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PICKUP PRODUCER'S GUIDE
DATATON PICKUP
PRODUCTION GUIDE
Page 1: ...1 PICKUP PRODUCER S GUIDE DATATON PICKUP PRODUCTION GUIDE ...
Page 2: ...KUP AS A DIGITAL AUIO PLAYER 11 4 PICKUP AS AN AUDIO GUIDE 19 5 PREPARING AUDIO FILES IN ITUNES 23 6 DOWNLOADING AUDIO FILES TO PICKUP 39 7 CLONING THE MASTER PICKUP 41 8 PICKUP AUDIO GUIDE PRODUCT OVERVIEW 43 9 GLOBAL COMMANDS SUMMARY 46 10 LOCAL COMMANDS SUMMARY 47 ...
Page 3: ...m factory memory card can be upgraded analogUE volUME Control ONE BUTTON INTERFACE SOUND FILES DOWNLOADED DURIN G CHARGING LOUD SPEAKER LANYARD HOOK FM RECEIVER MP3 decoder software new compression codes can be added STANDALONE DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER WITH FM RADIO ...
Page 4: ...display reminiscent of a clockface with 12 indicators and a light in the middle You turn the button clockwise or anti clockwise to access special functions in the audio guide Base The base may be unscrewed and removed to change the memory card or battery This is usually performed by an authorized PICKUP maintenance facility Headphone jack and USB connector The jack is suitable for regular 3 5 mm h...
Page 5: ...6 PICKUP PRODUCTION GUIDE GP1051L35 350 mAh GP ...
Page 6: ... BASIC CONCEPTS MP3 AUDIO FILE This popular audio format features all the inherent advantages of a compressed format while retaining superior sound quality With MP3 encoding it is possible to shrink original sound data from a CD by a factor of 12 with virtually no perceived loss of quality There are other compression methods such as AAC WMA Ogg Vorbis PICKUP currently only supports MP3 which is th...
Page 7: ...y the player to choose the order of play for the files or various sorting criteria You can even add information about how an MP3 file should be reproduced for example the volume or equalizer setting When PICKUP is used as an audio guide the information in the ID3 tag plays a major role The producer of a PICKUP installation has to be able to edit the content of the tag as described later in this ma...
Page 8: ...d real time audio from local short range transmitters The hows and whys are discussed later in this manual HEADPHONES AND ACCESSORIES Good headphones enhance the audio tour immensely Most kinds of headphones equipped with 3 5 mm jack will fit PICKUP Dataton currently recommends Sennheiser PX100 head phones These are open headphones with replaceable ear pads They provide excellent audio without tot...
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Page 10: ...d with PICKUP Note Do not use an extension cable This may jeopardize both file transfer and charging Once you have plugged in the PICKUP a disk symbol should appear on your computer desktop or where USB memory icons usually appear on your computer The disk is labelled DATATON PICKUP PICKUP may be shipped with factory set files in its memory such as the PDF manual and demo files If you need full me...
Page 11: ...ll flash rapidly Do not remove the PICKUP from the computer during downloading as this will interrupt the copying process and may even mean you have to re format the PICKUP memory If the PICKUP is charging but no files are being transferred the light flashes slowly The PICKUP may be disconnected during charging just like a regular USB memory stick You can see when the PICKUP is fully charged as th...
Page 12: ... PICKUP switches to the next file in its playlist all the indicators on the clockface are illuminated in sequence Unless you have added special audio guide features see chapter 3 all the audio files in the PICKUP memory will be played without interruption When the last one has finished playing the PICKUP stops After a few minutes the PICKUP turns itself off to save power PICKUP also turns itself o...
Page 13: ...ay Chapter 5 describes other ways to select audio files TUNing AND LISTENing TO FM RADIO There are several ways to use the built in FM radio in audio guide contexts together with PICKUP infrared transponders see chapter 4 You can also utilize it as a self contained FM radio to listen to regular FM radio broadcasts Up to 12 radio channels can be preset for quick and easy selection The presets make ...
Page 14: ...hannel stored You will quickly learn to recognize the channels by the position of their indicators on the display SELECT AND LISTEN TO PRESET RADIO CHANNELS 1 Turn the action button clockwise or anti clockwise to select the channel If the indicator shows a steady light there is a preset channel stored there If an indicator on the clockface display flashes it means there is no preset channel assign...
Page 15: ... The light at the center of the button indicates that you have paused just like pausing MP3 files in the internal memory In this state the PICKUP will turn itself off after a few minutes to save power 2 Press the action button again to resume listening to the radio ADJUST EQUALIZER There are a number of equalizer settings for audio file playback to match your choice of head phones personal prefere...
