The Sony Hi8 recorder can be directly controlled from your workstation without using an intermediate video tape controlling device. It is connected to your workstation via an RS-232 port.
device video controller name
server_name server
server_id socket
server_host host
buffer buffer
display display
defn
format format
ttydev device
memory mode
enddefn
enddevice
device video controller name
The name is the name you want to assign to this device.
server_name server
The server is the name of the executable that controls the Sony Hi8. It resides in the product_bin. The server should be vtcsony8mm for the Sony Hi8. (If you relocate the server executable, or if the server is running on a different host than your application, you must specify the server as a full UNIX pathname.)
server_id socket
The socket is the socket number through which your application communicates with the Sony Hi8 server process. This number must be unique to your UNIX system for each defined device and (Alias|Wavefront and non-Alias|Wavefront) server process. Configurations referring to different Sony Hi8 recorders must use different socket numbers.
server_host host
The host is the name of the workstation to which your Sony Hi8 is connected. This is typically the workstation on which you are running your application, but can be any of the workstations on your Ethernet network. If you are using one workstation for your application and another for the Sony Hi8, you must install your application on both machines. The host can be localhost if the Sony Hi8 is connected to your workstation.
buffer buffer
The buffer is optionally used to specify the name of a frame buffer device that is related to the Sony Hi8 device being configured. If defined, this corresponding frame buffer is opened whenever the Sony Hi8 device is opened.
display display
The display entry is optionally used to specify how you want the tape location to be displayed. The default, timecode, displays tape locations using time code. To display tape locations as frame numbers, specify frame.
format format
The format indicates whether your Sony Hi8 recognizes NTSC or PAL video. If this line is omitted, NTSC is used by default.
ttydev device
The device indicates the name of the UNIX device port through which the workstation communicates with the Sony Hi8. On SGI workstations, it is typically ttyd1, ttyd2, ttyd3, or ttyd4, which corresponds to the RS-232 ports on the back of the computer.
memory mode
The mode indicates the frame buffer mode during normal playback of the Hi8. If an alternative mode is more appropriate for your site, you may specify off, dnr, or buffer. See your EVO9650 user's manual for details on the use of the frame buffer mode.
Tip: The server for the Sony Hi8 may hang if the device is not powered on or properly connected to your workstation. To correct this, kill the server process vtcsony8mm, power on the Hi8, and verify the cable connections. For more information, see appendix A, "Connecting RS-232 Devices."