MF DIGITAL DIRECTOR series Manual

DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
Series
Publishing System
Operator’s Guide

MF Digital Director/Director Pro Series Publishing Operator’s Guide Revised 71906
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Welcome to the Director/Director Pro System
Copyright Notice
Copyright ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by MF DIGITAL. All rights reserved.
This manual and the accompanying illustrations may not be copied, reproduced,
electronically transmitted, or translated into another language, in whole, or in part,
without the written consent of MF DIGITAL.
MF DIGITAL, Director, Director Pro, are trademarks of MF DIGITAL.
Other trademarks referred to are the property of their respective trademark or
registered trademark holders.
DVD-R/RW Recorder Warranty Policy
Individual DVD-R/RW recorder manufacturers are responsible for the products they provide. As a
convenience, MF DIGITAL will honor any service issue related to a defective recorder while under its
respective manufacturer’s warranty providing that the recorder has been purchased from MF DIGITAL either
directly or indirectly. MF DIGITAL assumes no responsibility for products NOT purchased through MF
DIGITAL.
Piracy
The copying of audio, video, or software without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal. MF
DIGITAL. accepts no responsibility for the copyright use or misuse of this equipment. It is the sole
responsibility of the user to ensure that the legal rights of copyright in duplicating are respected.
Corporate Headquarters:
MF Digital
155 Sherwood Avenue
Farmingdale, NY 11735
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
website: http://www.mfdigital.com/

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About MF Digital
Thank you for purchasing MF Digital’s DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
publishing system. MF Digital manufactures a wide variety of software and
audio duplication and production equipment, including manual and fully
automatic CD/DVD duplicators and printers. We hope you will consider us
for all of your production needs.
What To Expect From Your MF Digital DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
Publishing System
Your MF Digital DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO publishing system is
professionally designed and manufactured to give you years of trouble free
operation. To avoid accidental damage to your new
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO publishing system, please read and
understand this manual thoroughly before operating the unit.
About This Manual
This manual is written for both novice and experienced users. Please read
through this Operator’s Guide from beginning to end before using the unit.
Once having read the manual, follow along chapter by chapter. This will
provide the necessary understanding of your new DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
PRO publishing system.

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Installing the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
Carefully remove the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO publishing system
from the shipping container. Inspect the contents and verify them against
the packing slip. Report any errors in shipping as soon as possible.
What’s In The Box
Your DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO is a complete publishing system
containing all necessary components. The package includes:
•DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO publishing system
•Computer including: *SVGA Monitor, Mouse, and keyboard
*(DIRECTOR PRO ONLY)
•Power cords
•Operator’s Guide (on CD/DVD)
•Windows XP license pack
•MF Digital Product & Warranty Registration card
Packing Materials
Please retain the original box and packaging in the event that the unit
requires future servicing. This will help to reduce the possibility of damage
occurring in transit.

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The Best Place To Put The DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
The best operating location for the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
publishing system is in a climate controlled area, free of dirt, dust,
humidity, excessive heat, and electronic or electromagnetic interference.
Room temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, or
between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius. Place the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
PRO on a solid, steady work surface and allow sufficient room for all
incidental work materials. Provide at least six inches of clearance on all
sides of the unit for ventilation.
Safety Precautions
The system is shipped with a three-prong power connector and must be
used with a properly grounded AC receptacle. DO NOT try to defeat the
third “ground” prong. All computer peripherals must be properly grounded
and the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO is no exception. The use of a power
conditioner such as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), or a surge
protector is highly recommended. At the very least you should consider
connecting the PC portion of the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO to a UPS.
The minimum required size is 500VA.
Repairs or alterations should only be attempted by authorized factory
trained technicians. MF Digital reserves the right to void the warranty if
unauthorized service is performed.

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Location Of DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO Components
Front View
Rear View

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Location Of DVD ±R/±RW Recorder Parts And Controls
Pioneer DVD-R±/±RW
Legend
1) Disc Tray - Discs are loaded and removed from this tray. Pressing the eject button will open the tray when
the power to the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO is switched on.
2) Headphone Jack – Connect headphones here.
3) Volume Control Knob – This controls the volume level of the headphones.
4) Disc Indicator – Light indicates presence of disc in drive.
5) Ventilation Hole – Do not block.
6) Ventilation Hole – Do not block.
7) Eject Button – This button is used to manually open the disc tray.
8) Emergency Eject Pinhole – In the event that the disc tray will not open by pressing the eject button, insert
the tip of a large paper clip into this hole.

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Removing Packing Restraints
The DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO ships with a picker arm restraint to
reduce the possibility of damage in transit. This restraint must be removed
before operation or power-on. Remove the foam block above the transfer
arm. Save the foam block, as you will need to return it to its place if you
need to transport the unit in the future.
Input And Output Spindles
The input bin and the output spindle and bins serve as the containers to
store up to 200 blank and recorded discs per bin (up to 600 total depending
on printer option).

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Installing The Monitor, Keyboard And Mouse
Before operating the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO, the monitor, keyboard
and mouse must be attached.
Connecting The Monitor
•Place the monitor on either side of the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
unit.
•Make sure the monitor power switch is set to the off position.
•Connect one end of the power cord to the VAC Out on the monitor and
the other to the wall power outlet.
•Connect the High Density DB15 male connector of the video cable to
the High Density DB15 female Video In port on the back of the host
computer.
Connecting The Mouse And Keyboard
•Connect the PS/2 male connector of the mouse cord to the PS/2 female
Mouse In port on the back of the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
•Connect the PS/2 male connector of the keyboard cord to the PS/2 female Keyboard In port
on the back of the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
Installing The Network Cable
In addition to operating as a standalone duplicator the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO can be connected to a network to receive
files for pre-mastering or even be remotely controlled by use of the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO’s advanced Application Program Interface
(SmartAPI). The unit comes equipped from the factory with a 3COM
10/100BaseT Ethernet card for network attachment.
Connecting The Network Cable
•Connect a suitable patch cord to the RJ45 network port on the back of
the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO unit. A Category 3 or better cable
should be used for 10Base-T and Category 5 for 100Base-T network
connection.
While networks are commonplace, their connection and interconnection
require specific expertise far beyond the scope of this manual. For our
purposes here, we will assume you either have expertise with networking
computers, or had your unit professionally installed by MF Digital.
Note:

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Installing Firewire Cables
The following illustrations show firewire installation on the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
PRO. Please connect the firewire cables.DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO-4
Firewire Connection on back of PC

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Starting the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO For The First Time
Before CD/DVD creation or duplication can begin it is necessary to review
a few details.
Power Connection And Settings
•Make sure the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO power switch is set to the
off position. Also, set the PC switch to off or “0”.
•Verify that the voltage selector switch on the back of the unit is set
correctly. The DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO supports both 115 VAC
and 230 VAC at 50 ~ 60 Hz. Please confirm that the correct voltage
(115 VAC for North America) has been selected.
•Plug one end of the supplied power cord into the receptacle at the rear
of the unit and the other end into the wall or UPS power outlet.
0
CAUTION
Always use properly grounded receptacles, or severe damage
to your system may result. The use of a surge protector or
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is highly recommended.
The DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO use Microsoft’s XP For their
operating system. To get the most out of the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
PRO it is recommended that users supplement this manual with a
Windows XP guide.
Note:

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Starting Up
•Flip the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO power switch to the “on”
position.
•Flip the host computer’s power switch to the “on” position.
•Switch on the power to the printer.
•Wait a minute or two while the system starts up. A series of diagnostic
information will be displayed and once complete the unit will display
the Begin Logon dialog box.
•Enter “MF Digital” in lowercase letters for the password. Please note
that the password is case sensitive.
•Press the ENTER key. The screen will now display the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO desktop screen.

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Application Startup
The DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO is a state-of-the-art CD/DVD
publishing system and duplicator. It is designed to create, duplicate and
verify most standard compact disc formats. This startup section will guide
you through starting and configuring the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO
application.
Starting the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO Application
To start the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO application the steps are as
follows:
•From the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO desktop, double click the
“DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO” icon on the Windows desktop. The
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO application screen will now be
displayed:
•Place as many blank discs as required onto the input spindle.
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO Application Layout
The DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO application is organized into a
sequence of eight pages accessible by tabs at the top of the screen (System
Status, Create Job, Data Image Editor, Audio Image Editor, Label
Editor, Resources Info, System Setup, System Log). By completing
information on these cards you control the actions of the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO to create, duplicate and verify CD/DVDs as
well as print disc labels.

