User guide

Frequency Shift Keyed (FSK) Tape (or Disk) Organization:
When operating in FSK mode, the system is constantly listening for data on the FSK input. Whenever it
hears valid data, it will start decoding it and sending it to the outputs. This means that a show can be start-
ed at any time by simply pressing the 'Play' button on the tape deck (or LaserDisk or Compact Disc player)
that supplies the FSK data.
Since it will play whenever it hears FSK data, a show which is run from a loop deck or other continuous
source of FSK data will play continuously.
The FSK/RTU doesn't use any codes embedded in the FSK data or sensors on the FSK source to find
where it is. When it sends a PLAY string (usually starting the tape deck, Compact Disc or LaserDisk player), it
starts the ‘FSK startup’ timer. If it finds FSK data before the ‘FSK startup’ timer expires, then it is off and run-
ning. If it doesn't hear any FSK data before the ‘FSK startup’ time, then it assumes that the tape is posi-
tioned incorrectly and so starts a rewind sequence and a new delay between shows.
Once the system has started playing, it ignores any gap in the data of less than what has been set for
the ‘FSK/DMX dropout’ time. If it finds a gap of more than this time, then it assumes that it has just found
the end of a show. It won't send the STOP string yet, but instead will start looking for the FSK data to pick
back up at the start of the next show. If it receives FSK data again before the ‘FSK Intershow’ timer expires,
it will send the STOP string (usually stopping the tape deck or other source of FSK data), and start the
countdown delay for the next show. If no next show is found within the time set for the ‘FSK Intershow’
timer, then it assumes that this was the last show on the tape (or disk) and will initiate a rewind sequence.
The format for the tape or disk) must be as follows:
1) Start of tape (or disk).
2) Gap of less than the time set for the ‘startup timer’ before first show’s FSK data starts (the short-
er the better).
3) Show number 1.
4) Gap in the FSK data between shows which is longer than the time set for the ‘FSK/DMX
dropout’ timer, but shorter than the length set for the ‘FSK Intershow’ timer. The FSK/RTU will
send out the STOP string and start a new countdown between shows when the FSK data starts
again.
5) Repeat numbers 3 and 4 above for each show on tape (or disk).
6) Last show on tape (or disk).
7) Gap in the FSK data which is longer than the time set for the ‘FSK Intershow’ timer. This will initi-
ate a tape rewind sequence.
When operating from a Compact Disc or LaserDisk, the REWIND string is used to position the disk to the
start of the first show. This makes it the most complex of the three possible strings.
If you would like a show to play continuously from a Compact Disc or LaserDisk, the PLAY string can
send a string to the player which tells it to play the same show over and over again.
On systems that use tape decks, the delay between shows can be shorter than the time it takes to fully
rewind the tape. If the delay time is not longer, then the system can try to start playing at wherever the
tape happens to be when the countdown ends. If the ‘normal’ delay is shorter than the ‘minimum rewind’
time, the ‘minimum rewind’ timer will automatically be used instead.
GILDERFLUKE & CO. • 205 SOUTH FLOWER ST. • BURBANK, CALIF. 91502-2102 • 818/840-9484 • FAX[phone]
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