Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Smart Mod IIC Question

This is topic Smart Mod IIC Question in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-04-2000, 06:46 PM:

How do you get the Smart Mod IIC cinema sound processor to default to Mono instead of SR? For some reason the SR-and stereo A for that matter-likes to not work sometimes-as in dead silence-so you have to run all the way down to the other end of the booth, flip the sound breakers for that projector off then on, run back and switch the processor from music back to SR, which will be working now. This is getting to the point where its happening every single day and is to say the least-annoying. Now, I'm fairly certain I cannot fix this-I have no electronics tools whatsoever, and no service techs. I do know though that there are some toggle switches for setting the default non-digital sound format.

So, making a long story short, where are these switches and how do I set them?
*looks at Oscar*

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-05-2000, 02:57 AM:

By defaulting do you mean when a cue ends the show, or when the DTS drops out, or at the end of a show with a DTS player installed, or for a dropout with SRD, or what?

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-05-2000, 07:55 AM:

What I mean is, no film running, it should be in 'music,' when the DTS reader dtetects timecode, and the processor finds the sound on the discs, it should switch into 'digital.' If film is running but there is no digital sound, I want it to 'default' to mono.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-05-2000, 11:30 AM:

Ah. This should be an easy fix. First, what model DTS player are you using? What board are you using for your automation connector?

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-05-2000, 01:11 PM:

Its a DTS-6D. Board for automation connector? Huh? You are speaking to an electronicaly challenged person.

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 10-05-2000, 03:53 PM:

Hi Dustin,

Sorry to take so long to respond. I have been so busy the last couple of days that I have not checked the Film Tech forum.

It sounds like you have a problem with SR so you want the default to be mono if digital dies. That way you will have sound if digital dies because SR is not always working. Is this correct?

If so, then I sugggest we get the SR problem fixed so you don't have to worry about it. The problem is (most likely) either the matrix card or the format card.

Why don't you call Elizabeth at Carmike Technical Department in Columbus, GA and have her order replacement matrix and format cards. Tell her I told you to order these cards. Don't worry, I will take care of this under warranty, even if the MOD IIC is out of warranty. These can be easily installed by you.

Let's start there and try the easy stuff first. It is possible to modify the format card to default to mono if digital fails, but I do not recommend it. Your customers deserve better.

Best regards,

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-05-2000, 04:39 PM:

befor you swap card a simple question
if you don't put any disks in the dts will the unit play in stereo a or stereo sr
If so the problem is not the processor but a problem that dts has with many other processors being the pulse length
try this first before changing cards
I have had very few smart cards fail

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-05-2000, 10:30 PM:

Oscar: Don't sweat it, that fact that you take the time to respond is impressive enough.

Gordon: Its not a digital problem, Oscar has it nailed on the head.

As far as my customers deserving better, I agree, its just I was under the impression it was a rather easy switch, and since everything we put in this auditorium is in DTS, the problem only affects the commercials and the very rare non-digital trailer. But I'll take your word for it and give the home office a call tomorrow (if I remember ).

BTW, I have installed new hardware cards in my PC, I imagine thats not much different than swapping out some cards in SMART.

Thanks agains Oscar, I'll make that phonecall and post when I get the new cards.

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 10-06-2000, 06:15 AM:

Dustin,

There is a jumper on the format card that can be moved to select the format that occurs if digital dies. The jumper allows you to select type A or SR. There is no mono selection. In both A and SR cases, the matrix is still being used. So selecting A instead of SR will not help if the matrix card has a problem. In order to select MONO, the format card would have to be modified by adding a wire to the card. It is not something I recommend.

I am curious about one thing. When there is no sound in SR, can you get sound back by pressing the SR format button? (Without first turning the power off and back on.)Also is the SR pushbutton lighted when you press it during the no sound condition?

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-06-2000, 08:35 AM:

Ah, a jumper. I remember trying to make a strobe light in High School-it wasn't pretty. No, that would not be easy for me

To answer your question, yes, the SR button is lighted during the sound failure. I will try pushing it again today like you said to see if that works. And I think it is the Matrix card from what you say, because the Stereo A doesn't work either during these failures.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-06-2000, 12:58 PM:

Pushing the SR button again does not work.

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 10-06-2000, 01:52 PM:

Dustin,

It looks very much like the matrix card is at fault. Go ahead and get one ordered if you haven't already done so. Let me know when you get it. You can call me at 800-457-6278.

