Overview
:

VISCA
is the protocol used by Sony to remote control BRC-300 and BRC-700
color video camera series. This MxM allows the control
of video camera as a simple remote control unit, but also
as a powerfull sequence editor.
Note
that this MxM supports only "standard" Pan and
Tilt direction (not reverse)
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Installation
(MXM) :
This MxM doesn't require any specific installation.
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Creation
(Device) :
Device Creation Window :

Output
Serial Port :
Serial port number used to communicate with the Camera.
Output
Baud Rate :
The Baud Rate at which the port must run.
Use
Sony Remote :
If checked, a VISCA compatible hardware remote control
unit (as Sony RM-BR300) can control video camera through
the MXM.

Sony
Remote Input Serial Port :
Com port number used to communicate with the Remote unit.
Remote
Baud Rate :
The Baud Rate at which the port must run.
Camera
ID :
Up to seven Camera can be operate remotely from the same
COM Port (daisy chain). Each
camera is addressed by its ID.
Sequence Default Directory :
Folder where the sequence files are stored.
Fast Pan/Tilt Mode :
Check this option when using a SONY Visca HD Camera and the fastest Pan/Tilt moves are required.
When this option is checked a special camera mode and various optimization techniques
are used in order to obtain the fastest possible moves from the camera.
Note however that using this mode disable the following features:
- Device variables are no more updated while the camera is moving
- Sequence point timing is no more accurate
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Graphical User Interface:
Device
Control Panel
This MxM provides
a Device Control Panel which can be displayed either as
a stand alone window or inside a User Screen Contenair
object with the "Device Control" Manager command. Note:
See the Manager Help menu for details about using this
command.
The
MXM Control Panel provides a cue sequence editor allowing
to create sequences of camera moves. Once created, these
sequences can be recalled and played via commands of the
MxM like "Load Sequence" and "Sequence
Control".

The
bottom left part of the control panel is a drawing surface,
with grey line axes that represent camera Pan and Tilt
ranges. The "Home position" is viewed as the
intersection of the horizontal and vertical gray lines.
Right-Click on that surface and choose
"New Point" in order to create a point. Select
this new point and drag it to define a position. The camera
will follow your movements as the point is moved with
the mouse.
Alternatively,
an optional Sony Remote Control Unit can be used to define
the point position. To use a Remote Control Unit for positioning,
select a previously created point, check "Use Sony
Remote" and use the hardware remote unit to position
the camera.
Then click "Capture Values" to set up the selected
point.
To delete a point, just right click on it and
choose "Delete Point" (you cannot delete a point
which has an associated cue in the timeline above. You
must delete the cue before).
To
create a sequence, select a point, right click on the
timeline and choose "New Cue". A cue is created
showing the name of its associated point, its time position
and its zoom and focus setting (if they are included in
the cue). You can move a cue anywhere on the timeline.
To include zoom or focus setting in a selected cue, check
the zoom or focus "In Cue" option and set the
slider to desired value.
The
sequence length can be modified by clicking on the time
display at the lower right of the sequence timeline.
Use
the "Sequence" button to manage the creation,
loading and saving of your sequence.
Test the sequence with the play, pause, stop transport
commands buttons on the upper left of the control panel.
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Commands (List Of) :
Power
:
Description
: Turn on or off the camera.
Parameters :
Mode : [Type : Enum] : "On" or "Off".
Pan/Tilt
:
Zoom
:
Digital
Zoom
:
Focus
:
Description
: Control camera focus.
Parameters :
Mode : [Type : Enum] : Focus Mode.
Available
Values:
"Stop" : Stop focus move.
"Far Standard" : Move far at default speed.
"Near Standard" : Move near at default speed.
"Far Variable" : Move far at user defined speed.
"Near Variable" : Move near at user defined speed.
"Direct" : Set focus to direct value specified further.
"Autofocus" : Automatic focus activated.
"Manual Focus" : Automatic focus disabled..
"Infinity" : Forced infinity focus setting.
Speed
: [Type : Integer] : Focus speed (user defined).
Value : [Type : Integer] : Focus value (in centimeters)
when Direct Mode is selected.
Auto Focus Mode : [Type : Enum] : If Auto Focus
Mode selected.
Available
Values:
"Normal Auto Focus" : The automatic focus adjustement
is always activated.
