SMPTE code reader

The Pyro Masters PM 2001 and PM 2004 could be configured with a SMPTE time code reader.

The internal time base for the fireworks control is then automatically synchronized to an external (SMPTE) time code, if at least 25 time frames were read without any error.
On a lost of the time code signal the controller falls back to its internal time base, with no consequence for the fireworks show as long as no 'time jumps' were programmed.

The SMPTE time code could be provided by any audio or video unit via a line-in connector (Cinch).

Currently the time code reader is configured for 25 fps (frame per second), this is the standard throughout Europe, Australia (mains frequency 50 Hz). But a firmware with 30 fps could be installed as well, which is the standard for America and Japan.

Within a SMPTE frame a complete time information is send which could look like the following:

hours 0-23
minutes 0-59
seconds 0-59
frame number 0-25(30)

The time information is encoded with 80 bits per frame:

SMPTE code example for one Frame

SMPTE is an abbreviation for the US Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

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