Frequently Asked Questions

From the "Help" menu, choose "About KeyLog Tracker". The version number is shown on the splash screen. If you have version 1.1.43 or later you can display the versions of the EPROMS in the 4025TR by pressing the "Versions" button on "Encoder Status" screen.

In versions prior to 1.1.37, renaming a configuration will sometimes cause the list of windows to disappear. The only way to get them back is to delete the configuration and create it again with the correct name. This problem has been fixed in version 1.1.37.

In versions prior to 1.1.44, pressing the "Apply" button before a new configuration is saved will sometimes cause the list of windows to be duplicated. The only way to get them back is to delete the configuration and create it again with the correct name. This problem has been fixed in version 1.1.44.

It is normal procedure to press the "Load Film" button on the toolbar when a new roll of film is placed on the telecine. This action sets the ABS frame counter to zero and aligns the biphase counter with the film frame lines. When you roll back for the preroll, the ABS frame counter will become a negative number. When you roll forward and grab the first event's In point while the ABS frame counter is negative, the event duration of the first event will not be computed properly, and the event will be discarded. A solution is to roll back for the preroll and stop the telecine. Press the "Load Film" button at this preroll point. Roll the film and proceed to grab the first event. This problem has been fixed in version 1.1.44.

System configurations are collections of parameters that control how the 4025TR Film Footage Encoder will be set up for a particular application. They are normally used as templates for various types of jobs that a facility does. When you create a Project file for a new production, the user is prompted to choose one of the System configurations as a template for the project configuration. The system configuration is copied into the project and may now be changed to suit the production without fear of affecting the configurations for other projects.

You must press the "Apply" or "Okay" button to send the new configuration to the 4025TR. When you press the "Apply" button the configuration values are sent to the 4025TR and the configuration screen will remain open. When you press the "Okay" button the configuration values are sent to the 4025TR and the configuration screen will be closed. When you press the "Cancel" button the configuration values are not sent to the 4025TR and the configuration screen will close. The name of the last configuration sent to the 4025TR will be shown on the "Encoder Status" screen.

If the 4025TR is communicating with the Tracker software then press the "Help" button on the "Encoder Status" screen. Chapter 5 of the 4025TR manual shows how to interpret the error messages that are shown.

On line help is available for the KeyLog Tracker software by pressing the "F1" key at any time.

If the 4025TR is not communicating with the Tracker software the check that you have selected the correct communications port on the PC (see the "General" tab of the "Option" screen, accessible from the "Tools" menu).

Two signals from the telecine (biphase tach and a frame pulse) must be connected from the telecine in order to generate field accurate time code with encoded edge numbers. See figure 2-5 in the 4025TR manual that shows the minimum connections required to use the 4025TR. See section 2.11 of the 4025TR manual for information on how to connect these signals from a Rank Cintel Telecine. See section 2.12 of the 4025TR manual for information on how to connect these signals from a Philips telecine. For other devices, please contact the factory.

The biphase tach rate is set using the "Biphase rate" dropdown on the "Telecine Setup" screen. Make sure that you have selected the correct rate. You also need to select the correct telecine type using the "Telecine Type" dropdown on the "Telecine Setup" screen.

The procedure outlined in section 2.11.7 of the 4025TR manual should be used to verify the accuracy of the system with biphase. It is important to perform these verification procedures before you attempt to use KeyKode with your 4025TR.

There are several possible scenarios.

Section 2.13 and chapter 8 of the 4025TR manual give information on connecting the KeyKode reader to the 4025TR.

• Correct mechanical alignment of the head with the film path. Make sure that the film is fully engaged in the rollers and that the head is able to follow any sideways motion of the film. See section 2.3 of the 5500 manual for further information on reader head installation.
• Correct negative/print setting.
• Check that the correct sensor is selected for the film type you are using (35 mm or 16 mm). (Section 2.5 of the 5500 manual)
• Check that the intensity setting is set correctly. See the tutorial on LED intensity control in the 5500 manual.
• Check that the barcode has good contrast and that it is printed all the way to the edge of the film. This is particularly a problem with print stock.

The 5500 KeyKode LED should blink each time a barcode is read. The 5500 COMM LED should blink each time a barcode is sent to the 4025TR. For further information consult the 5500 manual, or the 5500 technical bulletins.

