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TCG
Time Code Generator
Software option for the SR-112
Owner’s manual
Version 4.01
October 2016
All materials herein © Brainstorm Electronics, Inc.
Brainstorm Electronics reserves the right to change or modify the
contents of this manual at any time.
Credits
Concept: AID, Brainstorm Electronics
Software: Gerry Lester
Manual: Bernard Frings, Gerry Lester
Technical Assistance: Jim Pace
Brainstorm Electronics, Inc.
www.brainstormtime.com
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Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION............................................. 2
2. INSTALLATION ............................................. 2
3. QUICK START .............................................. 3
4. MODES OF OPERATION ...................................... 3
5. STATUS PAGES (LCD DISPLAY) .................................. 4
6. MENUS DESCRIPTIONS ....................................... 5
01 - Mode .............................................. 5
09 - Alternate Phase with 50&60Hz Video ...................... 5
10 - Generator Format ..................................... 5
11 - Generator Video Ref ................................... 6
12 - Generator Delay ...................................... 6
13 - Generator Start Time ................................... 6
14 - Generator User Bits .................................... 6
20 - Repair Mode ......................................... 6
21 - Repair Flywheel Time ................................... 7
22 - Repair Ramp Up Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
23 - Repair Input Persistency ................................. 7
24 - Repair Time Code Jam Window ........................... 8
25 - Repair Show Cue ..................................... 8
26 - Repair Show Cue Minimum .............................. 8
27 - Repair Offset ......................................... 8
98 - Feature Key .......................................... 8
7. REPAIR FLYWHEEL STAGES .................................... 9
8. REPAIR MODE OPTIONS ...................................... 9
9. GENERATOR SWITCHES AND LED’S ............................ 11
10. ERRORS: LCD DISPLAY (STATUS PAGES).......................... 12
11. ERROR MESSAGES: 7 SEGMENT DISPLAY .........................13
12. OTHER ERROR MESSAGES .................................... 14
13. NON-VOLATILE MEMORY .................................... 14
1 4. GENLOCKING TO A 50/60HZ VIDEO REFERENCE ................. 14
1 5. OPTION CARD - SERIAL PORT ................................. 15
3. Quick Start
3.1. GENERATE NEW TIME CODE
- Menu 01: select GENERATE
- Menu 10: select the time code FORMAT
- Menu 11: select VIDEO REFERENCE (if required)
- Menu 13: set the START time
- Press the [GEN RUN] key on the front panel
3.2. REGEN TIME CODE
- Menu 01: select REPAIR
- Menu 10: select the time code FORMAT
- Menu 11: select VIDEO REFERENCE (if required)
- Menu 20: select COPY
3.3. JAM SYNC TIME CODE
- Menu 01: select REPAIR
- Menu 10: select the time code FORMAT
- Menu 11: select VIDEO REFERENCE (if required)
- Menu 20: select JAM
Note: Press the [
No change will take place until the [
enter] key prior to exiting a menu or to exiting the SET UP mode.
4. Modes of Operation
The TCG brings 2 new modes of operation: GENERATE and REPAIR (see menu 01).
4.1. GENERATE
In this mode, you can generate any format time code, locked to the SR-112
internal crystal or referenced to an external video (SD or HD).
enter] key is pressed.
1. Introduction
The TCG option enables the SR-112 to generate time code, locked to an external
video reference or not, for multiple applications:
• Generate new master time code, at any standard rate;
• Re-generate existing time code, locked to external video or not;
• Delay time code up to 60 msec (useful when aligning audio to video)
• Offset time code
2. Installation
Be sure to update your SR-112 with the latest firmware (for information, please refer
to pages 16-19 of the SR-112 User’s Manual).
Once you have registered your TCG purchase, you will receive a unique
authorization key, a series of 4 numbers, separated by periods. This key is only valid
for the SR-112 with the serial number used during ordering. Enter this code via Menu
98 (see page 8) then reboot your unit. This authorization procedure only needs to
happen once, even with subsequent firmware updates.
4.2. REPAIR
Repair has 3 options: COPY, JAM and SHOW:
• COPY: the generator continuously copies the time code input, as long as
it continues to increment. It is the default value of the REPAIR mode.
