be displayed first upon subsequent presses of the
T
HE
RECORD B
When the
RECORD
UTTON
button is pressed, DigiCart/E will:
EDIT
button.
Turn on the Input Monitor function and enter the Record Ready mode. The LED meters will be active
and the
Pressing the
RECORD
PLAY
button will illuminate.
button will initiate recording and illuminate the
PLAY
button. If a threshold level is
set, recording will actually begin when the audio level exceeds the threshold level setting.
Audio will be recorded at the sampling rate and recording format currently selected in the SETUP MENU.
If using digital inputs, the sampling rate will be automatically set at the same sampling rate as that of the
incoming signal, unless Sample Rate Conversion is selected.
The RECORD Button in Edit Mode
When in Edit mode, the
RECORD
button is used to place or relocate a Secondary Cue. A Secondary
Cue is a signal used for control applications. When playing a cut while Edit is active, both the press
and release of the
RECORD
button will illuminate when pressed and throughout the duration of a Secondary Cue.
RECORD
button are stored and determine the duration of the Secondary Cue. The
Secondary Cues will be activated when playing outside of Edit mode, but there is no front panel
indication. Only one Secondary Cue can be recorded per cut. To change the timing of a Secondary
Cue, simply re-record it. To delete it from the selected cut, hold
RECORD
and press
EXIT
while in
Edit mode. See Appendix A for Secondary Cue GPI/O wiring details.
14 •••• Control Panel
T
HE
PLAY B
UTTON
Press the
PLAY
button to initiate playback of a cut or Playlist. Play has precedence over other machine
functions and will automatically cancel Setup, Utility, or Edit menus and begin to play the currently
selected cut or playlist.
Subsequent presses of the
PLAY
button will cause the next cued selection (see Quickstacks and Playlists) to
play immediately or on completion of the current one, dependent on the RESTART MODE.
A blinking
A steadily illuminated
T
HE
Press the
PLAY
STOP B
STOP
button indicates another cut is ready for Follow-On play or that Loop mode is active.
PLAY
button indicates DigiCart/E will stop after the current cut.
UTTON
button to terminate playback or recording. When DigiCart/E’s “virtual tape transport” is
stopped, the button will be illuminated.
During Follow-on play, or playing a Playlist or loop; pressing
the present cut. Press
When DigiCart/E is not playing a file,
STOP
a second time to stop the current cut and delete the Follow-on play list.
STOP
may be pressed to display information about
STOP
will end playback upon completion of
[INFO]
the
current drive number, name, and the available recording time remaining on the drive (based on the currently
selected recording format).
T
HE
VIEW LIST B
UTTON
The
VIEW LIST
is a toggle button that illuminates when active. The displayed list is scrollable.
button is used to immediately display the contents of a Quickstack or Playlist.
VIEW LIST
can be used
VIEW LIST
only when there is a current list to view. If there is no current list, the button will not respond.
T
HE
LOOP B
Press the
until the loop is disabled. Looping can only be activated during Play. The
the
PLAY
To disable a loop, press
current cut will finish playing, but will not continue to loop. Press
UTTON
LOOP
button to cause the current cut (or current cut in the queue or Playlist) to continue to cycle
LOOP
button will illuminate and
button will flash to indicate Looping.
LOOP
again or press
STOP
. The
LOOP
button indicator will turn off, and the
STOP
a second time to immediately stop
playback of the current cut.
To disable a loop that was enabled while playing a Quickstack or Playlist, press
once. The
LOOP
button indicator will turn off, and the current cut will finish playing, but will not continue
LOOP
again or press
to loop. After the current cut has finished, the Quickstack or Playlist will continue playing. Pressing
a second time will immediately stop playback (Quickstacks will be deleted).
T
HE
The
PAUSE B
PAUSE
UTTON
button is used to:
1. Pause playback. The button illuminates when active. Press PAUSE again to disengage it and
playback will resume from the paused position.
STOP
STOP
Control Panel •••• 15
2. Pause recordings. The button illuminates when active. Press PAUSE again to disengage it
and recording will resume from the paused position. Note that Pause during Record does not
work when using digital input.
3. In Stop mode, Pause is used to build a Playlist.
B
ANK SELECT AND HOT KEY BUTTONS
DigiCart/E has four Hot Keys buttons on its front panel (labeled 1 through 4), which can be used to trigger
playout of a pre-assigned cut or Playlist. Any cut or Playlist can be assigned to any Hot Key. Hot Keys
allow any cut to be played on command by a single key press. Whenever an assigned Hot Key is pressed,
the corresponding cut is selected and played at once. A Hot Key will interrupt any other operation or
playback of other cut that may have been on-going.
