Clockit Timecode ACN‐LS LockitSlate Rev. 3 Ambient Recording GmbH Schleissheimer Strasse 181c D – 80797 Munich Tel.: +49 89 3605510-0 Fax: +49 89 651855 info@ambient.de www.ambient.
Table of contents page 1. Introduction 2 2. Package Contents 3 3. Safety instructions, cleaning 3 4. Powering 5 5. Description 6 6. Setup Menu Diagram 7 7. Menu Description, LED brightness 9 7.1 Generator: Jam, TC, UB Settings 10 7.2 SLATE Settings 13 7.3 Time Code Setting 16 7.4 System Settings 17 7.5 ACN Clockit Network 19 8. LED indications 23 9. Firmware update 23 10. Physical specifications 24 11. Warranty & Approvals, CE, FCC 25‐26 12.
1. Introduction As all Ambient Clockit devices the LockitSlate provides a rock solid, highly accurate, temperature compensated time code generator. The LockitSlate Display Module is built on the proven platform of the TinyLockit with added slate specific functions and features a new ultra‐bright LED display. It is supplied with a durable polycarbonate slate board and polymer clapsticks with inlaid rhombs. The clapsticks are also available made of maple wood.
2. Package Contents ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ACN‐LS Time Code Slate including ACN‐LD Lockit LED Display ACN‐LCP Clapstick POM with inlaid rhombs ACN‐LB polycarbonate board ANT‐2.4‐SMA‐M90 Antenna SMA right angle Manual Board marker with velcro 3. Safety instructions For your own safety and trouble‐free use of your LockitSlate ACN‐LS please carefully read through the instructions below. Always keep a copy of these instructions and hand them out with the unit to other users.
When powering from external sources remove the batteries. Pay attention to the use of LPS sources in compliance to part 2.5 of EN 60950‐1. When using the wireless connection of the LockitSlate ACN‐LS place it centrally and keep it distant from sources of possible interference such as microwaves or electrical devices with large metal surfaces. Use the original antenna directly attached to the socket. Extension or use of 3rd party accessories is not licit. Never open the unit.
4. Powering The ACN‐LS can be powered: ‐ ‐ ‐ by 4 pcs. Type Mignon batteries (Alkaline, NiMH rechargeable or Li‐Ion). Set correct battery type in configuration for reliable low voltage warning. No charging function for rechargeable batteries when powered from external. Pay attention to insert with correct polarity as shown on label, insert outer with “+” first, inner with “‐“ first. Push down battery hinge and close slider. Or: 5 to 18 Volts DC via pin 4 of Lemo socket Or: 5 Volts DC via the USB socket.
5. Description ① ② ③ ② ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ① Battery compartment slider to be pushed down for access to batteries ② Configuration switch (further “config switch”, ↓ for pushing in, ↔ for toggle left/right) ③ IR transceiver, used to set and check the ACN‐LS from the ACC501 controller ④ Display ⑤ Signal LEDs ⑥ USB connector ⑦ Lemo 5‐pin socket: time code in, out / ascii / tune signal / DC‐in ⑧ External antenna connector www.ambient.
6. Setup Menu Diagram When entering a menu, the active parameter setting is highlighted. MAIN DISPLAY, showing time code, frame rate, sync rate, jam mode, network channel, battery status ↓ push select switch down to enter main menu and to select options, toggle left/right to navigate ↓ GEN JamTC ↔ Edit ↔ Offset ↓ ↓ JamTC: AUTO ↔ OFF ↔ manual/once ↓ HH:MM:SS:FF Edit: ↓ +/‐ 00.
↓ ACN ↓ MODE ↓ OFF ↔ JAM ↔ TX ↔ RX ↓ ↓ MODE↔CHNL↔ANT↔PWR↔SYNC MODE ↓ Mode for remote jamming of ACL 204 CHNL ↓ JAM ↓ C_JAM Mode for continuous jam / autosync ↓ TX / RX ↓ EXIT www.ambient.