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Tabs:
System Status Displays the status of jobs after they have been
submitted for production.
Create Job Brings together the data or audio contents and label
components of a CD/DVD so it can be produced.
Data Image
Editor
Specifies the contents of a data CD/DVD to be
recorded.
Audio Image
Editor
Specifies the contents of an audio CD/DVD to be
recorded.
Label Editor Creates labels to be printed on the surface of
CD/DVDs.
Resources Info Displays the hardware elements connected to the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
System Setup Defines operating settings and user privileges.
System Log Displays the database of information maintained on all
jobs.
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO Application Configuration
Before creating or duplicating a CD/DVD the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR
PRO application must first be configured. The System Setup tab is used to
establish a number of important settings including basic operation
parameters as well as the authorized users and privileges they have using
the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
Note: Apply button must be clicked in order for any changes to take effect. Except
for modification of users and privileges.

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To begin or modify an existing setup of the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO:
•Click the System Setup tab. The screen will now display:
The System Setup tab is divided into a number of information fields that
must be completed.
Printer Driver (Required)
The Printer Driver pull-down is used to indicate to the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO the type of printer that is installed.
•Click the Printer Driver pull down and select your printer Ex: “MF
Digital Spectrum”.
Operator’s Email Address (Optional)
The OPERATOR’S EMAIL ADDRESS field is a user defined email
address to which a network attached DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO will
send a message when the unit requires attention (such as an empty input
spindle, etc.). The email feature requires the presence of a POP3 or IMAP
server on the network and that an email client account be created for use by
the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
•Click the Operator’s E-mail Address field and enter an email address.
Leave the field blank if the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO is not
attached to a network or if you do not want to receive unit attention
messages.
Recording Speed (Required)
The Recording Speed pull-down allows you to set the recording speed as
determined by the capabilities of the recorders installed in the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
•Click the Recording Speed pull down and select the desired recording
speed “maximum speed”, or “4x, 8x, 12x, 16x, 20x, 24x, 32x, or 48x
speed”.
•Click on “Apply” to activate the changes.
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO sends email via MAPI hence you must
first setup a MAPI email client on the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO.
Make sure you set this client to be used from MAPI based applications.
Note:

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Asynchronous Mode (Required)
The Asynchronous Mode pull-down is used to instruct the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO how to process jobs. This affects both how
jobs are handled and how the drives operate. Jobs and drives can run either
synchronously or asynchronously. In the table below you will find each
mode detailed. Let’s define the basic modes first:
Jobs=Synchronous / Asynchronous
When jobs are Synchronous, they are completed in the order in which
they were submitted. Take for example two jobs submitted for one copy
each. The first job is of a 650MB master while the second job is only
10MB. While the second job submitted will be completed prior to the
first job, it will not be outputted to the accept spindle until the second
job has been completed. When jobs are Asynchronous they will be
outputted to the accept spindle as they are completed.
Drives=Synchronous /Asynchronous
Drives can also run either synchronously or asynchronously. In
synchronous mode, all the drives in use for a given job, run in tandem
or parallel to one another. In asynchronous mode, all the drives in use
for a given job, operate independently of each other. For example if you
submit a job for three copies and the drives are operating
synchronously, the copying process will not begin until all drives
become ready. On the other hand, if the same job were submitted with
the drives operating asynchronously, each drive would begin to write as
soon as it becomes ready, independently of any other drives which may
also be in use for this particular job. Asynchronous mode is more
demanding of system resources.
The modes of operation are:
Mode Description
Disabled Jobs=Synchronous (FIFO), Drives=Synchronous
When the setting is “disabled”, jobs are processed on a first in/first out
(FIFO) basis such that they will be kept together when placed on the
output spindle. For example, let us say two jobs of one piece each are
submitted. Job 1 is a 650 MB disc and Job 2 is a 10 MB disc. Even
though Job 2 was submitted last, it will completed before Job 1 but it will
NOT be outputted to the accept spindle until Job 1 is done.
Level 0
Jobs=Asynchronous, Drives=Synchronous (Default)
When the setting is “level 0” jobs are still started on a first in / first out
basis, but completed jobs will be outputted when they are done and
therefore discs will be mixed together on the output spindle. For example,
let us say two jobs of two pieces each are submitted. Job 1 is a 650 MB
disc and Job 2 is a 10 MB disc. Even though Job 2 was submitted last, it
will completed before Job 1 but unlike the DIASBLED mode, it will not
be held but rather immediately outputted to the accept spindle when it is

