******************************************************************************* Audiotron ******************************************************************************* =============================================================================== Overview =============================================================================== FAQ link -------- Please check it out: http://www.audiotron.net/faq.asp _____________________________________________________________________________ Music File Types ---------------- Only mp3, wma, m3u, pls, and wav (Ethernet only) unsecured files are parsed and cataloged. ___________________________________________________________________________ Optional accessories -------------------- The following optional items may be purchased from Turtle Beach. Please check our web site (www.turtle-beach.com) for detailed information on each item: * AudioTron Rack Ears: -------------------- Use these to mount AudioTron in a 19" rack system. * Fiber Optic Cable: ------------------ Use this to connect AudioTron's S/PDIF digital optical output to compatible audio equipment. * AudioStation RF Remote Control: ------------------------------- An RF remote control communicates via the PC serial port to control the Voyetra AudioStation jukebox program included with AudioTron. * Additional Remote Control: -------------------------- Same as the one included in the box. * Powered Speakers: ----------------- Turtle Beach offers a wide selection of high-quality speaker systems for use with AudioTron. * RCA-to-1/8" Cable: ------------------ Use this to connect AudioTron's RCA outputs to speaker systems with 1/8" line input jacks. ____________________________________________________________________________ Specifications -------------- NETWORK INTERFACES: =================== Ethernet Ethernet 10BaseT (10 Mb/s Ethernet) or 10/100BaseT. Not compatible with networks which support only Fast Ethernet 100BaseT (100 Mb/s). HPNA (Phoneline) HPNA 2.0 AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS: ===================== Analog Outputs (line level) * Stereo RCA jacks on rear panel Analog Outputs (headphone) * Stereo 1/4" phone jack on front panel (rear panel analog outputs are muted when headphones are inserted) Peak Output Level * 1.8V p-p @ 30mA maximum load Signal to Noise Ratio * 91dBA THD+N * 0.02% Crosstalk * -66dB @ 1 kHz Analog Line-Level Output Impedance * <1000 ohm Headphone Output Impedance * <10 ohm Frequency Response * 20 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 1dB DAC Resolution * 24 bits (16-bit playback resolution) D/A sampling rates * 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz. Volume Control * Variable from -96dB to 0dB in 1dB increments S/PDIF (Digital Output) * TOSlink Fiber Optic connector for Sony/Philips Digital Interface Volume, Bass Boost and Treble Boost controls have no effect on S/PDIF output. S/PDIF sampling rates supported * 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz. Maximum number of song titles in database * 6,000 – 10,000 depending upon the amount of tag data embedded into the song files. Maximum number of song titles in Group mode * 2,000 (will load first 2,000 songs in database when powered on) Dimensions * 17 x 1.75 x 10 inches (430 x 44 x 250 mm) Weight * 5.2 lbs. (2.4 Kg) Power Requirements * 90VAC – 135VAC 50/60Hz 250mA max Remote Control * Requires 2 AAA batteries SUPPORTED PLAYLIST FORMATS: =========================== Format: Generated by Program: ------- --------------------- M3U AudioStation 4 and other MP3 "jukebox" applications version 1.0 and Version 2.2 formats PLS NullSoft WinAmp SUPPORTED DIGITAL MUSIC FILE FORMATS: ===================================== Format: Network: Bit/Data Rates: Sampling Rates: ------- -------- --------------- --------------- MP3 HPNA & All bit rates up 44.1 kHz Ethernet to 320 kbps 32 kHz 22.05 kHz 16 kHz 11.025 kHz 8 kHz _____________________________________________________________________________ Unsecure HPNA & 32 kbps 22.05 / 32 / 44.1 Microsoft WMA Ethernet 36 kbps 32 kHz (all formats 40 kbps 32 kHz listed are 44 kbps 32 kHz stereo, except 48 kbps 32 / 44.1 where noted) 64 kbps 32 / 44.1 80 kbps 44.1 96 kbps 44.1 128 kbps 44.1 160 kbps 44.1 192 kbps 44.1 ______________________________________________________________________________ WAV PCM Ethernet 16-bit stereo 32 / 44.1 kHz (analog and (uncompressed) digital outputs) 8 / 11.025 / 16 / 22.05 kHz (analog outputs only) ______________________________________________________________________________ When using the TOSlink digital output on the AudioTron rear panel, only the standard sampling rates supported by S/PDIF are available for playback — 32 kHz and 44.1 kHz. AudioTron can play uncompressed WAV PCM digital audio files recorded at sampling rates of 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, and 44.1 kHz through the analog outputs. AudioTron does not support the sampling rate of 48 kHz. ______________________________________________________________________________ System Requirements ------------------- * One or more networked PC's. * Recommended PC System: Pentium 233MHz processor with MMX or better (400MHz for Windows 2000, 64MB RAM, CD drive with digital audio extraction, 16 bit color video card, Internet connection and web browser. The PC should have sufficient hard disk space for storage of your digital music files. (A four-minute song will use approximately 3 to 5 MB of hard disk space in MP3 or WMA compressed format.) * Windows File Sharing. * Supports the following operating systems: Windows 98 Windows Me Windows NT4.0 WorkStation SP4 or higher with Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher Windows 2000 Professional SP1 * An HPNA 2.0 or Ethernet 10/100BaseT network running TCP/IP. AudioTron includes a phone cable for the HPNA connection and a Cat-5 cable for the Ethernet connection. AudioTron is compatible with a Class-C network. For details, see the Appendix called "Network Basics" in the Reference Manual. * Powered speakers or a home stereo system with line level inputs. AudioTron includes a stereo RCA-to-RCA cable for connecting the analog audio outputs to powered speakers or a stereo receiver. A fiber optic cable for the digital audio output may be purchased at the Turtle Beach web site. * A PC "jukebox" program to convert your CD's to digital audio files. The AudioStation CD includes Voyetra's AudioStation jukebox software to perform this function in Windows 98/ Me. AudioTron also operates with jukebox programs compatible with audio files in the MP3, WMA and WAV formats and ID3 tags in the Version 1.0, 1.1 or 2.3 format. _____________________________________________________________________________ What's in the box ----------------- * Turtle Beach AudioTron(TM) * AudioTron User's Guide * AC Power cord * IR remote control with AAA batteries * RCA-to-RCA stereo audio cable (to connect to your home stereo or powered speakers) * Telephone cable with RJ-11 connectors (for use with HPNA phone line network) * Ethernet Category-5 ("Cat-5") cable with RJ-45 connectors (for use with Ethernet network) * CD containing AudioTron Setup Utility, AudioStation(R) jukebox, Reference Manual, music files, and more. ____________________________________________________________________________ =============================================================================== Installation =============================================================================== Ethernet Cables --------------- Proper installation of your Ethernet cables is essential to the performance of your network. If your AudioTron is having difficulty communicating on your network, check to see if your cables follow these guidelines. * AudioTron is compatible