Verifies that the signal data for the pattern is present in the signal generator's volatile waveform memory. If it is present, Play selects the signal and plays it. If signal data is not present, Play downloads the signal to the signal generator's volatile waveform memory and plays it. The play selection can be thought of as a start button.
If the trigger mode is set to Continuous, Single, or Pulse signal generation occurs after receiving a valid trigger input. Play is always required after stopping the signal, regardless of the trigger mode selected to restart the signal. The trigger mode can be changed between None, Continuous, and Single. If the trigger mode is changed to or from Pulse, a Download and Play is required to update the pattern waveform and sequence data. See Trigger Mode for more information.
The menu item also sets the associated pattern parameters (frequency, amplitude, etc.) and turns on the signal generator's Arb. The signal is defined by sequence, marker, and Arb waveform files and uses the same file names (with different file extensions). All files defining a signal must be present in the signal generator before a signal can be played.
For internal Arbs, the sequence files are stored in the signal generator's non-volatile memory. If an Arb waveform file is deleted, the associated sequence file will remain in the signal generator's memory and over time these unused sequence files can consume much of the signal generator's memory. It is advised therefore that these unused sequence files be removed.
For external Arbs, downloading a pattern with the name of an existing pattern overwrites the sequence and waveform files.
A signal downloaded to the signal generator's memory has a sequence file associated with it. These sequence files are loaded into the signal generator's non-volatile memory and will remain in memory until deleted. The Pulse Building application does delete a sequence file. If you delete a waveform file, manually delete the associated sequence file. Unused sequence files can consume signal generator memory. See Clear Arb Memory.