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done. In processing the respective jobs, the two drives in use for each job
will function in tandem such that they will not begin to write until both
drives have become ready.
Level 1*
Jobs=Synchronous (FIFO), Drives=Asynchronous
When the setting is “Level 1”, jobs are processed on a first in/first out
(FIFO) basis such that they will be kept together when placed on the
output spindle. For example, let us say two jobs of two pieces each are
submitted. Job 1 is a 650 MB disc and Job 2 is a 10 MB disc. Even
though Job 2 was submitted last, it will completed before Job 1 but it will
NOT be outputted to the accept spindle until Job 1 is done. In processing
the respective jobs, the two drives in use for each job will function
independently of one another and begin to write as soon as they become
ready.
Level 2*
Jobs=Asynchronous (FIFO), Drives=Asynchronous
When the setting is “level 2” jobs are still started on a first in / first out
basis but completed jobs will be outputted when they are done. For
example, let us say two jobs of two pieces each are submitted. Job 1 is a
650 MB disc and Job 2 is a 10 MB disc. Even though Job 2 was
submitted last, it will completed before Job 1 but unlike the DIASBLED
mode, it will not be held but rather immediately outputted to the accept
spindle when it is done. In processing the respective jobs, the two drives
in use for each job will function independently of one another and begin
to write as soon as they become ready. In this mode, disc placement on
output spindle will be scattered.

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•Click the ASYNCHRONOUS MODE pull down and select the desired
“disabled” or “level O” setting (level 1 and level 2 not used).
Default Job File Folder (Required)
The DEFAULT JOB FILE FOLDER field is used to specify the default
location where job files (*.JOB) will be saved. The factory setting
(C:\CD/DVDDIRECTOR\Jobs\) should be sufficient for most uses. To
change the default setting:
•Click the Browse button below the DEFAULT JOB FILE FOLDER
field.
•Select the volume and DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO where you wish
to save job files.
•Click the OK button.
Default Image File Folder (Required)
The DEFAULT IMAGE FILE FOLDER field is used to specify the default
location where disc image script (*.ISC) will be saved. The factory setting
(C:\CD/DVDDIRECTOR\Images\) should be sufficient for most uses. To
change the default setting:
•Click the Browse button below the DEFAULT IMAGE FILE FOLDER
field.
•Select the volume and DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO where you wish
to save disc image files.
•Click the OK button.
Default Label File Folder (Required)
The DEFAULT LABEL FILE FOLDER field is used to specify the default
location where disc label files (*.LBL) will be saved. The factory setting
(C:\CD/DVDDIRECTOR\Labels\) should be sufficient for most uses. To
change the default setting:
•Click the Browse button below the DEFAULT LABEL FILE FOLDER
field.
•Select the volume and DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO where you wish
to save disc label files.
•Click the OK button.

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Creating New Privileges Profile
Control access to the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO by restricting use to
only authorized users. The main intent of this is for jobs submitted remotely
through the included Java Client, or through other client side applications.
New users must first be entered into the DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO’s
database and their privileges or permissions assigned.
The first step in entering new users into the database is to create profiles,
which define types or classes of users and their work privileges on the
DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR PRO. For example, a “Team Leader” profile
might be established for users who need to produce an unlimited number of
discs and a “Team Member” profile created for other users in order to
restrict the number of discs they can produce in a given period of time.
To create a new privilege profile:
•Click the New button below the PRIVILEGES window.
•Complete these required fields:
Editing Privileges
Profile name Required. Enter the profile name.
Max quantity per day Required. Enter the maximum number of