Alcorn Mcbride 8 TraXX User manual

8 TraXX
Eight Independent MP3 Players
User’s Guide

Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this manual, and the
reliability of the Alcorn McBride 8TraXX 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.
This publication was created using Microsoft Word 2000, Version 9.0. Camera-ready art and illustrations were
produced using Corel DRAW!, Version 6.0.
8TraXX™ is a trademark of Alcorn McBride Inc., all rights reserved.
Copyright ©2000 Alcorn McBride, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hardware Design: Jim Carstensen, Jeremy Scheinberg
Firmware Design: Jim Carstensen, Chris Harden
Mechanical Design: Martin Chaney
Part Number: 110-100580
Document Revision: 1.8
August 7, 2006
Alcorn McBride Inc.
3300 S. Hiawassee Rd.
Bldg. 105
Orlando, FL 32835
Tel: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
http://www.alcorn.com
[email protected]
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August 8, 2006 • Alcorn McBride 8TraXX User’s Manual • Rev 1.8 • Page iii

Table of Contents
Welcome! ___________________________________________________________________________ 1
Features ____________________________________________________________________________ 1
Front Panel Controls and Indicators_____________________________________________________ 3
Test Channel Buttons_________________________________________________________________ 3
Channel Status LEDs_________________________________________________________________ 3
Mute All Button and LED _____________________________________________________________ 3
Unit Status LED_____________________________________________________________________ 4
Error Indications ____________________________________________________________________ 4
Rear Panel Controls and Connectors ____________________________________________________ 5
Audio Outputs ______________________________________________________________________ 5
Parallel Control Inputs________________________________________________________________ 5
RS-232C Serial Connector ____________________________________________________________ 6
MIDI In and Thru ___________________________________________________________________ 6
Configuration DIP Switches ___________________________________________________________ 6
Power_____________________________________________________________________________ 6
RS232C Serial Control ________________________________________________________________ 7
Play File to Channel__________________________________________________________________ 7
Loop Play__________________________________________________________________________ 7
Assign Sound_______________________________________________________________________ 8
Reset Channel ______________________________________________________________________ 8
Mute/UnMute Channel _______________________________________________________________ 8
Keylock Control_____________________________________________________________________ 9
Version Request_____________________________________________________________________ 9
Completion Acknowledge Mode_______________________________________________________ 10
Error codes________________________________________________________________________ 11
Making MP3 Files ___________________________________________________________________ 13
MIDI Control_______________________________________________________________________ 15
File Names _________________________________________________________________________ 17
Using More Than 511 sounds__________________________________________________________ 19
File Compatibility ____________________________________________________________________ 1
GPS Operation_______________________________________________________________________ 3
Troubleshooting Guide ________________________________________________________________ 5
Specifications ________________________________________________________________________ 7
Part Numbers_______________________________________________________________________ 7
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Welcome!
Thanks for purchasing The Alcorn McBride 8TraXX™. The 8TraXX replaces
multi-track tape machines, CDs and solid state audio players in permanent audio
playback installations, providing hours of high-quality, maintenance-free digital
audio.
The 8Traxx lets you play eight independent stereo tracks from a single, economical
rack-mount unit. It’s perfect for dark rides, museums, and interactive displays. Each
track is individually triggered by its own discrete input – contact closure or voltage –
allowing direct connection to proximity sensors or switches. Or all tracks can be
controlled from a single RS-232 serial or MIDI port.
8Traxx 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 eight tracks are completely
independent, and offer superb audio quality. Standard play-back time is 20 minutes
total. Larger Compact Flash media can provide several hours of playback!
Sounds are simply copied onto the media from your laptop computer or using an
optional Compact Flash docking cradle.
Features
The 8TraXX offers a wide range of features including:
• 8 Independent Stereo Audio Channels
• High-quality MP3 Audio Format
• Encode audio on any PC
• Compact Flash Media Included
• Voltage or Contact Closure Control
• Start, Stop and Mute Each Track
• RS-232 and MIDI Control
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Front Panel Controls and Indicators
The 8TraXX provides controls that can accommodate a wide variety of installations. The front panel
incorporates eight test pushbuttons, a mute-all button, media status indicator, playing status indicators, mute
status indicator, and a Compact Flash slot. All front panel buttons can be disabled by a special serial command
for systems requiring tamper-free remote control.
Test Channel Buttons
The numbers next to the
test button match the
channel and file
numbers (i.e. Button
number 1 plays file
number 1 to channel 1,
Button number 2 plays
f
ile number 2 to track 2,
etc.
The front panel contains a row of eight pushbuttons. These buttons allow you to test
play each of the unit’s 8 channels. When a test channel button is pressed, the file
with the same number as the button number will be activated and played out the
corresponding channel. Pressing a button once plays the sound. Pressing it again
while the sound is playing stops playback. Holding the button down causes the
sound to loop from end to beginning.
Channel Status LEDs
While the 8TraXX is
booting up, the channel
status LEDs will
illuminate one at a time
f
rom left to right,
indicating channel
initialization.
Next to each Channel Test button is a green LED. If a channel is currently playing,
the corresponding LED will be illuminated. A channel LED flashes if an error
occurs on the corresponding channel. Refer to the Error Indicators section below for
details.
Mute All Button and LED
A pushbutton on the far right of the front panel causes all channels to mute.
Pressing the button once causes all channels to mute. Pressing it again causes all
channels to unmute.
The red LED next to the Mute-All pushbutton is activated whenever any of the
8TraXX channels are muted.
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Using the Mute All Button to Format Media
You should always
f
ormat your Compact
Flash media in the
8TraXX before using it
f
or the first time.
Formatting erases all
sounds that may be in
the media.
The Mute All button is also used to format the Compact Flash media. To format the
media, hold down the Mute All Button during the entire power-on cycle, when the
Channel Status LEDs are flashing. THIS WILL ERASE ANY SOUNDS STORED
IN THE MEDIA. After boot-up is complete, the Unit Status LED activates
indicating that the media is being formatted. Formatting is complete when the Mute
All LED illuminates.
Unit Status LED
This LED is primarily used to indicate media activity. It illuminates whenever the
Compact Flash media is being accessed. The LED is also used for error indication
(refer to error indication section below).
Error Indications
The Channel Status LEDs and Unit Status LED on the 8TraXX are used together to
indicate various error conditions. The following table provides a key to the possible
LED behavior combinations and the corresponding error or unit status that is
indicated.
Unit Status
LED Behavior Channel Status LED Behavior LED Meaning
Off Off Idle
On Off Media activity (either reading to
or writing from Compact Flash
socket)
On On Channel playing
On Flashing Channel error - requested file not
available or unsupported file type.
Flashing N/A Media error – can’t read media, or
unsupported media format.
Flashing Flashing Bootup
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