This is used for eliminating drop-outs and reducing jitter on existing code.
• JAM: a one-time copy of the input time code is transferred to the
generator shortly after the input time code achieves play velocity. The
generator then increments as it would in GENERATE mode.
This is used for generating new code from a known start point.
• SHOW: a special setting for live shows where no frames are skipped or
duplicated (see page 9: Repair Modes).
GENERATE to VIDEO REF and REPAIR modes can be used in conjunction with the
DELAY feature as described in 6.5, menu 12.
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5. Status Pages (LCD Display)
With the TCG option installed, your SR-112 has 3 new status pages, in addition to
the 5 existing ones:
• TIME CODE INPUT STATUS
• TIME CODE INPUT READER - NEW -
• USER BITS IN
• GENERATOR STATUS 1 - NEW -
• GENERATOR STATUS 2 - NEW -
• VIDEO FORMAT
• TIME CODE/ VIDEO PHASE
• TIME CODE ERRORS
• TIME CODE INPUT READER
5.1. STATUS PAGES & OPERATING MODES
Some of the status pages are only available in certain modes, as shown in the following table. When switching to another mode, the current status display is preserved, but
changes to the default (*) if the current display is not available in the new mode.
Operating Modes
Status Display
Reshape Repair Generate
TIME CODE INPUT STATUS Y* Y* -
TIME CODE INPUT READER - Y -
USER BITS IN Y Y -
GENERATOR STATUS 1 - Y Y*
GENERATOR STATUS 2 - Y Y
VIDEO FORMAT Y Y Y
TIME CODE / VIDEO PHASE Y Y -
TIME CODE ERRORS Y Y Y
6. Menus Description
Gives visibility to the timecode input at times when the generator takes over
the 7-segment display.
• GENERATOR STATUS 1
Indicates the format and the frame rate of the generated time code.
Formats available are 24, 25, 30DF and 30ND.
Rates available are 23.976, 24, 25, 29.970 and 30.
The “XFrm” indicator comes on when the generator is creating 24 frame
code locked at 23.976Hz to an NTSC video reference. This is the only cross
frame mode currently supported.
• GENERATOR STATUS 2
The bottom line of this page is separated in 3 sections:
Left: Indicates the Repair option selected in menu 20 (Jam/Copy/Show)
Center: Indicates the Generator Delay in milliseconds.
The “DLY=xx” segment illuminates only when a delay has been
requested via the “Gen Delay” menu 12.
Right: Indicates the lock status of the regenerator (Unlk/Lock)
To access these different pages, press the [
up] or [down] key.
6.1. MENU 01: MODE
With the TCG enabled, the SR-112 has 3 different operating modes: RESHAPE
(default value), GENERATE and REPAIR. A corresponding LED illuminates on
the front panel (Status Section) to indicate the current selection.
Note: Menu 01 only appears when the TCG software option has been
installed since, without it, Reshape is the only mode available.
6.2. MENU 09: ALTERNATE PHASE WITH 50&60Hz VIDEO
Menu 09 allows the user to switch “A”/”B” phases when working with a 2x rate
video input. See chapter 14 for more information.
6.3. MENU 10: GENERATOR FORMAT
Select from the following options the type of time code to be generated:
• 24 at a rate of 23.976
• 24 at a rate of 24.000
• 25 at a rate of 25.000
• 30DF at a rate of 29.970
• 30ND at a rate of 29.970
• 30DF at a rate of 30.000
• 30ND at a rate of 30.000
This menu indicates settings. For Status, exit SET UP and go to ‘GEN STATUS 1’.
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6.4. MENUS 11: GENERATOR VIDEO REF
This selection determines if the generator is video referenced or not.
NOTE: If VID REF is selected in menu 11 but no video is present at the rear
panel connector, the front panel VIDEO REF LED will blink continuously.
6.5. MENUS 12: GENERATOR DELAY
Menu 12 lets you enter a value in milliseconds to delay the generator output in
‘REPAIR’ or ‘GEN w/ video ref’ modes. This value goes up to 60 milliseconds.
This function is useful to delay the audio when it is ahead of the video.
