Using the Gilderfluke SD-10 Audio Repeater

[JonnyMac]

We've been asked if the SD-10 is compatible with our prop controllers and the answer is yes, and the purpose of this post is to give you some how-to tips on using the SD-10 with a Prop-1 or Prop-2.  Please note that the information contained herein is based on reviewing Gilderfluke's documentation and a quick call to their tech support line.

Regardless of the controller you're using, it's probably a good idea to store the files on the SD card as WAV files instead of MP3s, as MP3s take a bit of additional decoding and that can take time.  Also, you will want to put your files onto the card in order, and number them to be safe.  I would suggest you reformat the card, and then put them on, in the order you want to access them, something like this:

01-Howl.WAV
02-Scream.WAV
03-Silence.WAV

(The numbers on the file will help you remember the order you'll use when copying the files from your hard drive to an SD card.)

Why the silence file?  Well, most of the SD-10 modes want to loop a background file, and usually the last file placed on the card.  Per Gilderfluke's recommendation you should put a silent file on the card so that you can have a quiet background when desired.

SD-10  (http://www.gilderfluke.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_3&products_id=33)

For simple control the best setting of the SD-10 is going to be Mode 3b (see page 3 of the Gilderfluke documentation).  This will cause a triggered sound to play without interruption.  Input "A" will trigger sound file 1, input "B" will trigger sound file 2.  When neither file is running the silent background file will be looped.

Control connection is easy: simply connect V+ (up to 24 volts) to left terminal on the A and B blocks, and then the respective OUTx terminal(s) to the right terminal on the A or B block.  To start a sound you will simply make the pin high for about 25 milliseconds.  Like this:

Play_Sound1:
  HIGH Snd1
  PAUSE 25
  LOW Snd1
  RETURN

Snd1 would be defined as the I/O pin you want to use (0..7 on the Prop-1, 0..15 on the Prop-2).  Don't forget to return the pin low; if you don't the sound will simply loop.  Gilderfluke says you need about 10 milliseconds to activate an input; use 25 just to be safe.


SD-10/232

If you bought the RS-232 version you can control more than two files, and you have random access control of them.  To do this, though, you'll need a Prop-2 as the communication rate is fixed at 9600 baud and this is too fast for the Prop-1.  Page 3 of the Gilderfluke SD-10 documentation shows the serial connections (using a 3.5 mm mini jack).  You only need the TX and ground pins.

If you want to us P15 for communications, the connections would be:

P15.W --> tip
P15.B --> sleeve

Here's a short subroutine to play a file (based on its number) using the Prop-2:

Play_SFX:
  SEROUT Sd10, T9600, ["p", HEX2 sfx]
  RETURN

The variable "sfx" (a nib or byte) holds the desired file number.  The only tricky bit here is that the SD-10 wants the file number in hex, so your tenth file would be numbered 0A, eleventh 0B, sixteenth 10; luckily, the HEX2 modifier in the SEROUT statement handles this part of you.

Note: Sd10 and T9600 are declared in the I/O and constants section of your program.