"Interval Auto Focus" : The automatic focus
adjustement is activated only during the selected
"activate time" with the selected "interval
time".
"Zoom Trigger Auto Focus" : The automatic focus
adjustement is activated after zooming operation
is finished, only during the selected "activate
time".
"Active/Interval Time" : Set auto focus
to time value specified further.
Active
Time : [Type : Time] : Period of time for wich
the automatic focus adjustement is activated.
Interval Time : [Type : Time] : Interval with
wich automatic focus adjustement is activated.
White
Balance
:
Color Gain : (not available for BRC-300)
RGain :
BGain
:
Gain
:
Bright
:
Shutter
:
Description
: Control camera shutter.
Parameters :
Mode : [Type : Enum] : Shutter Mode.
Available
Values:
"Reset" : Set value to 0.
"Up" : Increment shutter speed.
"Down" : Decrement shutter speed.
"Direct" : Set shutter speed to direct value specified
further.
Direct
Value : [Type : Integer] : Shutter value when Direct
Mode is selected.
Slow Shutter Mode : [Type : Enum] : Slow shutter
setting.
Iris
:
Automatic
Exposure
:
Description
: Set the automatic exposure mode.
Parameters :
Mode : [Type : Enum] : Automatic exposure Mode.
Available
Values:
"Full Auto" : The exposure is adjusted automatically
using the sensivity, electronic shutter speed and
iris.
"Manual" : Adjust the gain, electronic shutter
and iris manually.
"Shutter Priority" : The exposure is adjusted automatically
using the sensivity and iris. Electronic shutter
speed must be adjusted manually.
"Iris Priority" : The exposure is adjusted automatically
using the sensivity and electronic shutter speed.
Iris must be adjusted manually.
"Bright" : Adjust the brightness level manually.
Aperture
:
Wide
Mode :
Memory
:
Image
Flip :
Description
: Image Rotation.
Parameters :
Mode : [Type : Enum] : "On" or "Off".
Usage : Use Image Flip to rotate the camera
image supplied from the video connector upside down
and to reverse the direction of the camera movement
by pan/tilt operation.
Note : When setting Image Flip to on, turn
off the camera and turn it on again.
Menu
Off :
IR
Receive :
Picture
Effect
:
Exposure Compensation :
Use
Sony Remote :
Description
: Sony remote control unit setting.
Parameters :
Mode : [Type : Enum] : "On" or "Off".
Usage : When it is set to On, a remote control
unit can be plugged into the computer and then, control
the camera through the MXM ("Sony remote input"
section of the MXM setup must be filled).
Load
Sequence :
Sequence
Control
:
Set Sequence Directory:
Recall
Sequence Point
:
Description
: Recall a point from a sequence.
Parameters :
Sequence : [Type : String] : Name of the sequence
Point
: [Type : String] : Name of the point
Usage : When a point is recalled, pan and tilt
position
are always sent to the camera. Zoom and Focus are
sent only if they are included in the point definition.
Get Sequence Point List
:
Picture Size (HFBK-XG1 only) :
Back Light:
Spot Light:
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Variables (List Of) :
Status
:
Type
: Enum.
Description : Current status of the device.
Available Values :
"Not
Online" : No camera detected.
"Ready" : Camera is ready to receive commands.
"Executing" : Camera is performing commands that cannot
be interrupted.
Last
Error :
Type
: Enum.
Description : Last error message received.
Available Values :
"Not
Error" : No reported error.
"Time Out" : No response.
"Format Error" : Format command unknown.
"Command Buffer Full" : The last command could not
be completed because commands pending list is full.
"Command Not Executable" : The last command could
not be completed because it was not supported in current
state.
"Cannot Open COM Port" : COM Port isn't available.
Power
:
Pan,
Tilt, Zoom, Digital Zoom, Focus :
Type
: Integer.
Description : Current value.
Use
Sony Remote :
Sequence
File Name:
Type
: String.
Description : Name of the currently loaded sequence.
Sequence Status :
Type : Enum.
Description : Status of the currently loaded sequence.
Available Values :
"Iddle"
: There is no sequence loaded.
"Stop" : Sequence is stopped.
"Playing" : Sequence is currently playing.
"Pause" : Sequence is paused.
Sequence
Timecode
:
Type
: Time.
Description : Current playing position in the
sequence.
Sequence Directory:
Type : String.
