Alcorn Mcbride AM-4, Hardware And Software Reference Manual

Page: 52 / 77

46 File Types and Storage
Required File Name Formats
IMPORTANT : The
AM-4 file system does
not support long file
names. Avoid using any
file name that has more
then 8 characters
followed by a 3
character extension.
File names are represented in simple DOS 8.3 format. – in other words, an eight
character name, a period, and then a three character extension. There are two
ways to name your sound files.
SND00003.MP3 is an
example of a numbered
file name. With this
naming convention, you
can use the parallel
inputs to access files.
The first method consists of a name made up of eight characters specifying the type
(SND for sound file, PLY for Play List), and the number of the file (5 digits from
00000 to 00511).
The three character extension is used to tell the AM-4 Digital Audio Machine the data
format of the file, either MP3, WAV, or LST representing an audio file or a playlist.
To avoid confusion,
don’t duplicate file
numbers.
File numbers are used to identify which file is to be played in response to Select File
serial commands or rear panel file selection parallel inputs. File numbers contained
on a drive should be unique, regardless of the file type. In other words, you
shouldn’t have PLY00002.LST and SND00002.MP3 on the same drive. The two
files should have different numbers. If more than one file has the same number, the
first file found in the directory will be used.
Autoexec files are
invaluable in stand-
alone applications.
If PLY00000.LST
contains only a SH
command, it will
shuffle-play all the
audio files on the media
on power-up.
File 00000 is an autoexec file. A file numbered 00000 is automatically executed on
power up. For example, Play List PLY00000.LST will start as soon as the AM-4
Digital Audio Machine is turned on. If the loop input is strapped on, or if the Play
List is designed to repeat, playback will continue indefinitely.
SONG.MP3 is an
example of a named file
name. With this method,
only serial or Ethernet
control can be used to
trigger the file.
The second file naming method is simply a name up to eight characters long, with
a 3 character MP3 or LST extension.
Any type of file may be
stored in the AM-4
Digital Audio Machine,
but only those listed in
the table may be played.
Although any file name may be copied to the AM-4 Digital Audio Machine’s
media, only
MP3, WAV, LST (playlist), RND (random playlist), SCL (for
schedules) files, or GPS (for GPS playlists) are actually used by the AM-4. Other
file types are essentially ignored. This allows archiving of ANY information on
the drive: CAD drawings, spreadsheets, documentation, etc. Some example file
names: