Fright Ideas BooTunes AMPED FI-418 User manual

BooTunes Amped
OPERATING MANUAL
Manual Version 1.3 (Oct 24, 2016)
Tel: [phone] or 1-905-803-9274
www.frightideas.com

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 2
Getting Familiar with your BooTunes Amped

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 3
Connection Descriptions
Power Inputs
Power can be connected to the BooTunes Amped using either the 2.1mm barrel connector or the Power
Input/Thru terminals on the terminal block. These two power connections are internally connected, the -
terminal of the terminal block connects to the outside of the barrel connector, the + terminal connects to the
inside.
The BooTunes Amped can operate on any voltage from 12 to 24 volts DC. It draws about 50mA of current
when the amplifier is not used, or up to 2.5A when it is.
DO NOT exceed 24 volts on the power supply input or you will damage the amplifier. The power
supply used MUST be regulated to ensure the correct voltage at all loads. Unregulated power
supplies rated for 24 VDC will output a much higher voltage than shown on the label.
Busy Output
The busy output activates whenever the BooTunes is playing a triggered audio file. This output is an optically
isolated open-collector output, perfect for driving relays or inputs to other controllers. Max current is 100mA.
Power LED
This LED illuminates when the BooTunes is connected to a power source.
Play LED
This LED illuminates when the BooTunes is playing a sound. It is also used to blink error codes.
DMX LED
This LED illuminates when the BooTunes is receiving a valid DMX signal.
DMX
The DMX connection is used to connect this unit to another BooTunes Amped, BooTunes, BooBox, or a
generic DMX network. This is often done to add additional audio channels to a particular setup.
Trigger Inputs
The BooTunes has four optically isolated trigger inputs. Each trigger input has a status LED that will illuminate
when the trigger is active.
Audio Output
Use a 3.5mm stereo cable to connect this output to an amplifier or powered speakers. DO NOT use
headphones with this output.
Mixer Input
Line-level input mixed into the amplified Speaker Output. This audio will not be mixed into the Line Out output.
MP3 Output and Mixer Input Volume Controls
The MP3 Output Volume adjustment controls the Speaker Output volume of the BooTunes’ MP3 decoder only.
The Mixer Input Volume adjustment controls the Speaker Output volume of the Mix In audio.
Audio Output
Use a 3.5mm stereo cable to connect this output to an amplifier or powered speakers. DO NOT use
headphones with this output.
SD Card Slot
The BooTunes supports any standard SD card, as well as cards above 2GB (SDHC). Cards must be formatted
either FAT16 or FAT32.

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 4
Sound Folders
When the BooTunes starts up it will immediately look in the AMBIENT folder located in the root of the SD card.
If there’s a sound in there it will start playing it. Once that sound is done it will play the next one. Once all files
in the folder have been played it will start back at the first one.
If a trigger is activated any time during the playback of an ambient sound, the ambient sound is immediately
cancelled and the triggered sound is played. Once a triggered sound is playing, any additional triggers will be
ignored until the triggered sound finishes and the BooTunes returns to Ambient mode to start playing the next
sound.
Useful Tips
- If you’d prefer the ambient sound faded out instead of ending abruptly, see the _FADINT setting.
- If you’d prefer a particular triggered sound could be interrupted, see the _INT setting.
- If you’d rather the ambient mode would pick up where it left off instead of starting the next sound, see the
_RESUME setting.
- If you’d like to connect some of the extra inputs to buttons so they can be used to adjust the volume, skip a
track, pause a sound, etc. See the Settings section.
Those are just a few examples of the BooTunes settings. There’s lots more settings in the Settings section!
Sound Folders
The BooTunes needs the sounds to be located in specially named folders so it knows when you want them
played. There is an AMBIENT folder, as well as one for each input, INPUT1, INPUT2, etc. There may also be
a FIRMWARE folder. This is where it will look for firmware updates. Firmware updates are available free from
our website’s Product Support section.
SD CARD FOLDER LAYOUT
FOLDER
DESCRIPTION
\FIRMWARE\
Folder for firmware updates
\AMBIENT\
Folder for Ambient Sounds
\INPUT1\
Folder for Input 1 Sounds
\INPUT2\
Folder for Input 2 Sounds
…
\INPUT4\
Folder for Input 4 Sounds
Sound Filenames
If you want sounds to be played in a certain order then you must name them using a three-digit number with
000.MP3 being the first file. The BooTunes will play 000.MP3 first, and then next it will play 001.MP3, then
002.MP3, etc. Make sure the filenames are sequential, if the BooTunes tried to find the next numbered file and
it’s not there it will start back at 000. The highest numbered file you can use is 999.MP3
If you are not concerned about the order it plays the sounds then any filename is fine. The BooTunes will play
them in the order they were copied into the folder. When the BooTunes has played all the files in the folder it
will start back at the first one. A maximum of 65536 sound files can be put in each folder.
Operation
SD Card Layout

