Rosendahl bonsaiDRIVE User Manual

Instruction Manual

Rosendahl bonsaiDRIVE

The Rosendahl bonsaiDRIVE is a professional portable video

and audio multitrack recorder.

- 0 -

www.bonsaidrive.com

- 1 -

Declaration of Conformity

Rosendahl Studiotechnik GmbH
Andechser Str. 5
D-86919 Utting a.A.

herewith confirm that the product:
Type: Harddisk Video Recorder
Model: bonsaiDRIVE

meets the requirements of the council of the European communities relating to electromagnetic
compatibility (Council Directive 89/336/EEC)

Technical Data: CENELEC EN 55 103-1 + 2 1997-06
CENELEC EN 61000-4 - 5 12/2001

The CE symbol is awarded to high-quality appliances which comply with the European Directive
89/336/EEC or the EMVG (law relating to electromagnetic compatibility of appliances) and which
offer the following significant benefits:

*Simultaneous and interference-free operation of adjoining appliances
*No unpermitted interference signals
*High resistance to electro-smog

This marking shown on the product or its literature indicates that it should not be disposed with
other household wastes at the end of its working life. To prevent possible harm to the environment
or human health from uncontrolled waste disposal, please separate this from other types of wastes
and recycle it responsibly to promote the sustainable reuse of material resources.

Household users should contact either the retailer where they purchased this product or their local
government office for details of where and how they can take this item for environmentally safe
recycling.

Business users should contact their supplier and check the terms and conditions of the purchase
contract. This product should not be mixed with other commercial wastes for disposal.

Contents

I. General:

1. Unpacking the unit page 4

2. Mechanics page 5

3. Installing the harddrive page 6

4. Connection details (C1...C24) page 8

5. Connecting a monitor page 10

6. Connecting the remote control page 12

7. Basic functions page 14

8. Recording clips page 18

9. Playing back clips page 20

10. Updating the firmware page 22

II. Firmware details page 26

- 2 -

- 3 -

1. Unpacking the unit

The unit is available in two powering versions: Mains with built in 90­230 VAC switch mode power supply or with 12 volt external DC.

Mains powered units are marked on the outside of the box with “90­230 VAC”, DC powered units with “10-18 VDC”. The unit itself is
either fitted with an IEC mains socket or a 4 pin XLR DC input wired
in the standard method.

Included in the DC version package is a 90-230 VAC mains adapter
with 12 Volt DC output on an XLR 4 pin female plug.

Both versions come with the following accessories:
1 pcs IEC mains cable
1 pcs 9 pin D-SUB cable, 5 meters long, 2 x male plug
1 pcs 9 pin D-SUB update cable, black, 1.5 meters long
4 pcs UNC fixing screws for harddrive
1 pcs PATA-SATA adapter (effective from 2009)
1 pcs Instruction manual, that you are now reading!

Please check that all these items are present and contact your dealer
if anything is missing.

2. Mechanics

In order to reduce noise the bonsaidrive does not have a fan. It is
very important that all the ventilation holes on the bottom, side and
top of the unit are kept free for air to circulate. Do not place the unit
on top of another unit which is hot.

Avoid mechanical shock to the unit especially when the unit is on and
the harddrive is running. Switch off the unit before resiting.

The front panel of the unit is removable and can be used as a remote
control in the studio (with the 5 meter cable provided).

On the left side of the unit is an 8 mm dia through hole behind which
is the fixing screw for the front panel.

Turn this screw clockwise, i.e. screw it in, to release the remote
panel and remove it form the main housing.

After the left side of the panel is released it can be swung open like a
door and removed.

When replacing the front panel into the main housing, first insert the
panel into the guide post on the right side swing the panel to close on
the left side and when the fixing screw head is opposite the hole, turn
the fixing-screw anticlockwise, i.e. screw out, to lock the panel.

- 4 -

- 5 -

3. Installing the hard drive

If you have received your unit with the harddrive already built in you can pass
over this section of the manual. When replacing the harddrive at any time
please read this section in detail before proceeding.

bonsaidrive has been tested with many different harddrive models. Please
visit www.bonsaidrive.com/bonsaidisks.pdf to download a list of
recommended drives.

The harddrive used on bonsaidrive must have the following specification:
Harddrive or SSD (solid state disk) with parallel (IDE) or serial (SATA) port.
To use SATA harddrives a small IDE to SATA adapter is provided (effective

from 2009).
ATAPI, CD writer, DVD writer or Zip drives are not supported and “NO VALID

DRIVE” is shown on the bonsaidrive display.