Page 16: ...d a frequency curve with enhanced bass 4 Turn the button anti clockwise again The lights on the left and right indicate that you have selected a frequency curve with enhanced bass and treble 5 Turn the button anti clockwise again A bright light on the right indicates enhanced treble 6 Turn the button anti clockwise again A bright light at the top indicates enhanced mid range 7 To confirm a setting...
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Page 18: ...nders easy production and onsite upgrades will appeal to the installer PICKUP is designed for everyday use by visitors with little or no experience of gadgets It requires little maintenance and installation infrastructure PICKUP is just as well suited to public environments with relatively few visitors as it is for huge exhibition halls with thou sands of visitors every day PICKUP offers an unpara...
Page 19: ...ed on the PICKUP The principle is simple and reliable requiring the minimum of installation and infra structure The sound quality is outstanding and suitable for narrative sound effects and music There are different kinds of transponder depending on the environ ment and usage Find out more at www dataton com pickup hotspot CHARGER STORAGE FILE TRANSFER The 25 unit charger is used to store charge a...
Page 20: ...21 4 PICKUP AS AN AUDIOGUIDE ...
Page 21: ...ls from Digidesign www digidesign com Sound files may be categorized in various ways for example by language or complexity They can also be triggered automatically in specific areas of an exhibition or synchronized to Dataton WATCHOUT visuals For more info on WATCHOUT go to www dataton com watchout General announcements can be made simultaneously to all PICKUP users for example at closing time The...
Page 22: ...ides for your installation If you need to update the content at a later date you simply repeat the process update your master PICKUP test it then clone it To prepare the sound files for PICKUP use iTunes available for Mac and PC It is available for free at http www apple com itunes download Although iTunes has numerous features that are not relevant to PICKUP purposes it is a fast easy to use tool...
Page 23: ...files Click on Importing Choose Import Using MP3 Encoder and 160 kbps quality This will not automatically con vert the content to MP3 files however Use the Convert Selection to MP3 command from the Advanced menu to convert files from other formats Note Don t forget to change or reset the Importing options next time you use iTunes for other purposes IMPORT SOUND FILES Locate your PICKUP files and d...
Page 24: ...n bottom right in the iTunes window If your files have not been tagged they will be classified as an unknown artist unknown album and be shown at the bottom of the list TAGGING FILES Note Tagging files is not just a cosmetic feature tagging provides essential information for the PICKUP and is the backbone of the audio guide installation FIND ALL FILES FOR AN EXHIBITION Locate all the files you wil...
Page 25: ... Enter the exhibition name under Artist You can add the year too but don t add anything else just yet Click OK A folder called Stone Axes has now been created in the iTunes Music folder This contains all your sound files for the exhibition You can add files at a later date by enter ing the correct Artist name or delete them by changing the Artist name Rule 1 The iTunes Artist name is the name of t...
Page 26: ...information dialogue box Enter the Album name The name starts with four digits These are the same four digits which form the ID number for the physical transponder in question In this example a folder is created which is called 1023 Bronze Age axe This will be in the folder titled Stone Axes Rule 2 The iTunes Album field shows the identification number of the transponder Several files may be assig...
Page 27: ... number of tracks Enter the name and track number even if there is only one file associated with a transponder If you only have one file associated with a transponder enter 1 in Track Number If you have several files on the same transponder set the order of play in the Track Number field Note When you enter new names and track numbers in the iTunes information dialogue you also change the name of ...
Page 28: ...or one or all transponders WELCOME ALBUM WELCOME FILE AND PROGRAMMING COMMANDS Important In audio guide installations a dedicated welcome file has to be played when the PICKUP is disconnected from the charger or computer When the PICKUP is disconnected from the charger or computer it will behave as a digital audio player by default when you press the button the first track in the first album start...
Page 29: ...nd file By entering commands in the very first sound file the welcome file you influence the way all subsequent files are handled The welcome file can for example consist of a brief mes sage greeting the visitor and relaying useful information about the tour It can also be a silent file solely for the purpose of setting the PICKUP into audio guide mode Alternatively an embedded file command can be...
Page 30: ... X Y This limits the volume setting to minimum X and maximum Y of the volume range Default setting 0 100 Example EV 20 80 limits the volume to 20 80 of the maximum volume range This command is an excellent way to ensure that volume is never too high for certain kinds of earphones or in quiet environments Limiting the lower end of the volume scale is also a good idea This prevents visitors inadvert...
Page 31: ...nd before a sound file starts playing A decimal point or comma may be used to specify tenths of seconds Default setting 0 Example SD 0 3 delays sound start by 0 3 seconds when the loudspeaker is used TurnRight Values OFF FF FM This defines which function will be performed when the action button is turned clockwise There are four possible settings OFF No function when the button is turned FF fast f...
