Configuration File Guide - MicroPlayer mkIII

Some features are only accessible via a configuration file. This file is a plain text file (without formatting) that can be created with any simple text editor such as Windows Notepad or similar. When saving, use ANSI encoding. Do not use special characters.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Assign a Device Number - #ID:xxx
• Output Volume Adjustment - #VOLUME:xx
• Power Saving Mode (Standby) - #POWER:x
• RS-232 Serial Connection Speed Configuration - #BAUDRATE:xxxxx
• RS-232 Serial Monitoring - #RS_MONITORING:x
• Boot Folder Selection at Power-Up - #BOOT:xxx
• Assign Special Functions to Inputs - #INPUTxx:function
• Assign Special Functions to Buttons - #BUTTONx:function
• Function Summary

The configuration file must be named: config.txt

It must be copied to the SD/SDHC card or USB drive and placed at the root of the media. If this file is missing, default factory values will be applied.

The configuration file allows the following settings:

• #ID:xxx - Assign a number to the MicroPlayer mkIII for use with other players via RS-232.
• #VOLUME:xx - Define the output volume used at power-up.
• #POWER:x - Switch to power-saving mode when the player is not playing.
• #BAUDRATE:xxxxx - Modify the RS-232 serial port speed.
• #RS_MONITORING:x - Configure the monitoring mode of the serial connection (RS-232).
• #BOOT:xxx - Define the folder to play at power-up.
• #INPUTxx:function - Configure the functions of the input contacts.
• #BUTTONx:function - Assign other functions to the 2 front panel buttons.

Note: The command structure consists of the symbol # followed by a keyword, then the symbol :, and finally the associated value. Commands can be entered in any order. If a command is missing, the player will use the default factory value.

Assign a Device Number - #ID:xxx

It is possible to have multiple MicroPlayer mkIII units in the same installation and have them communicate with each other from a main device via the RS-232 serial connection. For this, you can assign a number from 001 to 127 to each MicroPlayer mkIII. In other words, up to 127 MicroPlayer mkIII units can be used simultaneously. (See RS-232 Serial Connection Protocol)

Command line:

#ID:xxx -> xxx a number between 001 and 127

Example:

• #ID:023 -> Assigns number 23 to this player.

If the line is missing, the default factory value is used, which is 001, to designate player 001.

Note: Multiple players can have the same number. All players with the same number will react simultaneously.

000 is a special case and must not be used. When the code 000 is sent via the serial connection, it means that ALL players react to the globally sent command.

Output Volume Adjustment - #VOLUME:xx

At power-up, it is possible to set the output volume level. This volume can then be modified using the front panel volume buttons, an RS-232 command, or an infrared remote control.

The volume is adjustable in 64 steps, from 00 to 64. 00 corresponds to minimum volume (mute), and 64 corresponds to maximum volume.

Command line:

#VOLUME:xx -> xx = a value between 00 and 64

Example:

• #VOLUME:18 -> The volume will be 18 at power-up.

If the line is missing, the last known value used by the player is applied.

Power Saving Mode (Standby) - #POWER:x

The MicroPlayer mkIII can enter a low-power mode during standby. This makes it possible to use a battery as a power source. The player automatically enters this mode when it is not playing any files. Only the input contacts are monitored. When an input contact is detected, the player "wakes up" and executes the command.

Note: When folders contain many files, the wake-up time is extended.

Command line:

#POWER:x -> x = a value of 0 or 1

0 = Normal mode without power-saving management.

1 = Power-saving mode

Example:

• #POWER:1 -> The player is in power-saving mode.

If the line is missing, the default factory value is used, which is 0, normal mode without power-saving management.

RS-232 Serial Connection Speed Configuration - #BAUDRATE:xxxxx

By default, the RS-232 serial connection for both input and output is set to 19200 baud. With this option, it is possible to modify this value.

Command line:

#BAUDRATE:xxxx -> x = a value chosen from 9600, 19200, or 38400

Example:

• #BAUDRATE:9600 -> The player sends and receives at 9600 baud.

If the line is missing, the default factory value is used, which is 19200 baud.

RS-232 Serial Monitoring - #RS_MONITORING:x

The MicroPlayer mkIII has RS-232 serial input and output. This connection can be used to control the player as well as to monitor it.

Four configurations are possible to define the type of outgoing connection:

• Mode 0: No monitoring. No information is sent back by the player.
• Mode 1: Daisy Chain Mode.

  This mode allows chaining players one after another using a single RS-232 connection. The Tx serial output of one player is connected to the Rx serial input of the next, and so on. When the first player receives a command, it forwards the same command to its output, and so on.

  Note: In the case of chaining many players, latency may occur at the end of the chain.

• Mode 2: Monitoring Mode.

  In this mode, the player sends information about its status via its Tx serial output. (See chapter 6.2 describing the protocol). An external device can thus receive this information to determine whether the player is playing or in stop mode. These functions can be used to monitor the player's proper operation.

• Mode 3: Extended Monitoring Mode.

  The extended mode includes the same functions as basic monitoring mode but adds a function for regularly sending its status. A frame is sent every 250ms describing the player's status among 3 possibilities:
  1 - Stop: Sends a frame indicating that the player is not playing and is waiting for a command.
  2 - Playing: Sends a frame indicating that the player is playing a file.
  3 - Other: No frame sent. The player is unavailable (defective or missing memory card, power supply issue, or malfunction).

