DVDplay Synchronizer Troubleshooting

In addition to the following tips, you might also want to read our tutorials on Analyzing you DVDs, and understanding the Synchronizer Status Lights. 

Introduction

    There are many possible causes of problems in a synchronizer system. There can be problems programming the synchronizer, problems caused by the way the discs were authored, and problems with the way the rest of the hardware is set up or connected. We try to help identify the most common of these, though there is no way we can identify all possible sources of trouble here.

    The most common problem that users of the DVDplay have is forgetting to set the BAUD rate on their DVD players. You need to do this before using the system for the first time. 

    If you plan to not use all of the channels on your synchronizer, the unused channels must have the "Synchronize" parameter turned off. Otherwise they will prevent the rest of the channels from starting.

    A common problem with programming synchronizers is not resetting the DVDplay after moving the programming cable from one channel to another. The software will work most of the time without hitting the reset button, but it is only 100% reliable if you hit the reset button and wait for the red lights to turn orange.

    If you have problems with the Windows software, try running the DOS version, called DVDCUST. It can be run under Win2k, NT, or XP by opening up a "Command Prompt" and running it in that. With Win95/98 you need to "Restart in MS-DOS Mode" and then run it from there. It will not run in a DOS shell in Win95/98. The command is:

  DVDCUST   1          ( for COM1: )
        -or-
  DVDCUST   2          ( for COM2: )

Key Lock Stuck On

    Sometimes the KeyLock light will get stuck on. This happens usually when the synchronizer is connected to the player before having a DVD inserted into the player. It isn't supposed to happen. The tray is supposed to open automatically to let you insert a disc, but for some reason it does occasionally happen.

DVD-V7300D, DVD-V7400

    With these players simply unplug the power cable or turn off the power strip the player is plugged into. Wait 30 seconds. Then plug the player back in. The Keylock will now be reset.

DVD-V5000, DVD-V8000

    With these players the keylock setting remains on even after removing power, so there is a special front panel key combination to reset it. Simultaneously hold down the following three front panel buttons, and hold them all down for at least 2 seconds.

--- RETURN button

--- DOWN ARROW button

--- |<< << (Scan/Skip Reverse) (might look like << |<< on the V8000)

Errors while Programming

    When having problems using the software to program a synchronizer, be sure to go to our web site (www.djdesign.com) and check our support page for updated versions of the software.

Errors with the Windows Software

• Problem:
  • The software does not find the synchronizer.
• Possible Cause:
  • The serial port you selected may not be the correct one, or may not be enabled. Just because you have a serial port connector on the computer does not mean that it is enabled, or that it is COM1. Many laptops (and some desktops) are set up with the serial port connector disabled because the serial port is being used for something else. The serial port might be configured in the BIOS to be an Infra Red port, or an internal modem, or some other device. You may need to get into the computer's BIOS to check this. Many desktop computers have two serial ports. Try the second one.
     
    If you have Palm Sync software installed for use with the Palm Pilot, it is possible that it has taken over the serial port and will not allow other software to use it. Try disabling the Palm Sync software and try the synchronizer again.
     
    A third possibility is that you forgot to hit the Reset button on the front of the synchronizer after telling the software to find the synchronizer. It is important that you hit the reset button as soon as the software starts looking for the synchronizer.
     
    One final possibility is that you are not using the correct programming cable. Our programming cables are special cables with special connections. There is no standard cable that matches this, so you must use one made by us or made to match our specifications.

• Problem:
  • The program finds the synchronizer and starts to load the data from the synchronizer, but it freezes and the program no longer responds.
• Possible Cause:
  • This may be caused by an incompatablity between the operating system, the computer's BIOS, and the serial port hardware in the computer. Some laptops, such as the Dell Inspiron seem to do this a lot, though we have seen it in various brands and even a small number of desktop computers. In most cases you can still use the same computer by using our DOS software. With Windows 98 you must restart the computer in MS-DOS mode. With Windows NT, 2000, ME, or XP you can open a Command Prompt window (Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt) and run the DOS software in that window. The DOS software can set all of the same parameters as the Windows software. It just uses a simpler text based interface.

• Problem:
  • When trying to load the data from the synchronizer into the program, you get an error that says something like "Bad Data in Synchronizer".
• Possible Cause:
  • There are several possibilities. The same problem as described in the previous problem could be the cause. If so, running the DOS software will probably solve the issue.
     
    It is also possible that you forgot to hit the Reset button on the front of the synchronizer before trying to load from the synchronizer. It is important to always hit the Reset button and wait for the lights to change from Red to Orange before hitting the Load From Synchronizer button. We have also found that some people hit the button a bit too fast. Try waiting a couple of seconds after the lights turn Orange before hitting the Load From Synchronizer button.
     
    Another possibility is that the serial port you selected is not actually the correct one, or is dissabled. Sometimes the software will be fooled by something else in the system that responds as the serial port, and the software will think it has found a synchronizer. But when it tries to load or save data between the computer and the synchronizer it is not able to do so. Be sure that the serial port you selected is the correct one.
     
