The Sony 9-Pin Protocol or P1 protocol is a two-way
communications protocol
A communication protocol is a system of rules that allows two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any variation of a physical quantity. The protocol defines the rules, syntax, semantics (computer science), sem ...
to control advanced video recorders. Sony introduced this protocol to control reel-to-reel
type C video tape recorder
A video tape recorder (VTR) is a tape recorder designed to record and playback video and audio signal, audio material from magnetic tape. The early VTRs were open-reel devices that record on individual reels of 2-inch-wide (5.08 cm) tape. ...
s (VTR) as well as
videocassette recorder
A videocassette recorder (VCR) or video recorder is an electromechanical device that records analog audio and analog video from broadcast television or other AV sources and can play back the recording after rewinding. The use of a VCR to reco ...
s (VCR). It uses an
DE-9 D-Sub connector with 9 pins (hence the name), where bi-directional communication takes place over a four wire cable according to the
RS-422 standard.
While nowadays all
post-production
Post-production, also known simply as post, is part of the process of filmmaking, video production, audio production, and photography. Post-production includes all stages of production occurring after principal photography or recording indivi ...
editing is done with a
non-linear editing system
Non-linear editing (NLE) is a form of offline editing for audio, video, and image editing. In offline editing, the original content is not modified in the course of editing. In non-linear editing, edits are specified and modified by speciali ...
, in those days editing was done
linearly, using
online editing
A collaborative real-time editor is a type of collaborative software or web application which enables real-time collaborative editing, simultaneous editing, or live editing of the same digital document, computer file or cloud-stored data – s ...
. Editing machines relied heavily on the 9-Pin Protocol to remotely control automatic players and recorders.
Many modern
hard disk recorder
A hard disk recorder (HDR) is a system that uses a high-capacity hard disk to record digital audio or digital video. Hard disk recording systems represent an alternative to reel-to-reel audio tape recording and video tape recorders, and provide ...
s and
solid-state drive
A solid-state drive (SSD) is a type of solid-state storage device that uses integrated circuits to store data persistently. It is sometimes called semiconductor storage device, solid-state device, or solid-state disk.
SSDs rely on non- ...
recorders can still emulate a 1982 Sony BVW-75
Betacam
Betacam is a family of half-inch professional videocassette products developed by Sony in 1982. In colloquial use, ''Betacam'' singly is often used to refer to a Betacam camcorder, a Betacam tape, a Betacam video recorder or the format itself.
...
tape recorder.
Sony's standard also specifies a pinout:
{, class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
! Pin !! on master !! on slave
, -
, 1 , , Frame ground , , Frame ground
, -
, 2 , , Receive A , , Transmit A
, -
, 3 , , Transmit B , , Receive B
, -
, 4 , , Transmit common , , Receive common
, -
, 5 , , Spare or ground , , Spare or ground
, -
, 6 , , Receive common , , Transmit common
, -
, 7 , , Receive B , , Transmit B
, -
, 8 , , Transmit A , , Receive A
, -
, 9 , , Frame ground , , Frame ground
, -
This 9-pin RS-422 pinout has become a
de facto standard, used by most brands in the broadcast industry. In the new millennium, RS-422 is slowly phased out in favor of
Ethernet
Ethernet ( ) is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 198 ...
for control functions. However its simple way to perform
troubleshooting means it will stay around for a long time.
In
broadcast automation
Broadcast automation incorporates the use of broadcast programming technology to automate broadcasting operations. Used either at a broadcast network, radio station or a television station, it can run a facility in the absence of a human oper ...
the
Video Disk Control Protocol (VDCP) use the 9-Pin Protocol to
playout
In broadcasting, channel playout is the generation of the source signal of a radio or television channel produced by a broadcaster, coupled with the transmission of this signal for primary distribution or direct-to-audience distribution via any ...
broadcast programming
Broadcast programming is the practice of organizing or ordering (scheduling) of broadcast media shows, typically radio and television, in a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or season-long schedule.
Modern broadcasters use broadcast autom ...
schedules.
External links
* Sony 9-Pin Remote Protocol (Archived
* Copy of Sony 9-Pin Remote Protoco
* Brainboxes serial port 9-pin protocol suppor
* Drastic support of 9-pin protoco
* Blackmagic Decklink (a video capture/generation card) support of 9-pin protoco
* Blackmagic Hyperdeck (an SSD recorder) support of 9-pin protoco
* Ross Kiva (a presentation server) RS-422 9-pin connecto
* JLCoope
* Grass Valley K2 Summit (a media server) RS-422 connection
References
*Protocol of Remote-1 (9-pin) Connector, 2nd Edition, Sony, document number 9-977-544-13
Communications protocols
Serial buses
Television terminology