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 5
The BooTunes has many powerful features that can be enabled by simply creating folders with special names.
See the tables below for a list of the available features. Some settings affect the overall behavior, some are
only valid in Ambient mode, some only in combination with a trigger input. To enable a setting, simply create
an empty folder with the appropriate name. The setting folder you create must be located in the appropriate
location for it to be recognized by the BooTunes.
GLOBAL SETTINGS
The following settings are global, meaning they
affect the overall behavior of the BooTunes.
These can only be used in the SD card’s ROOT
folder.
FOLDER
NAME
#
VALUES
DESCRIPTION
_MVOL##
0 - 25
Master Volume -Think of this as the main volume control on a mixer. By
default it’s at the maximum value of 25. If you would like the BooTunes to
power-up at a lower master volume, use this option. The master volume
can also be adjusted using the trigger inputs combined with the _VOLUP,
_VOLDN, and _DUCK options in the corresponding input folders.
_BASS##
0 - 15
Bass Enhancement -This option will enable the BooTunes’ powerful bass
boosting DSP algorithm. By default this is set at 0 for no bass
enhancement.
_TREB##
0 - 15
Treble Adjust -This option can be used to increase or decrease the
treble. By default this value is set to 8. Using a lower or higher value will
decrease or increase the treble output.
_AMPMONO
Mono Speaker Output -This option sets the amplifier into a mono mode
allowing all 50 watts to be directed into a single 4 ohm speaker. Only the
right audio signal will be heard in this configuration. See the speaker
wiring diagrams for details on how to wire the speaker in this mode.
NOTE: Some units require a jumper on the circuit board to be moved
to enable mono mode. If the Busy LED continuously blinks 5 times
when this _AMPMONO folder exists then you have one of these units. To
set these units to mono you must remove the four screws, remove the lid,
then move the only jumper to the MONO position.
_NOMUTE
Disable Automatic Muting – By default the amplifier is muted if no sound
file has been playing for 5 seconds. This helps save power and reduce
heat. The two downsides are there is a very slight pop when the amplifier
is unmuted, and the Mix In input will not be amplified unless a sound file is
playing. Use this option if you prefer the amplifier to be enabled at all
times.
Settings

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 6
AMBIENT FOLDER SETTINGS
The following settings can only be used in the
AMBIENT sound folder.
FOLDER
NAME
#
VALUES
DESCRIPTION
_RESUME#
1 - 5
Resume - This option tells the BooTunes to resume the ambient sound at
the point it was interrupted, rather than starting a new sound from the
beginning. The # value specifies the fade rate in seconds to fade back into
the song. Use this in combination with the _FADINT option to also have the
ambient sound fade out when it’s interrupted.
AMBIENT OR INPUT FOLDER SETTINGS
The following settings can be used in the
AMBIENT or INPUT1-4 sound folders.
FOLDER
NAME
#
VALUES
DESCRIPTION
_VOL-L##
0 - 25
Volume (L) - Sets the left channel volume for this sound folder only.
Think of this setting as a channel volume control on a mixer. The final
output volume is determined by combining both this volume level, as well
as the current Master Volume level. For example, if this setting was at 20
(80%), and the Master Volume was at 15 (60%), the effective output
volume at the jack would be 60% x 80% = 48%. If this setting is not used,
the volume is by default at the maximum value of 25.
_VOL-R##
0 - 25
Volume (R) - Same as above but for the right channel.
_FADINT#
1 - 5
Fade on Interrupt - If a sound is playing from this folder and is
interrupted by another sound, this option will cause the currently playing
sound to fade out, rather than end abruptly. The # value specifies the
fade rate in seconds. This option will only work in an INPUTX folder if it’s
combined with _INT or _SELFINT, as sounds played from those folders
are not interruptible by default.

