Toddler and SMPTE

What is SMPTE
SMPTE time code is an option on some recorders, like video recorders, CD recorders, tape recorders. It offers you the opportunity  to locate the exact position of each recorded fragment. A fragment can be an video fragment or a sound fragment. The position is marked by a digital code that has a hour, minutes, seconds and frame indication. A frame is a part of a second, often 1/24 part on a audiotape and 1/30 on a videotape. The audio recorder with SMPTE records the SMPTE time code on a separate track. A video recorder records the SMPTE time code together with each video fragment. When you play back the recorded information the SMPTE time code signal is offered to a separate outlet. There are different types of SMPTE signals. The most used is the longitudinal time code; LTC.

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.