Nuoptix Stereo Optical Recording System User manual

revised April 10, 2011
Nuoptix Inc
31336 Via Colinas #104
Westlake Villa e, CA 91362
USA
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]
INPUT SETUP BIAS INPUT SETUP BIAS
LEFT RIGHT
MONITOR MODE
LEFT
RIGHT
DIRECT
INPUT STEREO
PEC
AUX MONO
RECORD
STEREO OPTICAL RECORDING SYSTEM
N
UOPTIX
RECORD
BIAS
SETUP
REVERSE
E-TEST
AUXILIARY - OPTICAL - SYSTEM
N
UOPTIX
LAMP CURRENT
ON
POWER CURRENT
OPERATE
MODE
OUTPUT LEVEL
STANDBY
PINK
TONE
HEAD
TONE
400HZ 1KHZ 6KHZ
XMOD
8KHZ
XMOD
10KHZ
XMOD
1 KHZ
XMOD

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
SPECIFICATIONS i,ii
GENERAL DESCRIPTION 1
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 3
OPERATION 4
MONITORING 6
EXPLANATION OF CONTROLS 7
CALIBRATION AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT 8
INPUT SIGNAL LEVEL CALIBRATION 9
DELAY CALIBRATION 10
NOISE REDUCTION CALIBRATION 11
CLIPPER CALIBRATION 12
TRACK PLACEMENT 13
SIZE ADJUSTMENT 14
HOW TO MEASURE % MODULATION ON OPTICAL TRACKS 15
OPTICAL TRACK DIMENSIONS AND PLACEMENT 16
LIGHT VALVE EQUALIZATION 17
LAMP BALANCE 18
FILM LOSS EQUALIZATION 19
SORS PRINT LOSS EQUALIZATION CURVES 20
P.E.C. AMPLIFIER ADJUSTMENTS 21
PIN OUT CONNECTS FOR THE SORS AND THE AOS 22
HOOKUP DIAGRAM 23
SCHEMATICS AND LAYOUTS 24

SPECIFICATIONS
STEREO OPTICAL RECORDING SYSTEM (SORS)
Electrical Characteristics:
Input Type: Balanced differential amplifier
Input Level: -10dbm to +10dbm (for 100% track)
Input Impedance: 10K ohms (may be driven from any souce
0 to 5K ohms)
Preamp Input: SORS provides ±15VDC to and accepts
monitor si nals from photocell preamplifier
Output: Drives modified 5 contact Westrex type
li ht valves
Frequency Response: 20Hz to 14kHz
S/N Ratio: >65 db
Power Requirements: Powered by Auxillary Optical System
Physical Characteristics:
Dimensions: 19 inches (482.6 mm) wide
5.25 inches (133.3mm) tall
14.4 inches (368.3mm) deep
Wei ht: 12 lbs. 10 oz. (3.95 K .)
i

SPECIFICATIONS
AUXILLARY OPTICAL SYSTEM (AOS)
Electrical Characteristics
Lamp Output: 12VDC at 4.25 to 8.50 amps
Di ital Meter: Displays lamp current in amps
Si nal Output: Minus infinity to +13dbm
Auto-controlled from SORS
Frequency Tolerence: ±0.005%
Output Frequencies: 400Hz Tone, 800 Hz Head Tone, 1kHz Tone
6kHz, 8kHz, 10kHz, 12kHz X-MODS
Pink Tone: 30 components 1/3 octave spacin
Equal amplitude
Pink Tone Freqs: 24,32,40,48,64,80,96,128,160,192,256,320,
384,512,640,768,1024,1280,1536,2048,
2560,3072,4096,5120,6144,8192,10240,
12288,16384,20480 Hertz
Power Output: ±15VDC at 1.5 amps
+5VDC at 0.5 amps
Power Requirements: 115 VAC or 230 VAC at 60Hz or 50 Hz
Power Consumption: Approximately 225 watts
Physical Characteristics:
Dimensions: 19 inches (482.6mm) wide
5.25 inches (133.3mm) tall
14.5 inches (368.3mm) deep
Wei ht: 26 lbs. 8 oz. (13.2 K )
ii

