Naplay - Townshend Computer Tools DAT-Link User Manual

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NAME
naplay – play or transfer an audio file to a DAT machine
SYNOPSIS
naplay [ –a ] [ –A ] [ –c control_file ] [ –e encoding ] [ –f format ] [ –o channels ] [ –p precision ] [ –r
range ] [ –R repeats ] [ –s file_sampling_rate ] [ –S DAT_sampling_rate ] [ –t seconds ] [ –u host:unit ] [
fi le... ]
DESCRIPTION
naplay transfers the files given on the command line to a digital audio device via a DAT-Link inter-
face. It can be used anywhere on a local area network that has a NetAudio server running. See netau
d iod(8) for details on the server. naplay can be used to listen to audio file(s), or to record them onto
tape. To listen to files, a digital-to-analog converter or digital audio tape (DAT) machine must be con
n ected to one of the DAT-Link's digital ports.
Digital output is identically generated on all three of the DAT-Link's output ports. However, if the
AES/EBU output is used, it is recommended that the –A option be given on the command line. Thi
c auses channel status information consistent with the professional standard to be generated. Otherwise
consumer channel status is generated.
I f a DAT machine is used, it must be put in paused-record mode to use it for listening. On some
machines a blank tape must be inserted before paused-record is permitted. Recording can be made by
p lacing the DAT machine in normal record mode before running naplay. The –a option can also be
used to set the appropriate DAT machine modes via remote control if the machine is so equipped (se
r ctrain(1)).
If no file is given on the command line, input is taken from the standard input. If multiple files are
used which contain contradictory information about sampling rate or number of channels, then th
v alues from the first file are used unless they are overridden on the command line.
OPTIONS
–a naplay will use the DAT-Link's infrared remote control to start the DAT machine recording
before beginning playback of file. After the file has been transferred, the DAT machine will b
s topped. A few seconds of silence will be recorded before and after the file. Note that the
environment variable must be set to the name of the remote control description for th
D L_RC
DAT machine. Available choices for
description has not already been installed for the DAT machine in use, it can be created using
r ctrain(1).
–A Normally, naplay generates channel status bits using the consumer (also known as S/P DIF, or
IEC) standard. By giving the –A option, the channel status will agree with the AES/EBU pro
f essional standard which uses 3 pin, XLR connections. The consumer standard is normally
carried on the IEC Type II (RCA connectors) and the fiber-optic interconnects, in which cas
t he –A option should not be used.
–c file This option allows the user to specify the channel status and user bits of the digital audio out-
puts in a given file. This file can be edited using any text editor. Each line of the file is a
b inary representation of single byte of data, least significant bit first, and must contain 8 ones
or zeroes with no other characters. The first 24 lines are the channel status bytes for the lef
c hannel outputs. The next 24 are the right channel status bytes. The remaining bytes specify
the user bytes, which are spread across both the left and right channels. Any number of use
b ytes may be given. These user bytes will be transmitted for each output frame (192 samples)
as will the channel status bytes. For details of the interpretation of these bits refer to the
a ppropriate digital audio standards.
–e encoding
Specify the encoding of the data to be transferred. All encodings use most-significant-byte first
ordering. Note that this controls the encoding used by the DAT-Link -- the data may undergo
a dditional conversions depending on the file format chosen. Valid choices for the encoding
NetAudio Reference
can be listed using the rc(1) command. If a
DL_RC
Last change: 1995/02/08

NAPLAY(1)

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