Re: Secrets of the CDX Changers?

>>

I have gotten a good number of functions to work using HyperCard to drive my CDP-CX153 and

CDP-CX250 changers. But I've already encountered a few "gotchas" that I wouldn't have guessed from

reading the .CDE file...

It appears that the "play_dt disc,track" command (0x50) will NOT function if the CDX changer is in "Shuffle"

mode. Reports "already_did_that" error??? <<

true. you need to be in the standard "continue" mode. The way to do this is by sending remote_off and remote_on in succession. This will get it out of shuffle mode. If you have a Slink-e V2.0, you can also send IR type data via the S-Link bus using the S-Link "bit-mode". See the cdpcx200ca.cde file for the codes.

>> Does anybody use "timecode_on"? For what purposes?

To keep track of where you are second by second. I use this in CDJ constantly to control track changes and fading. It's also just cool to show what the current position is.

>>

And, finally, how does anybody get the "set_memo_text" 0x80 command to work?

I *really* want to get this last function working, as both my changers have the alphanumeric display, and

sometimes spinning the jog-shuttle dial is quicker than firing up the computer... :-)

<<

The bad new is that I don't think this works with the CX-153. Otherwise, it's pretty easy: you just send 0x80, the disc number, and the 13 (always 13) ASCII characters you want.

I tried repeated to get the memo_text to "take", but no joy... I'm supposed to send 0x80, followed by a

disk_id byte, followed by 13 bytes of characters right? (plus the Slink-e header/trailer) Do I have to

somehow put the changer into a "receptive mood"? :-)

There really doesn't appear to be a lot of hard detailed information on the CDP series S-Link command set

out there*. The .CDE files are by far the best source of info, but they leave a bit to be desired as a

programmer reference manual. I've bumped into Dan Zenchelski's document on VisionTouch, but have

found nothing else which deals with the CDX changer's command set. Any other suggestions or

references?

* "Thanks, Sony. $5000 VisionTouch developer's kit, indeed..."

I appreciate any help/hints with the particular issues raised above (esp. the memo_text). I'd suggest that you

respond on the BBS, so that others can see the hints, and so they are archived. In the longer term, I think it

would be useful to develop a real programmers manual for the CDP-CXxxx series. I'd be willing to

contribute (or even write it myself) given sufficient interest...