Description : Sequences saving folder path.
Backlight Compensation:
Type : Enum.
Description : Status of the current backlight compensation mode.
Available Values :
"Off" : backlight compensation is off.
"On" : backlight compensation is on.
Exposure Compensation:
Type : Enum.
Description : Status of the current exposure compensation mode.
Available Values :
"Off" : exposure compensation is off.
"On" : exposure compensation is on.
Remoted:
Type : Enum.
Description : Whether the camera is currently controlled by a Sony Remote Control.
Available Values :
"Off" : the camera is not controlled by a Sony Remote Control.
"On" : the camera is controlled by a Sony Remote Control.
Backlight Compensation:
Type : Enum.
Description : Whether Backlight Compensation is active.
Available Values :
"Off": Backlight Compensation is off.
"On" : Backlight Compensation is on.
Gain:
Type : Integer.
Description : Current gain in manual exposure mode or in Gain Priority Exposure Compensation mode. (from 0dB to 24dB for BRC-Z700).
Shutter Speed:
Type : Enum.
Description : Current shutter speed in manual exposure mode or in Shutter Priority Exposure Compensation mode.
Available Values :
"1/50"
"1/75"
"1/100"
"1/120"
"1/150"
"1/215"
"1/300"
"1/425"
"1/600"
"1/1000"
"1/1250"
"1/1750"
"1/2500"
"1/3500"
"1/6000"
"1/10000"
Iris:
Type : Enum.
Description : Current iris value in Manual Exposure mode or in Iris Priority Exposure Compensation mode.
Available Values :
"Closed"
"F16"
"F15"
"F14"
"F12"
"F11"
"F10"
"F9.6"
"F8.7"
"F8.0"
"F7.3"
"F6.8"
"F6.2"
"F5.6"
"F5.2"
"F4.8"
"F4.4"
"F4.0"
"F3.7"
"F3.4"
"F3.1"
"F2.8"
"F2.6"
"F2.4"
"F2.2"
"F2.0"
"F1.8"
"F1.7"
"F1.6"
Exposure Level:
Type : Integer.
Description : Exposure Compensation Level in auto exposure mode (from -7 to +7).
Color Gain:
Type : Integer.
Description : Color Gain value (from -7 to +7).
Exposure Compensation Mode:
Type : Enum.
Description : Exposure Compensation Mode.
Available Values :
"Auto"
"Manual"
"Shutter Pri"
"Iris Pri"
"Gain Pri"
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Support
(Difference with previous versions) :
V 1.0.1:
- Added: Support for Showmaster.
V 1.0.2:
- Fixed: the same serial port can be selected for both output and remote input.
- Fixed: several devices on the same serial port can use the same camera ID.
V 1.0.3:
- Added: new GetSequencePointList command.
- Fixed: Memory Recall speed parameter is incorrectly handled.
V 1.0.4:
- Fixed: Direct Mode Zoom command is not accurate.
- Fixed: Direct Mode Zoom command zoom position is limited to 1200.
- Added: Fast Pan/Tilt Mode.
- Added: Picture Size (HFBK-XG1 only) command mode.
V 1.0.5:
- Added: Color Gain command.
- Added: Backlight Compensation system variable.
- Added: Exposure Compensation system variable.
- Added: Remoted system variable.
- Added: Back Light command.
- Added: Spot Light command.
- Added: Backlight Compensation system variable.
- Added: Gain system variable.
- Added: Shutter Speed system variable.
- Added: Iris system variable.
- Added: Exposure Level system variable.
- Added: Color Gain system variable.
- Added: Exposure Compensation Mode system variable.
- Fixed: Menu Off command doesn't work.
- Fixed: Last Error variable is set briefly to "Format Error" after a Shutter command is excuted.
- Fixed: Exposure Compensation command cannot set values greater than 0.
V 1.0.6:
- Fixed: 'Menu' and 'Preset' keys are unresponsive when using the RM-BR300 Remote.
- Fixed: ExposureCompMode variable is not correctly updated with camera model BRC-Z700.
- Modified: Shutter, Iris and Gain variable usage has been modified (see variable description, they were previously only updated in manual exposure compensation mode) .
- Fixed: Digital Zoom variable is not updated
V 1.0.7:
- Fixed: Using Showmaster Editor, it is difficult to connect to a Showmaster running a project with a SonyCameraVISCA device
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