Mitsubishi VCR w/ RS-232
A german video magazine ("Video" 9/1992) announced a S-VHS VCR that is
equipped with a RS-232 interface in order to be controlled by any
computer. The machine has been produced by Mitsubishi in cooperation with
the German companies GSE (manufacturer of timecode-based editing modules
for consumer video equipment) and Fast Electronics (developper of "Video
Machine" and "Screen Machine" for PCs).
The VCR is called E82 PC-VCR and is apperantly available in a PAL version
– no specific information about NTSC so far, sorry. Neither have they
given a price. The only information on this is that current E-82 machines
can be upgraded for DM 600 (about $ 400).
The Upgrade consists of an internal cartridge that connects the RS 232
interface to the remote control bus of the VCR (shouldn't this be
independable from the video standard?) and also is able to record a so
called "Rapid Timecode" on the VHS/S-VHS control track (thus timecode'ing
already recorded tapes) that is used by GSE editing controllers for
consumer VCRs.
In my opinion this sounds very interesting for lowcost and home
multimedia applications.
Greetings from Europe
Hannes Ruegheimer