HORITA TR-100
USER MANUAL
MULTI FRAME RATE
SMPTE TIME CODE READER
WITH LED DISPLAY
Doc. 073129-00
Rev. B
(C) Copyright 2014
P.O. Box 3993, Mission Viejo, CA 92690 (949) 489-0240 www.horita.com
COPYRIGHT
(C) 2014 HORITA CO. All rights reserved
No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without
prior written consent of HORITA CO., P.O. Box 3993, Mission Viejo, CA 92690.
HORITA CO. makes no warranties with respect to this documentation and disclaims any
warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
HORITA, its logo, and TR-100 are trademarks of HORITA CO.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
GENERAL 4
FEATURES 4
SMPTE/EBU TIME CODE 4
3.1 LTC – Longitudinal/Linear Time Code 4
3.2 Drop Frame Time Code 5
CONNECTING THE TR-100 5
4.1 Connecting Power 5
4.2 Connecting LTC In and Out 6
4.3 Connecting MIDI Out 6
OPERATING THE TR-100 6
5.1 Controlling the Display 6
5.2 Display Description 6
5.3 MIDI Time Code Output 7
5.4 Frame Rate Display 7
MAINTENANCE 7
6.1 Cleaning 7
6.2 Service and Troubleshooting 8
SPECIFICATIONS 8
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1
GENERAL
The TR-100 is a versatile SMPTE Longitudinal/Linear SMPTE Time Code (LTC) reader with an LED display. The
LED display characters are 0.8" high and are suitable for viewing across a room, while a brightness control allows
adjustment of display intensity for use in various ambient light conditions.
The TR-100 can display time code or user bits, and also momentarily displays the frame rate when time code is first
applied. The TR-100 provides both a MIDI time code output as well as a reshaped LTC output.
The TR-100 comes standard as a small desktop unit, but can be installed in a standard 19" rack using the HORITA
S100EK Rackmount Ear kit. It can also be attached to a wall or other piece of equipment using the HORITA
S100SK Wallmount Swivel Bracket kit.
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FEATURES
• Reads LTC from 1/30th to 10 times play speed, forward and reverse.
• 0.8" high LED display characters with brightness control.
• Outputs 2V P-P reshaped LTC for passing on to other units.
• Outputs MIDI time code (MTC).
• MIDI TC output "flywheels" for up to 3 FRAMES of reading bad time code.
• Rear panel switches select time code or user bits for display and display of frames or not.
• Discrete LEDs indicate LTC code present and drop frame or non-drop frame time code.
• Reads 23.976/24 (film), 25 (PAL), 29.97 drop frame/non-drop frame (NTSC), and 30 FPS (frames-per-second)
time codes and displays the frame rate of the code being read.
• Operates from +9V to +14V DC for portable use in the field. Includes a 9 volt AC adapter.
• Desktop sized TR-100 measures 8.75"W x 4.5"H x 4.5"D.
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SMPTE TIME CODE
SMPTE (pronounced "semtee") is an acronym for the "Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers".
SMPTE adopts and sets standards for the motion picture and television industry and has adopted standards for
longitudinal time code (LTC). LTC is commonly referred to as SMPTE time code, and works with (60/525) NTSC
video at frame rates of 29.97 and 30 FPS (frames-per-second).
EBU time code is of the same basic format as SMPTE time code, but has a frame rate of 25 FPS to work with
(50/625) PAL video. The SMPTE/EBU time code format is also used at a frame rate of 23.976/24 FPS for film
work, and 30 FPS for other video and audio applications.
3.1 LTC – Longitudinal/Linear Time Code
Longitudinal time code is an electronic timing signal. It is audible and sounds much like a dial-up FAX machine
when first receiving a fax. It is audible so that it can be recorded on the audio channel of a video recorder or
recorded on an audio recorder, and was originally developed to assist in editing video played back from video tape
recorders.
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It is called longitudinal or linear time code because it was originally recorded along the length of a video tape by a
stationary recording head as the video was being recorded as magnetic stripes on the rest of the tape by a spinning
recording head. After recording, SMPTE time code enables video and audio recordings to be synchronized to each
other during playback using specialized playback devices and software.
