CLOCKIT MASTER SLATE ACD 301 / RF Time code Slate MK III - 2009 Ambient Recording GmbH Schleissheimer Str.181 C, D-80797 Muenchen Tel: +49 89 6518535 Fax: +49 89 6518558 Email: info@ambient.de www.ambient.
Table of contents 1 User instructions 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.1.4 1.1.5 1.1.6 1.2 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.3 1.3.1 1.3.2 1.3.3 1.3.4 1.3.5 1.3.6 1.3.7 1.3.8 1.3.9 1.3.10 1.3.11 1.3.12 1.4 1.5 2 Operating modes 2.1 2.2 2.3 3.4 3 Generator Generator RTC mode Reader / Generator mode Reader New Features in ACD301RF MKIII 3.1 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.2 3.
1 User Instructions 1.1 Controls & Control elements 4 5 6 7 8 9 3 10 2 11 1 12 9a 11 9b Bottom edge 1 12 Left side Between clapstick and body ON/OFF switch Antenna 2 1/8” jack time code In/Out socket 3 5 PIN LEMO interface socket 4 Push button left. 5 Push button right. ( BLUE ) All internal setting functions are carried out using these two buttons in combination with the DIP-switches.
Front 6 2 RED flash-LED’s 7 RED and GREEN single LED 8 LED display with Anti-glare mask and polarizing red filter 10 Right side Writing surface for boardmarker Two sliders are on this side of the slate. 9 The top slider exposes the DIP-switches. 9a DIP-switch with 12 switches 9b DIP-switch with 4 switches 11 Back cover The Bottom slider locks the battery contact strip and allows the exchange of batteries.
1.1.1 The DIP-switches There are two switch field’s inside. One with 12 DIP-switches and one with 4 DIPswitches. Their functions are outlined in this chapter. It is important to note that changes made to the DIP-switches (12 switch-field) 1, 2 and 3 are activated only after a power-down, power-up cycle. Switches 4 through 12 take effect at once. DIP-switch with 12 switches: OFF ON 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Frame rate SW 24 Frs 25 Frs 30 Frs 29.
DIP-switch with 4 switches: OFF ON 1 1 2 3 4 2 3 4 TRX OFF / ON Transceiver is transmitter when slate is in GEN mode, receiver when in READ or READ/GEN mode. Make sure TRX is switched off when not in use, reading or jamming TC from LEMO or 1/8” jack is not possible if TRX is left on. TX continuous / burst: when in GEN mode, TC is transmitted continuously or as a 5 seconds burst when slate is clapped. Flash-LED ON / OFF: LEDs flash at second’s start (5 frames) when up.
When the generator is set from an external source while it is running the Red LED will go on shortly and then the Green LED will flash at 1 sec. intervals. A full on LED indicates latchup or time code/noise present at the input. Repeat jamming process, or turn OFF then ON to reset. Generator mode When the slate is turned ON, the Red LED will flash at one second intervals indicating that the generator is running but not set.
turn is “tuned” to GPS (factory setting) or to a fixed offset to match another machine by the user. Full details of this process will be found in the Clockit Controller manual.
1.2 Check features The slate can be used to implement all time code checking functions required on the set using the internal Clockit generator as a master to check all other time code equipment as required. Error checks can be carried out without the slate jamming from the externally connected time code.
1.2.3 External TC frame rate identification Press BLUE button to display the Generator frame rate and next to it the external TC frame rate. A single bar to left of the frame rate indicates the eventual error in the following ways: 0 1/4 1/2 1 offset if external TC is connected 1-1/4 1-1/2 1-3/4 2> frames error ext fps slate fps 1.2.4 EXT TC error check Bar full left indicates an error of 0 frames or less the ¼ frames. 4 bars from left 1 fps error. Full right indicates 2 or more frames error. 1.
Note: The generator still counts during set mode so no time is lost by entering and leaving set mode in the above manner. 1.3.4 The cursor ring 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 virtual 9 Diagram of cursor ring The cursor moves in ring in the following way: First 8 user digits ( single spacedots) then a position one digit to the right of the 8 userbits (pos 9) where the single spacerdots flash and the old and new userbits can be toggled to select.
DD MM YY XX When working with an Aaton or Aaton system cameras, or setting the Internal RTC this format must be used. 1.3.7 The AMPS configuration DD MM UR RR Use this format when more identification numbers are required. 1.3.8 The Time Field The time field has the following fixed configuration: H= Hours M= Minutes S= Seconds F= Frames HH MM SS FF When the display is running the frame field is changing at the frame rate.
When Load is implemented only the generator is loaded with the selected data.
1.3.11 Setting the generator There are three settings of the DIP-switches in which the generator is active. A B C Generator Mode Generator/ RTC Mode Reader/ Generator Mode In Generator Mode On power-up the generator starts counting from 00.00.00.00 .and the userbits are 00.00.00.00. The Red LED flashes. Go to set mode. (See 2.3) Set user bits as above and move cursor to time frame. Set time value and verify frame rate in last 2 digit positions. To LOAD press both buttons simultaneously till display runs.
1.3.12 Setting the Real Time Clock (RTC) The RTC can only be set with the slate in generator RTC mode To enter values from running generator, Go manual set mode. Check that userbits have DD.MM.YY.XX format move cursor to FF position without changing the display. Select ct. Load by pressing both buttons till display runs. To enter values from selected display Go manual set mode Enter date DD. MM. YY.
Red LED goes ON, then the Green LED flashes.
2 Operating modes 2.1 Generator Mode OFF 4 5 ON The Clockit master slate contains a very accurate time code generator which drives the display. When the slate is synchronised to a film camera or Nagra recorder, the time code will not drift off more than 1 frame in 10 hours*. Other time code machines which do not have such accurate Time code generators such as DATs and video recorders may have to be synchronised every hour.
2.2 Generator RTC Mode OFF 4 5 ON This mode has the same function as the generator-only mode with the difference that on power-up of the master slate the RTC time and date is loaded into the Generator. 2.3 Reader / Generator Mode OFF ON 4 5 In many film situations there is a requirement for 2 time codes to be displayed. In the classical situation a playback with time code is being played in a scene where at the same time sound is being recorded.
3 New features in ACD301RF MKIII 3.1 CLOCKIT Radio Slate The CLOCKIT Radio Slate is a combination of a small UHF telemetry transceiver powered by 2 AA batteries and a receiver built into the master slate. This makes the unit more compact than external receivers and easier to use. The range can be up to 200 meters but in difficult conditions it is typically 50 meters. 3.1.
3.2 Operating Note The slate can be used to show the camera the userbits before rolling over. This is done by pressing the RED button under the clapstick. This will become useful in the near future to display the Event number which is a unique number for each audio recording in the userbits. This number can be slated to the camera in advance thus showing the event number on film like the take number written on the slate.
4 TECHNICAL DATA: 4.1 4.2 4.3 Mechanical Specification Dimensions 250 x 160 x 26 mm Weight 960 g (no batteries) Electric specification Batteries 6 pcs. AA 1.5 Volt Current consumption Display OFF Display level 9 30 mA 500 mA SIGNAL description: The ACD 301 Generates all Time codes according to SMPTE / EBU standards. TC - IN TC - OUT AATON (ASCII) TUNE OUT 4.4 0.