The “Gen Delay” menu is unique in that the generator delay is dynamically
adjusted as the menu value is incremented or decremented. It is not necessary
to press the [
When the TCG starts running and a delay has
been requested, the 7-segment display indicates
“Gen dly” for about 2 seconds (see 11.1).
This requested delay appears in the GEN STATUS 2 page (see page 4).
6.6. MENUS 13: GENERATOR START TIME
enter] key for the new value to take effect.
6.9. MENUS 21: REPAIR FLYWHEEL TIME
If the source time code drops out or becomes unreadable, the TCG repairs this
by flywheeling over the ‘bad’ area, generating good code.
Menu 21 sets the interval of time during which this happens. The choices are:
5fr, 15fr or infinite. Default value is 5 fr.
This setting applies to Copy and Jam only. In Show mode, flywheel is always
forced to infinite (see 8.3).
With infinite selected, after 15 fr of input code gap, the generator is in ‘free
run’ and the gen run LED blinks continuously (Copy and Jam only). To stop
the generator, press the [
6.10. MENUS 22: REPAIR RAMP UP TIME
gen run] button.
During the “Ramp Up” period the generator is inactive, and input code is
switched to the outputs as it would be in RESHAPE mode. Only at the end of
the “Ramp Up” period does the generator start to actively seek an opportunity
to begin jamming input time code into the generator stream.
Default “Ramp Up” is “None” and can be adjusted from “None” to 9.5 sec
with 0.5 sec increments.
This sets the frame number at which the TCG starts when [gen run] is pressed.
6.7. MENUS 14: GENERATOR USER BITS
This sets the User Bits of the generated time code.
6.8. MENUS 20: REPAIR MODE
Three Repair options are available: COPY (default), JAM and SHOW.
• COPY: the TCG continuously reads the time code input and regenerates the
exact same numbers.
• JAM: a one-time copy of the input time code is transferred to the generator
shortly after the input time code achieves play velocity. The generator then
increments as it would in GENERATE mode.
• SHOW: a setting made specifically for live shows where no frames are duplicated or skipped.
See chapter 8 for more on the repair options.
6.11. MENUS 23: REPAIR INPUT PERSISTENCY
The “Persistency” is the number of consecutive frames that the input time code
must be seen to be incrementing normally before the generator jams the input
time code into the generator stream.
The default value is 5 frames. It can be adjusted from None to 99 frames.
In “Copy” mode, the generator jams the input time code as long as the input
time code continues to increment.
There are two special “Persist” settings:
- “None” means that there is no requirement for the input time code to be
incrementing at all, and that the generator will use any valid number that it
receives.
- “None:No Comp” is the same as “None”, but the usual methods of
incrementing time code to compensate for internal reader and generator
delays is discarded. The input time code is transferred unaltered to the
generator stream and in that way, as long as input time code remains valid,
every input frame will be accounted for in the output stream.
The disadvantage of this mode is that there is a two (2) frame delay between
the input time code and the output generator code.
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6.12. MENUS 24: REPAIR TIME CODE JAM WINDOW
The repair “Window” setting is used only while the generator is locked to a
video reference and while it is copying or jamming from input time code. It
specifies, as a percentage of a frame, the size of the “window” on either side
of the video frame edge within which the input time code frame edge must fall
before the input code will be recognized by the generator.
The default 25% should be perfectly adequate to accommodate time code
which is not quite correctly in phase with the video reference. If however, for
example, the input time code is locked to the wrong video field, then it may be
necessary to open up this “window” to 50% or higher.
6.13. MENUS 25: SHOW CUE
In SHOW REPAIR mode, the TCG automatically re-jams when the TC source
jumps to a new location (or Cue), such as the beginning of the show for example.
To avoid an accidental re-jam during a live show, menu 25 lets you restrict the
direction of that jump. Options are ‘Back Only’, ‘Forward Only’, and ‘Back and
Forward’. A 4th option, ‘Off’, disables automatic re-jam altogether. Default value
is ‘Back Only’.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON MENU OPERATION:
Remember to always press the [
!
menu or to exiting the SET UP mode.
