Xref: utzoo comp.ivideodisc:608 comp.multimedia:75 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!swatsun!news From: hyy94@campus.swarthmore.edu Newsgroups: comp.ivideodisc,comp.multimedia Subject: Re: computer controlled VCR Message-ID: Date: 30 Jan 91 00:20:45 GMT Sender: news@cs.swarthmore.edu Organization: Swarthmore College Lines: 33 Nntp-Posting-Host: swat 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)