THE SONY CONTROL-L SOCKETS

The Control-L 5-pin DIN socket seen on the left is included with this Beta VCR. It provides an additional dedicated connection for various external devices. These can include adding an optional editing controller, external infrared device or another VCR. It sends and receives a digital language developed by Sony called LANC. The "L" after the word Control is an acronym for LANC (Local ApplicatioN Control bus). This language is the same as that used in Sony infrared remotes. LANC uses digital words sent over the serial bus (bus is short for omnibus meaning: for all). Communication is bi-directional and sent in bundles of 8 (8-bit) bytes containing various coded functions. It is sent using a 5-pin mini-DIN cable which can also includes a DC switched power supply and an on/off connection linked to the VCRs on/off button, pin 2 is not connected. For some applications an adapter cable turns the 5-pins into a mini-jack cable that has just two or three connectors. It might only have the serial bus, ground and/or the power on/off. Only two pins are necessary for communication to take place, the serial bus and the ground. The LANC language is the also used for Control-S connections. For a list of VCRs with control-L sockets click here. ©Misterßetamax go to homepage