Beta10Pin is the hardware adapter that allows connection of Beta camera with 14-pin (K-type) cable to EIAJ 10-pin (J-type) video tape recorder (VTR). Like Sony CMA-1010 but more functional.
The main target VTR is Panasonic/National NV-180 which has a small footprint, full direct drive VHS 4-head die-cast transport and non-EIAJ-standard serial link to a camera. But this adapter should work with other VTRs that have EIAJ 10-pin connector for a camera. Also, older Panasonic/National NV-100 VTR and its derivatives have a serial link to the camera but its protocol is unknown and compatibility not tested.
NV-180 compatible machines
Panasonic NV-180 had several upgraded models...
- Panasonic AG-2400 (same NV-180 put in "professional" line of products)
- Panasonic PV-8000 (upgraded model with stereo linear sound and more tape speeds)
- Panasonic PV-9000 (upgraded yet again with Hi-Fi stereo sound)
...and rebranded variants from other manufacturers:
- Bauer/Bosch VRP 30 (rebranded NV-180)
- Blaupunkt RTX-260 (rebranded NV-180)
- Canon VR-30 (rebranded PV-8000)
- Canon VR-40 (rebranded PV-9000)
- Curtis-Mathes KV-773 (rebranded PV-9000)
- Grundig VS 120 (rebranded NV-180)
- Magnavox Escort XD (VR8454) (rebranded PV-8000)
- Magnavox Escort XHD (VR8455) (rebranded PV-9000)
- Olympus VC-104 (rebranded NV-180)
- Olympus VC-105 (rebranded PV-8000)
- Olympus VC-106 (rebranded PV-9000)
- Philips VR6711 (rebranded NV-180)
- Quasar VP-5741XQ (rebranded PV-8000)
- Quasar VP-5748XE (rebranded PV-9000)
- Sylvania VC-4512 (rebranded PV-8000)
...and probably more
Why not just use CMA-1010?
It's quite hard to find, it's pretty big, it has thick and stiff cable and does not support all features of Sony Beta cameras and features of serial link control for Panasonic NV-180.
Most of all CMA-1010 can not monitor if record process on a VTR has started and just lights up tally light in sync with button press on the camera, which causes false recording indication and loss of footage. Also low battery indication function is not available. And Rec Review function is unavailable.
- Provides power from a VTR to a Beta Camera
- Allows video and audio to be transfered from a camera to a VTR when VTR is in record state
- Allows video from a VTR to be displayed in a camera's viewfinder when VTR is in playback state
- Works both with PAL and NTSC VTRs and cameras
- Converts level and pulse pause commands from a camera to level "unpause" signal for a VTR (camera record button mode is auto-detected)
- Allows "Record review" state (via "RR" button) through picture search
- Monitors VTR's state via serial link and indicates control errors via tally light blinking
- Monitors supply voltage and indicates low battery by blinking tally light in a camera
- Monitors camera's power consumption and puts VTR in pause and stand by to preserve energy when camera is turned off
- Allows powering camera without VTR from USB-C PD/QC source (12V input)
- Outputs video and audio through 2xRCA if not connected to a VTR through 10-pin EIAJ connector
Adapter utilizes Atmel AVR MCU for logic, serial link and voltage measurement. Firmware project is done in AtmelStudio 7.
Target MCU is ATmega 88 (either variant). But firmware should be compilable and working on ATmega 168/328 variants as well. ATmega 48 is not supported due to low ROM capacity.
MCU can be clocked from internal 8 MHz RC-oscillator but external 8 MHz Xtal is recommended for precise timing.
Due to dependance on ADC measurements and proper serial connection with VTR MCU should run on voltages from 4.5 V to 5.0 V. Thus BOD (Brown-out Detector) is enabled by MCU fuses.
