Sony® Robotic Cameras

This setup information applies to the Sony® BRC-300, BRC-300p, BRC-H700, BRC-H800, BRC-900, BRC-1000, EVI-D100, and EVI-HD1 robotic cameras.

Note: FlexDevice drivers have been integrated into the switcher software as of Acuity® v9.2a. Individual FlexDevice drivers are no longer supported. If you are running a software version prior to Acuity® v9.2a the FlexDevice drivers are still supported and required.
Note: If you are running a software version prior to Acuity® v9.2a you must install and initialize the Sony® FlexDevice driver to be able to set up and control the EVI-HD1 or EVI-D100. Contact Ross Video Technical Support for the most recent FlexDevice driver for your device and refer to the Setup Manual that came with your switcher for information on FlexDevice drivers.

Cable Connections

The BRC-300, BRC-300p and BRC-H700 connects to the switcher over an RS-422 connection to a DB9 port on the switcher and the VISCA port on the device.

The BRC-H800 connects to the switcher over an RS-422 connection to a DB9 port on the switcher and the RJ-45 port on the device.

The EVI-D100 and EVI-HD1 connect to the switcher over an RS-232 serial connection to a DB9 port on the switcher and a MiniDIN port on the device.

The BRC-900 and BRC-1000 cameras connect to the switcher or DashBoard directly through an ethernet connection.

Tip: In DashBoard 8.7, or higher, you can use the DashBoard interface to a VISCA camera as a gateway to allow the switcher to control the camera through DashBoard.
Table 1. Switcher to BRC-300/BRC-300p/BRC-H700 Cable Connections
Acuity™ (Remote Port) BRC-300/BRC-300p/BRC-H700 (VISCA Port)
2 (Rx-) 9 (Tx-)
3 (Tx+) 6 (Rx+)
7 (Rx+) 8 (Tx+)
8 (Tx-) 7 (Rx-)
Table 2. Switcher to BRC-H800 Cable Connections
Acuity™ (Remote Port) BRC-H800 (VISCA IN Port)
2 (Rx-) 2 (Tx-)
3 (Tx+) 3 (Rx+)
7 (Rx+) 1 (Tx+)
8 (Tx-) 6 (Rx-)
Table 3. Switcher to EVI-D100/EVI-HD1 Cable Connections
Acuity™ (Remote Port) EVI-D100/EVI-HD1 (MiniDIN Port)
2 (Tx) 3 (Rx)
3 (Rx) 2 (Tx)
5 (GND) 5 (GND)

Switcher Setup

The switcher must be set up to communicate with the robotic camera using either serial or ethernet protocols, as well as associate the video inputs that are coming into the switcher from the camera with the specific robotic camera they are coming from.

To Set Up Communications for the BRC-300/BRC-300p/BRC-H700/BRC-H800

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select Robotic Cam.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select VISCA.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-422.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select 9600 (Baud) and NONE (Parity).
  7. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    Pan Speed 24 (default)
    Tilt Speed 20 (default)
    Model
    • Sony BRC-300 (BRC-300/BRC-300p)
    • Sony BRC-700 (BRC-H700/BRC-H800)
    Protocol Serial
    Tally No (default)
  8. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Communications for the BRC-900 and BRC-1000

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the net port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select Robotic Cam.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select VISCA.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select Network UDP.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Client/Server knob to select Client and enter the IP Settings.
    IP Setting Value
    Remote IP Address
    • Direct (IP of device)
    • DashBoard Gateway (IP of DashBoard computer)
    Remote Port
    • Direct: 52381
    • DashBoard Gateway: (the port assigned to the camera in the VISCA Gateway on DashBoard)
    Local IP Address 0.0.0.0
    Local Port
    • Direct: 52381
    • DashBoard Gateway: (the port assigned to the camera in the VISCA Gateway on DashBoard)
  7. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    Pan Speed 24 (default)
    Tilt Speed 20 (default)
    Model
    • Sony BRC-900 (BRC-900)
    • Sony BRC-1000 (BRC-1000)
    Protocol IP
    Tally No (default)
  8. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Communications for the EVI-D100 (FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select FlexCAM.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select the Sony FlexCam driver.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-232.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select 9600 (Baud) and NONE (Parity).
  7. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Communications for the EVI-HD1 (FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select FlexCAM.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select the Sony FlexCam driver.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-232.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select 38400 (Baud) and NONE (Parity).
  7. Press Extra Options and use the Option and Value knobs to set the device parameters.
    Option Value
    ShotOffset 0 (default)
  8. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up Communications for the EVI-HD1 and EVI-D100 (Non-FlexDevice)