Hot Keys can be triggered from an RC-series remote control, a keyboard, or the DigiCart/E front panel.
The front panel buttons are arranged into two banks that can be switched by pressing the
BANK SELECT
button. In this way, up to eight Hot Keys can be set up for play from the front panel. The button toggles
between the two banks, and illuminates when bank B is active.
Zip Drive
The ejector button on the front panel of the ZIP Drive illuminates to indicate Zip Drive activity. The button
does not illuminate unless the media is accessed.
If spun down, remember to allow a few extra seconds for the Zip disk to spin up the next time you want to
use it. You can force the cart to spin up in preparation of playback by selecting a cut or moving to the
Directory level and back to the Files level.
Z
IP DISK LOADING
DigiCart/E must be powered on to enable normal disk loading and unloading.
The access door on the Zip Disk drive opens inward when a disk is inserted. Zip disks are inserted shutterend first, label side up. During insertion, the shutter slides open to allow the heads access to the two data
surfaces. When loaded, the disk is locked in the drive.
Note: If the disk is difficult to insert, check its orientation and try again. DO NOT FORCE THE DISK
INTO THE DRIVE. Objects inserted into the front of the drive may damage it. Such action will void the
manufacturer's warranty.
Z
IP DISK REMOVAL
1. Allow the Zip Disk drive to complete servicing the command requiring disk access. If
desired, press
STOP
.
2. When the disk has stopped, the disk lock/eject mechanism will disengage.
3. Eject the disk by pressing the eject button.
NOTE: During certain operations, Zip Disk ejection is disabled by the DigiCart/E software. The Zip drive
“Remembers” attempts to eject the disk and defers ejection until it is enabled by the software.
16 •••• Control Panel
Chapter 3
File Organization and Navigation
Overview of Drive and Directory Structure
DigiCart/E retains the same drive and directory structure as previous DigiCarts. That is, DigiCart/E can
have up to seven “logical” drives (numbered 0-6). Drive 0 is always the internal Zip drive. Drive 1 is
always the internal hard disk. The internal hard disk can be partitioned into 1 to 5 logical drive partitions
(see the discussion on Format Disk under Utility Menu Features). Finally, any of the remaining drive
numbers (four max.) may be mapped to network drives, see the discussion on Mount Network Drive under
Utility Menu Features.
It may seem overwhelming to consider that a DigiCart/E may access tens of thousands of individual
recordings and Playlists, all of which are instantly accessible upon your simple command. Yet the ID and
name system of DigiCart/E simplifies and clarifies the location and identity of every cut and Playlist.
NATIONAL NEWS
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
S
Drive Level
Directories
Each may contain up to
1000 recordings
Stack Directory
May contain up to
1000 Playlists
Each drive is automatically given 11 directories (numbered 0 through 9, plus “S”). The number of
directories cannot be changed, but directories can be labeled for convenience. Each directory contains
1,000 Index numbers for audio files, also called “Cuts”. Cuts can be of any length, but are identified by this
fixed Indexing scheme. Directory S is reserved for up to 1,000 Playlists (or Stack files). Playlists are not
audio files, but merely listings of file IDs. Audio files cannot be stored in the Stack Directory.
Dozens of “virtual drives” can be created on the network, enabling you to easily organize your projects.
You may choose to organize your network with a combination of widely shared and user-specific drives.
For example, there could be centralized repositories for music, sound effects, or other homogenous material
that should be made available to everyone. Concurrently, people working on Production A also need a
specific network drive for their unique source material, work-in-progress and finished work. The Ethernet
Audio network scheme supports both typical needs.
File Organization and Navigation •••• 17
DigiCart/E provides a straightforward identification and naming approach suitable for the most advanced
external controls. These range from QWERTY keyboards and 360 Systems’ RC-series remote controls, to
serially interfaced PCs and industry standard ES-Bus or Peripheral Bus automation and editing controllers.
Files may be accessed by name or by their file ID number. The key to the file ID system is an easily
understood five-character basic identifier. The first character represents the logical disk drive. There are
two choices in the original factory setup:
Drive Level ID:
Indicates DigiCart
drive number 0-6
Index number within
File ID:
each directory
1 . 8 027 L
Playlist modifier:
Directory ID:
Indicates DigiCart Directory
Indicates L for linear, or
R for Rotating Playlist
number 0-9, or S for Stack
(Playlist) directory
After a "." (decimal) the second character represents one of ten directories, ranging from 0 - 9. A unique
eleventh character, "S" is used to identify a Playlist Directory (earlier called a Stack Directory).
