Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: DTS Time Code.

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Topic: DTS Time Code.

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-18-2001 12:48 AM

After looking at the pin-out of the DB connector for the DTS reader head, pin 1 is TC in from Projector. (I presume that is what is being sent to the processor from the reader head).

Now I see that pin 4 is SMPTE Time code out. My question is, "What the hell is that signal supposed to be?" Is it a comparison signal? Is the actual comparison of the DTS time code track with what is encoded on the DTS disk?

Pin 9 is supposed to be "TC Present" LED drive signal out. (Now, that one I think I can understand. )

Ok, guys, I am primarly an ANALog dude. Scott Norwood, can you explain what these signals are actually doing? I also noticed that on the RS422 connector (DCP I/O (P10A & B) there is a signal TXB (- and +) [hi and lo] and RXB - & +. Being an old vacuum tube man, can you or anyone explain to me in idiot terms, what this "transmit" and "Receive" (if that is what it is implying) means?

I am on Film-Tech to learn, and maybe Scott, Joe, and Brad and many others who grew up in the digital age can explain some of this stuff to me, where I might be able to understand it.

As technology increases, It is leaving me in the dust. HELP!

Paul

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-18-2001 05:56 AM

OK, I'm not an expert on this, but here's the basic stuff: serial communication requires, at minimum, three pins. These would be TX (transmit), RX (receive), and ground. Annoyingly, the pinouts of various serial devices vary widely among various types of equipment. Other signals that may be carried over a serial line include DTR (data terminal ready) and DCD (data carrier detect) and such, but aren't necessary for basic communication. DTS is probably using some of the "extra" pins to carry additiional oddball data for its proprietary system.

Maybe Karen can provide better details.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-18-2001 08:41 AM

DTS time code is very similar to SMPTE time code that is used for editing and many other things. A DTS player can be configured to lock to SMPTE rather than DTS time code

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Karen Hultgren
Master Film Handler

Posts: 492
From: Agoura Hills, CA, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 09-18-2001 12:05 PM

DTS Timecode connector:

Pin 1 is timecode from reader at Proj 1
Pin 2 is timecode from reader at Proj 2 (when used and IF DTS player programmed for 2 projectors)
Pin 3 is serial data from a remote terminal to the DTS player
Pin 4 is serial data from the DTS player to a remote terminal
Pin 5 is +5VDC supply from player to reader(s)
Pin 6 is ground
Pin 7 is ground
Pin 8 is ground
Pin 9 is LED drive signal to reader(s

All DTS reader heads read DTS timecode only. SMPTE, when used, is supplied instead of DTS timecode and is fed directly into the players (no readers used).

When looking at timecode with the naked eye, DTS timecode looks very much like SMPTE. DTS timecode is very different from SMPTE and is unique to DTS.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me.

Karen at DTS
khultgren@dtsonline.com

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