only with 10BASE-T Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Category 5 cables with RJ-45 connectors. * Use conservative lengths of cable. The maximum cable segment is 100 meters (328 feet). The minimum is 6 inches. * Do not kink or crimp the cable. This can reduce network transmission. Be careful not to crimp cables if you are bundling them with zip ties. * Never use staples to secure your cables to a wall. Phone line/RJ6 Coaxial Wire hangers are recommended. * Avoid running your cable parallel to power cords or in close proximity to electrical devices. These can interfere with network signals. * When running a cable around a corner, do not bend it in a right angle. Allow the cable to bend in a curve with a minimum radius of 2 inches. * Avoid using coils of network cables, which can pick up interference. To learn more about Ethernet and the IEEE 802.3 standard, visit the IEEE Standards Association website: http://standards.ieee.org/ _____________________________________________________________________________ Firmware 1.1 Update - Step By Step Instructions ----------------------------------------------- Firmware v.1.1 may be downloaded from: www.voyetra-turtle-beach.com/site/products/audiotron/zips/at_v_1_1.zip INSTALLATION: The following procedure will erase your existing flash, and reprogram the AT with version 1.1. WARNING! DO NOT POWER OFF THE AUDIOTRON WHILE THE UNIT IS DISPLAYING: "PROGRAMMING SECTOR" and "VERIFYING SECTOR" 1) Download to the Desktop and unzip the files to your shared music folder from the URL above. This will create an AUDIO folder in your shared music folder. 2) Power Off the AudioTron from the power switch on the rear of the unit. 3) Wait several seconds, and Power On the unit. Let the unit complete its scan. 4) Push the options button on the front of the AT. 5) Select "UPDATE FLASH" and press the knob. You should see: "PROGRAMMING SECTOR" and then "VERIFYING SECTOR" counting up. If you do not, then the flash file was not unzipped to your shared music folder. The flash is done after it is completes counting and displays "UPDATE FLASH" again. 6) Move the flash AUDIO folder to an unshared directory. 7) Power Off the AudioTron from the power switch on the rear of the unit. 8) Wait several seconds, and Power On the unit. __________________________________________________________________________ Firmware v. 1.2.1 readme.txt ---------------------------- INSTALLATION: The following procedure will erase your existing flash, and reprogram the AT with version 1.2.1 WARNING! DO NOT POWER OFF THE AUDIOTRON WHILE THE UNIT IS DISPLAYING: "PROGRAMMING SECTOR" and "VERIFYING SECTOR" 1) Unzip the file atron10201.nb0 in the downloaded atr1_2_1.zip to your shared music folder (for example, C:\My Documents\My Music). 2) Power Off the AudioTron from the power switch on the rear of the unit. 3) Wait several seconds, and Power On the unit. Let the unit complete its scan. 4) Push the options button on the front of the AT. 5) Select "UPDATE FLASH" and press the knob. You should see: "PROGRAMMING SECTOR" and then "VERIFYING SECTOR" counting up. If you do not, then the flash file was not unzipped to your shared music folder. The flash is done after it is completes counting and displays "UPDATE FLASH" again. 6) Move the flash file atron10201.nb0 to an unshared directory. 7) Power Off the AudioTron from the power switch on the rear of the unit. 8) Wait several seconds, and Power On the unit. We've also put version 1.1(.0) on our site at: www.voyetra-turtle-beach.com/site/products/audiotron/zips/at_v_1_1.zip If you have problems with the 1.2.1 firmware, we recommend 1) deleting the 1.2.1 binary file, 2) putting the 1.1 file in your audio directory and renaming it NK.nb0 3) updating the flash by following steps above. __________________________________________________________________________ Firmware Version 1.1 release notes ---------------------------------- Version 1.1 adds several new features and fixes numerous bugs. Below is a list of the issues addressed: * Remote Control buttons A,B,C,D now function as additional favorites. * New option that shows a history of the network activities (see the accompanying documentation) * Improved player robustness in the face of large ID3 tag sets. * New option that allows the user to search an entire share, not just the pre-defined directories. * Character set now includes a true backslash. * Ignores MPEG 1 Layer 2 files. * Support for track info from ID3 version 1.1 tags. * Support of ID3 Version 1 Genre references in version 2.3 tags. * Improved speed reading ID3 Version 1.x tags. * Text clean-ups. * Some additional error messages. * Removed limit on number of songs in play queue. * "Pause" now pauses the time counter. * Changed standby light to only be on when in standby, not during operation. * Fixed Mono WMA files. * NET button on remote now initiates scan for new music. * New driver for control knob to reduce erroneous clicks. * Fixed hang with very large file sets. * Added support for WMA tags. * Fixed subnet mask issue. _____________________________________________________________________________ Firmware version 1.2.1 - Release Notes -------------------------------------- AudioTron(tm) Release Notes for version 1.2.1 --------------------------------------------- Version 1.2.1 adds several new features and fixes numerous bugs. Below is a list of the issues addressed: * Faster overall operation * Number of catalog able songs increased to > 30K * Speed of cataloging large file sets is speeded up dramatically (3X for 8K songs) NOTE: song cataloging now counts by 10s. * Will read tags in wave files generated with Audiostation 4.1 * Added capability to determine song length from file length * Fixed Button test screen if power button pressed. * Fixed bug in Wave file hangs. * Fix for hangs on files and hosts going away * Fixed flash erase messages outside of update process * Disabled standby button during initialization * Moved update music to foreground * Fixed prebuffering of files with no V2 tags * Made flash update more robust (added error messages and retries) * Add host state detection to test if a host is up before trying to play a song. * Fixed add to group time issue * Fix for no tags found messages * Fix for stopping a playlist when the host has been turned off. * Buffer threshold now saved over power cycle * Flash Update message now only shown at appropriate times. * Fix for Pmode Netbios systems. * Wave buffering reconfigured ______________________________________________________________________________ Version 1.1 adds several new features and fixes numerous bugs. Below is a list of the issues addressed: * Remote Control buttons A,B,C,D now function as additional favorites. * New option that shows a history of the network activities (see the accompanying documentation) * Improved player robustness in the face of large ID3 tag sets. * New option that allows the user to search an entire share, not just the pre-defined directories. * Character set now includes a true backslash. * Ignores MPEG 1 Layer 2 files. * Support for track info from ID3 version 1.1 tags. * Support of ID3 Version 1 Genre references in version 2.3 tags. * Improved speed reading ID3 Version 1.x tags. * Text clean-ups. * Some additional error messages. * Removed limit on number of songs in play queue. * "Pause" now pauses the time counter. * Changed standby light to only be on when in standby, not during operation. * Fixed Mono WMA files. * NET button on remote now initiates scan for new music. * New driver for control knob to reduce erroneous clicks. * Fixed hang with very large file sets. * Added support for WMA tags. * Fixed subnet mask issue. ____________________________________________________________________________ First Time Installation Tips ---------------------------- There are few options to consider before you install your AudioTron. These tips will help you get started. QUICK START ----------- First read the AudioTron Quick Start Guide. This will get familiar with the setup process before you begin. CHOOSE YOUR NETWORK ------------------- The AudioTron connects to your network using HPNA 2.0 (Phone Line) or Ethernet 10/1000BaseT (Cat-5). To decide which standard will work best for you, read the AudioTron FAQ: http://www.audiotron.net/faq.asp The AudioTron includes the cables you will need to get started. KEEP IT SIMPLE -------------- * Your first installation requires setting options on the AudioTron while setting up your PC. Make it easy and keep the two within reach. * Use a short cable to connect the AudioTron directly to your PC. * If you are using Ethernet, use a crossover cable to avoid the need for a network hub. * When the installation is complete, you're ready to move the AudioTron to the desired location. CHOOSE YOUR AUDIO SYSTEM ------------------------ * Add the AudioTron as a component of your home stereo system. The AudioTron has standard RCA jacks to connect to your receiver's line input. An RCA-to-RCA stereo audio cable is included for this connection. * If the receiver has an optical digital input available, you can use the Digital Out connection on the AudioTron. An optional fiber optic cable is required. * You may decide to rack-mount your AudioTron. We have brackets available for mounting the AudioTron in standard 19-inch rack cases: http://www.turtle-beach.com * The AudioTron can deliver music to a room without any stereo system. Just add powered speakers to the AudioTron. _____________________________________________________________________________ Passwords --------- There is ONE shared password allowed for all of your AudioTrons on a network. On networks where multiple users and / or multiple music file locations exist, a Network Strategy must be developed that balances your security concerns with your desire for the accessibility of all your music files! Win 2K & NT User Name & Password: --------------------------------- The AudioTron has a NT (and Windows 2000) user name and password set by default. The AudioTron displays this setting as NT User Name and Password. If you are using Windows 2000 you should set your user name and password in the NT configuration screen. It is recommended that the defaults be changed if security is of concern! NT User Name = atron NT Password = atronpass Notes: ------ * Passwords are not optional in Win NT 4.0 / Win 2K. If a user name and password is NOT created, the AudioTron will not be able to access the files. * Passwords and User names are never displayed after being set. * Password Configuration can be accessed from the Options screen. ________________________________________________________________________ Powering up the AudioTron for the First Time -------------------------------------------- * Ensure all connectors are firmly seated. * Plug the AudioTron power cord into a wall outlet. * Apply power at the rear power switch. * Wait 2 seconds. * Press the Front Panel Standby button. You cannot use the Remote Button on 1st Power up. Tip - if you need to configure the unit, avoid the 120 second delay when in the default configuration by pressing the Stop button. After powering up the AudioTron will: * Wake Up * It will then display: Firmware Version # Network in Use * If the network type is DHCP it will count in seconds while waiting to be assigned an IP address by the DHCP server. * It will then display Searching for Hosts and will increment by %. * If the DHCP server does not give an address in 120 seconds the display will read No Hosts Found. * If the network type is Static IP, it will display Searching for Hosts and will increment by % to 100%. It will repeat this process two times. Once it successfully finds the first host it will search the host for MP3, WMA, and WAV (Ethernet only) files in the designated directories. Once the first host is searched, it repeats the search on all hosts attached to the network. The time this process takes will vary depending on the number of Hosts and the number of music files. __________________________________________________________________________ Static IP defaults ------------------ AudioTron Static IP defaults are: * Network Interface Type - Ethernet * Static IP Address - 192.168.0.10 * Sub Mask IP Address - 255.255.255.0 ___________________________________________________________________ =============================================================================== Configuration =============================================================================== 'Search whole Share" Option --------------------------- Whenever you can find the host, but not the music on your system the new firmware (from 1.06 forward) has an option to "Search whole Share" This will look in whatever folder or drive you have shared regardless of whether you placed your music in: Music My Music Audio Just remember that the share must be one level ABOVE the folder that your music is in. So if you share C:\ then place your music in a folder below the root. Please note that this may take a long time depending on your Network. It is recommended that you avoid enabling this Option. Additional points for Win2k users are: Insure that the share is not an administrative one ($C) This is not a true share in Win2k. You need to see the hand below the folder. Make sure you have set up a user as atron and a password as atronpass. ____________________________________________________________________________ Buffer - How to clear and start fresh ------------------------------------- Q. How does one make the Audiotron "forget" the songs it has placed in its index? When I first set up my Audiotron I had a bunch of tracks that were mis-tagged. I have corrected that tagging, but I can't figure out how to get the Audiotron to regenerate its song indices. A. To clear the Audiotron's song memory, power it down using the power switch at the back of the unit (by the power cord). Wait 30 seconds and then turn the power back on. When the front panel power switch is pressed, the Audiotron will re-scan the network and regenerate its indices. __________________________________________________________________________ Play all found songs -------------------- To play all the songs the AudioTron found on your Network press the following buttons seqentially: Group Repeat Play _____________________________________________________________________________ Valid music directories ----------------------- File sharing: ------------ The AudioTron requires that music files be located one level below the shared directory. A drive letter can act as a shared directory. For example: C:\Audio - the C drive must be shared C:\My Documents\Music - My Documents must be shared Network Drives: --------------- You can have multiple hard drives on one computer and / or multiple hard drives across an extensive network. Your storage options are only constrained by your budget! Valid unsecured music file types must stored in one of the prescribed folders and that folder must be one level below a shared directory or drive. The AudioTron looks for songs in the directory names given below. The folder names can be any number of levels below the root of the drive. For example: C:\My Music C:\My Documents\My Music D:\Network\Music files\Cool music\audio "My Music" Valid Directories: ----------------------------- \\\\Audio \\\\ Music \\\\ My Music \\\\ My Documents\My Music \\\\ Program Files\Musicmatch\Music \\\\ Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch jukebox\playlist \\\\ MusicMatchJukebox\playlist __________________________________________________________________________ =============================================================================== Troubleshooting =============================================================================== Delay when pressing the Play button ----------------------------------- Q. Why is there sometimes a delay between the time I press the Play button and the time the music starts to play? A. * When you press the "Play" button to start a song, AudioTron must download a portion of the song file from the PC before it can start the music. Therefore, there will be a short delay caused by the digital file stream being transferred from the PC to the AudioTron. This is indicated by the message "Buffering" on the Display Panel when the track is first selected. * Try changing the "Pre-buffer threshold" as described in the Options Menu section. A shorter threshold will cause the song to start playing sooner, but could result in audio dropouts. * Because they are not compressed, WAV files require more data to be transferred before playback can begin, and therefore will exhibit a longer delay than WMA and MP3 files. * If the PC on which the song resides is in "energy-saving" mode and has been idle long enough for the hard drive to shut down, there will be an extra delay after pressing Play while the hard drive starts up and begins to access the song file. _____________________________________________________________________________ Determining your IP address in Windows -------------------------------------- Windows 95/98/Me: ----------------- - From Start > Run > type in winipcfg, then click OK. - From the drop down menu select the network card. - Click on More info button for additional information. In Windows NT/2000: ------------------- - Open a command prompt window by clicking on the Start button > Programs > Command Prompt (or from the Start button, click on Run, type in cmd, click OK). - At the command prompt, type in ipconfig, then depress the Enter key on your computer keyboard. - Your computer's IP address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway will be displayed in the command prompt window. _____________________________________________________________________________ Duplicates of files ------------------- Q. Why do some song titles come up twice in the display? A. * Two songs with different file names but the same Title tag information will be displayed as the same song twice (because the tag information for "Title" is the same.) * A song with the same title saved in different formats (e.g. WMA, MP3 or WAV) will display in all of the formats as different songs. * If, after checking your song library to confirm there's only one version of the song, try re-setting AudioTron with the rear-panel power switch. This will reset the internal memory and cause it to re-scan the network for songs. * Nested shares can also cause double-occurrences. For instance, if songs are stored in C:\My Documents\My Music and both the C: drive and \My Music are set as shared directories, the music files in \My Music might be displayed twice. _________________________________________________________________________ Dynamic IP Address (RoadRunner users) ------------------------------------- Q. I have RoadRunner Cable Modem Service which utilizes a dynamic TCP/IP address. The subnet is 255.255.248.0. I use a 10/100 Ethernet hub to connect to the cable modem since I have more than one computer in the house. I CANNOT assign and IP Address/Subnet mask to my ethernet card in my computer. If I do, I cannot connect to the Internet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. The key to this problem is having an ISP that uses a Dynamic IP Address. With this in mind, you cannot change your settings on the NIC card used for Internet connectivity. If you do, then you are not going to get RoadRunner to connect. Just a bit of trivia RoadRunner renews its IP address every 24 hours. Users with this type of internet connection will have two options with regards to integrating the AudioTron into their network. OPTION 1: Use a Cable/DSL Router in your network to continue using DHCP with the AudioTron. This will handle the task of receiving the IP addresses from the ISP, and route them to where they need to go. This is a slightly more expensive option, but better if you intend to share your internet connection among computers. OPTION 2: Install a second NIC card in the system containing your music files, assign the NIC card it's own IP Address, and use the AudioTron with this computer with Static IP. This is the cheaper option, as NIC cards can be found for as low as $20.00. Here is the step by step: Win 9x: 1) Determine if you have a Dynamic IP address. 2) Check with your computer manufacturer to see if there are any known problems with running dual NIC cards onboard your system. 3) Install the 2nd NIC card (preferably a different model NIC card so you can tell the difference) 4) Set the IP addresses for the NON-Internet NIC card to the ones specified with AudioTron's literature. 5) Using a CROSSOVER cable connect, the AudioTron to the host via the new NIC card specified for AudioTron. Using a crossover cable allows you to connect directly from the PC to the AudioTron, without using a hub. If you do not have a crossover cable, then a separate hub would be required. From here it should work just perfectly! _________________________________________________________________________ Files Not Found --------------- Q. Why can't AudioTron find my music files? A. * Make sure your PC is powered on. If it is, then make sure the PC and hard drive are not set to "power down" after a period of non-use. The control panel "Power Management" icon launches a dialog box that will show how the power-save features are set. If your hard drive or system is set to shut down after a period of time, it will be inaccessible to AudioTron. * If AudioTron found host PCs on the network but didn't find any music, make sure your music files are located in shared directories with the proper names. Also, check the password setting on the shared directories. If you have a password set, then it must also be set on AudioTron or it won't be able to access the shared directories. Also check that "file sharing" is set in the network control panel. * If you're using a LinkSys Etherfast Cable/DSL router, check that the firmware is version 1.37 or higher (see the manual on how to do this.) Firmware versions lower than 1.37 may have a problem providing DHCP service and IP Address access to AudioTron on the network if the Linksys is used as a hub for your network. * AudioTron can't play WMA music files with the "security" option set. Since this is the default setting in AudioStation and Windows Media Player 7, it may be that you've transferred your CD's to the hard drive in "secure mode" and AudioTron can't access them. * If your Host PC is running "firewall" software, it must be set to "pass" AudioTron's IP Address or it will be treated as an "unauthorized user" and be blocked from accessing the PC. _____________________________________________________________________________ Files won't play - Tags are not showing --------------------------------------- Rip your own!. Napster files and any other files you receive should be viewed as "unknown quality". If you are having problems, try the included files that are on your AudioStation 4 CD. BTW - there is some hot music created by employees and friends of VTB included. They are great songs to listen to, but more importantly, these are the songs we would like you to troubleshoot with. Our TS can recreate any issues you find using them, as we