Figuring it out

[aquawilly54]

Hi all.  My name is Steve.  I'm trying to figure out how to program, and use the AP-16+ (AP).  I have the documentation, and Essential Audacity (EA), but I'm feeling like the instructions have been written for those more experienced than myself.  I've made some recordings in EA, but was having a rough time figuring out how to download it to the AP.  I finally realized tonight, that I needed to buy an SD card, so went out and got it.  I don't have a programing cable, nor have I seen one listed on the EFX-TEK site.  Maybe I missed it.  Now for the big questions:
1. How do I put my EA recordings on the SD card?
2. How do I connect the AP to the Prop 1 controller?  I have the 12" extension cable (3 wire), that I believe is to be used, but don't know where to connect it.  Do the instructions tell me this and I missed it?
3. What positon does the audo slect know need to be in?  From what I can tell, maybe the number of different recordings?
4. What is a "propeller" chip?
5. Can the AP be used without the prop 1 controller, just by connecting a PIR to it?

I still haven't figured out the timing of the recording to go with the prop action, but will do my best before bugging anyone on that issue.  Also, I'm using Windows 7 for EA.  The stuff on the computer screen differs from what's in the instructions, so I can't find everything the instructions talk about.  As far as novices go, I'm at the lower echelon, so if somebody is willing to break this stuff down for me as basic as possible I would really appreciate it.  I've been using the prop 1 for the last few years now and people really like it.  I just want to up the antee this year.
Thanks much.
Steve

[JackMan]

How do I put my EA recordings on the SD card?

With your SD card in your computer just drag and drop the files to the card. Your files need to be named as explained in the docs. You do not need a programming cable or connection to the AP-16+.

How do I connect the AP to the Prop 1 controller?

There are several ways but the best way is with a serial connection which is covered in the docs.

What positon does the audo slect know need to be in?

It all depends on what you are trying to do, again this is covered in the docs.

What is a "propeller" chip?

It is the processor on the AP-16+

Can the AP be used without the prop 1 controller, just by connecting a PIR to it?

Yes but you will have limited control of the AP-16+

[JonnyMac]

The AP-16+ is one of our best-selling products, so I'd like to think that it won't be long before it all makes sense to you, too.

As Jack pointed out, it's helpful to know what you want to do. As a stand-alone player, the AP-16+ included "intelligent" features like randomization of audio files, and can activate a relay while audio is playing. Onboard pots allow you to set the pre-delay (from trigger to audio actually starting) and post-delay (time to wait until trigger is allowed again).

1. How do I put my EA recordings on the SD card?

With your personal computer and an appropriate SD card socket or adapter.

You don't have to use Audacity, though we really like it -- free and multi-platform is good, too.

Export your file as a 16-bit WAV, stereo or mono, with a sample rate of 44100 or lower. You must remove any metadata from the file (you can get to the metadata editor from the file menu; use the CLEAR button for clean-up). If you don't know, metadata is extra (non-audio) information that can be stored in the file. The AP-16+ cannot skip over this data so it simple stops when it's encountered.

2. How do I connect the AP to the Prop 1 controller?  I have the 12" extension cable (3 wire), that I believe is to be used, but don't know where to connect it.  Do the instructions tell me this and I missed it?

We would normally connect P7 of the Prop-1 controller to the Serial input of the AP-16+ for full control. That said, if you don't need the AP-16+ to be integrated in a control system you do not have to connect the Prop-1.

3. What position does the audio select know need to be in?  From what I can tell, maybe the number of different recordings?

That depends on what you're doing.  If you want to play one file using the Start or PIR inputs then you will select the file number (which corresponds to SFX00.WAV through SFX15.WAV). 

If you want to randomize some files, you will move the select switch to the last (first is always SFX00.WAV).  Let's say you want to randomize SFX00.WAV through SFX04.WAV (five files); you will move the SELECT knob to 4 and enable the random feature (? config switch).

4. What is a "propeller" chip?

That is the "brain" of the AP-16+ that responds to your commands, opens, and plays audio files.

