ENCO Systems, Inc.

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DADpad Quick Start Guide


EH-DADPAD

Overview

The DADpad is a keypad like control surface that can connect to an existing
ENCO DAD Workstation and provide 10 banks of 40 random access playback
buttons. Each provides programmable background color and includes dynamic
label and countdown timer information displayed within the button. These
hardware buttons can be mapped to either the Array or Mini-Array virtual
machines within the DAD interface making audio assignment simple and logical.

The DADpad unit connects to the DAD workstation as a serial device (either RS-
232 or RS-422 based on the option ordered) and does NOT require any
additional software from the Manufacturer. All that is required is that the DADpad
option be enabled in the DAD Security Key and a few changes be made to the
DAD workstations configuration file then the DADpad is ready for use.

The DADpad control surface is compatible with DAD versions 4.3a and higher.
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Licensing

Before the device can be used with DAD, the DADpad option must be enabled in
the DAD Security Key. You can check this by opening the ENCO Applications
folder on the desktop of the DAD workstation and running the Check Security
Key application.

If the DADpad option is not checked, you will need to contact ENCO Sales and
they will have a Security Key update emailed to you. When you receive the
email, follow the instructions to download, unzip and execute the update program
on the PC that has the referenced ENCO security key attached to the parallel or
USB port (as appropriate). This will enable the DADpad option while maintaining
your currently authorized ENCO software options. You can use the "Check
Security Key" program described above to verify that the upgrade was
successful.

Connecting DADpad to DAD

The DADpad Keypad device connects to the DAD workstation via an RS-232 or
RS-422 interface (based on option ordered) . You can tell which interface you
have by checking the sex of the connector on the DADpad. If the connector is a
male DB9 you have the RS-232 interface. If the connector is a female DB9 you
have the RS-422 interface.

The RS-232 connection requires a DB9F to DB9F straight through cable. The
most common factory made DB9F to DB9F cables are null modem with pins 2
and 3 swapped between the ends. This will not work with the DADpad. Make
sure your cable is straight through.

RS-422 connections will depend on the specific RS-422 hardware port installed
in the DAD workstation. The chart below describes the most commonly supplied
ENCO hardware.
Sealevel Port (DB9-M) DADpad (DB9-F)
Signal Pin # Pin # Signal
RX+ (RD(B)) 1 7 TX+ (TD(B))
RX - (RD(A)) 2 2 TX - (TD(A))
TX - (TD(A)) 3 8 RX - (RD(A))
TX+ (TD(B)) 4 3 RX+ (RD(B))
GROUND 5 4 GROUND
RTS+ 6 NC
RTS - 7 NC
CTS - 8 NC
CTS+ 9 NC

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NOTE: This is NOT Sony 9 pin or 237&8 RS-422 wiring typically found
throughout television facilities. Follow the pin-out information carefully.

Configuring DAD for DADpad Use

To enable DAD to communicate with the DADpad you must first identify which
COM port of the workstation the DADpad is connected to. In many instances
this is obvious, but if using port expanders or USB to serial devices, you may
need to refer to documentation or the workstations Device Manager to determine
the port number. You will need this COM # in the following step.

Now it will be necessary to make a few modifications to the DAD workstations
CFI (ConFiguration Information) file. To do this access the Setup screen of the
DAD application and click the CFI and Readme button. Click the upper left
button labeled X.CFI (where X is the name of the DAD workstation). Find the
following [sections] of the file and set the parameters as indicated below:

[EXTERNAL_DEVICES]
DADPAD_ACTION=PRESS
DADPAD_MODE=FULL

[ARRAY]
LABEL=TITLE
LABELLEN=12

[SERIAL]
DADPAD_IO=x (insert appropriate port number for x)
COMx_INFO=38400 O 8 1 (insert appropriate port number for x)

Save the file and then exit the DAD application. Make sure the DADpad is
physically connected and powered on then start DAD. During startup the
DADpad LCD window will display DAD by ENCO Systems, Inc. Programmed
Mode and the bank lights will cycle 1 through 10 then back to 1. You are now
connected and ready for operation.