AVR fuses for ATmega88/ATmega168 with 8 MHz Xtal
- SUT1 = 0
- CKSEL3 = 0
- SPIEN = 0
- BODLEVEL1 = 0
- BODLEVEL0 = 0
- all other at "1"
In hex form:
- low byte: 0xD7
- high byte: 0xDC
- extended byte: 0xFF
AVR fuses for ATmega328 with 8 MHz Xtal
- SUT1 = 0
- CKSEL3 = 0
- SPIEN = 0
- BODLEVEL1 = 0
- BODLEVEL0 = 0
- all other at "1"
In hex form:
- low byte: 0xD7
- high byte: 0xDF
- extended byte: 0xFC
AVR fuses for ATmega328 with internal RC generator
- SUT1 = 0
- SUT0 = 0
- CKSEL3 = 0
- CKSEL2 = 0
- CKSEL0 = 0
- SPIEN = 0
- BODLEVEL1 = 0
- BODLEVEL0 = 0
- all other at "1"
In hex form:
- low byte: 0xC2
- high byte: 0xDF
- extended byte: 0xFC
Adapter fits onto single PCB (BETA10P.M.xx) of size ~97x30 mm (1.6 mm thick). PCB project is done in Sprint Layout 6.
The main PCB can be wrapped with shrink tube or slid into plastic/metal case. As an alternative project contains files for 4 more PCBs to assemble case from:
- BETA10P.F.xx (30x35 mm, 1.6 mm thick) for the front part (holds 14-pin camera connector)
- BETA10P.B.xx (30x35 mm, 1.6 mm thick) for the back part (2xRCA, USB-C, cable to 10-pin EIAJ connector)
- BETA10P.S.xx (98x35 mm, 1.0 mm thick) for the both sides (2 pcs per adapter)
- BETA10P.C.xx (98x30 mm, 1.0 mm thick) for the top and bottom parts (2 pcs per adapter)
"xx" at the end denotes revision of each PCB. Release can contain boards of different revisions ("xx" doesn't have to be the same).
Provided "case boards" also contain copper fill to shield the insides and connect with main PCB's common.
Pinout for ATmega 88/168/328 MCU in SMD packages
Power supply:
- pin 4 (VCC): +5 V supply
- pin 6 (VCC): +5 V supply
- pin 18 (AVCC): +5 V supply (ADC and BOD)
- pin 3 (GND): 0 V (common)
- pin 5 (GND): 0 V (common)
- pin 21 (GND): 0 V (common)
Clock input:
- pin 7 (PB6): 8.0 MHz Xtal
- pin 8 (PB7): 8.0 MHz Xtal
Voltage monitor:
- pin 23 (PC0): (input) ADC pin for input 12V monitoring
- pin 24 (PC1): (input) ADC pin for output camera power monitoring
VTR I/O:
- pin 12 (PB0): (input) video in/out direction (linked with EIAJ J-type pin 1)
- pin 9 (PD5): (output) pause command (linked with EIAJ J-type pin 6, active high)
- pin 10 (PD6): (output) standby control (linked with EIAJ J-type pin 5, active high)
- pin 11 (PD7): (input) serial link clock (linked with EIAJ J-type pin 4)
- pin 31 (PD1): (input/output) serial link data (linked with EIAJ J-type pin 3)
Camera I/O:
- pin 1 (PD3): (input) record pause (linked with Beta K-type pin 5)
- pin 32 (PD2): (input) record review (linked with Beta K-type pin 8)
- pin 30 (PD0): (output) tally light (linked with Beta K-type pin 6, active high)
- pin 2 (PD4): (output) video direction control (linked with Beta K-type pin 3)
Relay control:
- pin 13 (PB1): (output) video direction switch control
Debug signals:
- pin 17 (PB5): (output) record active (solid)/error code
- pin 16 (PB4): (output) FW heartbeat indicator
- pin 14 (PB2): (output) camera presence
14-pin Beta connector should be put through the front PCB before soldering to the main PCB. Front PCB should be screwed to the 14-pin Beta connector through soldered M2.5 nuts.