all have them! _____________________________________________________________________________ Host Not Found -------------- Q. Why does AudioTron display "No Hosts Found" when first turned on? A. AudioTron's "Display Network History" Option can be used to check many of the network settings. See the "Options Menu" section for details. When powered up from the rear panel power switch, AudioTron will search the network for hosts after the Standby button is pressed. If it does not find a host after searching for two minutes, it will display "No Hosts Found". If this occurs, check the following: * Reconnect the network cable to make sure it "clicks" when inserted. * Try another network cable to make sure the problem is not due to a defective cable. * Make sure your PC is powered on. * If you're using DHCP, make sure that only one computer is configured as a DHCP server. If you are using a "smart" hub that acts as a DHCP server, make sure that none of the host computers are configured as DHCP servers. * If you're using Static IP, check that AudioTron's IP address settings don't conflict with another PC or another AudioTron on the network. See the Winipcfg section in the "Network Basics" Appendix for details. * If your PC is running "firewall" software, it should be configured to pass AudioTron's IP address. Check the software manufacturer's instructions on how to set this. * If you're using a LinkSys Etherfast Cable/DSL router, check that the firmware is version 1.37 or higher. Firmware versions lower than 1.37 may have a problem providing DHCP and IP Address access to AudioTron if the Linksys is used as a hub for your network. _____________________________________________________________________________ HPNA network - Host not found ----------------------------- * Make sure AudioTron is connected to the same phone line as your HPNA network. Try hooking up two phones to the jacks you're using for AudioTron and an HPNA-connected PC. If you can't talk on the two phones using the same jacks and cables, then the HPNA network won't be able to communicate between the PC and AudioTron. * If you have DSL service, make sure the DSL line filter is not between AudioTron or your PC's HPNA interface or it could affect the HPNA network signals and cause performance problems. * Do not connect a telephone line filter between AudioTron's HPNA jack and the phone jack. Transient protection is built into the AudioTron phone jack, so an external filter is not necessary. * Insure that your phone lines are wired correctly. It is not uncommon to have a particular phone jack reversed, so that line two is on the wires for line one. ______________________________________________________________________________ Hum coming through the speakers ------------------------------- If you notice a hum noise coming through your speakers, it is most likely a "Ground Loop". To correct the problem: * Lift the ground pin on the AC cord with a 2 prong adapter. If this does not help, it is probably a bad RCA cable. Replace it. _____________________________________________________________________________ ID3 Tags - Cataloging my MP3 files ---------------------------------- The AudioTron firmware supports MP3 ID3 tags ver 1.0, 1.1 and 2.3. _________________________________________________________________________ In Group mode my AudioTron only holds 2,000 songs ------------------------------------------------- The AudioTron is capable of cataloging and playing over 10,000 songs. Group mode and playlists are limited to 2,000 songs. Two thousand - three minute songs will allow you to hear 100 hours of continuous music. Need more than that - make multiple playlists and assign them to a favorite button. ___________________________________________________________________________ MP3 or WMA files appear in the display but will not play -------------------------------------------------------- The AudioTron can only play files that were ripped with the "Secure Music" feature disabled. ___________________________________________________________________________ Music skips when playing ------------------------ Q. Why does the music sometimes "skip" when playing? A. Under conditions of extremely heavy use, your network might be unable to provide an adequately sustained quantity of digital audio data to the AudioTron while playing music. For instance, if many users are transferring files on the network at the same time, or if the music server PC is being used for a high-overhead task such as playing a PC game, the music server PC might put off the task of sending music over the network. If this happens for a period of time that causes the AudioTron's internal music buffer to become empty, it is possible for the music to skip due to data loss. To reduce the possibility of this, try the following: * Minimize usage of the music server PC while AudioTron is accessing music files stored there. * Use a dedicated PC for music storage so it will not be used for other tasks while playing music. See the section called "AudioTron Music System Configurations" for details. * Try a larger buffer threshold to allow more buffer to be filled before the music starts playing. See the Options Menu section called "Set Prebuffer Threshold". * If you're using WAV files… Try using MP3 or WMA instead. WAV files use uncompressed data and therefore require as much as 10 times more data to travel over the network than do MP3 and WMA files. Also, WAV files should be used only with Ethernet networks. * If you're running an HPNA network… Be sure you do not have a line filter between your PC's HPNA interface or the AudioTron's HPNA connector. Also, if your music PC has a modem, try connecting the HPNA interface and modem to the phone line with a splitter, rather than in series with each other. See the section called "Installing AudioTron on an HPNA Network" for details. * If only certain songs skip, try playing them on your PC with AudioStation to see if the song is damaged. If it skips on the PC, it will also skip on AudioTron. ____________________________________________________________________________ No Analog audio --------------- Using the front panel Standby button, power the unit down and then back up. This will reset the DAC's and restore audio. ______________________________________________________________________________ Norton Internet Security Firewall --------------------------------- I have a home LAN with 4 PC's connected to it. They all have Norton Internet 2000 Security Firewall software installed since I'm connected to the internet with static IP addresses (required for my VPN connection to work). I have the Security Option set to the highest (most stringent) level. This basically screens ALL types of IP packets; incoming and outgoing. Unfortunately, it also blocks all "Ping" echo request packets, (hackers use this to find machines that have static IP addresses, which many PC's now have if connected to DSL or Cable modems). Apparently, when the AT boots up and looks for "hosts", it uses a Ping Echo Request to find them. If your firewall software is blocking this process (common for firewalls), the AT will NOT FIND YOUR HOST, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU REBOOT. I enabled the Echo Reply for my home address range, and blocked Echo Reply above and below my home address range (I'm using dedicated IP addresses). This allowed my PC to respond and all is well now... __________________________________________________________________________ Real Jukebox (RJB MP3 files) lock-up workaround ----------------------------------------------- First *REMOVE* all v1 tags, and then *REMOVE* all v2 tags before re-creating them. Just re-writing tags over the existing ones does not always