No change will take place until the [
7. Repair Flywheel Stages
In Repair mode, flywheeling happens when the time code source disappears (dropout) or becomes unreadable, and new time code is generated. The flywheeling
duration is set in menu 21. Choices are 5fr, 15fr and Infinite. There are 2 stages of
Flywheel:
7.1. FLYWHEEL Stage 1
With 5 or 15fr selected (COPY and JAM only), the generator continues to run
through the input gap (of either 5 or 15 frames), and then:
- returns to normal Repair mode if timecode re-appears,
- stops if it doesn’t.
enter] key to save your settings prior to exiting a
enter] key is pressed.
6.14. MENUS 26: SHOW CUE MINIMUM
In SHOW REPAIR mode, menu 26 sets the minimum distance required between
the input time and the generator time (in minutes) before a complete re-start
can be initiated when the input code jumped to a new location, as described
in 6.13 above. Default value is set at 10 min.
6.15. MENUS 27: GENERATOR OFFSET FOR REPAIR MODE
Numbers can be dialed in up to 23:59:59:29, but after entry they will be
recalculated to fall within the +/- 12 hour range. Positive or negative numbers
are accepted. Repair offset can be expressed as drop frame.
In repair mode, time code Bypass is inhibited when the generator is stopped
and the offest is non-zero.
6.16. MENUS 98: FEATURE KEY
7.2. FLYWHEEL Stage 2
With ‘Infinite’ selected, after the input gap of 15fr has expired (stage 1), the
generator is in free run. This Infinite Flywheel state is indicated by:
- a continuously flashing GEN RUN LED in JAM or COPY modes, or
- a continuously flashing GENERATE LED in SHOW mode.
During Infinite Flywheel, to stop the generator, press the [
in COPY or JAM modes and hold it for 2 seconds while in SHOW mode.
8. Repair mode options
Three options are available in Repair Mode: COPY, JAM and SHOW. They are set in
menu 20.
8.1. REPAIR - COPY
In COPY mode, once the generator starts running, timecode is transferred
continuously to the generator time register as long as the input code is coherent
and within all the required windows (menus 23 & 24). This generator synthesized
output has all bits and frame edges in the right places, but uses the timecode
numbers from the input stream, assuming they are coherent.
gen run] button while
Menu 98 lets you enter a unique key to authorize certain features on your SR-112,
such as the TCG. For more information, see ‘Installation’ page 2.
During an input dropout the generator will continue to increment.
If the input time code jumps to a new location, the generator will follow these
numbers, so long as they are coherent.
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8.2. REPAIR - JAM
In JAM mode, timecode is transferred from input code to generator only
ONCE when input code starts up. After that, the input numbers are completely
disregarded.
During an input dropout the generator will continue to increment.
A jump to a new location will have no effect on the output since the generator
disregards the input numbers.
8.3. REPAIR - SHOW
SHOW mode is for live shows where it is crucial that no frames are either
duplicated or skipped. In this mode, the Flywheel setting is forced to ‘Infinite’
(menu 21).
During an input dropout, the generator continues to increment at the last
known rate, equivalent to JAM with infinite flywheel.
When input time code re-appears, the generator does NOT re-jam to the input
numbers. Rather it gradually re-aligns its output frame edge to the nearest
incoming TC frame edge. This means that it is possible that the output frame
number may not end up being identical to the input TC frame number.
But, if the input time code jumps to a new location, the generator will
automatically re-jam as long as the input timecode jumps:
- in the direction set in menu 25, and
- by an amount greater than the minimum CUE distance set in menu 26.
8.4. MANUAL RE-JAM IN SHOW MODE
gen run] button is held down for 2 seconds or more, the SR-112 will execute
If the [
a “RE-JAM” function, in which input time code from the Reader, if present, will be
instantaneously copied into the Generator time code.
While this function is operational in JAM mode, it is primarily intended for the
SHOW mode. (It doesn’t do anything useful in COPY mode.)
It is also the only way, while in SHOW mode, to stop the generator when the input
time code has stopped and the generator has entered the Infinite Flywheel state.
JAM and COPY modes allow a single press of the [
the GEN RUN LED flashing to indicate that the button is armed, but SHOW mode
does not.