Thanks,

Oscar

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-06-2000, 06:49 PM:

Well I ordered the Matrix card and the Format card today (didn't see your message in time). Oh well. They should be in on Wednesday.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-11-2000, 02:24 PM:

New matrix card in, was easier than I thought actually. Now lets hope this works *crosses fingers*.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-23-2000, 11:22 AM:

:Annoyed:
The SR failed again on Sunday, 10 days after I put the new Matrix card in.
GRRRRRRR

I'll try sticking hte format card in tommorrow.

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 10-24-2000, 11:13 AM:

Dustin,

Please do put the format card in and see what happens.

I went back and re-read your original post where you were asking about having the MOD IIC default to MONO. You said the problem was happening pretty much every day. Now the problem did not happen for about 10 days after you put in the new matrix card.

I started thinking (and boy did that hurt) whether you had ever tried switching the MOD IIC to MONO or BACKUP when the problem occured. If so, was MONO or BACKUP working OK? I am trying to determine if it is something outside the MOD IIC (like in the soundhead) that is not working. I did not see anything posted here that directly addressed this. Please let me know if you know whether you could switch to MONO or BACKUP and get your sound back. (You may have told me this in a phone conversation, but I do not recall.)

In any event, let me know what happens.

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-24-2000, 06:10 PM:

Well, didn't get the format card in today. Seems they have a hard time figuring out if I'm a manager or a projectionist, spent almost the whole day in the office, but that's another story....

Anywho, yes, the Mono worked just fine during the failures, and continued to during the Sunday incident.

Another wierd thing though, now the chain levels for SR are messed up. What I mean is, The surrounds are way louder than they should be. Please don't tell me I should hve done an A-chain or B-chain-whichever one it is-when I swapped out those cards, because I don't have the equipment to do that . Thankfully the DTS is still just fine.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-24-2000, 06:30 PM:

Dustin you say the surround levels are messed up? When the card failed is there still sound then?
If you run the cat69 tone loop what do the led bar graphs show. 1 they show the output of the stereo preamp and by switching the dip switchs as per the manual they can show the L-R component of the matrix

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-24-2000, 07:49 PM:

Don't have tone loops, don't have manual.

Like I said though, the levels are only messed up in SR, and no, during the failure there was NO sound.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-24-2000, 08:24 PM:

I think the manual is available for download on the smart web site
A tone loop is important because sr can get really screwed up with misset levels

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-24-2000, 08:49 PM:

But what else would you need to reset the levels? Just a tone loop? Maybe I can dig through the boxes of stuff we got from closed theatres and find some.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 10-24-2000, 10:31 PM:

The A chain gain only requires a cat 69T loop

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 10-25-2000, 06:17 AM:

Dustin,

Your answer to the MONO question clears up something for me, that is, the soundhead is OK. So, this puts the problem right back in the MOD IIC.

You should not have to do ANY alignment or level setting of any kind when you replace either the matrix or format card. The only thing you MIGHT notice when replacing the format card is an overall level difference which means you would have to set the volume control slightly differently than you ususally do. This was due to 2 different kinds of IC's being used on the format card which affects the volume slightly. Definitely no big deal.

Now about the surround levels. With DTS still OK, this eliminates the EQ and OUTPUT cards as the problem, leaving the matrix card as the only card that will affect the surround levels. This ASSUMES that the alignment of soundhead and preamp levels are OK and that NR cards are OK. I assume that your stage channels are fine with regard to overall level and balance. If so, then everything up to the matrix (soundhead, preamp, NR) is probably OK.

I know you are having a hard time wearing too many hats, but do change the format card when you get a chance. My bet is still the matrix, but we have to eliminate the format card too. I am guessing that you got a matrix from us that was also intermittent. If so, I sincerely apologize. I will send another matrix card up if the format card doesn't do the trick.

Best regards,

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 10-26-2000, 08:11 AM:

Well, I came in yesterday, turned on the projectors, and stuck a piece of an old trailer in there to test the sound. Fine. The surround problem has magicaly disapeared (though it WAS there). So I turn off the breakers for the sound rack in question, pull out the old format card, stick the new one in, turn on the sound rack....and here dead silence from the SR as I test the sound again.

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 10-26-2000, 10:42 AM:

Dustin,

I am sending another matrix card out today if I get the time, tomorrow at the latest.

------------------
Oscar Neundorfer
Chief Engineer
SMART Devices, Inc.

oscar@smartdev.com