VF2-2S
Operator's
Manual
for the VueTech® VueFinder II™
Transport Control Panel
Introduction
The VueFinder transport control panel
provides basic transport control for video tape recorders. This version of the
VueFinder connects into the RS232, 25-pin remote control connector found on the
Sony UVW-1200 and UVW-1400 deck, the Sony DSR-20, and some older Sony
RS232-equipped models (but not DNW decks with ISP connections).
Other versions of the VueFinder control panel plugs into any RS422, 9-pin remote control connector that supports the Sony serial protocol. Many video machines support this protocol, including Sony, JVC, Panasonic, and some video disks units.
The control knob enables the operator to have fingertip control over the Reverse Shuttle, Forward Shuttle, Reverse Jog, and Forward Jog functions. Switching is automatic between the shuttle and jog modes.
Installation
A single 9-conductor cable connects the control panel to the transport. This
cable transfers power to the control panel and control data back to the deck.
Simply plug one end of the supplied cable into the VueFinder II control panel
and the other end into the video deck. Set the remote control switch on your
video transport to "REMOTE" or "9-pin" to enable the serial
port. The VueFinder II should be active at this point.
Many VTR connectors use metric thread (2.6mm) rather than the more familiar #4-40 SAE thread. VueTechâ includes the 2.6mm metric screws with all orders. All metric-threaded screws are colored on the caps to help distinguish them from SAE-threaded screws (red for 2.6mm). Be sure to install the cable with the colored jack screws, if the cable is so equipped, towards the VTR for proper thread matching.
Panel Layout and Operation
The control panel includes five pushbuttons for direct control of the Pause,
Stop, Play, Record, Rewind, and Fast Forward functions. Pushing any of these
buttons causes the appropriate serial command to be sent to the transport.
Stop and Pause share the button labeled Stop. One press of the Stop button causes the video transport to go into still frame mode. In the case of VTRs, the tape is still against the video playback heads. A quick, double press of the Stop button causes the video transport to stop and go into Standby Off mode. In the case of VTRs, the tape unthreads from the playback heads; some VTRs also turn off the rotary head motor.
A simultaneous push of Stop and Record buttons causes the tape cassette to eject. A simultaneous push of Stop and Rewind buttons causes the tape counter to reset to zero. This supports the Preroll option on some tape machines.
The Record button, by itself, does nothing. To record video, the Record button must be held down while pushing the Play button. This two-button lockout is intended to prevent undesired media erasures. Once a Record or Play operation has been commanded, the jog/shuttle knob is disabled so that any inadvertent bumps to the knob will not abort a record operation. As soon as the Record is terminated with a Pause or Stop, the jog/shuttle knob becomes active again for awhile. After about 90 seconds, the jog/shuttle knob will go inactive to prevent inadvertent deck actions. Pushing the Stop, Rewind, or Fast Forward buttons will reactivate the jog/shuttle knob again.
Jog/Shuttle Knob
The jog/shuttle knob is a combination of a shuttle ring with an embedded jog
disk. The shuttle speed range includes speeds between 1/10x to 16x play speed
in both forward and reverse directions.
The jog/shuttle knob is active only when in Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, Jog, or Shuttle modes. This prevents an inadvertent bump to the jog/shuttle knob from interrupting a VTR Play or Record function. After about 90 seconds, the jog/shuttle knob will go inactive to prevent inadvertent deck actions.
The shuttle ring is spring-loaded such that it returns to the neutral Still position when released. Rotating the shuttle ring counter-clockwise causes the VTR to move into ever-faster reverse shuttle speeds. Rotating the shuttle ring clockwise causes the VTR to move into ever-faster forward shuttle speeds. The shuttle control uses the following tape speeds: 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, 1, 2, 5, and 16 times normal play speed, in both forward and reverse directions. Inside the shuttle ring is the jog disk. The jog disk turns completely in either direction, with clockwise rotation causing a slow forward creep of the VTR video. The VueFinder's Jog/Shuttle knob will remain active until a Stop, Record, or Eject is commanded, or the 90 second timeout occurs, as mentioned above.
Cabling
All VueFinder II control panels are shipped with cables suitable for direct
connection to the VTR. Should you wish to use custom cables (e.g. - to increase
length), use the following wiring charts:
RS232 Cable to Sony UVW1400:
|
|
Panel 9 pin D: |
|
Direction: |
|
Deck 25 pin D: |
|
Signal Flow: |
|
Mandatory Signals: |
pin 2 |
|
=> |
|
pin 3 |
|
Transmit from panel to deck |
|
|
pin 3 |
|
<= |
|
pin 2 |
|
Receive to panel from deck |
|
|
pin 4 |
|
<= |
|
pin 20 |
|
DTR to panel from deck |
|
|
pin 5 |
|
---- |
|
pin 7 |
|
Ground |
There is a jumper inside the panel for selecting between transmitting on pin 2 or pin 3. This will save you from having to use a null modem cable in some cases. The "Sony" jumper position is intended for use with Sony UVW1200 and UVW1400 decks. The "Pan" position is intended for use with Panasonic RS232 decks (only valid with different CPU).
GPI Connections
The GPI input pins need to be connected to ground via
a switch for the assigned function to occur. Use only as long a GPI cable as
necessary; longer cables are more susceptible to noise than shorter cables. The
use of shielded cabling will also help reduce the effects of electrical noise.
Intermittent and unexplained deck control might be due to electrical noise. If
the VueFinder II control panel works well only without the GPI cable attached,
the GPI cable is likely at fault.
The pin assignments are as follows:
|
Pin |
|
Function |
|
|
4: |
|
Play |
|
|
5: |
|
Pause |
|
|
7: |
|
Record |
|
|
8: |
|
Stop |
|
|
9: |
|
Ground |
|
|
(All other pins are reserved for future use.) |
|||
The above functions work in the same manner as the corresponding front panel
buttons, with Pause being the same as a single push of the Stop button.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Should you encounter any troubles or have any suggestions, please contact the technical service number listed below.
VueTech®
main office: 530 477 2905
fax: 530 272 1528
tech service: 831 372 6192
web site: www.vuetech.com
13 December 04