• Check that the correct lower sensor is selected for 35 mm film
• Check that the intensity setting is set correctly
• Make sure that SERIAL BROADCAST is ON and that the SERIAL PROTOCOL is set to WELCH ALLYN. (not WELCH ALLYN MOD)

For further information consult the manual you received with the KeyKode system.

• Check the hardware connections. If you have an oscilloscope, check to make sure there is a burst of data on pin #8 of the 4025TR end of the cable each time a barcode is read. Check that you have connected the KeyKode reader to the AUX I/O port on the 4025TR.
• If you are using an Evertz 5500 KeyKode reader check that the 5500 baud rate setting is 9600. If you are using the DigiSync reader see section (1b) above.
• Check that DIP switch #1 on the centre board of the 4025TR is CLOSED and DIP switch #2 is OPEN. With power on, turn the DIP switches to their opposite position and back to verify that the switches are making good contact.

• Check that you have learned the head offset in the 4025TR. Note that there are different head offsets for each film gauge and film transfer speed. Use the "Head Offsets" button on the "Edit Telecine Setups" screen in Tracker to view the head offsets. Use the "Learn" button on the "Head Offsets" screen to learn the head offset. Make sure that you have performed the verification procedures with biphase only before you attempt to learn the head offset. See question 7 of this document.
• Check that the "KeyKode" dropdown on the "Codes" tab of the "Configuration" screen is set to "Update in Play" or "Update in Play and Shuttle".
• Make sure that the "Film Gauge" dropdown on the "Film" tab of the "Configuration" screen is set to the correct film type. If you are using 16mm film, make sure that your film type is set to 16MM 20 FR/KEY.

The 4025TR edge numbers are driven by the biphase from the telecine. They are updated from the KeyKode coming from the external KeyKode reader according to the setting of the "KeyKode" dropdown on the "Codes" tab of the "Configuration" screen. There are several possible scenarios.

The 4025TR compensates exactly for the mechanical offset between the reader head and the gate when the telecine is in play. When the telecine is in shuttle, this compensation is only approximate. The 4025TR updates primarily from biphase when the telecine is in shuttle. When the difference between the incoming KeyKode data and the 4025TR's KeyKode register is greater than the "Shuttle Window" value on the "Film" tab of the "Configuration" screen, the 4025TR's KeyKode register will be updated to approximately to the new KeyKode number. (See the online help for more information about KK JAM) This apparent discrepancy is no cause for alarm since the 4025TR's KeyKode will be updated to the exact KeyKode number the next time the telecine achieves locked play speed. To eliminate this discrepancy put the telecine in play momentarily before parking on the reference frame.

Setting the "Shuttle Window" to a value that is too small can cause this discrepancy to occur when you are shuttling film with no splices. The recommended setting for this value is 30 frames.

If the 4025TR's KeyKode numbers are significantly different from those on the reference frame, you have probably shuttled across a splice in the film. "KeyKode" dropdown on the "Codes" tab of the "Configuration" screen is set to "Update in Play" the 4025TR will update the KeyKode numbers across splices only when the telecine is in play. When the "KeyKode" dropdown is set to "Jam Once when Telecine Locks", the 4025TR will update the KeyKode numbers only when the telecine goes from stop to play. In both cases KeyKode numbers will not be updated when the telecine is in shuttle. To update the numbers after going across a splice, put the telecine in play momentarily.

If the 4025TR's KeyKode numbers are only one or two frames different there may be a biphase problem. You need to perform the biphase accuracy test described in section 2.11.7 of the 4025TR manual.

If the 4025TR's edge numbers are not updating from the KeyKode reader see question 8 of this document.

If the 4025TR's edge numbers are only one or two frames different there may be a biphase problem. You need to perform the Bi-phase Accuracy Test described in section 2.11.7 of the 4025TR.

In order for the 4025TR to accurately detect where the film frame boundaries are (with respect to the biphase pulses and the KeyKode numbers), it is essential that you perform the "Load Film" function in Tracker each time a new roll of film is loaded onto the telecine, or when the telecine framing changes due to incorrect splices, panning, zooming, etc. This is accomplished by pressing the "Load Film" button on the Tracker toolbar, or selecting the "Load Film" menu item from the "Tools" menu.

Whether you are using KeyKode or not, the centering procedure is essential to the accurate operation of the 4025TR.

If you are performing the "Load Film" function each time you load a new roll of film and are still experiencing counting sequence problems, then the problem may be that the KeyKode head offset has not been learned properly. Use the "Head Offsets" button on the "Edit Telecine Setups" screen in Tracker to view the head offsets. Use the "Learn" button on the "Head Offsets" screen to learn the head offset. Particular attention should be paid to the Target Partial Frame Offset numbers shown on the Tracker Head Offset Wizard screen. If this value is not correct then you may experience counting problems especially in perf 4 or perf 1 type 35 mm stock. Make sure that you have performed the KeyKode Accuracy test to verify that you have learned the correct the head offset, and that the 4025TR accurately detects each perf type in 35mm.

The 4025TR does not update KeyKode numbers across splices in these modes. Use "Update in Play" or "Update in Play and Shuttle".

Here is what happens in the 4025TR to detect a splice. The 4025TR receives data from the KeyKode reader after each barcode is read (once every half foot.) When the first barcode after the splice is read, the 4025TR sees the out of sequence number. The 4025TR delays putting these numbers into the characters and VITC until the splice goes through the gate (usually several frames later). The 4025TR can not tell exactly where the splice was between the barcodes, so it will update the numbers at the first barcode after the splice goes through the gate. This should be within 1 foot of the actual splice. During the time between detecting the splice and putting it into the VITC and characters, the + sign (between the feet & frames) will go off. Also the LOCK LED on the front panel will go off. This is normal and is a visual check on when the 4025TR detects a splice. When the 4025TR puts the new number into its VITC the + sign and the LOCK LED will come back on.

The "Encoder Status" screen of Tracker displays status information about the KeyKode and biphase relationships that can aid in determining if the head offset is correctly calibrated.

The following procedure can help you quickly identify if you have learned the correct head offset.

• Set the "KeyKode" dropdown is set to "Manual Entry and update from Biphase"
• Park the film on a reference frame. Manually enter the KeyKode number for this frame into the 4025TR using the "Set Codes" window. Note the perf orientation of the KeyKode on the film.
• Put the telecine in PLAY. The "KK Perf" item on the "Encoder Status" screen should correspond to the perf of the KeyKode on the film. The "Biphase/KK Difference" item should be 00. If you try this on different pieces of film with other perf orientations the perf should agree.
• If either the "KK Perf" is wrong, or the "Biphase/KK Difference" is non-zero then you should go back and do the head offset calibration again.
• If you go across a splice in the film, the "KK Perf" item should show the new perf orientation of the KeyKode. The "Biphase/KK Difference" will show ** indicating that the 4025TR has not updated its KeyKode registers. If you stop on a reference frame after the splice and enter the new reference frame's KeyKode number, then repeat step 3 above you should see the "Biphase/KK Difference" go to 00.

These events are usually caused by one of two conditions occurring in the 4025TR. The messages that occur on the bottom window of the Event screen will help in determining what the cause of the extra events is.

When the 4025TR senses a change of the pulldown sequence, or speed change in the telecine, it will issue a 'Lock Exit' packet to the Tracker software that will finish the event. When the 4025TR sees a stable telecine speed or frame sequence again it will generate a 'Lock Entry ' packet which will start a new event (if Tracker is configured for Running Start Capture mode.)

Check the 615 Help message before you stop the telecine to see what the probable cause of the lock exit is. To do this exit capture mode and press the "Help" button on the "Encoder Status" screen. Check to make sure that the Frame indicator in the Tracker status bar is on steady. If it is not, then you need to perform the checks Bi-phase accuracy test outlined in section 2.10.7 of the 4025TR manual.

Another common cause of lock exit errors is the failure to perform the "Load Film" function when you load a new piece of film. Set the "KeyKode" dropdown on the "Codes" tab of the "Configuration" screen to "Manual Entry and update from Biphase" and see if the problem persist. If it does, you may not be performing "Load Film" function when you load a new roll of film. See the answers to question 10 above.

You can also check the "Scantrack" range shown on the "Encoder Status" screen. Under normal operation the "Scantrack" values should not go to numbers greater than +/- 16.

The 4025TR thinks that there has been a splice in the film. This could be because of a centering problem or an incorrect head offset. See the answers to question 10 above.