The present bonsaiDRIVE firmware can address up to 980 Gigabytes.
Harddrives with higher capacities can also be used but the effective size will
be limited to 980 Gbytes.

Attention! Bonsaidrive must be turned off and disconnected from its
power supply before installing or removing a harddrive.
To be certain: ALWAYS REMOVE THE POWER CABLE!

Set the address jumpers of the harddrive to MASTER or SINGLE.
Harddrives set to SLAVE or CS (Cable Select) mode will not be
detected!

Remove the 4 black Philips screws (not the Allen screws!) on the top of the
unit.

Mount the harddrive on its caddy (sockets to the right) with the 4 UNC
screws provided.

First connect the 4 pin power cable, then the 40 pin flat cable connector.
When removing the harddrive, first remove the 40 pin connector then the 4

pin power supply cable. In this way the harddrive is always grounded when
the data cable is connected or removed.
(Incidentally this procedure is standard for every computer.)

Now replace the top cover making certain when replacing the 3mm screws
that they are not cross threaded or screwed in so tight that the thread is
stripped!

Now switch on the recorder with a monitor connected. The bonsaidrive serial
number and the current firmware will be displayed, after which the hard drive
will be searched and identified. If an ATA100 or ATA133 (UDMA4 or 5) is
found then the name and capacity of the drive will be displayed.

If no valid hard drive is found the following message will be displayed after
50 seconds:
"NO VALID DRIVE DETECTED"

Only after having detected a valid drive the main program will be started. If
no bonsai format is found on the drive the program will proceed to the
“FORMAT DISC” menu.

Press down the [RECORD] button and then the [◄] button simultaneously to
format 255 empty bonsai formatted clips.

Existing partitions and volumes will be overwritten by this process.
Now you can begin with the recording of a clip (see chapter 8).

- 6 -

- 7 -

4. Connections

(C1) (C2) (C3) (C4)(C5) (C6) (C7) (C8) (C9)

(C10) (C11)(C12) (C13) (C14) (C15 - C17) (C18 - C20)
(C1) Options Ports:

for bonsaiSDI 270 Mbit SDI option and bonsaiLAN Ethernet option.

(C2) Word Output:

1 x BNC socket, 48 KHz Wordclock out for synchronising peripheral audio
units.

(C3) Sync Input:
1 x BNC socket, Genlock in for connection of a PAL or NTSC black and burst
video sync. Note: Accuracy of video sync signals must be within broadcast
specs.

(C4, C5) Timecode Output, Input:

2 x RCA Timecode in, Timecode out for synchronising bonsaiDRIVE with
other video and audio recorders.

(C6, C7) Analog Audio Outputs:

2 x RCA socket. Variable output level per menu up to +9dBU = fullscale.
Low output impedance for driving professional line inputs.

(C8, C9) Analog Audio Inputs:

2 x RCA sockets. Variable input sensitivity per menu up to +9dBU = fullscale.
Input impedance 10 kΩ.

(C10) Mains socket:

Use the IEC mains cable supplied for connecting to an earthed mains socket
90-230 VAC, 50-60 Hz.

(C11, C12) Digital Audio Output, Input:

2 x Optical Toslink sockets. Digital audio interface for simultaneous record
and playback of 8 audio tracks with 48Khz/ 24 Bit in the Alesis-ADAT©
Format.

(C21) (C22) (C23) (C24)

(C13/ C14) MIDI Output, Input:

2 x DIN sockets for the transmission of MIDI signals for MTC synchronisation
and MMC control. Also used for bonsaiDRIVE firmware updates using MIDI
SYSEX.

(C15 - C17) Video Outputs:

3 x BNC sockets. Can be configuered as composite video on C17 and as
Y/C (S-Video) on C16, C15 or as a component signal (Y,Pb,Pr) on C17, C16,
C15.

(C18 - C20) Video Inputs:

3 x BNC sockets can be configuered for composite video input on C18, Y/C
(S-Video) input on C20, C19 or a component signal (Y, Pb, Pr) on C20, C19,
C18.
All inputs are internally terminated with 75 Ω.

(C21) bonsaiREMOTE Port:

9 Pin Sub D for connection of the bonsai remote control.

(C22) GPIOs Port:

15 pin Sub D connector for switching signals. 4 Inputs, 4 Outputs.

