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
Audio I/O Interface Table	66
Sync Input	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

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
Transfer Rates	73
Electrical Specification for D-Net Transfers	74
D-Net Setup ..................................................................................	74
Making a File Transfer	77
Wildcard Transfers	77
Transfer Messages ........................................................................	78
Source Machine Displays	78
Aborted Transfer	78
Receiving Machine Displays	78
D-Net Messages............................................................................	79
D-Net Implementation on Instant Replay® and Short/cut™.........	79

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: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

E-mail [e-mail] 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:

is a registered trademark of 360 Systems.

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.

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
	INFORMATION.
FRANÇAIS	ATTENTION: VEUILLEZ VOUS RÉFÉRER AU MODE D’EMPLOI
	POUR UNE INFORMATION IMPORTANTE.
ITALIANO	ATTENZIONE: FATE RIFERIMENTO AL MANUALE PER
	INFORMAZIONI IMPORTANTI.
ESPAÑOL	ATENTCION: FAVOR DE REFERIR AL MANUAL DE OPERACION
	POR INFORMACION IMPORTANTE.
ENGLISH	WARNING: ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD.
FRANÇAIS	AVERTISSEMENT: DANGER DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE.
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.

FILE FORMAT INDICATORS ON THE FRONT PANEL LCD

DigiCart II Compatible

Format	Format	Sample Rate	DigiCart/E	File Suffix
	Code		Support
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

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

NOTES 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)

96K/16-bit

88.2K/16-bit

48K/16-bit

44.1K/16-bit

48K/16-bit

LINEAR

LINEAR

LINEAR

LINEAR

DOLBY AC-2

Storage per

Not available

Not available

86 min

94 min

462 min

1GB

Zip 100 MB

Not available

Not available

8 min, 40 sec

9 min, 25 sec

46 min, 20 sec

Zip 250 MB

Not available

Not available

21 min, 40 sec

23 min, 30 sec

115 min, 45 sec

DRIVE STORAGE TIMES

(24-BIT STEREO)

96K/24-bit

88.2K/24-bit

48K/24-bit

44.1K/24-bit

48K/24-bit

LINEAR

LINEAR

LINEAR

LINEAR

DOLBY AC-2

Storage per

28 min

31 min

57 min

63 min

Not available

1GB

Zip 100 MB

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Not available

Zip 250 MB

7 min, 14 sec

7 min, 50 sec

14 min, 27 sec

15 min, 40 sec

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

• Sixteen Hot Keys for Single Keystroke Playback

• Full Functions for Production Room Operations

• Controls four DigiCart/E recorders

4 • Overview

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	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.
Position Arrows	Select drives and directories.
Select Arrows	Review cuts by scrolling through directory listing. Displays cut name and time.
Hot Keys	Provide rapid playback of sixteen pre-assigned cuts or Playlists.
Find (NO DEDICATED KEY)	Access cuts from any directory (including the Playlist directory), by entering the ID number.
Keypad	Use these 10 keys to enter cut ID numbers. Simply punch in the number and hit Enter for
	visual verification of the proper cut— then press Play.
Playlist Directory	Direct access to the Playlist directory.
Cancel	Cancels incorrect entries.
Enter	Enters/confirms new selections or entries.
Assign Hot Keys	Selected cuts or Playlists are "mapped" to the sixteen Hot Keys.
View Playlist	Visual preview of a Playlist before use.
Make Playlist	Assemble groups of cuts together.
Play-Stop-Record	Control DigiCart transport functions via RC-320.
Loop	Plays a cut or a Playlist continuously.
Pause	Places machine on "hold" in both Play and Record modes.
Edit Menu	Selects Edit Menu options.
Setup Menu	Selects Setup Menu options.
Utility Menu	Selects Utility Menu options.