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 7
INPUT FOLDER SETTINGS
The following settings can only be used in the
INPUT1 thru INPUT4 sound folders.
FOLDER
NAME
#
VALUES
DESCRIPTION
_INT
Interruptible -If another input is triggered during playback, the current
sound will be stopped and the triggered sound will be played. By default,
triggers from other inputs are ignored until the sound is finished.
_SELFINT
Self-Interruptible - If the same input is triggered during playback, the
current sound will be stopped and the next sound in this folder will be
played. If there is only one sound in the folder, it will be restarted. By
default, triggers from the same input are ignored until the sound is finished.
_PRED###
1-255
Trigger Pre-Delay – When this input is triggered the BooTunes will first
delay ### seconds before playing the sound.
_POSD###
1-999
Trigger Post-Delay – After a sound in this folder plays to completion,
additional triggers on this input will be ignored for ### seconds.
_MOM
Momentary -Any sound played from this folder will be Momentary,
meaning it will only play for as long as the input is triggered.
_NCINPUT
Normally-Closed Input -The input behavior is reversed, a sound will be
played when the trigger is de-activated, and not played when the trigger is
active. This is useful for some PIR motion sensors that use normally-closed
contacts.
_VOLUP#
1 - 5
Increase Volume - This option will effectively turn the input into an
“Increase Volume” button. Each time the input is triggered, the BooTunes
will increase the master volume by the value #. The BooTunes starts with
the volume at max (25) unless the global _MVOL option is specified.
_VOLDN#
1 - 5
Decrease Volume - Same as above but decreases the volume.
_DUCK##
0 - 25
Duck Volume - This option will ramp the master volume to the value ## and
then hold it there for as long as the input is held. When the input is released
the volume will ramp back to the previous level. The ramp rate is fixed at 1
second. This option can be used to lower the music to an appropriate level
before an announcement.
_HOLD#
0 - 5
Hold - This option will ramp the master volume down to 0 (mute) over a
period of # seconds. Once faded, the sound will be paused. When the
input is released, the sound will resume and the volume will ramp back up to
the previous level.
_PAUSE#
0 - 5
Pause - This option will effectively turn the input into a pause button.
Pressing it once will pause the sound, pressing it again will resume it.
_PREV
Previous Sound - This option will turn the input into a “Previous Track”
button.
_NEXT
Next Sound - This option will turn the input into a “Next Track” button.

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 8
DMX is a network interface used to control stage lighting and other theatrical equipment. Our BooBox
controllers also use DMX to control lighting and communicate with one another. There are various ways the
BooTune’s DMX connection can be utilized:
-Multiple BooTunes can be connected together so they all trigger in sync.
-One or more BooTunes can be connected to a BooBox so they trigger in sync with the BooBox.
-The BooTunes can be connected to a standard DMX network and controlled by sending various
commands to the selected DMX channel.
DMX Settings
If you are using the BooTunes on a DMX network, one of the options below must be specified depending on
your setup.
DMX SETTINGS
The following settings folders must be located
in the SD card’s ROOT folder.
_SLAVE
BooTunes Slave Mode -This option will set the BooTunes to act as a
BooTunes/BooBox slave. Use this option if you want the BooTunes to stay in
sync with the triggering of a master BooBox or BooTunes. In this mode the
BooTunes will follow the master’s lead, playing audio from it’s own AMBIENT
/ INPUTX sound folders at the same time the master is triggered to play those
same scenes.
_MASTER
BooTunes Master Mode -This option is useful if you want to connect
multiple BooTunes together so they are triggered at the same time. Use this
_MASTER option on only one of the BooTunes, usually the one that is
connected to the triggers. When a trigger is activated, it will broadcast the
trigger signal to all the other BooTunes on the DMX network. Use the
_SLAVE option on all the slave BooTunes units.
_DMX###
1 - 512
Generic DMX Slave Mode -This option sets the BooTunes to a generic
DMX mode, and sets the DMX channel to ###. In this mode the BooTunes
can be triggered to play sounds from each folder using a single DMX
channel. See Generic DMX Commands for more details on the commands
that can be sent.
Generic DMX Commands
DMX controllers send out a value of 0-255 on each channel. Most DMX software will allow you to specify the
exact value that is sent down a particular channel. The values the BooTunes needs to receive to play certain
sounds from each folder are shown below.
DMX

