NOTICE: DISCONTINUED

We have discontinued this product. Laserdisc players are rare these days and we haven't made a LasrPlay synchronizer in many years. Software and support information is still available on our Support web page.

Dave Jones Design's LasrPlay series are devices for playing synchronized loops on multiple video LaserDisc players. Even though these are standard products, they are made to order because of the large variety of configurations. These can typically be produced in less than two weeks but sometimes due to other prior commitments they may take longer. Please contact us for current prices and delivery times.

     Download a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) copy of our "Introduction to LasrPlay and DVDplay Synchronizers" manual. You need Acrobat Reader to view it, which is available free from Adobe's web site.

Introduction

    Our LasrPlay series of intelligent LaserDisc synchronizers are small programmable devices that control multiple Pioneer LaserDisc video players in repeating loops. The synchronizers are available in various configurations to control any number of LaserDisc players. They allow multi-image installations to start all of the LaserDisc players at exactly the same time, and stay in sync with each other for the duration of the program. The LasrPlay modules can be used to play the multi-channel show in a continuous loop, with the players being re-synchronized at the start of each loop. They can also be hooked up to an external trigger device, like a switch or a sensor, so that the show starts on cue. 

     The LasrPlay devices do not require an external computer to control the LaserDiscs, they have small powerful computers built into them that control the Pioneer LaserDisc players directly. An IBM PC or compatible is used to program the LasrPlays with the starting and ending frame numbers, as well as the BAUD rate of the player, and any custom configuration information. You can also program individual channels to not synchronize with the rest, in case you want to have several free-running loops being played on certain players. Once this information is programmed into the LasrPlay, the computer is no longer needed. All information is stored in non-volatile EEPROM memory automatically using the supplied software. This information can be changed at any time by connecting a computer again and running the software. 

     The LasrPlays all come with standard international power supplies that can be switched between 110 and 220 volts from the back panel, and use standard international IEC power cords. They have 15 pin D-sub connectors for connecting to the Pioneer LaserDisc players. They also have a reset switch on the front that can be used to re-start all channels of the synchronizer in order to start the show over again manually. 

     There are several options that can be ordered with the LasrPlay series. A composite sync output can be installed that will guarantee frame accurate synchronization with the Pioneer 4000 and 8000 series players. Without a sync reference being fed to the players (or with the 2000 series that don't accept external sync) the LasrPlays can only guarantee synchronizing within plus or minus one frame. This is fine for most applications, but for those critical applications, the sync option is available. Another option is a Black-Burst output. This can be used in situations where a switcher will route the images from a few players to a large number of monitors and some of the monitors need to have black images. The third option available for the LasrPlay is a "Network" connector that allows multiple LasrPlays to be connected in a synchronizer network. 

     At this time the LasrPlays are only available for Pioneer 2000, 4000, and 8000 series LaserDisc players. These are the most common and most powerful industrial LaserDisc players available. There are versions of the LasrPlay available for CAV and CLV LaserDiscs. The CAV discs are the most common, but CLV discs are used in some cases where longer programs are required. The CAV discs can be synchronized to the frame, but CLV discs can not. All standard versions of the LasrPlay are built for CAV discs. If you intend to use CLV discs please contact us for details and special ordering information. 

     The LasrPlay series can be ordered with any number of channels. There is no limit to the number of channels, and no change in the response of the LasrPlays in large configurations because every channel of a LasrPlay has it's own internal high speed RISC computer controlling one LaserDisc player. That means that a 5 channel LasrPlay has 5 small computers inside of it to control the 5 LaserDisc players, and a 30 channel LasrPlay has 30 computers inside of it.  

Specifications 

These Products are discontinued.
Prices shown for historical reference only.

Models

     * Rackmount case. LasrPlays with 4 or more channels come in rack mount cases that are 16.75 inches wide with the rackmount brackets removed and 19 inches wide with the brackets attached. 2 and 3 channel units come standard in small boxes, but can optionally be built in rackmount boxes, withan "R" on the end of the model number.

Additional channels are $200 each beyond the price of the 7 channel unit, with a limit of 16 channels in a 2RU box and 28 channels in a 3RU box. Synchronizers larger than 28 channels are made by connecting more than one synchronizer via their Network connectors.