Alcorn Mcbride RideTraXX User manual

RideTraXX
16 Channel Synchronous MP3 Playback
User’s Guide

March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3Page i
Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this manual, and the reliability of the
Alcorn McBride RideTraXX hardware and software. Errors can sometimes go undetected, however. If you find one, please
bring it to our attention so that we can correct it for others. Alcorn McBride welcomes comments and suggestions on the
content and layout of its documentation.
Applications described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Alcorn McBride Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability
for the use of these products, and makes no representation or warranty that the use of these products for specific applications
will be suitable without further testing or modification. Alcorn McBride products are not intended for use in applications
where a malfunction can reasonably be expected to result in personal injury. Customers using or selling Alcorn McBride
products for use in such applications do so at their own risk, and agree to fully indemnify Alcorn McBride for any damages
resulting from such improper use or sale.
Some or all of the following open source software were used in the development of this product: u-boot, uClinux, ALSA,
Busybox, drivers by Analog Devices Inc, drivers by PLX Technology, Inc., drivers by Alcorn McBride Inc., and the
traxxPlay Mp3 player.
Please contact us at [email protected] to request a copy of any license or source code for the previously mentioned
open source projects.
Proper steps have been taken to separate proprietary portions of this product in order to satisfy license restrictions.
Proprietary designs include the application logic (TraxxOS), hardware design, and documentation of this product. The
product‟s hardware warranty will be voided if, at any time, software that is not released in the form of a firmware update by
Alcorn McBride Inc. is executed on the hardware.
RideTraXX™ is a trademark of Alcorn McBride Inc., all rights reserved.
Copyright 2012 Alcorn McBride, Inc. All rights reserved.
Artwork Gerry Calixto, Jr.
Hardware Design Jim Carstensen
Mechanical Design Martin Chaney
Software Design Hunter Olson
Firmware Design Adam Rosenberg
Driver Development Phil Wilshire
Part Number: 110-104138.50
Document Revision: 1.3
March 20, 2013
Alcorn McBride Inc.
3300 S. Hiawassee Rd.
Bldg. 105
Orlando, FL 32835
Tel: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
http://www.alcorn.com
[email protected]

Page ii March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3

March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3Page iii
Table of Contents
Welcome!_______________________________________________________________________________ 1
Features________________________________________________________________________________ 1
Technical Support ________________________________________________________________________ 2
Getting Started___________________________________________________________________________ 3
In the Box ____________________________________________________________________________ 3
Playing a Test Sound ___________________________________________________________________ 4
Front Panel Controls and Indicators ______________________________________________________ 5
File Access LED______________________________________________________________________ 5
Communication LED __________________________________________________________________ 5
USB _______________________________________________________________________________ 6
Rear Panel Controls and Connectors ______________________________________________________ 7
Audio Output Connector _______________________________________________________________ 8
Power and Discrete Control Input Connector________________________________________________ 9
RS-232C Serial Connector _____________________________________________________________ 10
Ethernet RJ-45 ______________________________________________________________________ 10
Configuration DIP Switches____________________________________________________________ 11
The Compact Flash Card _________________________________________________________________ 13
Recommended Compact Flash Cards_____________________________________________________ 13
Supported File Formats ________________________________________________________________ 13
File Naming__________________________________________________________________________ 14
Playback ____________________________________________________________________________ 15
Crossfade Mode ______________________________________________________________________ 16
Transferring Files via FTP _____________________________________________________________ 18
Control Methods ________________________________________________________________________ 19
Serial Control ________________________________________________________________________ 19
Ethernet Control______________________________________________________________________ 19
Discrete Input Control_________________________________________________________________ 20
Input Groups________________________________________________________________________ 20
TraXX Configuration Software _________________________________________________________ 21
Playlist Control_______________________________________________________________________ 25
Overview __________________________________________________________________________ 25
Special Playlist Commands ____________________________________________________________ 26
Example Playlist_____________________________________________________________________ 27
Playlist Builder______________________________________________________________________ 28
Scheduler Control_____________________________________________________________________ 29
Schedule Builder ____________________________________________________________________ 29
Command Protocol ______________________________________________________________________ 32
Playback Commands __________________________________________________________________ 32
Play - PL___________________________________________________________________________ 33
Loop Play - LP ______________________________________________________________________ 33
Sync Play - SP ______________________________________________________________________ 34

