Command List

Command List

VISCA1)/RS-232C

Commands

This Manual outlines an RS-232C control protocol and command list for certain Sony cameras from which control software can be developed.

THIS CONTROL PROTOCOL AND COMMAND LIST IS PROVIDED BY SONY ON AN “AS-IS BASIS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. SONY DOES NOT WARRANT ANY PARTICULAR RESULT FROM THE USE OF THIS CONTROL PROTOCOL AND COMMAND LIST AND DISCLAIMS AND EXCLUDES ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THAT CONTROL PROTOCOL AND COMMAND LIST, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY OR ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN FACT, SONY SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SOFTWARE DEVELOPED BASED ON THIS CONTROL PROTOCOL AND COMMAND LIST MAY CAUSE MALFUNCTION OR DAMAGE TO HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE USED WITH IT (INCLUDING SONY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE) AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SUCH MALFUNCTION OR DAMAGE. THIS CONTROL PROTOCOL AND COMMAND LIST SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION.

Overview of VISCA

In VISCA the device outputting commands, for example, a computer, is called the controller. The device receiving the commands, an FCB series camera is called the peripheral device. In this case, an FCB series camera, is itself one of the peripheral devices. In VISCA, up to seven peripheral devices like the FCB series camera can be connected to one controller using communication conforming to the RS-232C standard. The parameters of RS-232C are as follows:

•Communication speed: 9.6 kbps/19.2 kbps/

38.4kbps

•Data bits : 8

•Start bit : 1

•Stop bit : 1/2

•Non parity

Peripheral devices are connected in a daisy chain. As shown in the following figure, the actual internal connection is a one-direction ring, so that messages return to the controller via the peripheral devices. The devices on the network are assigned addresses.

The address of the controller is fixed at 0. The addresses of the peripheral devices are 1, 2, 3 ... in order, starting from the one nearest the conttoller. The address of the peripheral device is set by sending address commands during the initialization of the network.

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1)VISCA is a protocol which controls consumer camcorders developed by Sony. “VISCA” is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

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