Instruction manual

Version: 100505 VTC-4000 INSTRUCTION MANUAL Page 21 of 27
OPTIONS
RS-232 OPTION
The -RS option is an RS-232 interface that is used to control the VTC-4000 system remotely. VTR timecode and
status, Menu display, and selected VTR information are accessible. Keystrokes can be simulated, and personality
data can be downloaded and uploaded. The 9-pin-D connector on the BNA-1001-RS BUFNET/RS-232 adapter
connects pin for pin to a 9-pin ‘D’ personal computer RS-232 port.
The pinout is:
PIN SIGNAL
2 TX
3 RX
5 GND
6,7,8 CONNECTED TOGETHER TO ACCOMMODATE HARDWARE HANDSHAKING
The communication settings are fixed at 38.4K BAUD, 8 bits, 1 stop, no parity.
NOTE: VTC-4000 firmware versions prior to (less than) 100505 used 9600 BAUD.
Commands are sent as ASCII characters. Some commands stand alone, others are followed by one or more
characters of data. Arguments shown in square brackets [ ] are optional. Special characters are shown within
angle brackets <>. ESC is the escape character (ASCII 27). CR is the carriage return character (ASCII 13). The
linefeed character LF (ASCII 10) is optional. The controller must wait for the response to complete before sending
subsequent commands. No other forms of handshaking are used. All communications use only the lower 7 bits,
the 8
th
bit is always zero. Because the Personality Register Data is binary, it is interchanged in the Upload and
Download commands in ASCII HEX format with the 8
th
bit always zero.
COMMAND FORMAT RESPONSE FORMAT COMMAND DESCRIPTION
T TYPsHH:MM:SS:FF*
<CR><LF>
Request Upper VTR Status Display Line. TYP is a three
character indicator of the type of timecode reported by
the master VTR: LTC = Longitudinal (Audio) TC, VTC =
VITC (Vertical Interval TC), CTC = Corrected TC (usually
updated from Control Track or a tach wheel), HVT (D1
equivalent of VITC), TT1 & TT2 are tape timer
responses. Reference type is indicated by s = n for
NTSC reference, s = p for PAL reference, s = s for
24FPS (slow PAL) reference, or s = space for no
reference. HH:MM:SS:FF are Hours, Minutes, Seconds,
and Frames, respectively. The separating colons are
replaced with semicolons when Drop Frame TC is
received. The * indicates field two when reported by the
VTR and otherwise is replaced with a space character.
B 16 characters, <CR><LF> Request Lower VTR Status Display Line. This line
always shows the state of the master VTR, and the
current speed if in Variable Play or Shuttle modes.
U 16 characters, <CR><LF> Request Upper Menu Display Line. A 17
th
character is
added if the cursor is visible for positions 0-F (0-9, A-F).
L 16 characters, <CR><LF> Request Lower Menu Display Line.A 17
th
character is
added if the cursor is visible for positions 0-F (0-9, A-F).
R<CR> R Record Execute. Same action as that taken when
holding Rec and tapping Play.
RP R Preview Execute - same as double-Rec keystroke.
K [-] x [x…] <CR> K Knob Change x is one or more digits of change
clockwise or if a dash is received before, during, or after
x digits, the change is counterclockwise. The maximum
change is 32767 counts. 480 counts = 1 revolution.
Gn G Simulate double-tap of F-key n where n = a-j for F1-F10).
Enters Gang mode or exits if already in gang n.