Adtec Soloist 2 User manual

Soloist 2
Shown with optional CD or DVD data drive.
CAT-002-H-4.0
May 2001
Broadcast MPEG 2 Player
Adtec Digital
408 Russell Street
Nashville, TN 3
7206
www.adtecinc.com
615-256-
6619
615-256-
7593 Fax

SOLOIST 2 Introduction
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ADTEC, Inc. USA
Table Of Contents
i. Contact Information
ii. Safety Information
I. Soloist 2 Introduction
II. Symphony Basic Application
III. Technical
Control Interface Diagrams
Communications Diagrams
MPEG Encoding Parameters for Mirage/Soloist
MPEG Storage (Data rate) Table

SOLOIST 2 Introduction
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ADTEC, Inc. USA
ContactingAdtec
Adtec maintains free customer service via telephone and the Internet. We also
offer a variety of priority paid support plans. Please visit the web site or call
customer service for more information regarding support options.
Contact Number or Link
Tennessee Office Sales, Support and Administration
Mailing 408 Russell Street, Nashville, TN 37206
Support Phone [phone]
Support Fax [phone]
Web www.adtecinc.com
Sales 1-615-256-6619
Web www.adtecinc.com
Florida Office Manufacturing and Engineering
Shipping 2231 Corporate Sq. Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32216-1921 USA
International Sales 1-904-720-2003 ext 227
International Fax [phone]
Contact Adtec

CE Declaration

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Soloist 2 Intro-Page 5of 5
ADTEC, Inc. USA
Soloist2Introduction
The Soloist 2 represents years of engineering and market research culminating
into one simple, reliable, economical and powerful broadcast tool. At its core,
the Soloist 2 utilizes a high-speed 32-bit RISC CPU operating under ADTEC’s
own deterministic multitasking operating system. The core CPU is tightly
integrated with MPEG decoding, memory, drive host control and digital to
analog circuitry to provide the highest level of quality and reliability available.
The Soloist 2 will provide years and years of total maintenance free operation
without the need or knowledge of sophisticated computers and operating
systems.
Identifier Description
AReset switch. Must be held for one second to initiate reset.
BPower LED, illuminates when AC power is applied to unit.
CVideo LED, illuminates during video playback.
DDrive LED, illuminates during either SCSI or IDE host controller activity.
ELink LED, illuminates when the electrical 10 Base T Ethernet connection is made
correctly to a hub or server.
FBusy LED illuminates when Ethernet activity occurs.
GDrive bay for primary, IDE or SCSI
HDrive bay for secondary, IDE or SCSI
Soloist 2 Front with two removable hard drives
Introduction

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Connector Description
AChassis ground.
BAC line input, 3-pin computer power plug. Includes 6’ cable. (Auto range 70-240 VAC input)
CSOLO210BASET (10 Base T) and External SCSI 2 drive expansion port. Expansion port 2.
DSOLO2BALYC (Balanced audio, Y/C, RGB, YUV)expansion port. Expansion port 1.
ERS422A control port.
FParallel control port.
GRS-232 communications port THRU. (Unlimited loop-through capabilities)
HRS-232 communications port IN. (Unlimited loop-through capabilities) Units require unique names to
address individually.
IProduct label area.
J10 Base T Ethernet Busy LED. (Only used when installed in Soloist 1 to Soloist 2 upgrade)
K10 Base T Ethernet Link LED. (Only used when installed in Soloist 1 to Soloist 2 upgrade)
L10 Base T Ethernet RJ-45 jack.
MEthernet hardware address. (48 bit MAC address set in hardware. IP address set by user.)
NBalanced RIGHT audio output, 600 Ohm output impedance.
OBalanced LEFT audio output, 600 Ohm output impedance.
PY/C output. 4 pin din connector.
QY output of Y/C on BNC connector or Composite video in RGB and YUV modes.
RC output of Y/C on BNC connector. R or RY signal for RGB or component modes
respectively.
SVideo output number 1, 75 Ohm. G or GY signal for RGB and Composite modes
respectively.
TVideo output number 2, 75 Ohm. B or BY signal for RGB and Composite modes
respectively.
USYNC input, 75 Ohm, Black Burst or Digital TTL sync or Genlock
VUnbalanced LEFT audio output, 56K Ohm output impedance.
WUnbalanced RIGHT audio output, 56K Ohm output impedance.
Soloist 2 rear panel
Introduction