Page 32: ...le by a tran sponder When set to ON access is limited to files in the same transponder folder Album You have to point and click at a different transponder to access files in other folders When set to transponder access is possible Access to files outside the selected folder is still possible according to the basic PICKUP principle that all files play in Album Track order Default setting OFF Exampl...
Page 33: ...e Genre name save proposed genre names in the Genre pop up menu Ones that you don t intend to use may be deleted Note Space characters are not allowed in a Genre description Use underscores instead Note A file with a blank Genre field is considered universal and will always be played regardless of the genre specified in the SetGenre command If you intend to use genres at all it is a good idea to a...
Page 34: ...sound files when the visitor points and clicks at a transponder The com mands are separated by semi colons Other commands remain at the factory settings Once the visitor has listened to the welcome file the PICKUP will be governed by the specified command set tings This can be changed later on by using other files triggered with a transponder The welcome file is part of the album called 0000 Welco...
Page 35: ...mmand is set to 0 the file will not be played at all Any embedded commands will however be carried out This may be useful if you want to execute commands without playing any sound Example L The file will repeat until stopped Hold Values time usually set to Use Hold if you have several sound files in a sequence and you want the user to actively choose to continue to the next segment For example the...
Page 36: ...the PICKUP will simply use the most recent frequency setting Note Listening to radio has no known duration which means the progress display see page 3 can t be used in the action button Instead the antenna icon is shown SEVERAL LOCAL COMMANDS IN THE SAME SOUND FILE Local commands are more the exception than the rule and should be used sparingly in most installations In some special cases you may w...
Page 37: ...r every hour of audio The light on the top of the PICKUP will flash rapidly while copying is in progress Do not disconnect the PICKUP from the computer during copying as this may damage the files 5 When all the sound files have been copied the light will stop flashing If the light contin ues to flash but more slowly it means that your PICKUP is not fully charged If you want to charge the PICKUP le...
Page 38: ...with the charger A red light glows on the DC cable port Please note Always use the original Dataton power adapter which is shipped with the charger Using any other cable may cause permanent damage to the charger and the PICKUP units 2 Connect the master PICKUP with the USB cable included with PICKUP This cable is also used to connect the PICKUP to the computer 3 There is a concealed security switc...
Page 39: ...ate that copying is now in progress 4 When all the files have been downloaded to the charger the light will either pulsate slowly if the battery is not completely charged or shine steadily You may now disconnect the master PICKUP Note The recipient PICKUP units do not have to be in the charger during copying The contents of the master PICKUP are downloaded and stored in the charger then copied to ...
Page 40: ...ality sound PICKUP also operates as a standalone MP3 player with an FM radio receiver Audio files are transferred via USB PICKUP USB CABLE art NO 8366 Used to connect the PICKUP to a computer USB port for file transfer and charging One cable is included with each box of five PICKUP and it is also sold separately PICKUP NECK LANYARD art NO 3557 Get hands free with the PICKUP neck lanyard Lanyards a...
Page 41: ...e splitter to connect two sets of headphones to the same PICKUP audio guide Ideal for parents with small children or visitors accompanied by an assistant or carer PICKUP CHARGER art NO 3548 Used to charge update and store 25 PICKUP units at a time The charger has a non slip rubber base and brushed aluminium exterior It features a USB port for the master PICKUP unit and a network port for updates o...
Page 42: ... IR HOTSPOT BATTERY ART NO 8286 Coin cell for IR HOTSPOT TRANSPONDER Type CR2477 IR NETWORK TRANSPONDER ART NR 3396 Powered by a power over Ethernet adapter or switch not included It can be used as a regular externally powered transponder but its primary function is to synchronize PICKUP and DATATON WATCHOUT By pointing and clicking at the transponder a visitor can start WATCHOUT visuals with the ...
Page 43: ... X Y 0 100 EarphoneEQ 1 2 3 4 5 1 number in list SpeakerVolume X Y 0 100 SpeakerEQ 1 2 3 4 5 1 number in list SpeakerDelay 0 0 1 0 0 seconds TurnRight OFF FF FM FM function TurnLeft OFF RW EQ EQ function FastFwd Bwd ON OFF ON function TransponderAccess ON OFF OFF function SelectGenre Genre includes all description ...
Page 44: ...r commands in the Comments field in iTunes Use a single space to separate commands and their parameters Example TA ON Use a semi colon to separate a list of several commands in the same field Example TA ON TR OFF Use a regular hyphen to indicate a range of parameters Example TA ON TR OFF EV 10 50 PICKUP commands are subject to continuous development by means of firmware updates Check www dataton c...
Page 45: ...INGS AB All other company or product names referred to indirectly or directly are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners Use of a term in this publication should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark Products or manufacturers mentioned do not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Dataton Email info dataton com Technical support support dataton s...
