AP16+ Flashing Green Status Light but No Audio

[Traveler]

Hello All,

What would cause the status light on an AP16+ to be flashing the green status light without any audio playing? I have 2 units setup to randomly play 9 wav files. Each wav is approximately 30 seconds long. Volume is definitely set to an audible level on both units. The post play is set to approximately 5 seconds. The latest firmware update has been installed.Both units have PIRs for activation.

It isn't a problem that I can readily reproduce, but it has happened to both units from time to time. To correct it so far all I have been able to do is turn the unit off and back on. If I don't restart it seems like it would just continue to flash indrfinrtly. Usually that fixes the trouble and it won't happen again all day long, but sometimes it occurs again and I have to restart it again.

Is this a PIR problem? Maybe a file problem? All the files seem to play OK. Any ideas about what is causing this and how to correct it?

Thanks,

Traveler 

[JonnyMac]

I run my AP-16+ unit all day every day in my office, occasionally reaching over to press the start button to interrupt the ambient track -- I've never seen this (if I had I would have checked the code and fixed it).

I would suggest that as it's only happened on your two units and not been reported by anyone else (so far, 200 units have shipped) that it may be something with your files; it's not likely to be a PIR problem (which is simply boiled down to a start command -- in fact, the AP-16+ doesn't know the difference between a signal from the PIR or the START button).

I would suggest making copies of your files, checking them to ensure them meet the correct specs, then reformatting your SD card before copying the files you're using -- and just those files -- to the SD card.  The AP-16+ doesn't judge what's coming from the card; if its a stream of zeroes it will think it's playing though you won't have any actual audio. 

The more I think about it, the more you SD card sounds like the culprit.  And, by the way, one of the other elements of yesterday's update was an improvement in the SD card access reliability (it's a 3rd party product, so I didn't list that in our changes).

[Traveler]

. . . I would suggest that as it's only happened on your two units and not been reported by anyone else (so far, 200 units have shipped) that it may be something with your files; it's not likely to be a PIR problem (which is simply boiled down to a start command -- in fact, the AP-16+ doesn't know the difference between a signal from the PIR or the START button) . . . I would suggest making copies of your files, checking them to ensure them meet the correct specs, then reformatting your SD card before copying the files you're using -- and just those files -- to the SD card.

JonnyMac,

I had repeatedly done what you suggested before you made the suggestion. I had re-formated my SD cards and I had opened up the wav files in Audacity and exported them out as wav files again. (I even created a few new audio files and still had problems) I must have done that at least a half dozen times before you suggested it and I always experience the error I am trying to correct. After you suggested it I went a step farther and twice I not only re-formated the SD cards but I zeroed out the data on the cards, and I still encountered the same problem.

Finally I MAY have discovered the cause of the problem. Its too early to know for sure but here is what I think. I think it has to do with the Sample Rate. I have been using a sample rate of 44100 Hz for my files. Finally in desperation I opened up all the files in Audacity and saved them with a sample rate of 22050 Hz instead. Files that only moments before were misfiring are now playing without any problem. Its only been a couple of hours since I made that change, but I think that is the cause of the trouble.

I want to be able to use the highest sample rate "supported" by the AP16+. I want to be able to use 44100 Hz. The files I've been making are 44100 Hz 16 bit PCM wav files. That's right isn't it? Has anyone else been using a 44100 Hz sample rate? (If not, that maybe the reason why I am the only one experiencing the problem) If anyone is using 44100 Hz how are you getting it to work? Any special settings or preferences that you're using in Audacity? I'm including 2 screen captures from Audacity. Maybe they will help figure out if I am setting things up wrong?

Any other suggestions to getting 44100 Hz sample rate files to work consistently?

Thank you,

Traveler

[BigRez]

Have you adjusted the speed/pitch setting to faster than 100%?  There's info in the manual that says 44.1 Hz rates cannot be made to play faster but doesn't say what will happen if you try.

[Traveler]

I have not intentionally set it. Would any of the 44100 Hz files play if it had been because some of them do play ok.. I will double check though just to eliminate that as a possibility.

[gadget-evilusions]

Are you using a PC or Mac? I found out that when formating SD cards and dropping files onto them using a MAC they add a bunch of hidden files that tend to make different audio players not very happy.

[Traveler]

Are you using a PC or Mac? I found out that when formating SD cards and dropping files onto them using a MAC they add a bunch of hidden files that tend to make different audio players not very happy.

Brian,

I am using a Mac. Maybe that's the problem, but why would the sample rate make a difference? I would assume (and maybe wrongly) that if this was the case both the 22050 & the 44100 files would be affected.

Traveler

[Traveler]

. . . Have you adjusted the speed/pitch setting to faster than 100%?  

Bigrez,

Unless I'm reading the manual wrong the only way to change the speed/pitch is with programing? I have not attempted any programing of any sort. I have strictly been using switches and/or dials for any adjustments.

Traveler

[JackMan]

All of my WAV files are 44kHz, no problems. I'm using a PC and MAGIX software to edit. Just curious, are you powering down the AP-16+ before removing or inserting the SD card?

[Traveler]

. . . Just curious, are you powering down the AP-16+ before removing or inserting the SD card?

JackMan

Yes, I always power it down. The documentation says it may corrupt files if you do not.

Traveler

[Traveler]

. . . All of my WAV files are 44kHz, no problems. I'm using a PC

I'll give using a PC to format the SD card; and to open and resave the files in Audacity; and to transfer the files onto the card tomorrow.

Traveler

[JonnyMac]

I have two AP-16s on my bench that are used every day and I have not had any problems with playing files that were correctly formatted.  I'm wondering if BigRez's idea about your Mac and what it's doing to the SD card has any merit.  I'm not a Mac basher, but am continuously confused at all the junk files (beginning with a period) that I end up with an a piece of media every time I give it to a friend with a Mac.

We carefully test every unit before shipping -- but with a PC-based SD card.  Since you're having problems with both devices it has to be something on that end that is affecting both.

Do you have a friend with a Windows PC who could reformat your SD cards?  I think it would be a worthwhile test.  Once the card is formatted, drop your files onto it and please make sure there are no extras.  I don't have access to a Mac or I'd try to duplicate your situation by formatting the SD card and dropping files onto it that way.

[JonnyMac]

You answered my question as I was typing it.  It would be useful to know if formatting inside a Mac is creating an odd situation for the SD card reader software (which is 3rd party, so I'll have to chat with them).

[JonnyMac]

Okay, I fibbed -- but not deliberately.  I just remembered that my downstairs neighbor, the fabulous Karmyn Tyler (www.karmyntyler.com), has an old Mac.  I took an SD with some WAVs on it, copied the files onto her Mac, reformatted (MS DOS) the SD card, and then copied the files back.

So far, so good.  I don't know if this means anything but you may want to reformat the SD card and make sure that you select MS DOS when you do.  Karmyn didn't know how to format the SD card and I know nothing about Macs, so we Googled and followed the instructions on this page:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4794433_format-sd-card-mac.html

[Traveler]

JonnyMac,

Yes, that is the procedure I have been using to format my SD cards. MS DOS.

The thing with the problem I've encountered is that it doesn't necessarily happen right away. Sometimes the unit plays the 9 - 30 second clips fine for an hour or two, and then for some reason an error occurs. Its just doesn't seem to make sense because in those couple of hours surely the unit has certainly played through all 9 or them at one point. Maybe it is a formatting error, but its confusing why a file would all of a sudden become corrupt.

Traveler