luksa@cubbie.ils.nwu.edu (Frank Luksa) (01/30/91)
I am working with a group developing software targeted at high-school students. This software is going to be very video intensive. We have a pioneer LD-V8000 laser disc player that we can control from a PS/2. The problem is, we think we now need to add the capability of the student saving some of the video to VHS tape. This would mean we need to be able to control a "conventional" VCR as well as the laser disk player (simple commands like start, record, pause, etc.). If you know of any VCR models that allow connection to a serial port, could you please e-mail me? I'll gladly post the list if I get any responses. Thanks. Frank -- Frank Luksa Institute for the Learning Sciences Northwestern University luksa@ils.nwu.edu (129.105.49.1)
jim@newmedia.UUCP (Jim Beveridge) (01/30/91)
In article <754@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu>, luksa@cubbie.ils.nwu.edu (Frank Luksa) writes: > > If you know of any VCR models that allow connection to a serial port, could you > please e-mail me? I'll gladly post the list if I get any responses. > I know of three choices. The best: NEC recently announced their PC-VCR, which is designed to be computer controlled. Cost is ~$2500 at last check. There are companies that make an infra-red remote interface for computers. This allows your computer to generate the commands that the VCR remote normally would. This works, but you have no feedback and positioning isn't particularly accurate. Finally, some companies convert regular VCR's to be computer controlled. We have one here, although I couldn't tell you where we got it. Good luck. Jim
hyy94@campus.swarthmore.edu (01/30/91)
In article <754@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu>, luksa@cubbie.ils.nwu.edu (Frank Luksa) writes... >I am working with a group developing software targeted at high-school students. >This software is going to be very video intensive. We have a pioneer LD-V8000 >laser disc player that we can control from a PS/2. > >The problem is, we think we now need to add the capability of the student saving >some of the video to VHS tape. This would mean we need to be able to control a >"conventional" VCR as well as the laser disk player (simple commands like start, >record, pause, etc.). > >If you know of any VCR models that allow connection to a serial port, could you >please e-mail me? I'll gladly post the list if I get any responses. Well, they don't have serial ports, but some Sony VCR's have what are called Control-S and Control-L ports. I believe that the Contol-L ports are the more sophisticated of the two. Anyway, I know that you can access basic functions and more complex ones through these ports. They are used for hooking up to other VCR's and edit controllers, so I suppose all you would need would be the pin outs and the correct software and cables. Acquiring software would probably be the hardest part (unless you could program it yourself) > >Thanks. > >Frank > >-- > >Frank Luksa >Institute for the Learning Sciences >Northwestern University >luksa@ils.nwu.edu (129.105.49.1)
alb@cognos.UUCP (Al Belyea) (01/30/91)
In article <754@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu> luksa@cubbie.ils.nwu.edu (Frank Luksa) writes: > >If you know of any VCR models that allow connection to a serial port, could you >please e-mail me? I'll gladly post the list if I get any responses. > Check out the Sony VHS models 676 and 757, and their S-VHS (forgot the model #), They all have what's called a Control-L plug on them. Its not a standard plug, but you can connect it to a serial port and control it thru the computer. I'm not sure what commands you can give it (and how fine the control is) but you can certainly control start, stop pause etc. There is a company that makes the VidClip that connects these Control-L type of VCRs to both Macintoshes and Apple IIGS's. They may make one for the PC too, but I have no info on that. Sorry, I don't have the company's name handy right now. The VidClip package also includes a C interface to control the VCR and a sample program. I seem to recall that its about $120 for the Mac and $95 for the IIGS. BTW, The Sony decks run from about $600 for the 676, $750 for the 757, so they're a bit easier on the pocketbook than the NEC. -- Allan Belyea UUCP: 3755 Riverside Dr. Cognos Incorporated alb@cognos P.O. Box 9707 (613) 738-1338 x3822 uunet!mitel!cunews!cognos!alb Ottawa, Ontario "... when in a Desparate situation, challenge." Sun Tzu CANADA K1G 3Z4
david@twg.com (David S. Herron) (02/05/91)
In article <754@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu>, luksa@cubbie.ils.nwu.edu (Frank Luksa) writes... >I am working with a group developing software targeted at high-school students. >This software is going to be very video intensive. We have a pioneer LD-V8000 >laser disc player that we can control from a PS/2. > >The problem is, we think we now need to add the capability of the student saving >some of the video to VHS tape. This would mean we need to be able to control a >"conventional" VCR as well as the laser disk player (simple commands like start, >record, pause, etc.). > >If you know of any VCR models that allow connection to a serial port, could you >please e-mail me? I'll gladly post the list if I get any responses. There's a VCR which can be connected to a PC -- PC-VCR is the name and it mighta been from Sony. There were articles on it recently in some video magazine and people in comp.sys.amiga.video have been talking about it `recently'. You might look into using an Amiga as your hardware rather than a PS/2. There is much more video harvware & software available. It can control laser disc players. Recording to tape will be cheaper since it directly outputs NTSC without any fancy-schmancy video signal converter hardware or extra boards. I assume that since you're posting from a school & the project is aimed at high school students that cost is important? ;-) -- <- David Herron, an MMDF & WIN/MHS guy, <david@twg.com> <- Formerly: David Herron -- NonResident E-Mail Hack <david@ms.uky.edu> <- <- MS-DOS ... The ultimate computer virus.