Instead of being just a continuously incrementing count, SMPTE time code identifies each frame of a television
picture by counting in an hours, minutes, seconds and frame number format. It has a starting value of 00:00:00:00
and a maximum value after 24 hours of 23:59:59:29 (23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds, and 29 frames) for the
29.97/30 FPS frame rate, a maximum value of 23:59:59:24 for 25 FPS frame rate, and a maximum of 23:59:59:23
for the 23.976/24 FPS frame rate.
The LTC signal itself is an 80-bit serial binary code that repeats once each video frame. Of these 80 bits, 32 are
reserved for the time information. An additional 32-bits, known as user bits, are available for including
miscellaneous information along with the time information. These user bits are organized as eight, 4-bit
hexadecimal digits. A hexadecimal has a value of from 0 to 9 and then from A to F. The remaining 16 bits of time
code form a special "sync" pattern which is used to locate and decode the time code and user bit information.
When a tape with time code is played back, the time code signal can be read by appropriate equipment to provide a
precise frame and/or time identification for video editing, audio synchronizing, and other purposes.
Depending upon the capabilities of the playback machine, the TR-100 can read and decode LTC signals at speeds as
slow as 1/30th times play speed up to speeds as high as 10 times play speed.
3.2 Drop Frame Time Code
Drop frame time code is a form of SMPTE code which is used when it is important that the time code time value
also be an accurate representation of real time. Drop frame is not used for the 25 FPS EBU or 24 FPS film time code
format.
U.S. color television standards were first developed to be compatible with earlier black and white television. This
required a slight slowing down of the (then) standard black & white TV frame rate of 30 frames-per-second, down
to 29.97 frames-per-second. Because it is this frame rate that increments the SMPTE time code numbers, the time
code readout falls behind real clock time by about 108 frames per hour, or 3.6 seconds. 3.6 seconds is important to
television broadcasters selling air time, so drop frame time code was developed to adjust for this error and make
29.97 FPS SMPTE time code time more closely match real time like 30 FPS time code would.
The technique for producing drop frame time code involves skipping ahead by two frame numbers on each new
minute except on minutes 00, 10, 20 , 30, 40, and 50. Thus, except for these tens-of-minutes exceptions, drop frame
time code advances from frame number 29 to frame number 02, skipping frame numbers 00 and 01 at the start of
each new minute. This effectively causes the time display to catch up and match that of a real time clock.
Although drop frame time code is widely used in the broadcast industry, it is often avoided elsewhere due to
problems in handling it by various video and audio editing and control equipment.
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CONNECTING THE TR-100
4.1 Connecting Power
Included with your TR-100 is an AC power adapter that provides a 9 volt, 500 milliamperes DC output. This
adapter is equipped with a miniature phone plug with the "+" (positive) voltage output connected to the front tip of
the plug.
Insert the power plug into the "+9V DC" rear panel connector and plug the adapter into 110-120 volt, 60-Hz AC
power.
WARNING:
ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRODUCT
As with all electrical products, precautions should be observed during handling and use to prevent electrical shock.
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NOTE:
TR-100
Make sure the plug is inserted all the way into the power connector or else damage to the power adapter may result.
Do not use an adapter of more than 9 volts at 500 milliamperes or damage to the TR-100 may result.
4.2 Connecting LTC In and Out
Figure 4-1 shows a basic hookup for the TR-100.
VCR
MIDI Out
LTC OUT
Figure 4-1, Basic TR-100 Hookup
Connect SMPTE LTC from its source to the RCA connector labeled LTC IN. Reshaped, 2V P-P LTC is available at
the RCA connector labeled LTC OUT.
IN LTC
LTC OUT
As Required
As Required
4.3 Connecting MIDI Out
Use a standard 5-pin DIN MIDI cable to connect the TR-100 MIDI time code output to your MIDI equipment as
desired.
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OPERATING THE TR-100
5.1 Controlling the Display
The TR-100 rear panel DATA switch allows the display of either time code or user bits.
The FRAMES switch allows the frame number display to be turned on or off. This only applies when displaying
time code. When user bits are displayed, the FRAMES switch is disabled.
The BRIGHT knob controls the display brightness.
5.2 Display Description
The following paragraphs refer to Figure 5-1 when describing various aspects of the TR-100 display.
LTC PRESENT
12:35:23:09
12:35:23:09
HRS MIN SEC FRM
DF
Figure 5-1, TR-100 LED Display
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During display of the time code value, the top discrete LED for the colon between the seconds and frames digits
“flashes” to indicate reading of time code as follows:
FLASH RATE MEANING
Off Indicates that an active LTC input to the TR-100 is not present.