This mode is used in the context of security message management. A frame error signals a problem and allows intervention to resolve the issue.

Command line:

#RS_MONITORING:x -> x = a value of 0, 1, 2, or 3

0 = No monitoring

1 = Daisy Chain mode

2 = Monitoring mode

3 = Extended monitoring mode

Example:

• #RS_MONITORING:1 -> The player is in Daisy Chain mode.

If the line is missing, the default factory value is used, which is 0, no monitoring (See chapter 6 on the RS-232 protocol).

Boot Folder Selection at Power-Up - #BOOT:xxx

In some cases, it may be necessary to define which folder will be played at power-up. By default, folder 000 is used as the startup folder.

Command line:

#BOOT:xxx -> xxx a number between 000 and 999

Example:

• #BOOT:015 -> The player will play the contents of folder 015 at power-up.

If the line is missing, the default factory value is used, which is 000, for folder 000.

If the folder does not exist, the player enters stop mode and waits for a command.

Assign Special Functions to Inputs - #INPUTxx:function

By default, input contacts trigger folders to play their contents. For greater versatility, it is possible to assign these input contacts to other functions.

List of possible functions:

• PLAY: Play the last known file.
• STOP: Stop the current playback.
• NEXT_TRACK: Play the next file in the current folder.
• PREV_TRACK: Play the previous file in the current folder.
• VOLUME_PLUS: Increase volume by one step.
• VOLUME_MINUS: Decrease volume by one step.
• FOLDERxxx: Jump to folder xxx (xxx can be a value between 000 and 999).
• RSxxx: Send line number xxx from the serial.txt file via RS-232 output (xxx from 001 to 999).

Command line:

#INPUTxx:function -> xx an input from 01 to 15 - Function from the list above.

Example of a control keypad using the 4 inputs:

• #INPUT01:PREV_TRACK: Play the previous file.
• #INPUT02:STOP: Stop playback.
• #INPUT04:PLAY: Start playback.
• #INPUT08:NEXT_TRACK: Play the next file.

The 4 inputs are combinable to offer up to 15 different functions according to the table below:

• #INPUT01 -> Input 1
• #INPUT02 -> Input 2
• #INPUT03 -> Input 1 + 2
• #INPUT04 -> Input 3
• #INPUT05 -> Input 1 + 3
• #INPUT06 -> Input 2 + 3
• #INPUT07 -> Input 1 + 2 + 3
• #INPUT08 -> Input 4
• #INPUT09 -> Input 1 + 4
• #INPUT10 -> Input 2 + 4
• #INPUT11 -> Input 1 + 2 + 4
• #INPUT12 -> Input 3 + 4
• #INPUT13 -> Input 1 + 3 + 4
• #INPUT14 -> Input 2 + 3 + 4
• #INPUT15 -> Input 1 + 2 + 3 + 4

Example of functions with input contact combinations:

• #INPUT03:RS001
• #INPUT05:VOLUME_PLUS
• #INPUT10:VOLUME_MINUS
• #INPUT14:FOLDER999

Assign Special Functions to Buttons - #BUTTONx:function

The two front panel buttons are by default used for volume adjustment. With the config.txt file, it is possible to assign them other functions.

List of possible functions:

• PLAY: Play the last known file.
• STOP: Stop the current playback.
• NEXT_TRACK: Play the next file in the current folder.
• PREV_TRACK: Play the previous file in the current folder.
• VOLUME_PLUS: Increase volume by one step.
• VOLUME_MINUS: Decrease volume by one step.
• FOLDERxxx: Jump to folder xxx (xxx can be a value between 000 and 999).
• RSxxx: Send line number xxx from the serial.txt file via RS-232 output (xxx from 001 to 999).

Command line:

#BUTTONx:function -> x the button number (1 or 2) - Function from the list above.

Example:

• #BUTTON1:NEXT_TRACK - Button 1 is assigned to the "next file" function.
• #BUTTON2:STOP - Button 2 is assigned to the "STOP" function.

Note: Buttons 1 and 2 on the infrared remote control perform the same functions as those assigned to front panel buttons 1 and 2, respectively.

Example of a config.txt configuration file:

• #ID:002
• #VOLUME:48
• #POWER:1
• #BAUDRATE:9600
• #RS_MONITORING:1
• #BOOT:005
• #INPUT01:PREV_TRACK
• #INPUT02:STOP
• #INPUT04:PLAY
• #INPUT08:NEXT_TRACK
• #BUTTON1:STOP
• #BUTTON2:PLAY

In the example above, the config.txt configuration file assigns the following parameters to the player:

• Player identifier for the serial connection = 002.
• Player volume at power-up = 48.
• Power-saving mode = active.
• Serial connection speed = 9600 baud.
• Monitoring mode = Daisy Chain.
• Folder to play at power-up (Autoplay) = 005.
• Input 1 = Previous file.
• Input 2 = Stop.
• Input 3 (logic 4) = Play.
• Input 4 (logic 8) = Next file.
• Button 1 = Stop.
• Button 2 = Play.

Function Summary