Section 9.3 - Controlling the serial port (9-pin)

9-2
Enter the starting memory number of your
“block” minus one in the MEMORY NO.
display.
While playing back the program material
which will be used with the GPI events , use the
CUE STR key [39] to add repeated cue points
to the list, as described in 6.5.8, “Repeated
entry of location points”.
Alternatively, key in these cue points manually
from a cue list.
Adjust the fine timing of these trigger points
using the jog dial, if necessary.
Of course, there is nothing to prevent you from
using existing location memories for GPI triggers,
but you may find it easier to work with a series of
events dedicated to this purpose.
1) From menu group 1, move the cursor to
Event and press SELECT:
2) Select which event you will be editing (from 1
through 10) using the NEXT (SHIFT+UP) and
PREVIOUS (SHIFT + DOWN) keys to change
the value of the Event field.
3) Move the cursor to the GPI field, and use the
UP and DOWN keys to select the GPI device
associated with this event (from 1 through 5).
4) Move the cursor to the Memo (location
memory) field, and use the UP and DOWN keys
to select the location memory for the GPI event.
Alternatively, you can enter the number of the
memory location using the numeric keypad, and
hold down SHIFT and then press ENTER/LOAD
to transfer the memory number to the display
screen.
The time value of this location mem ory will be
shown on the display screen. Howeve r, you cannot
adjust this value from here. You must edit the loca-
tion memory (see 6.5.5, “Editing a location”) to do
this—the time value will automatica lly be updated.
You can also use the UP and DOWN keys to
choose the location memory.
9.3 Controlling the serial port (9-pin)
The EXT 2 9-pin serial connector [43] of the RC-
898 is used for RS-422 control of suitabl y-
equipped devices (Sony P2 protocol). As an exam-
ple of how this may be used, if you connect the
master VTR to the EXT 2 port, you can use the
RC-898 to control the whole system.
The menus in menu group 7 whose titles start with
“9-pin” refer to devices which are controlled
through this connector.

9.3.1 Selecting the serial port device

When you want to control the device attached to
the RS-422 port using the transport keys of the
RC-898, follow the procedure below:
1) Press the MACHINE key [31].
The LOCATE TIME.VALUE display will show
SELECT
.
2) Press 8 on the numeric keypad.
The E2 indicator on the machine number indica-
tors [8] will light, showing that the pa rallel port
unit is now selected for control.

9.3.2 Location pre-roll on the serial unit

The unit controlled by the serial port may have a
pre-roll time which is set independently of the
pre-roll time used by DTRS units. This allows the
unit to be parked optimally for lockup when locat-
ing to cue points:
Event
Event 1
GPI Memo 30DF
1 92 01:02:13:21
NOTE
Location memory 00 is a special case. If this location mem-
ory is selected, the event will be turned off.
NOTE
The exact level of control possible by using the RC-898
depends on the implementation of the P2 protocol by the
device. Refer to the unit’s documentation for details of what
control is possible through the serial connection.
When a device is selected for control in this way, the REC
FUNCTION keys can be used to arm the two analog and
four digital tracks, as defined by the P2 protocol, depending
on the settings made in 9.3.4, “Split mode on the serial unit”
and 9.3.5, “Controlling recording operations on the serial
unit”. The mapping of these tracks to the actual tracks of the
unit is determined by the implementation of the protocol by
the unit.