Fast Indicates LTC is being read at play speed and MIDI time code
quarter frame messages are being output.
Slow Indicates LTC is being read at search/shuttle speeds and that full frame
MIDI time code messages are being output.
DF DF LED is on whenever drop frame time code is being read. It is off
for non-drop frame time code or when user bits are displayed.
5.3 MIDI Time Code Output
The TR-100 outputs quarter frame MIDI Time Code (MTC) messages when reading time code at play speed. Full
frame MTC messages are output when the TR-100 is reading time code at speeds slower or faster speeds than play
speed.
For reference, the complete MTC quarter frame message format is (in “hex”): F1- 0uf - F1-1tf - F1- 2us - F1- 3ts F1 - 4um - F1 - 5tm - F1 - 6uh - F1 - 7th. Where “u” = units, “t” = tens, “f” = frames, “s” = seconds, “m” =
minutes, “h” = hours. There are 16 bytes altogether, sent at a rate of 8 per frame, requiring 2 frame times to send
all 16.
When the TR-100 initially acquires and starts reading time code, it first outputs a full frame MIDI time code
message consisting of both time code and user bit values. After doing this, it continues to output full frame time
code messages if not at play speed, or quarter frame time code messages if at play speed. For reference, the
complete MTC full frame message format is (in “hex”): F0 - 7F - 7F - 01 - 01 - hr - mn - sc - fr - F7 for the time
code value, and, for the user bit value: F0 - 7F - 7F - 01 - 02 - u1 - u2 - u3 - u4 - u5 - u6 - u7 - u8 - u9 - F7.
This TR-100 MTC output will "coast" or "flywheel" for up to 3 FRAMES should there be errors reading the input
LTC.
5.4 Frame Rate Display
The TR-100 determines the frame rate by checking the frame number immediately preceding the reading of frame
number zero (00). Frame number 23 precedes frame 00 when reading 23.976/24 FPS time code, frame number 24
precedes frame 00 for 25 FPS, and frame number 29 precedes frame 00 for 29.97/30 FPS.
Because 29.97 drop frame, 29.97 non-drop frame, and 30 FPS time codes all have frame number 29 preceding
frame number 00, there is an ambiguity in determining the frame rate in this manner. So, in the TR-100, if the
frame preceding frame 00 is 29 and the time code is not drop frame, then the TR-100 displays a frame rate of 30
FPS. If drop frame time code is being read, as indicated by a special “drop frame” bit in the time code itself, then
the TR-100 displays “29” as the frame rate. and the “DF” LED on the display is illuminated.
Immediately after the frame rate is first determined, the 24, 25, 29, or 30 FPS frame rate value is displayed for one
or two seconds in place of the time code frame number. After this time the frames digit reverts to displaying the
normal changing frame value of the time code being read. The frame rate is not displayed again until a different
frame rate is detected.
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MAINTENANCE
6.1
1. Do not attempt to disassemble your TR-100 to clean it.
2. Clean your TR-100 using only a damp cloth.
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3. NEVER use water or solvents such as alcohol, window cleaner, etc., to clean your TR-100
6.2 Service and Troubleshooting
If you suspect your TR-100 is not operating properly, check the following:
1. Check all cables for opens or shorts.
2. If using an AC power adapter different from the one supplied with the TR-100, make sure it supplies the
TR-100 with at least 9 volts (maximum of 14 volts) when the TR-100 is switched on.
There are no internal adjustments in the TR-100. You may return your TR-100 to HORITA for service. Please
contact HORITA first, either by phone or mail, before returning your unit.
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SPECIFICATIONS
Power
Operation 9-to-14V DC, approx. 500 mA
AC Adapter 9 volt, 500 mA
Connectors
TC IN/TC OUT RCA
POWER 3.5MM mini phone jack
MIDI 5 PIN DIN (FEMALE)
Switches And Controls
FRAMES ON/OFF Toggle switch
DATA TC/UB Toggle switch
POWER ON/OFF Toggle switch
BRIGHT Brightness adjustment
Environment
Operating 5°C to 40°C (41°F to 104°F)
Storage -10°C to 60°C (14°F to 140°F)
Dimensions
8.75"W x 1.5"H x 4.5"D
Weight
Approximately 13 Oz. (shipping weight approximately 29 Oz. including power adapter)
Specifications subject to change without notice
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