Chapter 4. Installing V-LAN Transmitters

V-LAN is a networked system from VideoMedia for frame-accurately controlling and synchronizing video V-LAN devices, such as videotape recorders. VCP-Recorder includes an interface module which allows it to communicate with a V-LAN transmitter and thereby remotely control a VTR for frame-accurate capture and lay-down of video clips.

Integrating V-LAN and VCP-Recorder is discussed in the following sections:

Configuring the Hardware

Refer to the V-LAN Installation guide for the correct installation of the V-LAN hardware and for connecting the V-LAN transmitter to VCP-Recorder via a serial data connection.

Configuring the VCP-Recorder V-LAN interface

For each V-LAN device controlled by VCP-Recorder, you enter a line in /usr/vtr/config/vlan.conf. The general form of the configuration line is:

control   type   serial_port   speed   parity   VLAN_node

where

  • type is one of the following:

    • rs232, for a RS-232 control connection.

    • rs422, for a RS-422 control connection. The RS-422 connection is available on Origin and Onyx2 servers, only.

  • serial_port is the serial port number (for example, 1 or 2).

    For example, serial port 2, which may be referred to as tty2 in the hardware inventory (see hinv(1M)) or as /dev/ttyd2 by some software programs, is specified simply by the number 2.

  • speed is the speed of the connection.

    The speed must match the speed that has been configured on the V-LAN transmitter. The speed is usually 9600 BPS.

  • parity must be no parity (0).

  • VLAN_node is a number that identifies the target receiver on the V-LAN network.

    There can be multiple deck-controlling receivers connected to the transmitter. The VLAN_node specifies which one VCP-Recorder controls.

The following example defines an RS-422 control connection that uses serial port 2 at a speed of 9600 BPS, no parity, and a V-LAN node of 1:

control rs422  2 9600 0 1