5. Can the AP be used without the prop 1 controller, just by connecting a PIR to it?

Of course, that's part of the design. Connect a Parallax PIR sensor to the header marked PIR.  You should also set the POST delay pot so that you don't re-trigger the audio right away.

[aquawilly54]

Thanks folks.  That helps.  Especially for the connection between the prop 1 and the AP.  I just didn't see it spelled out anywhere in the documents.  One last question:

I see from your reply that the configure switch "?" is for randomization.  I figure the one to the right is for looping, but what are 1 thru 4?  Once again I can't find the explanation in the document.
Thanks much for the help.  I really appreciate it.
Steve

[JonnyMac]

Once again I can't find the explanation in the document.

Have a look at the top of page 6 under Configuration Switches.

[aquawilly54]

Ah, yes I found it.  I don't understand it, but I found it.   Guess it's time to take a couple of years of computer language classes.  ;)  I'm thinking for what I want, I'll just leave all of those switches off.  I'll try it by the end of the week, after some more reading and agonizing.
Again; thanks much.
Steve

[JonnyMac]

We teach basic Prop-1 programming in an hour using this presentation:

* http://www.efx-tek.com/downloads/prop-1_programming_basics.pdf

If you've never done any programming and are completely unfamiliar with electrical circuits then it will take a littel more time, but it can be done as a lot of people before you have demonstrated.

My favorite phrase this year is: The root of 'specification' is 'specific' -- you haven't told us yet, with any specificity, what you want to do. Once you do that we can offer a variety of options and very specific guidance for each. There's no need to agonize; we're here to help.

[aquawilly54]

Hi folks, I'm back...with issues.  Hoping you can tell me where I'm messing up.  Here's what I've got:

Two recordings thru Audacity, cleared of metadata and exported on to the SD card.  The card is a class 4 / 8GB. 
Both recordings are exactly the same.  One I named PIPES.WAV, the other SFX00.WAV.

I have an 8ohm speaker hooked up to the left speaker output
Power is applied to the controller and the AP16+
The servo (serial) connector is on P7 leading over to the serial pins on the AP16+.

With the card installed, the prop 1 controller switch set to 2, and the AP switched on, all I get is static.  The status (green) light stays steady.

Next, I tried the AP by itself, with:
The card inserted with both files.
The audio select switch set on 0, and the PIR on the PIR pins.  Again, all I get is static.

I also tried the switch input button, but nothing changed.

I know you're all busy, so I'm just hoping you can spot something I'm doing wrong.
Thank you.
Steve

[halloweenrick]

Can you copy and paste your Prop-1 code please?

[aquawilly54]

Well, I guess I found out why that portion didn't work.  I forgot to program it. 

Here's what I just tried to program, but I can't get it right. 

' ($STAMP BS1)
' ($PBASIC 1.0)

SYMBOL Pir     = PIN6
SYMBOL IsOff   = 0
SYMBOL PW      = PLAY NAMED WAV FILE



Main:
IF Pir  = IsOff THEN Main       ' wait for Pir activity
SEROUT  Sio, ("!AP16", %00, "PW", "PIPES", 1, 1)
Pause 20000                        'wait 20 seconds
GOTO Main                          ' back to Main

For the past three years I've only used the prop 1, and each year I end up basically copying programs and not really understand them (but they worked). 

All I'm trying for right now is to play the wav, but now I can't get past this programing stage. 

But for point 2, why wouldn't it work alone with the SFXnn wav?

I'd send the wav's if I could.

Thanks for looking.
Steve

[JackMan]

Well, bunch of things wrong with your Prop-1 program but first things first. Is the AP-16+ playing your file when the "start" button  is pressed? If it does, then your file is good, if it doesn't, then you may have a problem with the file or SD card.

Here is what your program should look like. The option switches 1 thru 4 on the AP-16+ should be off.


