Toddler and SMPTE
You can use SMPTE to control one device with another.
You can control the Toddler with a video recorder. You can realise to fade
in a certain scene at the moment a certain video fragment is played back.
The Toddler needs an extra IC, that can transfer the SMPTE time code signal
into a standard digital format. Besides that the Toddler must have extra
software experience to accomplish an assignment between the SMPTE time
code and the scene that you want to fade in. The software versions with
the letter S in the end are able to work with SMPTE time code. From Toddler4
it is possible to buy the option SMPTE.
The SMPTE connection to the Toddler
The SMPTE input at the Toddler uses the same connector
as the RS232 gate. It is the 9-poles Sub-D connector. The Toddler has a
symmetric SMPTE input. The pin connection is pin4=LTCin-, pin9=LTCin+ and
pin5=common. Vsymm. must be minimal 0,1[V] and can be maximal 5[V].
In case the incoming signal is asymmetric you must connect
pin4 with pin5in the connector of the connecting cable. In that case the
SMPTE connection exists of a shielded audio cable with a single core of
which the cable screen is connected with pin4&5 and the core is connected
with pin9.
To set the Toddler for SMPTE control
· set SMPTE control=on in the SETUP menu (page
11 manual Toddler)
· record the desired scenes
· under [assign] you make the relation between
the SMPTE time code and the scene that must be faded-in. (see SCENE ATTRIBUTES
page 9 in manual Toddler)
SMPTE assign menu
SMPTE-Qxx
xx=99 to give the (video/sound) fragments numbers, (to make a cue-list)
Xxx is the name of the scene. hh:mm:ss:ff is the time code (the cue) for
the fade-in of scene Xxx. hh=hour, mm=minutes, ss=seconds, ff=frame number
(0,...30). For example: Xxx=D17 en hh:mm:ss:ff=00:26:56:16 means scene
D17 starts to fade in at the moment the time code 00:26:56:16 comes in..
Two methods
1. You start to make a cue list of your video/sound fragments.
You write down the SMPTE time codes corresponding your cues. You create
the scenes for your cue list. Now you go to the assign menu on the
Toddler. To select your cues, scenes and SMPTE time code you use the scroll
buttons [change item] and to jump with the cursor you use [change menu
item]
2. You have made a cue-list of video/sound fragments.
You have already made scenes to go with your video/sound fragments. You
turn on the Toddler, that is connected with your video/tape recorder. You
are in the SMPTE assign menu. You fill in the number of your first cue.
You put the cursor at Xxx; the display says Xxx=...You play back your video/audio
tape. At the moment you see or hear your first cue you start selecting
the corresponding scene. At the moment you press the scroll button [change
item] the Toddler records the incoming SMPTE time code. Now you have made
the assignment by the catching method.
Examples of Toddler-SMPTE applications
· Toddler and DMX switchbox (power-DAC8) and video/tape
recorder and remote preset controller.
You can start a specific program on the Toddler with
the remote preset controller. Part of this special program is the switching
on of the video/tape recorder by the power-DAC8). The recorder controls
the Toddler by SMPTE. With the last SMPTE command the Toddler returns control.
You can always interrupt this sequence with the remote preset controller
and switch to another part of the program.
· Toddler and DMX switchbox (power-DAC8) and video/tape
recorder and internal time clock.
The real time clock on the Toddler gives you extra opportunities.
Instead of using a remote preset controller, you can set the internal time
clock to determine the take off of a specific program on the Toddler. You
can use both the internal time clock as well as the remote preset controller
to select a part of the Toddler’s program.