View source for Engineering:9-Pin Protocol

{{Short description|Communication protocol}}
The Sony '''9-Pin Protocol''' or P1 protocol is a two-way communications protocol to control advanced video recorders. Sony introduced this protocol to control  reel-to-reel [[Engineering:Type C videotape|type C]] [[Engineering:Video tape recorder|video tape recorder]]s (VTR) as well as [[Engineering:Videocassette recorder|videocassette recorder]]s (VCR). It uses an [[Engineering:D-subminiature|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|RS-422 standard]].

While nowadays all [[Engineering:Post-production|post-production]] editing is done with a [[Non-linear editing system|non-linear editing system]], in those days editing was done linearly, using  [[Engineering:Online editing (video production)|online editing]]. Editing machines relied heavily on the 9-Pin Protocol to remotely control automatic players and recorders.

Many modern [[Engineering:Hard disk recorder|hard disk recorder]]s and [[Solid-state drive|solid-state drive]] recorders can still emulate a 1982 Sony BVW-75 Betacam 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]] for control functions. However its simple way to perform [[Troubleshooting|troubleshooting]] means it will stay around for a long time.

In [[Engineering:Broadcast automation|broadcast automation]] the [[Engineering:Video Disk Control Protocol|Video Disk Control Protocol]] (VDCP) use the 9-Pin Protocol to [[Engineering:Playout|playout]] [[Engineering:Broadcast programming|broadcast programming]] schedules.

==External links==
* Sony 9-Pin Remote Protocol (Archived) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150601202908/http://www.belle-nuit.com/archives/9pin.html]
* Copy of Sony 9-Pin Remote Protocol [https://ftp.zx.net.nz/pub/archive/ftp.sgi.com/sgi/video/rld/vidpage/s9pin.html]
* Brainboxes serial port 9-pin protocol support [https://www.brainboxes.com/faq/sony-rs-422-pinout-db9]
* Drastic support of 9-pin protocol [https://www.drastic.tv/support-59/legacysoftwarehardware/37-miscellaneous-legacy/180-vvcr-422-serial-protocol]
* Blackmagic Decklink (a video capture/generation card) support of 9-pin protocol [https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/UserManuals/DesktopVideoManual.pdf?_v=1657522810000]
* Blackmagic Hyperdeck (an SSD recorder) support of 9-pin protocol [https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/UserManuals/HyperDeckHDManual.pdf?_v=1656918011000]
* Ross Kiva (a presentation server) RS-422 9-pin connector [https://help.rossvideo.com/kiva/Topics/Specs/Server/Ports.html]
* JLCooper [https://www.jlcooper.com/_manuals/legacy/MMC_Converters/MMC-9pin+_User_Manual.pdf]
* Grass Valley K2 Summit (a media server) RS-422 connections [https://wwwapps.grassvalley.com/manuals/k2_summit_v10.0/core/x-cc/content/topic/k2/pinout/r_RS422Pinout.html]

== References ==
*Protocol of Remote-1 (9-pin) Connector, 2nd Edition, Sony, document number 9-977-544-13

[[Category:Communications protocols]]
[[Category:Serial buses]]
[[Category:Television terminology]]

{{Sourceattribution|9-Pin Protocol}}