VTR cable (with a 10-pin connector) should be routed through the back PCB before connecting to the main PCB. Back PCB should be screwed to the RCA connector block.
14-pin Beta camera connector, 2xRCA connector and USB-C PD/QC trigger are soldered onto the main PCB. VTR cable's individual wires are connected to the main PCB through connectors.
Case cover is assembled by soldering top and side parts together at the 90 degree angles. After that assembled cover should be slid onto the main PCB from the top and soldered in all corners to the front and back PCBs. When front and back PCBs are secured, main PCB should be soldered to the side PCB on a single joint on the bottom.
Bottom PCB has to be put last and soldered on its perimeter to the case PCBs.
Main PCB provides AVR ISP header for uploading and updating firmware. In normal use the same connector is used to connect "Heartbeat" and "Record/Error" LEDs on the case.
Controller can operate in two modes: "serial link mode" and "direct mode". The mode is determined by what and when adapter is connected to. "Serial link mode" requires Beta10Pin to be connected to NV-180 (or compatible, see list above) VTR with serial bus for monitoring and enhanced control. Adapter should be connected before VTR is turned on, otherwise VTR will disable serial link till next power up and the adapter will be operating in "direct mode".
Each operating mode is explained in details below.
Beta10Pin adapter has three camera-related controls:
- record/pause button
- Rec Review (RR) button
- camera's power consumption
Main control input is the record/pause button on the camera. It pauses/unpauses recording, arms the controller and the VTR (in "serial link mode"), clears an error state (in "serial link mode"). Camera also can have "Rec Review" ("RR") button that operates only in "serial link mode". The third input is camera's power consumption from which Beta10Pin adapter determines if camera is connected/powered on and if power saving should be activated.
Beta10Pin adapter has three visual indicators:
- tally light on the camera
- "record/error" LED on the adapter's case
- "heartbeat" LED on the adapter's case
Tally light can indicate:
- active unpaused recording (solid light)
- low voltage (low battery) condition (short blink once a second)
- state switching, waiting for the VTR (fast continuous blinking, 5 Hz, only in "serial link mode")
- error state (slow continuous blinking, 2 Hz, only in "serial link mode")
"Record/Error" LED can indicate:
- active unpaused recording (solid light)
- loop of short blinks according to the error code (error state, only in "serial link mode")
"Heartbeat" LED can indicate:
- firmware is alive, operating in "serial link mode" (fast continuous blinking, 5 Hz)
- firmware is alive, operating in "direct mode" (slow continuous blinking, 1 Hz)
Controls and indicators are explained in more details below.
Cameras can have different "trigger modes" for the record button that usually can be selected with a switch at the bottom of the camera.
Usual record button modes:
- default at "low", toggling state with each button press
- default at "high", toggling state with each button press
- default at "high", producing ~200 ms negative pulse with each button press
CMA-1010 adapter only supports two trigger modes and for selecting between those you have to open up its case and move a physical switch inside. Beta10Pin auto-detects trigger mode of the camera and responds on every record button press on the camera correctly.
After connecting adapter to supported VTR (NV-180 or other from "Supported VTRs" list), to Beta camera and powering on the VTR adapter establishes serial link with the VTR and is held in "idle" state.
flowchart LR;
idIdle(Idle)-- first press of record button -->idPause(Paused recording);
idPause-- record button -->idRec(Recording);
idRec-- record button -->idPause;
idPwrsv-- record button -->idRec;
idPause-- 2 minutes of pause -->idPwrsv(Power save pause);
idPause & idRec-- camera turned off -->idPwrsv;
idPause & idPwrsv-- RR button pressed -->idRR(Record review);
idRR-- RR button released -->idPause;
idPause & idRec & idPwrsv & idRR-- error event -->idErr(Error);
idErr-- record button -->idIdle;
When "Camera" switch on the front of the VTR is set to "Normal" position VTR is controlled by its front panel and camera adapter has no effect and is ignored. User should eject the loading tray, put a recordable VHS cassette inside and close the tray.