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Com Setup
  2. Press Type and use the Com Port knob to select the remote port that you want to set up for the device.
  3. Use the Device knob to select FlexCAM.
  4. Press Select Device and use the Device knob to select Furio.
  5. Press Com Type and use the Type knob to select RS-232.
  6. Press Com Settings and use the Baud and Parity knobs to select the values for your device.
    • EVI-HD1 — 38400 (Baud) and NONE (Parity).
    • EVI-D100 — 9600 (Baud) and NONE (Parity).
  7. Press HOME > Confirm.

To Set Up a Video Input

  1. Press HOME > Setup > Installation > Source Configuration > Input Type.
  2. Use the Input knob to select the input source that is coming from the camera.
  3. In the Input Type area, select Robotic Camera.
  4. Press More.
  5. Press Camera Setup and use the Controller knob to select the camera that the video source is coming from.
  6. Use the Port knob to select the port on the camera controller that you are connecting to.
  7. Press Camera Options and use the Option and Value to set the camera parameters.
    Option Value
    Pan Invert Invert the direction that the camera moves when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    Tilt Invert Invert the direction that the camera moves when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    Zoom Invert Invert the direction that the camera zooms when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    Focus Invert Invert the focus direction when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    Iris Invert Invert the iris direction when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    X Invert Invert the direction that the camera moves in the X-axis when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    Y Invert Invert the direction that the camera moves in the Y-axis when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
    Z Invert Invert the direction that the camera moves in the Z-axis when using the positioner (Yes), or not (No).
  8. Press More.
  9. Press Channel Name and enter a new name for the camera and press Accept New Name.

    This allows you to override the mnemonic name of the camera source with a name that is specific to the camera.

  10. Press HOME > Confirm.

Device Setup

The device must be set up to communicate with the switcher using the same serial or ethernet communications as you set the switcher up to use.

Note: This information in this procedure is provided as a guide and is based on the current version of hardware and software that was available at the time of testing. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the documentation that came with your device.

To Set Up Serial Communication for the BRC-300/BRC-300p

The jumpers on the BRC-300/BRC-300p must be set as follows.

  • 1 — n/c
  • 2 — On for RS-422.
  • 3 — Off for 9600 baud.
  • 4 — Off for infrared signal control.
  • 1 — On only for the first camera in chain.
  • 2 — On only for the second camera in the chain.
  • 3 — On only for the third camera in the chain.
  • 4 — n/c

To Set Up Serial Communication for the BRC-H700

The jumpers on the BRC-H700 must be set as follows.

  • 1 — On for 50i or Off for 59.94i.
  • 2 — On for RS-422.
  • 3 — Off for 9600 baud.
  • 4 — Off for infrared signal control.

To Set Up Serial Communications for the BRC-H800

The jumpers on the BRC-H800 must be set as follows.

  • 1 — Off for Level A in 3G-SDI.
  • 2 — reserved.
  • 3 — reserved.
  • 4 — Off for 9600 baud.
  • 5/6/7 — Use for camera address.
Table 4. Camera Address Selector
Camera Address Auto 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Switch 5 OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON OFF ON
Switch 6 OFF OFF ON ON OFF OFF ON ON
Switch 7 OFF OFF OFF OFF ON ON ON ON

If you are daisy chaining multiple BRC-H800 Robotic Cameras together, use a standard ethernet cable to connect VISCA OUT on one camera to the VISCA IN on the next.