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Stereo Optical Recordin System (SORS) and Auxillary Optical System
(AOS) to ether comprise a complete photo raphic sound track recordin
packa e for makin both monaural and Stereo Optical sound track ne atives on
a Westrex type recorder. The system uses a specially modified five contact li ht
valve and electro-optical monitorin system. The SORS provides direct
independent electronic control of each of the four "ribbons" in the five contact li ht
valve. This allows electronic track placement and spacin so that a sin le valve
can be used for both mono and stereo recordin . The SORS monitors the li ht
passin throu h the li ht valve to the film and uses this information to display on
di ital meters a direct readout of optical track size which means extremely
accurate dimensions can be maintained. The SORS uses CCD technolo y to
delay the audio si nal while the noise reduction si nal is bein confi ured. This
results in the lowest possible noise and eliminates the transient distortion and
muted sound quality of older eneration optical sound tracks. The direct
electronic control of the li ht valve modulator provides for frequency response
from 20Hz to 14kHz. The system provides for selected print loss equalization
and exact level setup by use of di ital peak si nal monitorin . The SORS will
accept input si nal bus levels from -10dbm to +10dbm. It has a separate
monaural input which is automatically selected when the system is switched to
-1-

the mono mode. The system provides line level monitor outputs capable of
drivin 600 ohm loads.
The AOS auxillary system provides a unique set of di itally enerated test
si nals which can be instantly selected and injected into a recorded track. By
di itally eneratin the test si nals their frequency and level are extremely
accurately defined. This assures that crossmodulation test tracks made on the
machine are absolutely standard and readable on the new static crossmodulation
readin system. A unique new Pink Tone si nal is also selectable. This si nal is
also di itally enerated and provides a flat spectrum on 1/3 octave spectrum
analyzers and has the unique property that a three frame burst is all that is
required to measure the frequency response of the recordin system.
-2-

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
The SORS may be rack mounted in a standard 19 inch rack directly above the
AOS unit. The AOS must have at least one inch clearance below to allow
adequate air flow into the slots in its bottom panel. The case of the AOS is
connected to the power cord third wire common. The case of AOS is connected
to the case of the SORS throu h the G terminal XLR interconnect to the AOS.
Si nal round is isolated from the case in both units. It is recommended that all
audio si nals be carried on shielded cables and that the recorder and the SORS
and the AOS be tied to a common chassis round.
Stray li ht fallin directly onto the optical recorder visual observation window
should be avoided as it can result in erroneous SETUP readin s.
The pin outs of all connections on both units is iven on pa e 23 as well as
bein indicated on the system schematics.
-3-

OPERATION
Before turnin the system on or off the front panel mode switch should be set
to the SETUP position. This electrically disconnects the li ht valve from the
electronics and thereby protects it from electrical transients. The system is
turned on by the power switch on the front of the AOS. To record an optical
track, first set the record lamp current and select MONO or STEREO mode with
the SORS front panel to le switch. (Note that the lamp current may be reduced
when not recordin by to lin the lamp standby switch to the standby position.
The reduced lamp current prolon s lamp life.) With the mode switch in the
SETUP position adjust the SETUP pot controls on the front panel to read the
slack li ht valve ribbon spacin (in mils) for the particular li ht valve in use.
Rotate the mode switch to the BIAS position and adjust the two 10 turn controls
labeled BIAS to provide the desired size bias lines as indicated on the di ital
meters. A 1.5 mil bias line for stereo recordin and a 2.0 mil. bias line for
monoaural recordin is recommended. Note that different BIAS settin s will be
required for stereo and mono recordin . Rotate the mode switch to the RECORD
position and adjust the input bus level si nal to read 50% usin the INPUT level
controls. The SORS will accept input bus levels from -10 dbm to +10 dbm. Prior
to or followin recordin any of the test si nals from the AUXILLARY
-4-

