








            Control-L/Control-S Interface and Assemble Editor Shareware

          Thanks for trying  my software.  Look it over,  build the  cable,
          test it out.  If  it does what you want, send me  $25 to register
          it and I will send you LANC and Control-S docs, complete C source
          code to the  LANC/Control-S driver and  assemble editor plus  the
          latest executeable.  I  also have parts kits for  interfaces that
          use a single MAX232 5v driver chip- I'll sell these for $25 also.
          It includes all cables, connectors and components.  I also have a
          windows dll  that drives  this interface,  and  a simple  windows
          LANC/SIRCS  control panel.   I'll throw this  in if you  send the
          $25.   If you want the  whole shebang: code, docs,  parts kit and
          windows dll, send me $50.

          Please,  if you like and use this software, send the registration
          fee to:

          Martin Sant
          Blue Ridge Music and Video
          Route 4, Box 227AA
          Charlottesville, VA 22901
          (804) 978-3735


          Package Description

          The Hardware  Interface plugs into the serial  port of an IBM PC.
          A single  (or dual)  line driver  chip(s)  provides the  required
          level  shifting to translate the  5v serial data  to RS232 specs.
          All timing and protocol handling are done by the host computer in
          software.  The interface  and software assume you are  running on
          an AT (286) or faster machine.

          The Editor is a 256  scene assemble edit program that  allows you
          to control the source  deck from the computer using  the function
          keys.    Depending on  the capabilities  of  your source  deck or
          camcorder, you  can issue play, stop,  fast-forward, rewind, cue,
          review and slow play commands from the computer.  Note  that some
          camcorders may not support all of these functions.  Scenes can be
          deleted, copied, cut  and pasted. Each scene can be also be given
          a three line description.    The scenes can be saved  to disk for
          later use.   The file written to  disk is an ascii  text file and
          can be edited with any generic  text editor.  When the scenes are
          in  the proper  order, you  simply put  the desintation  VCR into
          record-pause  mode and hit the  assemble edit key.   The computer
          rewinds/fastforwards the source  deck/camcorder until the desired
          scene is  found, then put the camcorder into play mode.  When the
          edit in-point is reached,  the computer un-pauses the destination
          VCR and  that scene is recorded.   When the out-point is reached,
          the destination VCR  is placed  back into pause  and the  process
          repeats until all scenes are completed. 

          This document and all software  and hardware design is  Copyright







          1993 by Martin F Sant.

          You may use the  software and hardware for your own personal use.
          You may  modify the source code  for your own personal  use.  You
          may  not use  this  software or  hardware directly  in commercial
          applications except  with the  express written permission  of the
          author.   








          The Hardware:

          Most of the  parts for the hardware interface can  be obtained at
          radio shack or any electronics supply store.  The only parts that
          I  had difficulty finding were  the sub-mini stereo  jack and the
          MAX232.  These are  available mail order if you  cannot find them
          locally.   If you are  using a VCR  as your source  deck, you may
          have to  use a 5pin  din connector  instead of a  sub-mini stereo
          jack.  The plans show the pin out of this jack if you need to use
          it.  Some VCRs have both the din and the sub-mini.

          Assemble the parts as shown on the enclosed plans.   You can also
          add an LED to the 5v  line from the camcorder/source deck to give
          an  indication  as to  when  the  circuit  is  powered up.    The
          connections  for  the computer  serial port  are  for the  25 pin
          standard  EIA connector.  If  your computer uses  a different pin
          out,  you will have to  consult the documentation  that came with
          the card to determine the correct  pins to connect.  The  circuit
          should fit neatly into a small  project case, or you can leave it
          bare if you desire.

          Check  the  circuit  carefully  before  you  plug  it  into  your
          camcorder or source deck.  It is a good idea to check that 5v/gnd
          on the proper line gives a one/zero indication in the proper port
          of  the computer.  Likewise,  be sure that  asserting the correct
          bit in the computer port produces 5v/gnd at the camcorder side.








          'Easier to find parts for Schematic'








          Assemble Editor Software

          Description

          The  file EDL.EXE  on  the enclosed  disk  is the  assemble  edit
          program.  It allows you to mark scenes on the source camcorder or
          vcr using the  hh:mm:ss counter number plus  an additional 'tick'
          value.   You specify an  in and  out point for  each scene,  then
          after all the scenes have been entered, you can tell the software
          to record each scene onto your destination VCR. The scenes can be
          in  any order on the source deck- the software will automatically
          search for the counter  number specified in the first  scene, put
          the source deck  into play  mode 5 seconds  before the in  point,
          then  send  a un-pause  command to  the  destiation vcr  when the
          source  gets to the correct  counter number plus  the tick value.
          You must have manually set  the destination vcr into record-pause
          mode before starting the assemble operation.