No status display or message is generated when the re-jam takes place, but
the GEN RUN LED will blink off momentarily when the action occurs. Typically
therefore the operator will hold the button until the LED blinks.
The re-jam function may be additionally delayed if the generator is not frame
locked at the time the re-jam is requested (the GENERATE LED would be flashing
to indicate the unlocked condition), and in this case the GEN RUN LED will turn off
when the re-jam request is recognized, and turn back on again when the re-jam
actually takes place.
gen run] button to do this, with
9. Generator Switch and LED’s
The front panel switch and LED’s have different functions depending on the SR-112
mode of operation (Reshape / Repair / Generate). Here is a description of each
under the 3 different modes. Brackets are added to indicate that operation is identical in REPAIR and GENERATE (VIDEO REF LED and GEN RUN LED).
Note that the “TC IN”, “OUT OF PHASE” and “DRIFTING” LEDs are disabled in
GENERATE mode.
9.1. GENERATOR RUN SWITCH
RESHP: Ignored
REPAIR: Stops Generator when in Infinite Flywheel
GEN: Starts / stops generator
9.2. VIDEO REF LED
RESHP: Off
REPAIR Off: Generator is not video referenced
/GEN: On: Generator is video referenced
Blink: Generator is in VIDEO REF mode but no video is present.
9.3. GENERATOR RUN LED
RESHP: Off
REPAIR Off: (generator not running)
/GEN: On: Generator is running, and generator code has been switched to
the outputs
Blink: Generator is running as above, but has entered the infinite
flywheel state (Copy & Jam Repair only - see 7.2).
- to stop the generator press the
Note: if the input code has started running again prior to pressing
then the generator will at that time re-sync and re-jam.
9.4. RESHAPE LED
RESHP: On
REPAIR: Normally off
But blinks when generator is bypassed and input
code is active (typically during jam/copy ramp up
or if input code is not within menu 23 or 24 specs)
GEN: Off
9.5. REPAIR LED
RESHP: Off
REPAIR: On
GEN: Off
[genrun] key.
[genrun],
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9.6. GENERATE LED
RESHP: Off
REPAIR: Normally off, but
- illuminated solidly when either:
(a) generator has entered flywheel mode (source stopped)
or (b) generator is in jam mode and past the jam point
- flashes (Show Repair only) during Infinite Flywheel after input has
stopped (see 7.2 above)
GEN: Normally on
- but blinks if Video reference is selected and generator is not cur-
rently locked to the video (or no video is present).
10. Errors - LCD Display (status pages)
10.1. GEN STATUS 1
The timecode type and/or rate values in the GEN STATUS 1 page will blink
continuously to indicate a generator settings mismatch. For example, when
generating ‘30DF 30.000’ referenced to 29.97 NTSC video.
11. Error Messages - 7-Segment Display
In addition to the timecode reader errors reported by the SR-112 (see SR-112 User
Manual 11.3), the TCG has some new error messages.
Note that timecode Reader errors are disabled in GENERATE mode.
11.1. GENERATOR DELAY
This message (informational, not an error) is displayed when generator starts running
and a delay has been requested in menu 12 (Repair, or Generate to Vid Ref only)
11.2. GENERATOR SETTINGS MISMATCH
This message indicates a condition where the current TCG timecode type and/or rate
is not the same as the “Gen Format” menu setting (menu 10).
For example, generating ‘30DF 30.000’ locked to 29.97 NTSC video.
For more information on GEN STAT errors, see 11.2 below.
10.2. GEN STATUS 2
The “Copy”, “Jam” or “Show” indicator in the GEN STATUS 2 page will blink in
REPAIR mode when the Generator is attempting to copy or jam input timecode.
While blinking, the Generator is waiting for:
• the input timecode edge to fall within the “Repair Window” specified in
Menu 24 and
• the input timecode to increment persistently as specified in Menu 23.
Continuous blinking indicates a problem in one of these areas. The problem
might be solvable by adjusting either Menu 23 or Menu 24, or it might be that
the situation is simply impossible.
Confirming that the generator is unable to perform the repair, the RESHAPE LED
will blink continuously as well (see 9.4 above).