Page iv March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3
Sync Loop - SL _____________________________________________________________________ 34
Background Search - BS ______________________________________________________________ 35
Play Toggle - PT____________________________________________________________________ 35
Search - SE ________________________________________________________________________ 36
Start Crossfade - XF__________________________________________________________________ 36
Play Directory - PD__________________________________________________________________ 37
Pause - PA _________________________________________________________________________ 38
Stop - RJ __________________________________________________________________________ 38
Add Channels to Channel Group ________________________________________________________ 39
Playlists_____________________________________________________________________________ 40
Play System Playlist__________________________________________________________________ 40
Play Channel Playlist _________________________________________________________________ 40
Stop Channel Playlist_________________________________________________________________ 40
Control Commands ___________________________________________________________________ 41
Version Request_____________________________________________________________________ 41
Soft Reset__________________________________________________________________________ 41
Set Name __________________________________________________________________________ 41
Mute/UnMute/Volume Control _________________________________________________________ 42
Send String_________________________________________________________________________ 43
Enable/Disable Crossfade Mode ________________________________________________________ 43
Status Request ______________________________________________________________________ 44
Filename Status Request ______________________________________________________________ 44
Completion Acknowledge Mode ________________________________________________________ 45
How To Update Firmware ________________________________________________________________ 46
Standard Firmware Update ____________________________________________________________ 46
Firmware Recovery ___________________________________________________________________ 46
Troubleshooting Guide___________________________________________________________________ 47
Specifications __________________________________________________________________________ 48
Index _________________________________________________________________________________ 49

March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3• Page 1
Welcome!
Thank you for purchasing The Alcorn McBride RideTraXX™. The
RideTraXX replaces CD and solid state audio players in permanent or mobile
audio playback installations, providing hours of high-quality and
maintenance-free digital audio.
The RideTraXX lets you synchronously play sixteen independent mono
tracks from a single, economical unit. It‟s perfect for ride vehicles, tour
vehicles, trams, and background music or effects. Each track can be
individually triggered by a number of methods. Discrete inputs –contact
closure or voltage –allow direct connection to proximity sensors or switches.
The RideTraXX can also be controlled using Ethernet, RS-232 serial, or
USB. It can even be programmed to play on a scheduled-basis using its
built-in Real Time Clock or execute a pre-programmed sequence of playback
operations using a playlist.
RideTraXX offers the latest in Digital Audio Repeater technology,
combining MP3 audio with Compact Flash for a rugged, reliable,
maintenance-free solution to your playback needs. Access time is nearly
instantaneous! All sixteen tracks are completely independent and offer superb
audio quality.
Features
The RideTraXX offers a wide range of features including:
16 Independent Mono Audio Channels
Synchronous Playback
Hours of High-quality MP3 Audio
Compact Flash Media Included
Ethernet or RS-232 Control
Ethernet File Transfer
Scheduled Playback using built-in clock
Playlists for automated operation
“Boot-and-Loop” playback capability

Page 2 March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3
Technical Support
You can obtain technical support or other information about specifying, installing,
configuring, updating and programming your Alcorn McBride RideTraXX from
several sources:
For…
Contact…
When?…
Firmware Updates
http://www.alcorn.com/support
Any Time
Knowledge Base
http://www.alcorn.com/kb
Any Time
E-mail Support
[e-mail]
Any Time
Telephone Support
[phone]
M-F 9am-5pm (EST)

March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3• Page 3
Getting Started
Throughout this manual you will find detailed discussions on all the features of this
product. However, you‟re probably anxious to see your RideTraXX play some audio
right away. We‟ll start with a few easy steps to show you how to play audio from the
RideTraXX straight out of the box!
In the Box
RideTraXX Multichannel Audio Player (with CF card installed)
RideTraXX Manual
Straight-through DB-9 Female to DB-9 Female serial cable
Crossover Ethernet Cable
Audio Output Cable Harness
Discrete Input and Power Cable Harness

Page 4 March 20, 2013 • Alcorn McBride RideTraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.3
Playing a Test Sound
Every RideTraXX comes with a Compact Flash card preloaded with test sounds
already installed in the unit‟s compact flash slot. To play test sounds, follow these
step-by-step directions.
Using the included Audio Output Cable Harness, connect channel 1
of the RideTraXX to a set of powered speakers or to the input of an
amplifier.
Using either the included Discrete Input/Power cable harness or a
custom cable of your own making, connect power to the
RideTraXX.
To quickly test playback, trigger input #1 by touching the Input 1(+)
and Input 1(-) wires of the included Discrete Input/Power cable
harness. This will trigger playback of file 1 on channel 1.
Connect to amplifier or
powered speakers