(C23) bonsaiDRIVE Port:

9 Pin Sub D for connection of the bonsaiDRIVE to the remote panel.

(C24) Remote Port:

9 Pin sub D, RS422 for remote controlling the bonsaidrive with the Sony ©
P2 Protocol.

- 8 -

- 9 -

5. Connecting a monitor

Professional monitors are expensive. For this reason people like to
use consumer TVs with an AV input.

Attention! Consumer TV equipment is generally safety class II, i.e.
without earth connection. This is easily confirmed by looking at the 2
pole mains plug.

Earth potential differences up to 100 volts can occur and ground
currents will flow when such TV equipment, when switched on, is
connected to your earthed studio environment.
For example when you connect the consumer TV to the studio
equipment via a BNC connector it is not guaranteed that the shield
makes contact first. In this case the signal input on the middle pin can
be subjected to several hundred volts which no input will survive, the
result being that expensive studio equipment and computer hardware
can be destroyed!

If you still intend using a consumer TV as a monitor it is
imperative that the AV ground is permanently connected to the
studio ground at all times.

This connection can be made using the ground of an audio
input to the TV set (cinch socket shield connection) which can
be permanently connected to the mains earth/ studio ground.

Switch off the TV set. Remove mains plug. Connect the
permanent earth then the AV connection to the studio system.
Then reconnect the TV to the mains and switch on.

The video outputs of the bonsaidrive have 75 Ω source impedance
and must be connected using 75 Ω coax cable and be connected to
single 75 Ω terminated inputs. With connection to 2 inputs in parallel
(2x75Ω) the video picture will be 6 dB darker and with a single input
without 75 Ω termination the picture will be 6 dB brighter.

bonsaidrive supports 4 different analog video formats:
(1) Composite Video (CVBS, German FBAS), a “normal” video

signal. All picture and sync information is transmitted over a single
75 Ω cable. Connection over C17 (CVBS).

(2) Y/C Video (German S-Video) is normally outputted by a small
mini DIN socket and is a 2 signal 75 Ω analog video standard, a
brightness signal (Y) and a colour signal (C). Connections over C16
(Y) and C15 (C)

(3) Component Video (German Komponentensignal) is formed out of
3 component signals (Y, Pb, Pr). Y is brightness, Pb and Pr are two
colour difference signals (Y-blue, Y-red). Connection over C17 (Y),
C16 (Pb), C15 (Pr).
Note: This analog video transmission standard offers the highest
picture quality and should always be used when the monitor has an
component video input.

(4) RGB Video is also a three signal 75 Ω video transmission
standard and offers the same advantages as Component Video. R is
red, G is green with sync siganls, B is blue.
Note: Not to be confused with a computer VGA connection!

RGB video is often used in the SCART connection in consumer TV
equipment and can be connected to the bonsaidrive using a SCART
to BNC adapter cable.
Connections are: C17 (G), C16 (B), C15 (R).

Now connect the monitor to the bonsaidrive with 75 Ω cables and
switch on. If no stable picture is shown, select the required output
format in the “ANALOG OUTPUT FORMAT” menu i.e. COMPOSITE
and Y/C,COMPONENT or RGB.

Note: In order to guarantee at least a black and white picture use the
CVBS/Y output C17 connected to a Y or CVBS input of the monitor.

- 10 -

- 11 -

6. Connecting the remote control panel

The removable remote control panel communicates with the recorder
over an RS422 9-pin Sub D connection and uses the same pinout as
Sony© P2, also known as Sony 9-pin protocol.

In this communication standard pin 5 is not used, but is used by
bonsaiDRIVE for the 5 volt supply to the remote control panel. This
pin 5 on output C21 (bonsaiREMOTE) of the recorder is protected by
a PTC temperature element in the event of a short circuit.

Use the 5 meter long 9-pin Sub D cable supplied or any other 1:1
wired 9 Pin Sub D cable to connect the remote control panel to the
recorder.

RS 422 works with cable lengths up to 100 meters. If you already
have a 9 pin cable system installed or use 9 pin patch fields the
bonsaidrive control panel can be integrated and locally powered with
5 Volts on pin 5.

Attention! The DC input on pin 5 is not protected against reverse
polarity or overvoltage. Be certain that the auxiliary power supply
used is a 5 Volts regulated and can deliver at least 100 mA.