The generator will use the timecode type and rate from the menu setting until such time
as the requisite video and/or timecode inputs are connected. At that time it may have
to adjust the generated type and rate if the menu values are incompatible with the
video and/or timecode inputs. This is when the GEN-STAT error would be established.
The timecode type and/or rate values in the “Gen Status 1” status display will also
blink continuously to indicate the mismatch.
It is important not to confuse Menu 10 and the Gen Status 1 page. Menu 10 indicates a setting not a status. The Gen Status 1 page will indicate the actual format and
rate of the generator output and flash if it doesn’t match the settings of menu 10.
11.3. CODE - VIDEO
This error, active in Repair mode with video reference only, indicates that the input
timecode type cannot be matched up with the video rate.
This is re-assessed every time the input timecode enters play motion, or following a
timecode type change, or when a reference is first recognized at the video input.
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11.4. GENERATOR SYNC
This message is displayed in case of a Generator Sync Error (very unlikely).
11.5. GENERATOR FAILURE
This message is displayed in case of a Generator Internal Failure (even more unlikely).
12. Error Messages - Other
The following time code input errors will not be shown on the 7-segment display while
the Generator is running. They will however still be added to the error report listing.
“CODE ERR” - Code Error
“CODESTOP” - Code Stopped
“CF CHG “ - Color Frame Change
“DF ERR “ - Drop Frame Error
“DISCONT “ - Discontinuity
“DF CHG “ - Drop Frame Change
“DROP OUT” - Code Drop Out
“TYPE CHG” - Code Type Change
“INVALID “ - Invalid Address
“REPEAT “ - Repeated Frame
50 and 60 f/s. In these systems, counting is done on frame pairs and the video
reference point is the start of line 1 of the first frame of the frame pair to which the
LTC is associated.
When using 2x video rates (50, 59.94, 60Hz) for synchronizing the generator
frame, the TCG extracts a 1x rate (25, 29.94, 30Hz) from the video, and it does
this by arbitrarily discarding every second input video frame edge. Conceptually
the input video frame sequence can be thought of as a sequence of pairs of
frames, with the first frame of each pair denoted as “A” and the second as “B”.
(This is a purely imaginary construct of course, as the frames themselves are
indistinguishable one from the other.)
14.1. MENU 09
When the SR-112 first powers up, if a 2x video rate is selected as its reference,
then it will initially lock to the “A” frames and discard the “B” frames. This will
normally be a satisfactory arrangement, but it is possible that the SR-112 will be
using the “A” frames when the user would prefer that the “B” frame edges are
followed. This may come up, for example, when the output timecode turns out to
be 180 degrees out of phase with other pieces of equipment that have landed on
the alternate video phase.
Menu 09 lets you switch “A”/”B” phases. The “A” or “B” values have no
particular significance. The menu simply allows the phase to be reversed from its
current orientation.
Where adjustment is required, menu 09 may have to be re-adjusted every time the
SR-112 is powered up and/or every time that a new 2x video reference is either
selected or plugged into the SR-112 reference video input.
13. Non-Volatile Storage
The SR-112 has non-volatile memory holding the current settings, including all the
TCG settings. This memory is continuously updated so that, when the unit is turned
on, it is in the same condition as it was when powered down.
NOTE: You should wait approximately 10 seconds after a change was entered
before powering down, to allow for the flash memory to be updated.
14. Genlocking to a 50/60 Hz Video Reference
SMPTE time code was developed for analog television operating with rates up to
30 f/s. With digital television, progressive video systems have frame rates up to
15. Option Card - Serial Port - SP/SR112
As an option, a serial port adapter can be installed in the SR-112 that allows you
to remote control the TCG.
The command list includes all the set-up functions such as Format and Start Time,
as well as commands such as START and STOP. Current time feedback over serial
is also available.
The ordering number is SP/SR112. It includes the serial adapter (DB9) attached to
a new insert panel with cables and mother board connector, as well as a complete
protocol description. Installation is very simple and can be done in the field with
the usual precautions.
NOTE: Firmware 4.00 or later is required for serial control.
For more information, please contact your Brainstorm dealer.
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