          Setup

          Create a  directory on your  hard disk and copy  EDL.EXE into it.
          This is  the only file  you need  to do editing.   Make sure  the
          interface is connected to  the proper serial port- COM1  or COM2.
          When you first start the EDL software, it will prompt you for the
          serial  port that the interface  is connected to  and the desired
          fore- and background colors.   Once you have entered  these, they
          are  stored in  the file EDL.CFG  and do  not need  to be entered
          again  unless you change one  of the parameters.   You can delete
          the file if  you wish to change  them and re-run EDL,  or you can
          press the '1' key and EDL will delete the file and prompt you for
          the new values.

          Destination Deck

          The  destination deck must be  a control-S compatible  VCR.  This
          includes  the sony slv series and their  8mm and Hi8 decks.  With
          minimal  modifications of  the software,  any deck with  a remote
          pause jack should also work.  The destination deck must be set to
          VTR2 mode.  This is selectable using a switch on  the front panel
          of the sony  slv series decks.   The pause and  un-pause commands
          are sent  with this address encoded in them and the deck will not
          recognize the commands if it is set to another address.

          Commands

          All  source deck functions and  scene marking are  done using the
          function keys.  Other scene  editing functions and file save/load
          are done using the alpha keys.  Scenes are selected  by using the
          cursor keys to move  the highlighted cursor to the  desired scene
          number.  The following function keys control the control-l source
          deck/camcorder:








          Source Deck Commands                    Scene and Edit Commands:

          F1  - Rewind/Review                ? - Help
          F2  - Play                              C - Cut Scene
          F3  - Stop                              P - Paste Scene
          F4  - Fastforward/Cue                   D - Delete Scene
          F5  - Pause                             I - Insert Scene
          F6  - Slow                              E - Edit Scene
          F7  - Zero Counter                 G - Goto Scene
          F8  - Start Assemble Operation          L - Load File
          F9  - Set Cut In Point                  S - Save File
          F10 - Set Cut Out Point



          Operation

          Place the tape you wish to edit in the camcorder  or source deck.
          You can run  EDL in two different ways depending  on the location
          of the  scenes on the  source tape.   If the scenes  are near the
          beginning  of the tape, rewind until  the start of the tape using
          the  F1 key.  If the  scenes are nearer to  the middle, select an
          arbitrary point  that  is easily  locatable  and press  the  zero
          counter key.   After the start  point is set,  press the play  or
          fastforward key to move the tape to the first scene you want.  At
          the  proper start point  of the selected scene,   press the pause
          key (F5).  It is very  important that you be in PLAY mode  for at
          least  several seconds before you  press the pause  key.  This is
          because the tick  value is sampled at  the instant you  press the
          pause key.  After you press the pause key, hit the set cut in key
          (F9).  You will see the current counter value appear in the lower
          left  hand  corner.   Now press  the Play  key  and wait  for the
          desired end point and press pause again.  While the camcorder  is
          paused,  hit the  out-point key.   Repeat  this process  for each
          desired scene.  Once each  scene is set, save the scenes  to disk
          with the s key.

          To start an assemble edit, press the record and pause  buttons on
          the destination  deck and then  hit the F8  key on the  computer.
          The software  will send the  appropriate commands  to the  source
          deck to  locate the first scene,  unpause the record deck  at the
          appropriate time, then repause it at the outpoint.  Then the next
          scene will be located and the process will repeat.

          If you have tight out  or in points, it may be  necessary to edit
          the individual points to 'tweak' them.
          To do  this, move the cursor  to the desired scene  and press the
          'E' key.  Move the cursor to the in or out point using the cursor
          keys and press the  plus or minus  keys to adjust  them.  If  you
          wish to change more than  just the tick values, just type  in the
          new value  and press return.   The edit screen is  also where you
          can enter  comments about each scene.   Move the cursor  down and
          enter a comment or other descriptive ascii line.  Three lines are







          available and are saved to disk with the in and out points.


          Edit Screen

          Pressing  the  'E' key  while  on the  main  screen pulls  up the
          editing  window.   All of  the normal  commands function  in this
          window, plus the 4 line comment fields are also visible here.  To
          move to the next scene  while this window is open, press  the TAB
          key.  To move to the previous scene, 
          hold down the shift key and press TAB.    To edit any field, move
          the highlighted cursor to the desired field and key in an  entry.
          At the IN and OUT point fields type in the desired hour, min, sec
          and tick value.   You can also press  the plus and minus keys  to
          'fine tune' the tick value if one 
          scene  is coming in or  out to early or late.   To enter comments
          about  this particular  scene, move  the cursor  down (using  the
          cursor  arrow keys  or the  keypad) and  start typing  a comment.
          When you  have finished  the comment (you  only get 40  chars per
          line) press  enter and  the comment  is recorded.   Press  esc to
          abort the comment entry.

          As  mentioned, all functions avalilable from  the main screen are
          also  available from this sub  window. Using this  screen and the
          goto function, it is possible to build a database of  all of your
          favorite scenes  and find  them easily.   You  can then  'COPY' a
          scene, load a new file and 'PASTE' it into the new video.

          Note  that for now, there  is no provision  for doing an assemble
          with multiple tapes.   All scenes must be on the same tape.  I am
          in the  process of adding this  to the software and  it should be
          available in the next update.