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Physical
Rack Mount Applications:
The Soloist 2 was designed to be rack mounted and requires only one rack unit
(1RU). It does NOT require blank spaces above or below to remain within it’s
designed operating temperatures. The Soloist 2integrates a built in fan with side
panel discharge, make sure the side discharge has at least 1” of clear space to
allow for airflow.
Non Rack Mount Applications:
The Soloist 2 can be tabletop or desk mounted as it ships with four rubber feet to
prevent skid or slipping on Formica finishes. In this application, make sure that
no heavy objects (over 25 pounds) are placed on top of the unit as this may
cause damage to the drives.
Power
Power Supply:
The Soloist 2 ships with a six (6) foot standard SJT power cord with a three (3)
pin US type plug. A European 3 PIN cord with plug is available on PAL
versions. The unit incorporates a universal input switch mode power supply. It
carries the CE, UL, CSA and TUV safety certifications. Valid input ranges from
70 to 240 volts AC (VAC), 50 Hz or 60 Hz and uses between 20 and 65 watts
based on the number and type of hard drive(s) used.
Video
Video Connections:
The SOLOIST 2 uses video industry standard BNC connectors for video and
SYNC connections. YC is available via two BNC connectors or a 4-pin din
connector. In addition, a four (4) pin din connector and two BNC connectors are
supplied for Y/C video out.
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Units can be rack mounted with
out blank panels between them.
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The Soloist 2 can be configured for
Composite, YC, Component
(Separate SYNC), and RGB
(SYNC). See Configuration for
more specifics.
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Sync on Green for RGB and Sync
on Y for Component is available
with the SOLO2SYNCGREEN
hardware option.
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Caution: The 4-pin din and two
BNC connectors are the same
electrical YC signal, bothCAN
NOT be connected at the same
time!
Introduction

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Audio
Audio Connections:
The Soloist 2 ships standard with RCA jack, Unbalanced (Hi impedance -10 dB,
56 K Ohm) audio connectors for left and right channels. Removable Screw
Terminal (RST) connectors are supplied to facilitate low impedance (+4 dB, 600
Ohm) balanced audio.
Communications
Control Connectors:
The SOLOIST 2 incorporates control via Parallel, Serial RS232, Serial RS422A,
and Ethernet (Telnet and/or FTP). The Parallel port utilizes a DB9 male
connector, the RS422A port utilizes a DB9 female connector, and the RS232
ports utilize RJ-11 telephone connectors. The Ethernet uses RJ-45 connection
through your existing Lan/Wan system. For specific information regarding the
protocol and pin out, see the Technical section.
Communications Connections:
The SOLOIST 2 provides multi drop loop-through RS232 to allow a single PC
communications port or serial controller access to multiple units. Two RJ-11
connectors make up the In and Thru connections. Adapters are provided to
connect the SOLOIST 2 directly to a 9-pin PC communications port. Ethernet
communication is facilitated via the RJ-45 connector on the Ethernet port of the
Soloist 2. The Ethernet port is provided on the Soloist 2; however, it is up to the
customer to provide cabling and connection to their Lan/Wan system. Please
consult your Network Administrator before installing the Soloist 2 in a Lan/Wan
environment.
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The Soloist 2 can easily be
controlled via serial, parallel, or
Ethernet interfaces.
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An unlimited number of units can
be controlled from one (1) RS232
serial port.
Storage(HardDrives)
Introduction

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Internal Drive(s):
The Soloist 2 ONLY recognizes drives formatted using FAT 16. The DOS
FDISK and SCANDISK utilities support partition sizes of 2 Gigabytes;
however, the Soloist 2 can also partition and format drives with up to 4 Gigabyte
FAT 16 partitions. The Soloist 2 can see up to 32 partitions per physical drive
(128 Gigabytes/Drive). The Soloist 2 chassis can facilitate up to two (2) IDE or
SCSI-2 removable hard drives mounted in 5.25” removable bays. If more than
two (2) physical drives are required, an external storage chassis is required. The
Soloist 2 can interface with industry standard IDE (EIDE) ATA type hard
drives. It also can interface with SCSI-2 (50-pin narrow) hard drives. ATAPI
IDE CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives may also be used as a source drive to copy
onto a hard drive. The data through put and media used with CD or DVD-ROM
drives are not reliable enough to use for consistent MPEG 2 video playback.
SCSI-2 Drive Expansion:
The Soloist 2 includes a knock out for a fifty-pin Centronics female connector.
The cable can be obtained from ADTEC. ADTEC offers a rack mount chassis
that holds up to eight (8) SCSI-2 devices (SCSI-2 is limited to seven (7)). The
external chassis is ideal for applications where large amounts of video are
required or for RAID applications.
Applications:
There is a section on our website to help you with implementation ideas. Please
be sure to check that out. www.adtecinc.com.
Summary:
The SOLOIST 2 was designed to replace PC Based Servers, VCR’s, DVD, and
Laser (Video) Disk Players. It will provide many years of high quality reliable
video and audio. Should you require technical support or supplies contact
ADTEC at 615-256-6619 or www.adtecinc.com.
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The Soloist 2 ONLYsupports
SCSI-2 (50-pin narrow) and IDE
hard drives. Wide 68-pin drives
are NOT supported.
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See Rear Panel view. Item C.
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FAT 16 is the only file system the
Mirage/Soloist 2 recognizes.
Mirage partitioned and formatted
drives can be seen in Win 95, Win
98 and NT. Please note that
NTFS and FAT 32 are not
supported.
SymphonyBasicScreen
Orientation
Introduction