    If this problem happens when trying to save data to the synchronizer, it is possible that you didn't first load the data that was in the synchronizer into the program. You must always load from the synchronizer, then modify the data, then save it back to the synchronizer. You can not simply move the cable and hit Save to Synchronizer to try and save the same settings to more than one channel. The correct sequence is:
     
    
    1. Hit the Reset button
    2. Wait for the lights to turn orange
    3. Wait another 2 seconds
    4. Load the data from the synchronizer
    5. Edit the data in the software
    6. Save the data to the synchronizer

•  Problem:
  • After programming the synchronizer, you check the programming and the settings you thought you edited did not get saved to the synchronizer
• Possible Cause:
  • You probably did not remember to save the data to the synchronizer. While you are editing the data on the screen of the computer, that data is just in the computer. The synchronizer is not updated until you click the Save To Synchronizer button on the software.

Errors with the DOS Software

• Problem:
  • You get an error that says something like "Can't Find a Synchronizer" when you first run the software
• Possible Cause:
  • The DOS software does a simple test for the programming cable and then tries to read the synchronizer. It is possible for it to be fooled by a network card or other device that is using the serial port. Be sure that you have specified the correct serial port when you run the software.
     
    This can also happen if you do not hit the Reset button on the synchronizer and wait for the lights to change from Red to Orange. You should do this just before starting the software. It is also a good idea to wait about 2 seconds after the lights change before starting the software.
     
    If it still doesn't work, you may need to try a different computer (preferably a desktop).

• Problem:
  • You get an error like "Can't save to synchronizer" or "Bad data in synchronizer" or "Can't find synchronizer" when trying to load or save data between the computer and the synchronizer.
• Possible Cause:
  • If it happens when trying to load from the synchronizer using the "L" key, it is probably because you did not hit the Reset button on the synchronizer and wait for the lights to change to Orange. You should also wait 2 seconds after the lights change to Orange before hitting the "L" key.
     
    If it happens when trying to save data to the synchronizer using the "S" key, then it is possible that you did not first load the data from that channel. You can not simply move the cable to a new channel and hit the "S" key to save the same data to several channels. You must first load the data from the synchronizer into the software, then edit it, then save it back to the synchronizer.

Problems while Using the Synchronizer

Most problems when using the synchronizer can be figured out with the help of the colored lights on the front of the synchronizer. Each channel has a colored light that has four possible states. The basic meaning of these colors is:

• RED - Initializing after power-up, or after an error
• ORANGE - No player (such as when computer is connected)
• OUT - When channel is ready to start, or rewinding
• GREEN - Channel is playing

By watching the sequence of these colors, you can tell a lot about what the channel is doing. For example, the normal sequence of colors after hitting the Reset button is:

1. Red (initializing)
2. Out (ready to start)
3. Green (playing)

Then each time the loop plays after that the lights will go out (rewinding and ready), then green (playing). This repeats over and over. If any of the channels do not follow this sequence of colors, then there is probably some kind of problem. Use the following to try and find the source of the problem.

Symptoms Based on the Channel LEDs

• No lights on synchronizer
  • Fuse is blown
  • Bad power cable
  • Power switch off (rack versions only)

• A channel light goes from red to orange, and stays orange
  • Channel not connected to player
  • Player turned off

• A channel light stays red on the synchronizer, lights don't change on player
  • Player BAUD rate not set to 9600

• A channel light stays red on synchronizer, Keylock light blinks on player
  • DVD Disc is wrong format
  • Synchronizer "Start" point does not exist on the DVD disc

• A channel light goes from red to out to red again, and repeats
  • "Start" point or "End" point of synchronizer does not exist on the DVD disc

• A channel light goes from red to out, then blinks green, and then back to red
  • "End" point of synchronizer does not exist on the DVD disc

• A channel light goes from red to out to green, then goes out fairly quickly
  • The difference between the "Start" and "End" points is very short on the disc

• All channels go from red to out, and they all stay outT
  • A switch or controller is shorting the Network connector

• Each channel goes from out to green, and plays normally, but they don't all turn green at exactly the same time
  • One or more channels do not have the "Synchronize" check mark checked in their programming

Problems Visible on the Monitor

• Problem:
  • The discs synchronize, but while playing the video seems to be a sequence of still frames, like step motion video.
• Possible Cause:
  • There is a bug in the Pioneer players when a specific setting in the advanced setup menu is used. It does not affect playback without the synchronizer, but causes this symptom when any device controls the player via it's serial control port. You can fix this by going into the Advanced Setup menu of the player and setting the "REV STEP/REV PLAY" setting to "VOBU".

• Problem:
  • Squelch is disabled, to freeze the last frame of the video during rewind, but the synchronizer starts in the wrong title the next time it loops
• Possible Cause:
  • The Pioneer player will slip a couple of frames when it reaches the end of a playback sequence. When Squelch is disabled the synchronizer might slip past the end of the current title if the end point you program into the synchronizer is too close to the end of the title, and there is more than one title on the disc. When having Squelch disabled, you must pick an end point that is at least 6 frames before the end of the title. We suggest it be even further away from the end of the title.
     
    You also can not use a title as the ending mark when you have Squelch disabled. You must end on a chapter, time or frame.

• Problem:
  • You have black burst going to all the players, and the players going to a video switcher, but the video from the players does not seem to be locked to each other
• Possible Cause:
  • The Pioneer players only lock to the external black burst when they go into play mode. After that they will not attempt to lock to the black burst. It is important that the black burst generator be powered up at the same time as the players, or at least before the players start playing their discs.
     
    Also, even when the Pioneer players are locked to the black burst, there is no guarantee that the color portion of their sync is locked together. Pioneer does not guarantee this. It only guarnatees locking at the vertical and horizontal intervals. If you need to feed color video into a switcher, such as an SEG, you may need to timebase correct the outputs of the players.