Next, "Camera" switch on the VTR should be moved into "Remote" position to allow the Beta10Pin adapter to take control.
First press of the record/pause button on the camera arms the adapter, that commands to set "record + pause" mode to the VTR. At the same time tally light on the camera blinks fast and VTR spins up its head drum and loads the tape inside. When VTR gets ready tally light goes out and adapter settles in "paused recording" state, recording does not start yet.
"Paused recording" is the main state of the adapter, ready to begin recording process. User can frame a shot using viewfinder of the camera and arm camera's "Fader" function if necessary. When record button is pressed in this state the adapter goes into "recording" state and commands the VTR to clear pause and start recording process. Tally light should light up and stay solid.
If record button is pressed while adapter is in "recording" state, adapter returns back to "paused recording" state, sets "record + pause" for the VTR and turns off camera's tally light.
If camera is switched into "power save" or gets disconnected, the adapter goes into "power save pause" state. The same happens if "paused recording" state was held for more than 2 minutes. In this state VTR keeps tape loaded in but stops the drum and deactivates most of the circuits, dropping power consumption five-fold.
While in "paused recording" or "power save pause" states "RR" button can be pressed and held on the camera (if it's present). That puts adapter into "record review" state when the VTR switches to playback in reverse and displays what was just recorded in camera's viewfinder. If record button is pressed while "RR" button is held, playback direction is reversed. As soon as "RR" button gets released adapter goes into short "pause" and then returns into "paused recording" state putting the VTR once again into "record + pause" from current place on the tape. While VTR switches from recording to playback and vice versa the tally light on the camera blinks fast.
If any abnormal situation occurs, the adapter senses that and falls into "error" state which is indicated by slow blinking of the tally light on the camera. VTR should unload the tape and stop. "Error" state can be cleared by single press of the record button on the camera.
Examples of the sources of the error:
- Trying to start recording without a tape in the VTR (error code 1)
- Trying to record on a write-protected tape (error code 2)
- VTR or tape malfunction (error code 3)
- "Camera" switch was moved from "Remote" position and adapter lost control over the VTR (error code 4)
"Record/Error" LED on the adapter's case will blink in cycle the same number of times as error code number is.
If battery level gets too low, adapter makes a short blink of the tally light once a second.
If the VTR does not have a serial link (or the link has failed for any reason) adapter senses that and falls back into "direct" control mode. In this mode Beta10Pin adapter operates more or less like CMA-1010.
The only control mechanism in this mode is "pause" wire in the 10-pin EIAJ connector (pin 6) with no feedback from a VTR to a camera. No monitoring of the VTR state and no direct control of VTR state is available in this mode.
With every press of record button on the camera adapter will toggle "pause" signal to the VTR and tally light on the camera. If VTR was in "paused recording" state it will go into "recording" state, if VTR was in "recording" state it will go into "paused recording" state.
If there was no tape in the VTR or recording state was not armed probably nothing will happen on the VTR side (while tally light could still light up) leading to loss of video material.
If adapter senses that VTR switched into playback state, firmware will toggle "recording" state to "paused recording" and turn off tally light.
"RR" button on the camera will have no effect on the VTR, no "record review" functionality is available in this mode.
If camera is switched into "power save" or gets disconnected, the adapter goes into "paused recording" state and turns off tally light on the camera.
If battery level gets too low, adapter makes a short blink of the tally light once a second.
- Working basic control (VTR controls video path relay, camera controls pause line to VTR)
- Working voltage monitoring and indication in camera
- Working camera connection detection and NV-180 standby function operation
- Working serial link detection and RX/TX
- Working state machine while communicating with NV-180 VTRs through serial link
- Working "record review" processing
- Test adapter with other VTRs (without serial link and standby control)
Program copyright 2024.
This program is free software. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");