work. After you've removed all tags, you can then go and create v2 tags from the filenames. (v1 tags have field length limitations that you'll want to avoid since AT works fine with v2 tags). _____________________________________________________________________________ Router/Hub issues ----------------- Q. Why doesn't AudioTron work with my Router/Hub? A. Some router/hubs need a firmware update to operate properly with AudioTron: * SMC Hub: Version 1.8x firmware works with AudioTron using Static IP addressing. It works intermittently as a DHCP server—sometimes AudioTron finds a host but no host name and it often cannot find files on shared PCs. The firmware update to 1.90 seems to correct the DHCP server and file share problems and can be found on the SMC web site: www.smc.com. * Linksys 4 Port Router/Hub: Version 1.35 firmware works with AudioTron using Static IP addressing and intermittently as a DHCP server. Sometimes it finds a host but no host name and it rarely can find files on shared PCs. The firmware update to v1.37 corrects this and is available on the Linksys website www.Linksys.com. ___________________________________________________________________________ S/PDIF - Songs do not play -------------------------- Q. Why don't some of my songs play on the S/PDIF digital output, but they do play on the analog outputs? A. * Audio will only play through the optical S/PDIF output if the digital audio file was stored using one of the standard S/PDIF sample rates of 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz. AudioTron does not support playback of uncompressed WAV files recorded with a sampling rate of 48 kHz. See the Appendix called "Product Specifications" for details on supported sample rates. * When converting your CD collection to the PC hard drive we recommend that you leave your CD tracks at the 44.1 kHz sampling rate used on the CD itself. Re-sampling to a different sampling rate usually results in decreased sound quality and may be incompatible with the SPDIF output. * Songs downloaded from the Internet from an unknown source may not have compatible SPDIF sample rates and therefore might only play out of the analog outputs. ___________________________________________________________________________ Skipping - Check the phone jack or cable. Do not neglect the obvious. --------------------------------------------------------------------- I had 3 Audiotrons on an HPNA network; one of which was further from the computer, and it was always skipping (even with prebuffer threshold set to 7). This weekend I replaced the phone jack in the bedroom and my problem was solved. Apparently there was a short in that jack and the problem was network related and not related to the Audiotron. ______________________________________________________________________________ Songs in music library not played --------------------------------- Q. Why does AudioTron not play some of the songs in my music library? A. * AudioTron will not play songs that are saved in "secure" format, which is an optional setting used by PC jukebox programs that can record in WMA format, such as AudioStation and Windows Media Player 7. Check to see if the song is set to "secure" and if so, use the jukebox program to turn off this setting. * Some MP3 and WMA files have odd sample rates that may not be compatible with AudioTron. If the song was obtained from the Internet, it is possible that it was created in one of these non-standard rates and is not recognized by AudioTron. This is usually not a problem with songs created on the PC with a jukebox program, such as AudioStation, from a CD. * Some MP3 files have large amounts of data embedded in the "header file". This data can include photos, artist information, and other information relating to the composition. AudioTron might reject music files that have excessive data in the headers. AudioTron supports ID3 v1.0 and v2.2 tags. ____________________________________________________________________________ Static IP Network - How to determine if the AudioTron is seen on the network ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IP Address - Troubleshooting tools ---------------------------------- Windows 95/98/Me: ----------------- - From Start > Run > type command - A DOS screen appears Type ping 192.168.0.10 to see if the AudioTron is seen by the network. Windows NT/2000 --------------- - From Start > Run > type cmd. Depress the Enter key. - A Command Prompt window appears. - At the prompt, type: ping 192.168.0.10. Then depress the Enter key. - If you see "Reply from 192.168.0.10: ...", your AudioTron was seen by the network. - If you see "Request timed out", AudioTron was not seen by the network. ______________________________________________ Win 2k - "Access to host denied" error -------------------------------------- When the Audiotron is unable to connect, if the "Network History" shows "Access to host denied", test your PC's configuration by trying to map the music share (using the userid/password the Audiotron is using)---you don't need a second computer, this can be done from the music server to itself. If the error received is "The user has not been granted the requested logon type at this computer." then run the "Local Security Policy" tool (as Administrator) and ensure that: [Local Policies]->[User Rights Assignment]->[Access this computer from the network] has been set to include either "Authenticated Users" or at least the specific userid that the Audiotron has been told to use. _____________________________________________________________________________ Win 2k - Naming Convention - "Host Not Found" error --------------------------------------------------- "Although spaces are allowed in NetBios computer names in NT, spaces are not allowed in Win 2K" This may prevent computers from having the host name resolved. Basically - don't ever name your computer "Frank Test Machine" Call it "Frank_Test_Machine". ____________________________________________________________________________ Win 2k Server - "Host Not Found" error -------------------------------------- If the AudioTron sees the 'clients' but not the Server, try this: Check the IP address and subnet mask of the AudioTron and the Server. If they are the same then there is the problem. If they are not, then see if you can ping from the server to the Audiotron. If you can, then check the "arp" cache to make sure that you are talking to the AudioTron. Ping the AudioTron from a second node to see if it gets the same replies. If the addresses are alright and the ping works, then work up to the Netbios level: Make sure that the server is set to allow NETBIOS over TCP/IP. At that point, you should at least see the Server from the AudioTron. ARP explanation: ---------------- ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol and is a 6 figure byte. It is the protocol that translates between the IP address and the Physical address of the Audiotron. To check it, create a command prompt and type (arp -a). This will give a list of the current translations. NOTE: these time out fairly quickly so you should do some operation that communicates with the Audiotron (like ping) just before attempting this. If it has communicated with an Audiotron, you should see a physical address of a form 00-04-32-xx-xx-xx. For more info on arp, just type arp at the command prompt and it will give you a help. ______________________________________________________________________________ Win 2k Server - AudioTron does not see the Host ----------------------------------------------- Enabling NETBIOS over TCP/IP: ----------------------------- In Windows 2000 Server, 'NETBIOS over TCP/IP' is disabled by default. This must be enabled or the AudioTron will not be able to see the host computer. To enable NETBIOS over TCP/IP, do the following: 1) Go to Start > Settings > Control Panel, double-click on the 'Network and Dial-up Connections' icon. 2) Right click on the Local Area Connection (LAN) being used with AudioTron and select 'Properties'. 