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 9
Stopping a Sound
To stop a sound from playing send a DMX value of 16.
AMBIENT
INPUT1
INPUT2
DMX Cmd
Sound
DMX Cmd
Sound
DMX Cmd
Sound
128
000.MP3
136
000.MP3
144
000.MP3
129
001.MP3
137
001.MP3
145
001.MP3
130
002.MP3
138
002.MP3
146
002.MP3
131
003.MP3
139
003.MP3
147
003.MP3
132
004.MP3
140
004.MP3
148
004.MP3
133
005.MP3
141
005.MP3
149
005.MP3
134
006.MP3
142
006.MP3
150
006.MP3
135
007.MP3
143
007.MP3
151
007.MP3
INPUT3
INPUT4
INPUT5
DMX Cmd
Sound
DMX Cmd
Sound
DMX Cmd
Sound
152
000.MP3
160
000.MP3
168
000.MP3
153
001.MP3
161
001.MP3
169
001.MP3
154
002.MP3
162
002.MP3
170
002.MP3
155
003.MP3
163
003.MP3
171
003.MP3
156
004.MP3
164
004.MP3
172
004.MP3
157
005.MP3
165
005.MP3
173
005.MP3
158
006.MP3
166
006.MP3
174
006.MP3
159
007.MP3
167
007.MP3
175
007.MP3
INPUT6
INPUT7
INPUT8
DMX Cmd
Sound
DMX Cmd
Sound
DMX Cmd
Sound
176
000.MP3
184
000.MP3
192
000.MP3
177
001.MP3
185
001.MP3
193
001.MP3
178
002.MP3
186
002.MP3
194
002.MP3
179
003.MP3
187
003.MP3
195
003.MP3
180
004.MP3
188
004.MP3
196
004.MP3
181
005.MP3
189
005.MP3
197
005.MP3
182
006.MP3
190
006.MP3
198
006.MP3
183
007.MP3
191
007.MP3
199
007.MP3
DMX Wiring Information
DMX devices use differential signaling to help prevent electrical noise from corrupting the data. For this to
work, pins 2 and 3 on each DMX device must be connected using twisted pair. If this rule is not followed then
the network will be very unreliable.
Some sources for twisted pair cables:
DMX Cable - These can be somewhat pricey, especially if you’re just going to cut the ends off and connect a
few BooTunes together. There is one pair of wires inside the cable, the shield is connected to pin 1.
XLR Audio Cable - While not officially rated for DMX, these will often work fine. They have the same structure
as a normal DMX cable, one twisted pair inside a shield. The shield is connected to pin 1.
CAT 5 (Ethernet Cable) - This is by far the cheapest source for twisted pair. Cut up any standard CAT5 cable,
or buy it in lengths at a hardware store. Use one of the pairs to connect pins 2 and 3. Use both wires from one
of the remaining pairs to connect the pin 1s together.

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 10
Connecting BooTunes to a BooBox
BooTunes slaved to a BooBox must have the _SLAVE option set. See DMX Wiring Information for some
important tips on wiring the devices together.
Connecting Multiple BooTunes Together
One of the BooTunes on the network must be set to a master using the _MASTER option. The remaining
BooTunes must use the _SLAVE option. Connect the triggers to the master unit. When the triggers are
activated on the master, the slave units will play along as if the triggers were connected to them as well. See
DMX Wiring Information for some important tips on wiring the devices together.
Master BooTunes
One or more Slave BooTunes