ELECTRONICS may be recorded by switchin the input select switch from
INPUT to AUX. The XMOD test si nals may be used to verify crossmodulation
distortion cancellation on the print or for recordin standard crossmodulation
distortion tests. The PINK TONE test si nal is a di itally enerated si nal which
appears as a spectrally flat si nal on a 1/3 octave spectrum analyzer but can be
read from a recordin as short as 3 frames to verify *system and print frequency
response. Followin the recordin , the mode switch may be switched to the
REVERSE position for density check or to the E TEST position which alternates
reverse bias and bias line. Followin the recordin the mode switch should be
returned to the SETUP position to protect the li ht valve.
CAUTION: OPERATION OF THE RECORDING SYSTEM WITH CONSTANT
FREQUENCY ABOVE 8kHz AND 80% MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE
TO THE LIGHT VALVE.
-5-

MONITORING
The monitor controls on the front panel of the SORS adjust the output monitor
level but have no effect on the recordin itself. The P.E.C./DIRECT to le switch
selects the monitor si nal from the input or from the photocell monitor. The
SORS is desi ned so that the adjustment of the SETUP controls assures that the
P.E.C. and DIRECT monitor levels match. The internal PEC trimpot (R85) is set
to match P.E.C. and direct monitor level (see P.E.C. amplifier adjustments).
-6-

EXPLANATION OF CONTROL
The INPUT controls adjust the input si nal levels. The SETUP controls adjust
the ains of the photocell monitor amplifiers which are DC coupled. The ain is
set so that when the SORS unit is in the SETUP mode the front panel di ital
meters read the standby or "slack" ribbon spacin in mils. This standby track
spacin may be verified by developin a strip of film exposed with the SORS in
the SETUP position and measurin the track dimensions with a microscope. The
BIAS control adjusts the ain of the output drive amplifier of the SORS whose
output is the composite of the audio and noise reduction si nals. In the BIAS
mode only the noise reduction si nal is present, and the ten turn BIAS controls
may be adjusted to provide the desired size bias lines.
The Mono/Stereo to le switch does two thin s. It selects the audio input to
the SORS from either the two stereo inputs or the monaural input and it selects
the proper track placement and spacin required for the two different recordin
modes.
-7-

CALIBRATION AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
The SORS is factory calibrated and use of the followin procedures is not
required in daily operation. The followin equipment is required to calibrate the
Stereo Optical Recorder: An audio si nal source whose distortion is less than
0.05%; a di ital voltmeter; a distortion analyzer; oscilloscope and frequency
counter. The distortion analyzer should be band limited to 20kHz at its input to
eliminate hi h frequency clock si nal feed throu h. (Note: All measurements
made durin the calibration of the unit are made between the stated test point
and the system round. A convenient round is provided as a loop of bare wire
labeled GND on the PC board.)
-8-

INPUT SIGNAL LEVEL CALIBRATION
Rotate both BIAS controls on the front panel fully counter-clockwise to zero.
Remove the film loss EQ by settin dip switches DS1 and DS2 to the OPEN
position. Apply a 100% si nal (i.e. 6db over buss level) at 400Hz to the
MONAURAL input connector on the SORS back panel. To le the Mono/Stereo
switch to the MONO position and set the input controls on the front panel to
midran e. Rotate the mode switch to the RECORD position. Turn power on.
Adjust IN LEV (R49) for +10 dbm at test point TP1. Adjust MTR CAL (R113) so
that the panel meter reads 100. Do the same for both channels. This sets the
operatin level of the unit.
-9-

DELAY CALIBRATION
Delay calibration is factory set and should never need adjustment but if it
should the followin procedure should be used. Rotate inside clip ICLP (R11)
and outside clip OCLP (R40) fully clockwise. This removes the clipper operation
for the next part of the procedure. Adjust DEL IN (R9) for 0 dbm at TP5. This
adjusts the si nal level to the input of the delay circuit. With a frequency counter
at TP6 adjust CLK (R52) for 150 kHz. The clock frequency determines the audio
delay. Adjustin to 150 kHz provides for 25mS of audio delay. With the scope
probe attached to TP7 adjust BAL (R55) so that the two sampled 400Hz
waveforms lay directly on top of one another and appear as a sin le waveform.
Increase the input level to 130% on the panel meter. Adjust BIAS (R31) to yield
minimum distortion at TP8.
-10-