7. Menu Description POWER ON / OFF To turn on the ACN‐LS, press and hold the config switch for 4 seconds. To turn off, press and hold the switch for 4 seconds. The display will show: Press switch again to power down, toggle left to cancel. LED DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS The brightness of the LED display can be regulated manually by toggling the config switch left or right without entering the menu at all. Only works when in the home screen. Manual setting is not available if brightness is in “AUTO” mode.
MAIN MENU Pushing the config switch for 1/2 second enters the main menu screen. The main operation parameters are further displayed. In this screen, you can select the different settings by pushing the config switch. Navigate by toggling the config switch left or right. Pushing the config switch when EXIT is highlighted exits to the main screen. If no action is done, the unit will return to the main screen as well.
put out time code permanently even in “ext. TC” mode, which leads to resetting the ACN‐LS if in “AUTO” mode. To reactivate the jam port, just push the config switch repeatedly going >GEN>JamTC>manual/once> and exit. The “M” indicator appears again, the unit is ready to be jammed once again. CAUTION! Resetting the generator will restart the signal, doing this while recording can result in a corrupted file. GEN>EDIT In this screen, you can edit a time code value manually.
GEN > UB In the GEN > user bit menu, the user bits are being displayed. The user bits can be edited manually, and the jam behavior managed. JamUB Under JamUB, the jamming behavior is managed: normal: the user bits are being taken from external time code manual: the user bits are not being overwritten by external time code. This mode is to be used if you want a custom entry, like date and camera Id for instance. insert: user bits can be inserted “on the fly”.
SLATE MENU The SLATE menu lets you set all slate specific feature of the LockitSlate, such as source of the displayed time code, what happens if the clapsticks are closed, LED time offset, and functions of the sensors. SOURCE selects what is displayed on the front LEDs. GEN: the internal generator’s time code is displayed. ACN: selecting ACN enters the ACN menu.
MODE: settings for the behavior of the digits on closing the sticks and of the flash LEDs. Digits: at this time there are three different display modes. (defaults, unless flash LEDs are configured differently) UB+CLAPTIME: 3 frames flash LED + clapped time > 2 seconds user bits > 10 seconds clapped time > off after 20 seconds. CLAPTIME (default): 3 frames flash LED + clapped time > 10 seconds clapped time > off after 20 seconds.
SENS: Settings for the tilt and ambient light sensors: TILT: activates the tilt sensor. If on, the LED digits are flipped upside down when the slate is turned over. BRIGHTNESS: Man activates the manual adjustment of LED brightness via the toggle switch. Low Med High activate the ambient light sensor on the front side. This adapts the brightness to the light intensity from front. Low / Med / High are different profiles for relation of LED brightness to measured light. www.ambient.
TC MENU Enter the TC menu to adjust the time code frame rate, MIDI time code (MTC) functions and time code output level for pin 5 Lemo. TC > FPS Select FPS for adjusting the frame rate. Adjust by toggling the config switch left/right, push to select new frame rate: Available rates: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 29.97D, 30D fps (D = drop frame) If settings are changed, confirmation is required: Pushing the config switch while “old” is highlighted, discards the changes and returns to the main menu.
SYS MENU The SYS menu serves to configure various parameters, The display behavior, USB port mode (USB: COM or MTC) and battery type are set. Push the config switch to enter. SYS>CONFIG Enter the configuration by pushing in the config switch Navigate to DISPLAY, USB or BAT, push the config switch to select. SYS>CONFIG>DISPLAY Adjust display brightness from 1 to 10 toggling the config switch left/right. Push in to select value.
SYS > CONFIG>BAT Select battery type for correct voltage readout and low battery warning / flashing. Li = Lithium‐Ion (non‐rechargeable batteries!) 1,5V, Alk = alkaline batteries 1,5V, NiMH = Nickel‐ Metal‐Hydrid rechargeable batteries 1.2 V SYS > INFO Select INFO to display information about the ACN‐LS: Serial Number Main firmware version Mac address SYS > Factory Reset This restores factory defaults: Sync is off, TC is 25 fps, ACN is off, display brightness at 3, display auto‐off 30 sec.