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 11
About the Internal Amplifier
The BooTunes Amped includes a 50 watt Class D stereo amplifier. To take full advantage of this amplifier the
power supply needs to be 24 volts and have at least 50 watts of power.
Two Speaker Wiring Diagram
The most common setup. Use only 4 or 8 ohm speakers. This setting will drive up to 25 watts into each
speaker. If using 4 ohm speakers, DO NOT turn the volume past 50% or you will overload the amplifier.
Four Speaker Wiring Diagrams
Four 8 ohm speakers can be connected in parallel. This appears as a single 4 ohm load on each speaker
output. DO NOT turn the volume past 50% or you will overload the amplifier.
Four 4 ohm speakers can be connected in series. This appears as a single 8 ohm load on each speaker
output.
Amplifier and Mixer Input

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 12
Mono Connection
This configuration will drive up to 50 watts into a single 4 ohm speaker. To use this configuration you MUST set
the BooTunes Amped into mono mode. See the Settings – Global section for details. If you do not change this
setting before wiring the speaker in this configuration you may permanently damage the amplifier.
Mix In Connection
The Mix In is a line-level audio input that allows other sound sources to take advantage of the BooTunes’
internal amplifier. Any audio on this connector will be mixed with the BooTunes’ output and amplified. Control
the amplified volume level of this audio using the MIX VOL controls. This audio will not be mixed into the Line
Out connection, only the speaker outputs. Note that you may need to use the _NOMUTE option for this input to
work correctly. See Global Settings for more information.
Mix In Microphone Setup
Microphones do not generally output a line-level audio signal like the BooTunes Amped expects to receive at
the Mix In input. To use a standard microphone you must use a mixer or microphone pre-amp to amplify the
audio to line-level before it is input into the BooTunes.
Reducing Electromagnetic Interference
The amplifier uses efficient high frequency modulation techniques to amplify the sound to such a high level
without wasting loads of energy as heat. This is how we can fit it inside the BooTunes Amped without needing
the giant heat sinks typically seen on amplifiers at this wattage. This technique does however create
interference in the form of high frequency noise. Not to worry, it doesn’t affect sound quality, it’s well beyond
what humans can hear. If you’d like to keep the FCC happy and cut down on this interference, it’s
recommended to use shielded speaker cables. Connect the shield to the - pin in the power section of the
terminal block.

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 13
Input Wiring Diagrams
The BooTunes Amped has four optically isolated trigger inputs. Optically-Isolated inputs allow the BooTunes to
be triggered by other controllers without having to share a common ground. This keeps any electrical
interference and noise from the other systems power supply out of the BooTunes.
Wiring Diagrams

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 14
Busy Output
The BooTunes has a busy output that becomes active when a triggered sound file is playing. This can be used
to drive a relay connected to a light, solenoid, or other device you’d like to turn on during playback. The
maximum current the output can handle is 100mA, plenty for most relays. DO NOT connect a solenoid directly
to this output as they generally draw a minimum of 250mA or more.
Busy Output Wiring Diagrams
In the example above the BooTunes is being powered by a 12 VDC power supply using the barrel connector in
the back. The busy output is borrowing power from this power supply to power the relay. The load voltage
must match the BooTunes power supply voltage when connected in this way.
In the example above the BooTunes is optically isolated from the device it’s connected to. This is the best
option when connecting the BooTunes to a controller on a different power supply.

BooTunes Amped FI-418 Operating Manual - page 15
SPECIFICATIONS
Audio
File Format
MP3 Only (MPEG 1 and 2 Layer 3)
Maximum Bitrate
320Kbps (CBR, VBR)
Physical
Length
4.1”
Width
3.375”
Height
1.125”
Amplifier
Wattage
24VDC
Stereo Mode: 25 watts RMS into each 8 ohm speaker
Mono Mode: 50 watts RMS into a single 4 ohm speaker or 30 watts
into a single 8 ohm speaker
12VDC
Stereo Mode: 10 watts RMS into each 8 ohm speaker
Mono Mode: 20 watts RMS into a single 4 ohm speaker
Speakers
Ideally 8 ohm for stereo mode, or a single 4 ohm for mono. Speakers
should be rated for at least 100 watts.
Electrical
Operating Voltage
12 - 24 VDC
Current Consumption
50mA during playback with no amplifier, up to 2.5A with amplifier
Busy Output Current
100mA Maximum
Input Trigger Voltage
5-24 VDC or VAC
Input Impedance
3.3k Ohm
Specifications