Component Engineering STRD-50 User manual

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STRD-50
Digital /Analog Sound Reader
for Simplex Apogee
Installation and Alignment

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Reader Kit Installation 2
Wiring the Readers and Power Supplies 4
Chapter 2: Reader Kit Alignment: Analog 5
Analog Focus 5
Analog Azimuth 6
Analog Lateral 7
Analog Illumination 8
Analog Complete 9
Chapter 3: Reader Kit Alignment: Digital 10
Digital Illumination 11
Digital Lateral 12
Digital Azimuth 13
Digital Focus 14
Digital Complete 15
Chapter 4: Trouble in Paradise? Analog 16
Common Analog Problems, Symptoms, Errors and Bad Fortune 16
Chapter 5: Trouble in Paradise? Digital 17
Common Digital Problems, Symptoms, Errors and Bad Fortune 17
Chapter 6: Kick-Starting Digital Alignment 18
Basic Help on Getting There from Here 18
Chapter 7: Removing a Reader 19

2
Chapter 1: Reader Kit Installation
The reader mounting plate
attaches to the casting with 10-
32x1/2" flathead Philips screws
as shown.
The LED standoff attaches to the
casting with 8-32x5/8" socket
head cap screws into
counterbored holes. These
screws will be hidden after the
next step. You may want to
thread lock them in place.
Next, the LED mounting plate
attaches to the standoff with 6-
32x1/2" Blk flathead Philips
screws.

3
Slide each lens block over the proper threaded shaft. Each end of the hole has a bearing insert. Use care
not to catch the inner edge of the bearings and displace them. The short shaft with the cutout fits into the
slot on top of the lens block.
The analog reader is mounted on top.
Note the position of the spacers. There is one for each reader. One is outside the analog reader and the
other inside the digital reader. This spacer compensates for the distance between the analog and digital
soundtracks.

4
Wiring the Readers and Power Supplies

5
Chapter 2: Reader Kit Alignment: Analog
Analog Focus
Use a 5/32" Allen wrench to
unlock the analog reader
adjustments.
Prepare the cinema audio processor for alignment by ensuring that
both channels of the optical pre-amp are at equal gain.
Thread and run Dolby Cat. No. 69T. Use an R.T.A. to view the
frequency response.
Rotate the focus ring to fine-tune the focus. Results that are nearly
flat to 12K are usual.

6
Analog Azimuth
You may continue to run the Cat. No. 69P for this test. View with a dual trace
oscilloscope set to XY mode. Use a 5/32 Allen wrench to fine tune the reader
azimuth adjustment. An extremely narrow trace is the desired result.
A trace that "leans" the other direction indicates that the two channels are
wired in opposing phase. If this is the case. Correct and proceed.

7
Analog Lateral
Thread and run SMPTE P35-BT Use a dual trace oscilloscope to view the waveforms. A 7/16" nut driver
is used to adjust the reader laterally. The desired result is a minimal, equal signal on both channels. The
reader is set to read 100% track width. A very small waveform may be seen.
Thread and run Dolby Cat. No. 97. Use a 7/16" nut driver to adjust the reader laterally. The goal is to
minimize cross talk between the channels. Zero cross talk should be easy to achieve. The channels may
be at different levels until the LED is in perfect adjustment. You may want to recheck this setting after
that step.

8
Analog Illumination
Thread and run Dolby Cat. No.566 Illumination uniformity test film. Use a 9/64 allen wrench to loosen
the socket head cap screw enough to permit moving the copper LED mount by hand. Ensure that both
channels of the optical pre-amp are at equal gain. Rotate the assembly to achieve the highest traces. Move
the assembly in and out to illuminate equally all six-frequency bands.
Pay most attention to the extreme left and right. In a dual system you may have to move the digital LED
out of the way a bit to give yourself adjustment room. Tighten the screw when adjustment is complete.
Minimal torque is required. The large surface area makes excessive tightening unnecessary.

9
Analog Complete
The analog alignments have been listed in a logical order. Some of the adjustments are interdependent so
they may need to be repeated or perhaps re-checked. If all is well this is the time to lock down the reader
adjustments using a 5/32" allen wrench. One could also check that the socket head clamp screw holding
the analog LED in place is locked down properly.
The next step would be to set Dolby level using Dolby Cat. Number 69 T test film.
1. Set the processor optical pre-amp at 80% gain and the slit loss compensation at zero.
2. Adjust the LED current control on the analog LED power supply to achieve Dolby level.
3. Fine tune the pre-amp controls so both channels are at Dolby level.
4. If there is a significant difference in the required gain for each channel you may want to repeat the
LED alignment procedure.
5. If not................analog alignment is complete.