Pioneer Device Controller
Help File

APPLIES TO: Millennium Multimedia Management System Version 3.0

1. Overview

The Pioneer Device Controller (PDC) is a plug in module that allows the user to create, edit, and fire events for a number of Pioneer players.

2. Application

The current release of PDVDCTL provides support for the following devices:

Pioneer V7400
Pioneer DVF07

3. Installation

The Pioneer Device Controller is included in FrameRate Services Packs, dated May 01,2003 or later. Visit the Service Gateway for more information.

3.1 Manual Installation

This section applies only if you are installing PDVDCTL manually. Normally, the program, PDVDCTL.EXE, is installed as part of the Service Pack. Separate installations, if released, can be installed as follows:

Step 1 - File Installation

CAUTION
You must be running the Service Pack SP030501. If you have not installed that Service Pack, this update will not function.

Unzip the files into the the BIN folder of the FrameRate software package. Usually, this will be:

C:\Program Files\FrameRate\mms3\bin

Step 2 - Enabling the Plug-In

In order to access PDVDCTL from the Media Scheduler, you must, also, install the ActivePI files. If you are installing from a PDVDCTL.ZIP file, these files will be automatically installed.

CAUTION: Manual installation does not preserve prior settings in the ActivePI configuration file. To restore existing settings, click Edit Configuration on your FrameRate menu from the Start Button.

4. Operation

The Pioneer Device Controller is embedded within the FrameRate Media Scheduler and Schedule Engine programs. 

To create an event to control the Pioneer player, you create an event in your schedule and set the Event Type to "Pioneer Device Command." You will then have access to the user dialog to create an event list.

Event Lists

Each event within Schedule Engine for the Pioneer Device can contain multiple events that act as macros for the Pioneer player. For example, you can create a list of commands that would (a) select a disc from the carousel rack, (b) select a title on the disc, (c) select a chapter within the title, (d) issue a play command, and (e) issue a Leightronix switcher command. The Move Up and Move Down buttons move the selected event up or down. The Remove button will remove the selected event. The Clear button clears the entire list.

4.1 Menu Commands

This section defines the available menu commands.

Menu: File

The "File"  menu item provides an Exit command. Any changes made are saved.

Menu: Action

contains commands not often used with automated programming. For example, the Open Hood and Close Hood commands for the Pioneer DVF07 would not be used for automated playback systems. The commands are:

 Menu: Commands

The "Commands"  menu item contains commands not often used with automated programming. For example, the Open Hood and Close Hood commands for the Pioneer DVF07 would not be used for automated playback systems. The commands are:

Open Hood (DVF07) Opens the hood and brings the current disc to the front. Playback is stopped. Close Hood (DVF07) Close the hood Disc Return (DVF07) Returns the currently selected disc to the rack. Playback is stopped.

 Menu: Options

Default COMM Ports Selects the COMM serial port to be used for communicating with the Pioneer player. You can override this setting using the COMM Port drop down list.

Menu: Help - Help Topics

Provides a link to the web-based product documentation.

Menu: Help - About

Displays the current version of the PDVDCTL program.

4.2 Player Command Buttons

The controller provides several commands for controlling the player. Commands are inserted into an Event List that is saved with the schedule. When the scheduled event fires, the commands contained in the list are executed in sequence.

The following commands are available:

	COMM Port Provides a means to override the default COMM port settings set from the Options.Default Comm Ports menu. This allows the use of multiple devices connected to different COMM ports. If only one device is being used, use the menu settings to specify that COMM port. Once this is done, this drop down list will always show that COMM port.
Disc Commands	Select Selects the disc to be played. For the DVF07, disc 0-300 are valid selections. For the V7400, this command has not effect and is invalid. Unload Unloads the selected disc and brings it to the front of the player. Playback is stopped. This command should not be used in automation systems.
Search Commands	The controller can issue search commands to the player using chapter, track, title, or time values. The Track command is used for audio CDs only. For time, the drop down lists represent minutes and seconds.
Playback Commands	The playback commands are issued after the disc has been selected and the search completed

4.3 Other Command Buttons

Saving Your Work	The Save button saves the current Event List into the schedule being edited by Media Scheduler. If you do not wish to save the changes, click the Cancel button and the previous settings will be restored to the schedule.
Switcher Commands	Switch Issues a switch command to a Leightronix switcher, causing it to connect the IN source device to the OUT destination port. NOTE: If more sophisticated switching commands are needed, they can be created directly in the Media Scheduler.
Other Commands	Delay Inserts a delay in the execution of the Event List. In practice, you would use this delay before issuing a SWITCH command to a Leightronix switcher. Custom Provides a means to send any custom command to the Pioneer player.

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