The remote panel can be connected or removed at any time from the
bonsaiDRIVE (also during record) without affecting the function of the
recorder.
At every reconnection the panel does a LED test in which the LEDS
light up consecutively from left to right, after which communication
with the recorder starts.
The remote panel can not be used as a stand alone Sony 9 pin
controller to control other manufacturers' equipment.

- 12 -

- 13 -

7. Basic Functions

With the REMOTE button the serial communication to the recorder
can be switched over to an external Sony P2 controller connected to
C24.
When the REMOTE switch is on (LED lit), the recorder is connected
to the external controller on C24 and all functions of the bonsaidrive
remote panel are deactivated.
When the REMOTE switch is off (LED unlit), the remote panel of the
bonsaidrive is activated and the external controller on C24 is ignored.

The MENU button switches the on-screen menu on and off. The
button is lit with the menu on.

When the MENU is off (LED notlit), the eight buttons on the left are
used for controlling the deck.

Direct Button Functions:

[►] Playback forwards 100% nominal speed
[■] Stop
[◄] Playback backwards 100% nominal speed
[LOC 1] Recorder stops and goes to locate position 1
[LOC 2] Recorder stops and goes to locate position 2
[+] In stopframe mode: 1 frame forwards or clip number ++
(see also menu 075 [+] / [–] keys function)
In playback mode: increase playback speed
[–] In stopframe mode: 1 frame back or clip number -­ (see also menu 075 [+] / [–] keys function)
In playback mode: decrease playback speed
[RECORD] no function as direct button

Locate 1 and Locate 2 are storable (timecode) positions that serve to
fast return to or loop to a particular position in a recording.

Additional button functions are activated by using the stop button [■]
as a shift button. Hold down the stop button and press the second
button as required.

Stop Shift Functions:

[■] + [►] Fast forward (64x speed)
[■] + [◄] Fast rewind (64x speed)
[■] + [+] Slow motion forwards
[■] + [–] Slow motion reverse
[■] + [LOC 1] Go to clip start, end of previous clip…
[■] + [LOC 2] Go to clip end, start of next clip…
[■] + [MENU] Switch off unit (Standby)

Instead of a power on/off switch the bonsaidrive has a power down
mode in which the harddrive is put into sleep mode and all AD/DA
converters are switched off. The machine is “woken up” by pressing
any button on the control panel.
Note: the REMOTE button must be off (LED off).

By using the record [RECORD] button as shift, the following functions
can be activated. Press record then the second button as indicated
below:

Record Shift Functions:

[RECORD] + [■] Electronic entry (EE)
[RECORD] + [LOC 1] Sets locate position 1
[RECORD] + [LOC 2] Sets locate position 2
[RECORD] + [►] Start crash or insert recording
(to enter insert recording the transport must
be in locked playback condition)

- 14 -

- 15 -

With the menu function activated [MENU] the menu is inserted into
the video picture. See below:

The first green line "◄ MENU 001 ►" tells you in which part of the
menu you are at present. With the cursor buttons [◄] and [►] you
can move form one menu heading to the next.
[LOC 1] and [LOC 2] keys increase/ decrease the menu possition to
the next menu group (+10/ -10).

When leaving the menus, the menu position will be stored and
reappear at the same position when the menu is called up again.

The list of parameters that can be altered in each menu are
hightlighted grey and appear under the menu header. The
parameters can be changed by using the [+] and [–] buttons.

The menu in the left picture shows Menu 001 "SELECT CLIP" .
Change the clip number with [+] und [–], and use the [►] button to go
to the next menu title.

The information under the menu header are white against a
transparent background and show details about the selected menu
parameter. E.g. MENU 020 "HARDDISK INFO".

The time code burned in at the bottom of the pictures can be altered
in the menu “TC INSERTER" to "LEFT", "CENTER", "RIGHT" or
"OFF".

In general the buttons are used to navigate the menu in the following
way:

[►] Select menu increment +1
[◄] Select menu decrement -1
[LOC 1] Fast menu navigation tab ++
[LOC 2] Fast menu navigation tab -­[+] Activate selected parameter +1
[–] Deactivate selected parameter -1
[■] Confirm selection
[◄] + [RECORD] Confirm erase and format commands

Please consult the detailed menu descriptions in the second,
“firmware” part of the manual.

- 16 -

- 17 -