Programming and Using the DADpad

Programming the buttons is straight forward. With MODE=FULL in the CFI file,
the DADpad banks and buttons map to corresponding pages of the main Array
panel within the DAD graphic interface. You will notice that the Array layout has
now changed to 4 rows by 10 columns to match the layout of the DADpad. Any
audio you load on an Array button will simultaneously show up on the display
built into each button of the DADpad. The audio can be played immediately by
pressing the associated DADpad key. During playback, the button will blink and
an active countdown timer is displayed within the button.
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You can also color code any and all buttons. If you right-click on a button within
the DAD Array and select Color you will now see 8 new DADpad colors are
available. Selecting one of these 8 colors will enable DADpad to display the color
within the corresponding button along with the title and countdown information. If
you set a Group color in DAD to one of the DADpad colors, any audio cut from
that group that is dragged onto and Array button will automatically color the
corresponding DADpad button as well.

Once your banks and buttons are programmed as desired, all playback
operations can occur directly from the DADpad keyboard without any need to see
or interact with the DAD graphic interface.

There is also a title search feature that can be used directly from the DADpad.
Press the QWERTY button and the 40 DADpad keys become a keyboard. The
LCD window displays Search for: and as you type you see the characters
entered as your search string. When done with the string, press the blue
ENTER button below the LCD window. This will cause the DADpad to search
the current library for every title that contains your search string and load the
results to the DADpad buttons. These are instantly available for playback.

To do another search just press the QWERTY button again and enter a new
search string. To return to the Programmed Mode that maps DADpad to the
Array panel, press the CLEAR button below the LCD window.

CFI Options

The DADpad control surface can operate in several different modes as dictated
by the DAD CFI settings mentioned earlier.

DADPAD_ACTION=PRESS sets the audio to play the instant a button is pressed

DADPAD_ACTION=RELEASE keeps the audio from playing until the button is
released. This is sometimes easier to control since an operator can press and
hold a button while focusing on other duties. He need not look at the DADpad
again, he just lets go to play the audio at the appropriate cue.

DADPAD_MODE=FULL maps the DADpad to the FULL screen Array of DAD as
described earlier.

DADPAD_MODE=SPLIT maps the left half of the DADpad to Mini-Array1 and
the right half of the DADpad to Mini-Array2. This allows the two halves to be
assigned to different output channels so they can be on two different console
faders. This mode also allows the selection of different banks on each half. The
LCD display will show the status like Programmed Split View Left indicating
the current bank selection is applied to the left side (and to Mini-Array1).
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Pressing the right > arrow key under the LCD display will transfer bank control
to Programmed Split View Right and Mini-Array2. The left < arrow key
returns to Programmed Split View Left. All other programming features
describe for FULL mode work similarly in SPLIT mode.

LABEL=TITLE displays the title of the cut in the DADpad button as well as the
Array panels. Other DAD Library fields are supported as well. For instance:
LABEL=ALTCUT will the contents of the Library ALTCUT field in the DADpad
button as well as the Array panels.

LABELLEN=12 sets the number of characters displayed in the DADpad buttons
and Array panel buttons. This number can be set higher or lower depending on
individual needs. Any characters greater than the setting are truncated from the
display.

Additional Features

There are also a few additional DADpad features that can be very useful.

DADpad supports the Array Lib View functionality. In the DAD Full Array panel,
click the Library button in the bottom center to reveal the Multi-Select panel.
Enter the desired search information and the results will populate both the Array
panel and DADpad. Press the Array Return to Programmed Panels or the
DADpad CLEAR button to return to normal operations.

DADpad supports the Array based CUEs. Press F8 followed by any DADpad
playback button. The audio enters a CUE HEAD LOOP repeating a small
segment starting at the Head Cue. Use the DADpad left < and right > arrow
keys below the LCD window to adjust head cue while listening to the loop. When
adjusted as desired, press the blue ENTER key to save the new HEAD CUE.
Subsequent playback will now start at the new HEAD CUE.

DADpad supports the Array Grayout setting of the DAD Setup/Misc Defaults
options. If enabled, this causes a DADpad button to lose its color when it
completes playback of the associated audio cut. This can help an operator keep
track of the material he has used and minimize repeats.


Enjoy your DADpad!

Thank you for choosing ENCO.