ACN MENU The ACN menu accesses the Ambient Clockit Network configuration. To enable ACN, select the MODE In the release version of the ACN‐LS, three different network communication modes are available: JAM,C‐JAM, TX / RX OFF: no wireless functions enabled. ACN > JAM The JAM mode allows to send a sync command to other ACN‐LS or ACL 204 devices or receive sync command from them. This serves to remotely sync all units on the set. First, the menu asks to select the wireless channel.
Selecting SYNC opens the screen for sending a sync command to all ACN‐LS or ACL 204 in reach which are on the same channel and in JAM mode. Default is on no, toggle to yes and push to enter. After sending out the sync command including time code and user bit, the other units reply and the number of units which replied and were successfully synced is displayed. A device that received a sync command will memorize when the sync command was received. The transmitting device also memorizes the event.
ACN > C‐ JAM C‐JAM is a continuous jam mode. Set up channel, antenna, RF power and LNA as above in JAM mode. When done, select SYNC. In the next display, the continuous jam is initiated. The device used for sending the continuous jam command is master. After sending the continuous jam command, the jam success or fail of other devices ACL 204 or ACN‐LS is displayed. Condition for fail is as in JAM mode, see above. Any ACL 204 or ACN‐LS in range that has not been synced or has an offset bigger than 0.
ACN > TX / RX TX is a wireless transmission of external time code present on the input (Lemo socket pin2). This is intended for transmitting a record‐run time code to another ACN‐LS, ACN‐TL or ACL 204 which is in RX mode. Once progressing time code is detected, the ACN‐LS jams to it and sends a jam command to the slaves. When external time code stops, either in form of a static time code or if the signal is off for two seconds, a stop command is sent to the slaves.
8. LED Indications on OLED side: As used to from former devices of the Cockit Time Code family, the ACN‐LS has a red and a green flashing LED to display operation and battery status: 0 1 2 3 4 seconds: ● ● ● ● ● red flashing in 1 second intervals: running, but not jammed or set. ● ● ● ● ● green flashing in 1 second intervals: running, jammed or set manually. This is the normal operation mode. ● ●● ●● red double flash every 2seconds: battery low, not jammed or set.
10. Physical specifications Dimensions Display Module: (L / W / H): 210 x 63 x 28 mm Dimension of slate board is as a „legal“ pad. Weight Display Module: Power consumption: 0.404 Kg (no batteries) 70 to 600 mA (6 Volts) Connectors: “Lemo”: Lemo series 0B 5‐pin (matching connector FGG/JGG.0B.305.CLADxx) pin 1: pin 2: pin 3: pin 4: pin 5: Antenna: SMA‐F USB: Mini‐B www.ambient.de ground LTC IN ASCII IN / OUT Tune reference 1.
11. Warranty & Approvals Warranty Ambient Recording GmbH warrants the LockitSlate ACN‐LS synchronizer against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE (1) year from date of original retail purchase. This is a non‐ transferable warranty that extends only to the original purchaser. Ambient Recording GmbH will repair or replace the product at its discretion at no charge. Warranty claims due to severe service conditions will be addressed on an individual basis.
FCC Statement The FCC requires that the following statements be included in this manual for ACN‐LS: FCC § 15.19 This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Canada CNR‐Gen Section 7.1.3 This device complies with Industry Canada licence‐exempt RSS standard(s).
12.Recommended accessories ACN‐LCP ‐ Clap sticks POM with inlaid rhombs ACN‐LCP ‐ Clap sticks maple wood with inlaid rhombs ACN‐LB ‐ Slate board polycarbonate www.ambient.
LTC‐OUT Adapter cable Lemo Series 0B 5‐pin to BNC LTC‐OUT/ Epic Adapter cable Lemo 5‐pin to Lemo series 00 4‐pin for use with RED Epic / Scarlet TC‐I/O Adapter cable Lemo 5‐pin to Lemo 5‐pin for use with ARRI Alexa ANT‐2.4‐SMA‐M Antenna straight ANT‐2.4‐SMA‐M90 Antenna right angle www.ambient.
© Ambient Recording GmbH 2014 Ambient Recording GmbH Schleissheimer Strasse 181c D – 80797 Munich Tel.: +49 89 3605510-0 Fax: +49 89 651855 info@ambient.de www.ambient.