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This section is intended to give an orientation of the Symphony Screens.
SymphonyMainScreen
1. Pull Down Menu
2. Modem Lights
3. Connection Information
4. Messages
1. Product Bar
2. Applet Icons
3. Connection Pull-down
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Click Applets one time! Double-
clicking Applets will cause the
Application to open twice.
Terminal

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Terminal provides a text-based (character, not line based) editor to send or
retrieve data.
1. Click Terminal Icon once to start.
2. Terminal Screen –Click in Black area to begin typing commands.
3. Click the Scroll Up to view data not visible. Terminal will
store up to 256 lines of information. Make sure to click again prior to
entering new terminal commands
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DO NOT use the <BACKSPACE>
key; typing errors will result. If
you do not type the correct
response, hit <ENTER> and start
over.
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Symphony Terminal is similar to
Windows HyperTerminal.
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The Commands used in Terminal
are the same commands as found in
the Command Interface portion of
the Mirage-Soloist Technical
Manual. Please refer to this
document for further descriptions
of Terminal Commands.
Location

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A Location contains information for connecting to a unit(s). This includes
information on names, phone (modem) number, port type, and the names of
each unit(s) at the Location. The Location area also has a section for storing site
contact information and pager settings.
Speed Bar
Open Save Close Add Loc Del Loc Previous Next Config Connect Contact
Contact Sheet
1. Multiple Locations
2. Location Information
3. Unit Names at Location
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For information on creating a
Location to use in Symphony,
please refer to the Connection
guide in this document.
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For more detailed information on
Location, please refer to the
Location Section of the Mirage-
Soloist Technical Manual.
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Pager Settings work with Duet
MPEG2 Digital Ad-Inserter only.
Console

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Console is the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the Mirage and Soloist 2. It
will allow the user to see the inventory of the Soloist in the Directory, Configure
the unit. Play a sequential list and play a Schedule according to Time and Date.
Control Panel
1. Control Panel
2. Console Applet
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For more detailed information on
Console, please refer to the
Console Section of the Mirage-
Soloist Technical Manual.
ConsoleContinued
Directory:

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The Directory provides a list of MPEG files on the hard drive(s) in the Mirage
or Soloist 2. The file Name, Drive, Disk (Partition), Spot number, Length, File
size (MB), Data Rate (Mbs), Date encoded, and Time encoded is provided.
Speed Bar
1. Directory Tab
2. Directory Information
3. Find a File
4. Get Button –Get Directory
from Mirage/Soloist
5. Play –Play a File. (Double-
Clicking on a File will also
play that file)
?
This page is also printable with the
use of the print button at the top of
the page.
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For more detailed information on
Directories in Console, please refer
to the Console Section of the
Mirage-Soloist Technical Manual.
ConsoleContinued
Configuration:

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Use Configuration to configure your Mirage or Soloist 2. The tabs at the top of
Configuration are: Communications, Audio/Video, Transport, Time,
Networking, Features, and Manufacture.
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For more detailed information on
Configuration in Console, please
refer to the Console Section of the
Mirage-Soloist Technical Manual.
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For more detailed information on
Commands in Console, please refer
to the Command Interface Section
of the Mirage-Soloist Technical
Manual.
ConsoleContinued
LIST:

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A List is used to create a sequence for file playback.
Creating a Sequential Playback List
1. Under the List Tab in Console, Drag and Drop SPOT NAMES (MPEG
files) from the directory window on the left to the List window on the
right.
2. This List is now only on your Desktop PC.
3. SEND this list to the Soloist. The SEND command automatically saves
the list.
CONFIGURATION
The configuration will play a large
role in how the list is executed, be
sure that the configuration variables
match the desired functionality for
the list.
Recommended Configuration
settings for Lists are:
Setting Option
Repeat All
Startup On
Remember to NV-SAVE the new
configuration
1. Playing File will Flash in
Green and be centered.
2. List to Play
3. Inventory
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For more detailed information on
using a List in Console, please refer
to the Console Section of the
Mirage-Soloist Technical Manual.
ConsoleContinued
SCHEDULE :

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Schedules are lists that include Time and Date.
Creating a Schedule
Schedule adds the Weekday, Month, Date, Year, Hour, Minute, and Seconds
options to a list. Make sure the Schedule Running Button is checked prior to
sending the schedule or it will not work.
1. Under the Schedule Tab in Console, Drag and Drop SPOT NAMES
(MPEG files) from the directory window on the left to the Schedule
window on the right.
2. Assign Date and Time to each file.
3. SEND this schedule to the Soloist. This saves the schedule as well.
The Schedule Linking Feature
Once the first program in your schedule is assigned a time, single click in its link
box to the left, drag through all additional programs in your schedule. Start
times will be automatically assigned. This feature is particularly useful when a
schedule of lists is required on a repeating or day-to-day basis.
CONFIGURATION
The configuration of the unit will
play a large role in how the
schedule is executed, be sure that
the configuration variables match
the desired functionality for the list.
Recommended Configuration
settings for schedules are:
Setting Option
Repeat Off
Startup Off
1. Inventory of Mirage or
Soloist 2
2. Schedule to play
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For more detailed information on
Scheduling through Console, please
refer to the Console Section of the
Mirage-Soloist Technical Manual.
ConsoleContinued
Speed Button Descriptions:

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Configuration Speed Button Table
Speed
Button Function
NV-Erase Clear the Non Volatile (Flash) memory
NV-Load Load (Get) the Non Volatile (Flash) memory settings and
display to desktop
NV-Save Save (Send) the Non Volatile (Flash) memory settings from
the desktop to Soloist
Defaults Set unit configuration to default, must save after default has
been selected
List & Schedule Speed Button Table
Speed
Button Function
NV-Erase Clear the Non Volatile (Flash) memory
NV-Load Load the Non Volatile (Flash) memory settings into
Volatile Memory
NV-Save Save (Send) the Non Volatile (Flash) memory settings from
the desktop to Soloist
Clear Clear the list or schedule from the Volatile Memory only
Get Get the list or schedule from the non-volatile memory and
display on the desktop
Send Send the list or schedule from the desktop to the Soloist 2
volatile (erasable) and Flash (Non-Volatile) memory.
Non-Volatile Memory (NV)
The configuration settings allow
the user to customize the Mirage or
Soloist 2 to perform exactly as
desired. There is no need to set
switches for specific characteristics
to be defined. The non-volatile
memory is in the form of a Flash
ROM. It can be re-written to an
infinite number of times. Once the
NV-Save speed button is selected,
the user will be prompted "You are
about to save the Configuration in
the Soloist to the non-volatile
memory…ARE YOU SURE?" click
Yes to proceed or No to cancel.
Once yes is clicked, the Soloist will
now react with the configuration
characteristic defined and saved in
the non-volatile memory. Saving
the Configuration in memory
protects your data from a power
failure.
FileManager

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Left Window
1. File Manager Icon
2. Inventory of Drive
3. Left Window
(Environment)
1. Import
2. Find
3. Location Name
4. Unit(s) Name(s)
5. Drive
6. Partitions of Drives
?
For more detailed information on
File Manager, please refer to the
File Manager Section of the
Mirage-Soloist Technical Manual.
IFP
In Field Programming (IFP) allows
the user to reprogram the Flash-

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ROM of the Mirage or Soloist 2. This allows the user to upgrade firmware
without replacing a chip or sending the unit back to the factory.
IFP Screen
?
Firmware Files are in the Form:
Soloist2.S19 (Soloist 2)
Mirage.S19 (Mirage)
1. IFP Menu Screen
2. IFP Applet
1. Browse Bar –Browse
your hard drive for the
current Firmware to
upload.
2. Program Application Bar
3. Units to be upgraded
4. Transfer Log
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For more detailed information on
IFP, please refer to the IFP Section
of the Mirage-Soloist 2 Technical
Manual.
SymphonyBasic
Introduction
Symphony-Net was designed to
provide a communications link to
ADTEC manufactured products. A
Location is required to make a