Device Operation

This device has operational restrictions that will impact how is can be used with the switcher.

To Operate the BRC-H700

Available settings on the BRC-H700 are dependent on the current configuration of the camera. Refer to the following table for settings and dependencies.

Setting Description Dependency
Focus Mode Sets whether focus should be manually or automatically controlled.
Auto Exposure Sets which exposure parameters (Shutter, Gain, Iris/ StepIris) can be controlled and which are automatically adjusted.
  • AUTO — all parameters are automatically controlled
  • MANUAL — all parameters are under manual control
  • SHUTTER — Shutter speed is manually controlled, all other are automatically controlled
  • IRIS — Iris size is manually controlled, all other are automatically controlled
  • GAIN — Gain is manually controlled, all others are automatically controlled
Shutter Adjust the shutter speed of the camera Auto Exposure must be set to MANUAL or SHUTTER.
Gain Adjusts the sensitivity of the camera. Auto Exposure must be set to MANUAL or GAIN.
White Balance Sets the white balance, or how it is adjusted, for the camera.
  • AUTO — white balance is automatically controlled
  • OUTDOOR — fixed to 5,800K
  • INDOOR — fixed to 3,200K
  • MANUAL — RGain and BGain are unlocked
RGain & BGain Manually adjust the white balance White Balance must be set to MANUAL.
Rshift & Bshift Adjusts the white balance in AUTO mode. Less control than RGain & BGain. White Balance must be set to AUTO.
StepIris Adjust the Iris in step values, rather than with the positioner. Auto Exposure Mode must be set to MANUAL or IRIS.
Iris Limit Limits the Iris settings when Iris is automatically controlled. Auto Exposure is not set the IRIS.

DashBoard Gateway Setup

Note: This information in this procedure is provided as a guide and is based on the current version of hardware and software that was available at the time of testing. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the documentation that came with your device.

Before setting up the gateway, you must set up control of the VISCA camera in DashBoard. Refer to the DashBoard documentation for information on controlling a camera from DashBoard.

  1. On the camera tab in DashBoard, click Config > Gateway.
  2. In the Port field, enter the port number you want to use to control the camera from the switcher. This is the port number that you will enter in the device setup on the switcher.
    Note: Each camera controlled by the same DashBoard application must be assigned to a different port.
  3. Select what control you want the gateway to pass on to the camera from the switcher.
    • Focus Mode — select whether the gateway passes focus mode selections made from the switcher on to the camera (Pass), or if the gateway blocks these messages (Block). An external controller can still read the current focus mode when set to Block.
      Tip: The switcher automatically sets and updates the focus mode when controlling the camera. This can prevent other controllers from changing the focus mode when the switcher is controlling the camera and the Focus Mode is set to Pass.
    • Presets — select whether the gateway stores camera shots on the camera (Camera), or on the DashBoard computer (Local).
      Tip: Presets are available through DashBoard whether they are stored on the DashBoard computer or on the camera.
  4. Click a Control button to allow the switcher to use the gateway to control the camera (Enable) or block the switcher from controlling the camera through the gateway (Disable).
  5. On the camera tab, click Config > Operation.
  6. Select how you want use the presets.
    • Manage Presets on Camera — select whether presets are stored on the camera as well as in DashBoard. Presets are always available in DashBoard.
    • Recall Presets from — select whether a recall uses the preset saved in DashBoard or on the camera. Presets must have been stored to the camera to be able to recall them from the camera.

The Status field shows the current state of the gateway.

  • Closed — the port is closed or DashBoard isn't connect to the camera.
  • Ready — the port is open, but there are no controllers currently connected to it.
  • Connected — the port is open and one or more controllers are connected to it.
  • Error — an error has occurred. The port may be used by a different service or is being used by a different gateway.