Gilderfluke&Co 'Dumb' Brick Animation Control System - Manual (Page 35)

- Programming -
Every Micro MACs Brick has a capacity which is 32 bits wide. When controlling digital (on/off) func-
tions, each of these 32 outputs can be used to turn on and off a single device. At eight bits of resolu-
tion, each analog (variable speed and position) function takes over eight of these digital outputs. Any
combination of digital and analog functions can be controlled from a single Micro MACs Brick. With eight
bit resolution analog functions, the following show all the possible combinations:
A) no analogs and 32 digital functions
B) One analog and 24 digital functions
C) Two analogs and 16 digital functions
D)
Three analogs and 8 digital functions
E) Four analogs and no digital functions
Playback-Only Bricks:
All Playback-only Micro MACs Bricks have their data stored in Eproms. Burning data into Eproms is as
close to Ôchiseling in stoneÕ as you can get in the world of computers. Short of being hit by lightning,
anything which is programmed into one of these playback-only Bricks will last forever (unless you want to
change it). The Eproms are programmed outside the bricks and then plugged into them. The program
can be generated in one of several ways:
A) The show is initially programmed using standard record-playback bricks. When the program-
ming is completed, the show data is moved to an IBM compatible computer using the IBM
Backup Box. It can then be burned into the Eproms using any commercially available Eprom
programmer.
B) The show is initially programmed using a full-sized MACs Animation Control System and then
burned into the Eproms using any commercially available Eprom programmer
C) The show is initially programmed from any other source and then burned into the Eproms
using any commercially available Eprom programmer.
Record-Playback Bricks:
The only bricks that can be programmed directly are the record-playback bricks. Shows for these can
also be programmed using our full-sized Animation Control System, and then downloaded to the record-
playback Micro MACs Bricks.
All Micro MACs Bricks are real-time Animation Control Systems. What this means is that they are nor-
mally programmed as the show is going on. You do this by moving the controls (pots, joysticks, buttons,
sliders, or whatever) which are connected to the figure through the control system and watching it
move as the audio for the show (if any) is played. The bricks will remember exactly whatever you do on
the controls and when you did it. Once programmed, this data will stay in the bricks until you want to
change it again.
Normally only one or two functions are programmed at a time. On each pass through the show you
add the programming for few additional channels while all previously recorded channels play back
whatever you have already programmed into them. If you make a mistake on any pass, you can always
go back and change the programming for the whole show, or just the area where it needs it. By repeat-
ing this process, you eventually have all the movements programmed! It is exactly like building up a
multi track recording in an audio studio.
Once programmed, the programming hardware can then be removed from the system.
G ILDERFLUKE & C O . ¥ 205 S OUTH F LOWER S T . ¥ B URBANK , C ALIF . 91502-2102 ¥ 818/840-9484 ¥ FAX 818/840-9485
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