NOISE REDUCTION CALIBRATION
Once a ain the noise reduction should not require adjustment once factory set
but the followin procedure can be used if ali nment is necessary. Check to be
sure the clipper trimpots R11 and R40 are turned fully clockwise. Rotate the
mode switch to the BIAS position. Adjust comparator CMP (R141) so that the
volta e at TP10 just switches from +15 to -15 volts. This allows the NR circuit to
follow si nals that are at extremely low levels. Return the mode switch to
RECORD and set the input level to 100%. Adjust DEL NR (R136) so that the
volta e at TP9 just be ins to increase. For best results R136 should be set just
before the increase occurs. This adjusts the level of the delayed si nal fed back
to the NR peak follow circuit. This holds the NR circuit open until the end of the
delayed si nal. Adjust NR GAIN (R171) for -0.1VDC at TP11. This adjusts the
NR ain or mar in. Adjust AUD (R144) for a 7.60V peak to peak si nal (2.68
VRMS) at TP12. Note there will be approximately +0.2VDC at this point. This
sets the required amount of audio si nal to be summed to the DC noise reduction
si nal. (Note: The adjustment of R144 should be verified by photo raphic
development tests of tracks as described in the TRACK PLACEMENT AND SIZE
ADJUSTMENT section. The final setup requires that the modulated amplitudes
on the track be that iven on pa e 16 for a iven meter readin in the RECORD
position. R144 should be adjusted finally for that result.)
-11-

CLIPPER CALIBRATION
This adjustment reduces the amount of clash on excessive overloads. Adjust
ICLP (R11) for +4.0 VDC at TP4 and adjust OCLP (R40) for –4.0 VDC at TP 3.
This settin clips si nals just over 130% on the inside and outside part of the
track.
-12-

TRACK PLACEMENT
This section will require a series of darkroom development tests. On the PC
board layout dia ram you will notice four trimpots labeled S1, S2, M1 and M2.
Trimpots S1 and S2 displace the ribbons while the unit is in the stereo mode.
Trimpots M1 and M2 displace the ribbons while in the mono mode. Trimpots S1
and M1 move the ribbons that are closest to the picture area of the film while S2
and M2 move the ribbons that are closest to the sprocket holes. Ribbon positions
can be quickly and accurately set by usin the front panel meters. With the BIAS
controls reduced to zero and the rotary mode switch set to BIAS the meters will
accurately read the ribbon spacin if the SETUP pots on the front panel have
been properly adjusted to slack spacin readin (See Operatin Instructions).
Now the meter will accurately reflect any movements of the individual ribbons
made by the ribbon placement trimpots. One must first determine how much and
in which direction each ribbon needs to be moved usin a film development test.
The appropriate internal placement trimpots can be adjusted while observin the
front panel meters to au e the resultant displacements. This will provide rapid
and accurate positionin of the track ed es. Track placement should be verified
by a final photo raphic development test.
-13-

SIZE ADJUSTMENT
Record an 80% si nal at 400Hz and develop the ne ative. Measure the total
recorded modulation as determined usin the formula on the pa e titled “How to
Measure % Modulation” on the next pa e. If the measured modulation does not
equal 80%, do the followin :
•Connect a dB meter connected to the monitor output then adjust R144
•Rotate the mode switch to the RECORD position.
•To le the PEC/DIRECT switch to PEC.
•Rotate the monitor level potentiometer to midran e (12 o'clock position)
•Readin the db meter, adjust R144 to achieve the appropriate ain/loss
required.
db = 20 x lo (80 ÷ %modulation measured)
-14-

HOW TO MEASURE % MODULATION
ON 35mm DUAL BILATERAL OPTICAL TRACKS
-15-

-16-