Overview • 5

Mechanical Specifications

Dimensions	1.875" x 11.5" x 7" (47.6mm x 292mm x 178mm) (H-W-D)
Weight	5 lbs. (2.3 kg)
Display	2-line x 20 character display.
Power Supply	External UL/CSA/VDE approved 9-volt modular supply. Feeds RC-320 through 9-conductor
	cable via connector at DigiCart end.
Cable	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, not for safety ground	Thumbscrew
Remote Control Port – dedicated to RC-320 Remote Controls	9-pin “D” female
Remote Bus Port - EIA-485 (EIA-422 compatible) – connection of	15-pin “D” female
Remote Bus to other DigiCarts
GPI/O interface	25-pin “D” female
Serial Port - EIA-485 (EIA-422 compatible) serial communications	9-pin “D” female
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	3-pin XLR female
output	3-pin XLR male
IEC-958 TYPE II or AES/SMPTE 75Ω digital audio input	Dual BNC female
Right and Left balanced analog audio outputs	3-pin XLR male
Right and Left balanced analog audio inputs	3-pin XLR female

Installation • 7

POWER

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.

CONTROL 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

TRANSPORT 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.

TRANSPORT 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.

CUE 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.

DIGITAL AUDIO

The pinout for the digital audio ports can be found in Appendix A, Interface Wiring.

ANALOG 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 (24or 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

THE 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

THE ENTER BUTTON

The ENTER button is used to:

•Confirm, execute, or continue an operation

•Answer “Yes” to a query from the display

•Save a playlist

THE EXIT BUTTON

The EXIT 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 [ESC] key is the equivalent to the EXIT button.

THE DRIVES BUTTON

The DRIVES button is used to immediately display a drive selection list. The button illuminates when the display is at the Drives level.

THE DIRS BUTTON

The DIRS 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.

THE FILES BUTTON

The FILES 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

THE SETUP BUTTON

The SETUP button is used to access functions related to machine preferences and configurations. After selecting SETUP, use the selection knob to choose the parameter to be changed. Use the Arrow buttons to change the parameter setting. Setup options are displayed alphabetically in a rotating list. Press EXIT or SETUP to exit the setup menu.

Setup settings are stored in non-volatile memory. The button illuminates while in Setup mode.

THE UTILITY BUTTON

The UTILITY 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 ENTER button to initiate the chosen function. Press EXIT to terminate the selection. Press UTILITY or EXIT 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.

THE 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 EDIT button.

THE RECORD BUTTON

When the RECORD button is pressed, DigiCart/E will:

Turn on the Input Monitor function and enter the Record Ready mode. The LED meters will be active and the RECORD button will illuminate.

Pressing the PLAY 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 are stored and determine the duration of the Secondary Cue. The RECORD button will illuminate when pressed and throughout the duration of a Secondary Cue.

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

THE PLAY BUTTON

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 PLAY button indicates another cut is ready for Follow-On play or that Loop mode is active.

A steadily illuminated PLAY button indicates DigiCart/E will stop after the current cut.

THE STOP BUTTON

Press the STOP 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 STOP will end playback upon completion of the present cut. Press STOP a second time to stop the current cut and delete the Follow-on play list.

When DigiCart/E is not playing a file, STOP may be pressed to display information about [INFO] the current drive number, name, and the available recording time remaining on the drive (based on the currently selected recording format).

THE VIEW LIST BUTTON

The VIEW LIST button is used to immediately display the contents of a Quickstack or Playlist. VIEW LIST is a toggle button that illuminates when active. The displayed list is scrollable. VIEW LIST can be used only when there is a current list to view. If there is no current list, the button will not respond.

THE LOOP BUTTON

Press the LOOP button to cause the current cut (or current cut in the queue or Playlist) to continue to cycle until the loop is disabled. Looping can only be activated during Play. The LOOP button will illuminate and the PLAY button will flash to indicate Looping.

To disable a loop, press LOOP again or press STOP. The LOOP button indicator will turn off, and the current cut will finish playing, but will not continue to loop. Press 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 LOOP again or press STOP once. The LOOP button indicator will turn off, and the current cut will finish playing, but will not continue to loop. After the current cut has finished, the Quickstack or Playlist will continue playing. Pressing STOP a second time will immediately stop playback (Quickstacks will be deleted).

THE PAUSE BUTTON

The PAUSE 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.

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.

BANK 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.

ZIP 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.

ZIP 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:
								File ID:
Indicates DigiCart
						Index number within
drive number 0-6
						each directory
	1	.	8			027		L

Directory ID:

Indicates DigiCart Directory

number 0-9, or S for Stack

(Playlist) directory

Playlist modifier: Indicates L for linear, or R for Rotating Playlist

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.

NETWORK 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