3) Scroll down to 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)', then right click on it and select 'Properties'. 4) Click on the 'Advanced' button, then go to the 'WINS' tab. 5) Fill in the radio button next to 'Enable NETBIOS over TCP/IP', then click OK. 6) Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window, then click OK to close the the Connection Properties window. 7) Reboot the system - this is absolutely necessary. Please be sure that you have followed the setup instructions for Windows 2000 in the AudioTron User's Guide. ________________________________________________________________________ =============================================================================== Power Tips =============================================================================== ASX playlists format (Media Player 7) ------------------------------------- Q: How can I use Windows Media Player 7 (WMP7) playlists (ASX format) with my AudioTron? A: If you have already created playlists in WMP7 in the ASX format and would like to use them with the AudioTron, you will need to convert them to M3U format. Here is the step by step in WMP7: - Select a playlist in the drop-down box in the top right hand corner of WMP7, - Go to File > Export Playlist to File. When typing the name of the playlist, include the extension M3U (i.e., filename.M3U), then click 'Save'. - After converting the playlists, just move them to your shared music directory. IMPORTANT! If you do not type the file name WITH the M3U extension, the playlist will be again saved in the ASX format. While converting each playlist may take a little while, it will still be faster than recreating all of the playlists from scratch. We are not aware of any utility that will batch convert the ASX format to M3U, so these must be changed one list at a time. _____________________________________________________________________________ Cataloging and tagging your MP3 files ------------------------------------- When entering tag information into your digital music files, it is important to develop and stick to a naming and cataloging scheme that works best for your particular music collection. For instance: - Will you call certain bands "THE" as in "The Beatles"? Or will you call them "Beatles, The" or simply "Beatles"? If you call them "The Beatles" you will have to remember to look under "T" for "The" when searching through your lists of Artists. - Will you subdivide Genre lists into categories like "Rock" and "Country", or will you further subdivide your Genres into categories like "Hard Rock", "Classic Rock", "Metal", "Bluegrass", "Southern Rock", etc? - Most people who only have a few favorite classical pieces will happily make do with a single Genre named "Classical", but a true classical music lover with a large collection of what most people would call "classical music" may want to create multiple Genre lists named "Romantic", "Chamber Music", "String Quartets", "Modern", "Choral", "Opera", "Renaissance" and "Baroque", in addition to plain old "Classical". By making multiple Genres holding smaller numbers of tracks in each one, instead of generic Genres holding hundreds of tracks, you can speed up your music searches considerably. This will help when you want to make quick playlists in AudioTron's Group Mode, without spending too much time searching through very long Genre lists. _____________________________________________________________________________ Firmware - Updating ------------------- AudioTron contains a microprocessor with two types of memory: * Random Access Memory (RAM): Used for temporary data storage such as song names, network settings, Group settings, audio buffers, etc.. This type of memory loses its data when the main AC power switch is turned off. This is why, for example, AudioTron has to re-scan the network for songs each time the rear panel power is turned off. * FLASH Memory: Used for storage of program data, referred to as "Firmware". The FLASH RAM does not lose its data when the main AC power is turned off and can be re-programmed with new firmware from the Options menu setting called "Update Flash", as described below. Turtle Beach intends to periodically release new updates for the AudioTron firmware in order to implement feature enhancements, bug fixes, and operational modifications. To update AudioTron's firmware… ------------------------------- 1. Press the Options button to display the version number of the firmware. The display will look similar to the following illustration, with the version number shown on the top row: 2. After checking the firmware version number, log on to the Turtle Beach web site to check for firmware updates. The URL for AudioTron Firmware & Software Updates is: http://www.turtle-beach.com/wb/audiotron/download.htm 3. If the version number posted at the URL is higher than the version number displayed in step 1, download the file by following the instructions posted at the site. Unzip the file to a subdirectory that contains your shared music files (e.g. \My Music, \Audio, \Music) so that AudioTron can find the file. NOTE: AudioTron firmware files have a .Nb0 extension and are typically formatted with a name such as Atronx-xx-xx.nb0, where the "x-xx-xx" represents the version number of the firmware. 4. If the Options LED is not lit, press the Options button. Turn and press the knob to select the "Update FLASH" option. Turn and press the knob to select "Yes". 5. Once AudioTron finds the firmware file, it will transfer the file from your PC to the internal FLASH RAM, as noted on the display. A successful transfer will display the messages: "ERASING", "PROGRAMMING" "VERIFYING" The new version number will not be displayed until AudioTron is reset, as described below. NOTE: If these messages are not displayed, it indicates that AudioTron did not find the firmware file and the update did not occur. In this case, first check that the firmware file is located in a shared directory that is accessible to AudioTron (such as a directory with music files that have been known to operate with AudioTron.) Once the file location is confirmed, try re-setting AudioTron from the rear-panel power switch to initiate a full network rescan and repeat the update procedure from step 4 above. 6. After the firmware update is successfully completed, reset AudioTron with the rear panel power switch. Then check if the Version number has been updated from the original setting either by noting the version number displayed on start-up, or by checking the Options display as described above. Note that the new version number will not be displayed until AudioTron is reset. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not turn off AudioTron's AC power before the firmware download is completed! Removing the power before the firmware update is completed could cause the AudioTron "boot loader" to be inadvertently deleted and will render the unit inoperable. If this occurs, AudioTron will not start up and will require factory service to reload the firmware. _________________________________________________________________________ Group & Favorites usage ----------------------- Group Mode: ----------- After the AudioTron finishes searching your music library: - Press the Group button on the Remote Control - Press the Play button. This will place all of your music library in one big playlist. Favorites: ---------- Local control only Quick way to store your Favorite title, album, artist, or genre - Select the item - Press the Add Favorites button - Select a numeric value _______________________________________________________________________ How the AudioTron indexes tags ------------------------------ The AT takes one copy of each tag that it gets. So if you encoded the whole Eric Clapton Unplugged Album (12 tracks for argument's sake) there would be the following indexed on the AT: Artist: Eric Clapton (indexed one time) Album: Unplugged (indexed one time) Genre: Rock (indexed one time) Title: EACH TRACK NAME (indexed one time each for a total of 12 times) Now if I downloaded 12 songs by different artists, instead of 15 tags that are indexed on the AT, there would be: 12 different artists, 12 different albums, 12 different song titles, 12 different genres, For a total of 48 tags indexed on the AT. So, one of the things that affects the number of songs that you can have is if they're all by different artists, albums, etc..., or primarily encoded from CDs. ___________________________________________________________________________ Linux - Buffering 87% Lockup issue ---------------------------------- Q. All my music is stored on a computer running Samba on Linux. A lot of times when I'm playing songs randomly in a group of about 1800 songs the unit will lockup when trying to play a new song. The front panel says "Buffering 87%" when it locks up. The only way to get it working again is to turn it off using the switch on the back of the unit. Every time this lockup occurs it always says "Buffering 87%". _____________________________________________________________________________ A. I had the same problem with my AT playing MP3 files from my Linux music server. In addition, it skipped beyond belief playing uncompressed WAV files over the network. After playing around with the tuning parameters of Samba my AT is now able to play 100% skip-free! I love this toy!! =) Here are the important Samba (smb.conf) modifications that I made to get rid of these problems: read size = 65536 read prediction = yes read raw = yes socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_KEEPALIVE SO_SNDBUF 16384 max xmit = 65536 I discovered that specifying an SO_RCVBUF (receive buffer) in the socket options line will cause problems when buffering on the AT. I am sure that this is also a Samba issue. Make sure that you run the samba 'testparm' utility to make sure that all the settings are accepted by Samba. NOTE: As a reminder, we do not support any networking or configuration issues other than Windows. _____________________________________________________________________________ Linux - Redhat 7.0 - Samba version 2.0.6 and DHCP 2.0pl5. --------------------------------------------------------- As a reminder, we do not support any networking or configuration issues other than Windows, but here's a configuration that we've used with the AudioTron successfully. We did not notice any hicupps or sharing issues. We have successfully used the audiotron with Redhat 7.0, samba version 2.0.6 and dhcp 2.0pl5. www.samba.org http://www.isc.org/products/DHCP/dhcp-v2.html (smb.conf file below) #==================/etc/smb.conf=============================== # # # # #========================Global Settings======================= [global] interfaces = 192.168.1.1/24 netbios name=musicserver workgroup = smb-link server string = mlong.basement.idsi.net hosts allow = 192.168.1. 127. ##### Printer Stuff ##### printcap name = /etc/printcap load printers = yes printer driver file=/usr/local/data/pdef/printers.def log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m security = user encrypt passwords = yes smb passwd file = /etc/smbpasswd ; username map = /etc/smbusers logon script=login.bat socket options = TCP_NODELAY SO_RCVBUF=8192 SO_SNDBUF=8192 wins support=yes domain master=yes domain logons = yes dns proxy = no unix password sync = no comment = gatekeeper map to guest = never password level = 0 null passwords = no os level = 0 dead time = 0 debug level = 0 #============================ Share Definitions================= [homes] comment = Home Directories browseable = no writable = yes [netlogon] comment = Network Logon Service path = /home/netlogon readonly=yes guest ok = no oplocks=no write list=@username # Un-comment the following to provide a specific roving profile share # the default is to use the user's home directory ;[Profiles] ; path = /home/profiles ; browseable = no ; guest ok = yes # NOTE: If you have a BSD-style print system there is no need to # specifically define each individual printer [printers] comment = All Printers path = /var/spool/samba browseable = no # Set public = yes to allow user 'guest account' to print guest ok = no writable = no printable = yes [printer$] path=/usr/local/data/pdrivers public=yes readonly=yes browseable=yes [4019-PS] print ok=yes path=/var/spool/samba browseable=yes printer=lp valid users=@users printer driver =IBM 4019 LaserPrinter PS39 printer driver location=\\%h\PRINTER$ [pub] comment = public dir path = /home/groups/pub valid users = @users,@mlong admin users= @mlong force group = users readonly = No create mask = 660 directory mask = 750 [apps] comment = public Apps path = /home/apps valid users = @users,@mlong admin users= @mlong force group = users readonly = No create mask = 750 directory mask = 750 NOTE: The above information is offered as is as a courtesy to our customers. It is not supported by VTB and no guaranties are being made. ____________________________________________________________________________ Playlist - number of songs -------------------------- There is no limit as to the amount of songs a playlist can hold. ____________________________________________________________________________ Set Pre-buffer Threshold ------------------------ The AudioTron is a networked device, and as such, is dependent on the network topology. If you have a network that is consistently fast and doesn't drop packets, then a much smaller buffer is needed. There's an option to custom select the "buffer before play" size, which can be accessed from the "options" menu. The scale is 1-7, which basically means that if you select "1", the AT will fill one buffer, then begin to play. If you select "7" then the AT will fill "7" buffers, then begin to play. The higher the number, the less likely you are to have stutters, skips, etc. from a network that can't keep up, but the longer it will take to buffer each song before it starts playing it. We recommend using the lowest number that doesn't cause skips, glitches, etc... Also, the AudioTron does buffer the next song in the play order after it has finished filling the buffers for the current song. So if you're 40 seconds into an average 320K MP3, the AudioTron is probably already buffering the next song (but if you are pressing NEXT, NEXT, NEXT to scroll through songs in a playlist while you're playing, the AudioTron will have to fill the buffer on the currently playing song before it starts the next one. ___________________________________________________________________________ Win 2k - File Sharing issues ---------------------------- If you are sharing the C drive in Windows 2000 Example: C:\My Music Windows 2000 by default will say the C drive is sharing with the name C$. This is an administrator share. The C drive is not being shared. You must add a new share to the C drive. This will add the hand under the C drive. If the hand is not there then the C drive is not shared. The Audiotron will now see the MP3s in the My Music folder. Also if the MP3s are in C:\My Documents\My Music only My Documents needs to be shared. The C drive can be left as is. _____________________________________________________________________________