' =========================================================================
'
'   File...... prop-1_template.bs1
'   Purpose...
'   Author....
'   E-mail....
'   Started...
'   Updated...
'
'   {$STAMP BS1}
'   {$PBASIC 1.0}
'
' =========================================================================


' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------------


' -----[ Revision History ]------------------------------------------------


' -----[ I/O Definitions ]-------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  Sio             = 7                     ' SETUP = UP; no ULN
SYMBOL  PIR             = PIN6                  ' SETUP = DN



' -----[ Constants ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  IsOn            = 1                     ' for active-high in/out
SYMBOL  IsOff           = 0

' -----[ Variables ]-------------------------------------------------------

SYMBOL  timer           = B2                    ' for debounce loop



' -----[ Initialization ]--------------------------------------------------

Reset:
  PINS = %00000000                              ' clear all outputs
  DIRS = %00111111                              ' make P0-P5 outputs
  PAUSE 30000                                   ' 30 second PIR warm up/post delay

' -----[ Program Code ]----------------------------------------------------

Main:
  timer = 0                                     ' reset debounce timer

Check_Trigger:
  PAUSE 5                                       ' scan delay
  IF PIR = IsOff THEN Main                      ' check trigger INPUT
    timer = timer + 5                           ' update timer
  IF timer < 200 THEN Check_Trigger             ' wait for .02 second trigger

  SEROUT Sio, OT2400, ("!AP16", %00, "PW", "PIPES", 13, 1)
  GOTO Reset

[JonnyMac]

As Jack pointed out, moving the SELECT switch to the 0 position and then pressing START will play SFX00.WAV if it is there and properly formatted.  If that's not happening your code is moot.

Using the Prop-1: You MUST remove the ULN2803 influence from P7. This is accomplished by replacing the ULN2803 with the ULN2003 (that comes with a trainer board) or clipping pin 1 of the ULN2803. This link goes into details:

-- http://www.efx-tek.com/php/smf/index.php?topic=130.0

I know you're frustrated but I will ask you to go easy on yourself and on us. We've been doing this stuff for over 30 years (JB and I just hit 50 this year) and, like everyone else, we didn't learn what we know in a couple days.

...each year I end up basically copying programs and not really understand them...

There are no shortcuts -- any new topic requires a bit of study time. BTW... we're here to answer questions all year long (most of our business has nothing to do with Halloween).

Here's what I just tried to program, but I can't get it right.

You realize, of course, that what you're doing with that program you can do with onboard features? Set the select switch to the SFXnn.WAV file that you want to play and then adjust the post-delay pot to give you a 30-second delay. Done.

[JonnyMac]

I've attached a ZIP file with a spooky SFX15.WAV file in it.

-- power down AP-16+
-- remoe SD card
-- put SD card into computer
-- unzip my file (attached)
-- copy SFX15.WAV to your SD card
-- put SD card back into AP-16+
-- power up AP-16+
-- turn both PRE and POST pots fully counter-clockwise
-- turn SELECT switch to 15
-- press START button
-- you should hear the file play (ghost effect)

If it does, you hardware setup is fine, your files are bogus.

[aquawilly54]

JonnyMac,
  First of all, thank you for your patience.  This is indeed frustrating.  I'm the guy who needs everything dumbed down.  AP16+ for dummies, if you will.

That said, I did everything you listed for the sfx15 attachment.  It still does not play.

I just bought this SD card according to what I read in previous posts. 
It's a PNY premium, class 4, 8GB card.

The speaker I have installed is an 8ohm, 0.1w with two leads in to the left speaker terminal block. 

Please stick with me.
Steve

[aquawilly54]

JackMan,
  Didn't mean to skip over you.  To be honest I had to print your reply out and study it.   I guess I haven't been very specific in what I want for an end result.  Here is how I want it to go:

I'm using the prop 1 to control some animation.  No problem there.
I want the audio to come on in the last quarter of the animation.  That's all.  It's just one recording.  I'm trying to start small with the whole audio thing. 

By looking your reply over for a while, I can see that the bottom portion is the actual program, but I can't even try it yet.  As stated in the first sending I can't even get the audio to work as a stand alone.  I just tried JonnyMac's suggestion, but it still isn't working.  Please read what I sent him.  Between the two of you, I'm hoping to be smartened up a bit. 

Is there an index somewhere in all of the documentation with definitions for all the symbols?  As I read I see them, but I have to guess what most of them are and how they fit in to a program.
Thanks for helping.
Steve