The next three digits identify individual cuts or Playlists: 000-999 so there can be 1000 cuts in each of the
10 regular directories. An extra character follows Playlist numbers: L for Linear Playlists, R for Rotating
Playlists. For example:
Cut 27 in Directory 8 on the internal hard disk would have the ID: 1.8027
Rotating Playlist 5 on the Zip drive would be identified as: 0.S005R
Every drive, directory, cut and Playlist can be given a 15-character alphanumeric name, so you do not have
to constantly crosscheck between a printed index and the screen display. DigiCart/E can sort contents
numerically by file ID, or alphabetically by name.
Drive Organizational Strategy
As a network organizational strategy, it is recommended that all DigiCart/E recorders in a network be
configured largely with the same drive organization. This will simplify network management, and sharing
of Playlists and Hot Key assignments.
The internal disk shipped with DigiCart/E has a data capacity of 20GB, or more. This is enough to store
about 20 hours of 24-bit, 48K stereo audio. Each DigiCart drive has 10 fixed directories for audio
recordings and one additional directory for Playlists. Each directory can hold up to 1000 files of any length.
Depending upon your recording and organizational requirements, you may choose to partition this internal
disk with 2 to 5 equally sized partitions.
DigiCart/E has a flexible drive arrangement that allows a mix of internal drive partitions and network
drives. There are seven (0 through 6) drive selection numbers available on a DigiCart. Drive 0 is always
the Zip drive. Drive 1 is always the first hard disk partition. Drive 6 is always available for a network drive
assignment. Drives 2 through 5 can be either internal disk partitions or mapped to network drives. As more
18 •••• File Organization and Navigation
local partitions are created, fewer drive numbers are available to map to network drives. Once the internal
disk is partitioned, drive numbers associated with those partitions cannot be re-mapped to network drives
unless the internal disk is reformatted.
For example, if the internal disk is partitioned into three drives (Numbers 1, 2, and 3), three drive numbers
(4, 5, and 6) are available to map network drives. If the internal disk is not partitioned (is only Drive 1),
then drives 3, 4, 5, and 6 are available to map network drives; Drive 2 is not available in this case. See
Allocation of Logical Drives on page 38 for detailed information on setting up drives.
Network drives become available to DigiCart/E by mapping their mount path to a DigiCart/E drive number.
A mount path is simply a shared directory on the server. From the DigiCart/E’s point of view, it looks like
another drive, hence the name “network drive.” Using the Mount Network Drive utility, a list of available
mount paths from the server can be viewed and selected for mounting to a particular drive number. Drive
number-to-mount path associations can be changed at any time. Network drives are available to all
DigiCart/E recorders concurrently.
A common scheme for network organization will be to create a central library drive on the network. The
central library is intended to hold recordings and Playlists that need to be available to all DigiCart/E
recorders on the network. Like all other DigiCart drives, the central library drive will have ten subdirectories and a Playlist (Stack) directory. Each sub-directory can be organized to hold homogenous
material such as music or sound effects. While many “virtual drives” can be created on the network server,
consideration should be given to the organizational strategy, so that DigiCart/E users will be able to locate
desired drive mount paths.
Different DigiCart/E recorders in the facility may each have a different number of internal drive partitions,
depending upon individual work requirements. Since drive 6 is always available for network use,
regardless of the number of hard disk partitions, it should be assigned to your central library. Drives 3, 4,
and 5 can be assigned to more task-specific network drives, such as a particular entertainment project or
news production.
N
ETWORK PLAYLISTS AND HOT KEYS
Playlists on network drives can be accessed and played by any DigiCart/E. It is recommended that all files
called from a Playlist reside on the same drive as the Playlist (sources can be in any directory on the drive).
Because individual DigiCarts might have unique drive path assignments, Playlists may not play correctly
(or at all) if calls are being made to drives that are not correctly mapped.
Hot Key assignment lists (a new feature of DigiCart/E) allow users at any DigiCart/E on the network to
access the same Hot Key assignments. This allows several people to use the same setup when working
together on a production. Hot Key assignment lists can be used concurrently.
Each drive contains one Hot Key assignment list. The Hot Key list on each drive is automatically selected
when the PLAY HOT KEY USING parameter in the Setup menu is set to “Net Drive.” All files called
from a Hot Key list must reside on the same drive as the Hot Key list, itself, though source files can be in
any directory on that drive.
The PLAY HOT KEY USING parameter can be set to “Local Assignment,” causing DigiCart/E to use a
different Hot Key assignment list that is associated only with that particular DigiCart. Local Hot Keys can
be assigned to cuts or Playlists on a local drive, only. If the PLAY HOT KEYS USING parameter is set to
“Local Assignments”, the Local Hot Keys list will always be used, regardless of the current drive.
File Organization and Navigation •••• 19
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