Memory Map for Sony D8/DV Camcorders

Abstract

The purpose of this page is to collect as complete Sony D8/DV NVRAM configuration memory map as possible. I would also like to offer some information about the correct usage of the new functions. There are only a couple of those right now but I'm planning to write more as the time permits. As of now, this page is to be considered "work in process".

Linking to this document

You are free to link to this document. If you do so, please use the URL <http://www.iki.fi/znark/video/dv/codes/> This ensures that the link will always work, regardless of the actual physical location of this site.

Acknowledgements

My heartfelt thanks go to Glenn Edwards, Reinhard Jäger and Martin Smola, without whom this memory map would not be. They have discovered most of the functions listed below, released them to the public knowledge, and in so doing been of invaluable help to the whole Digital8 user community.

How do I use these codes?

a.k.a. "where's the beef?"

Unfortunately, I have not had time to update this page in over a year. (I will eventually get to it, but for now, you'll just have to be patient.) Several people have e-mailed me asking how do they actually use the codes, so here's a short explanation to clear the thing up:

If you wish to enter the codes in your camcorder, you'll need a wired remote control device that is plugged into the LANC jack of the camera. You can either purchase a special service remote control from Sony, or build a simple, cheap cable that connects to the parallel (printer, LPT) port of your PC. As obtaining the service remote control unit might prove difficult and expensive, I recommend building the simple cable. You can find instructions (and a suitable program for controlling the camcorder from the PC and altering the camcorder's configuration memory) from Martin Smola's D8 site. Also see Martin's Excel worksheet, which can be used for calculating the correct checksum for the new settings (search for the words "Here is file from MSEXCEL97" on the page).

Memory Page 0d

Memory Page 0a

To-do list for wannabe camcorder hackers

Find a way to...

• Enable the manual MIC LEVEL control so that it will work properly. As of now, the menu function can be activated, but it has no effect. Or at least it doesn't on 1st generation D8 camcorders - I do not know about the others. The curious thing about this is that the VU meters actually work for a fraction of second with the internal mic (just try tapping the microphone with your finger while you switch the manual level control mode on and off), but then they go immediately dead. Find a way to keep the mic active, and you'll make lots of people happy.
• Enable the SP/LP recording modes on a 1st generation D8 camcorder. As of now, the menu function can be activated, but it has no effect.
• Enable the Playback Zoom function properly. As of now, you can select the area but the camcorder does not zoom into it.
• Enable the alternative  AE PROGRAM  modes in such way that also the AEA mode will work properly.
• Convert a PAL unit to an NTSC unit, or the other way around. This has already been done with PC7, so maybe it is possible on other models as well. Finding this out would probably require at least comparing/copying memory dumps between PAL and NTSC models.
• Disable the COPY INHIBIT function (for backup / time-shifting / portability purposes)
• Assign functions to other buttons than where they are by default. "Why", you may ask. Wouldn't it be nice if you could use all those precious direct access buttons for things that are actually useful - like white balance - instead of wasting them on seldom-used gee-whizz functions like "Picture Effects", which can be moved to the menu anyway?

Further documentation

Diagnostics mode

Configuration

Description

"Diagnostics mode" tests various camcorder functions and displays the results on the LCD screen / viewfinder.

Affected functionality

• The LCD screen / viewfinder will display lots of diagnostics information.

Usage

1. Set 0d:11 to ff.
2. Sit back and enjoy.
3. After you get bored, set 0d:11 back to 00.

Player/VTR mode

Configuration

Description

VTR mode enables recording from all inputs (i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394, composite video and s-video). Going back to Player mode disables this functionality, i.e. the camcorder will simply ignore all record commands (except, of course, recording through the lens in the Camera mode).

Affected functionality

•  REC  button(s) will only work while VTR mode is active
• [REC] on-screen indicator (a red dot) will appear when recording

Background

Wait a minute. Why would anyone want to disable the recording functionality in the first place?

Good question. There is no good reason. This option only exists because European Union charges about 10% higher import tax for video cameras that double as VTRs. Camcorders that merely record through their own lens do not belong to this category, but camcorders that can also record from video inputs do.

Practically all camcorder manufacturers disable the video inputs from the consumer models they import to EU. Why, you may ask. The explanation is quite obvious: If they don't do this, their competitors surely will - and then they would have to fight a 10% competitive price edge.

Fortunately, camcorders are nowadays highly integrated electronic products. Integration reduces costs, but it usually also means that a single chip on the circuit board can handle multiple functions, and there is no reasonable way to separate them from each other.

Therefore, disabling is usually achieved through software configuration. (It would be more expensive and cumbersome to actually remove or replace physical parts, or to create two different production lines for the same camcorder.) This is good news for an individual that is not afraid of fiddling with the camcorder's configuration memory, since a software-based disabling method makes it quite easy to enable the inputs again.

As for Sony products, this means that the models bearing the 'E' designation (such as DCR-TRV210E) have been set to the Player mode at the factory (i.e. they have been nEUtered, as the saying goes). Sony only imports 'E' models to Europe. The models sold elsewhere have been set to VTR mode as default. But now that we know the right configuration codes, the 'nEUtered' models can be brought on par with the non-nEUtered models simply by switching them into VTR mode, too.

Note: There is a common misbelief that all PAL camcorders would have been nEUtered at the factory, as if this kind of feature disabling somehow depended on the TV standard itself. This is not the case. You can buy fully functional PAL units in Asia and Oceania. Only the models imported to Europe have been nEUtered.

Usage

1. Set the camcorder to VTR mode.
2. Hook up your source:
   • If you want to record analog signal, connect your analog video signal source either to the composite video or s-video connector.
   • If you want to record digital DV data, connect a Firewire (IEEE-1394) cable to the i.Link connector.
3. Start recording by pushing the  REC  button on the remote control, or issue a REC command either via a LANC cable or a Firewire cable.
4. A red dot will appear on the LCD screen to indicate that the camcorder is now recording.

Notes

• The factory default for this setting is
  • Player mode for the nEUtered models
  • VTR mode for the others
• Even while in Player mode, it is still possible to
  • use the LCD screen (or viewfinder) for monitoring outside signals.
  • transcode analog signals to digital DV data and send them over to the 1394 connector in real time
• Before actually trying to record from an analog source, make sure that the  V-OUT/LCD   function has been turned off from the  OTHERS      /  DISPLAY     menu. If it is not, the camcorder will not accept analog input. You can verify this setting by plugging in your source and monitoring it on the LCD screen or on the viewfinder. If you can see the picture, you can also record it - -
• - - that is, unless you are trying to dub copy-protected video tapes, in which case the camcorder bluntly displays COPY INHIBIT on the screen and refuses to record anything. It is yet unknown whether there is a memory locaton to turn the copy protection feature off for legitimate backups, time-shifting and portability purposes.
• Before trying to record from a digital source (i.e. DV data through the i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 connector), make sure that you have also enabled DV inputs. Otherwise the camcorder will not accept DV input.
• Non-nEUtered units have two record buttons: one on the camcorder itself, and the other on the supplied remote control. Both of them also feature an adjacent safety button, which you must press together with the  REC  button in order to actually start recording.

  The nEUtered models do not have any of these buttons. However, there are still several ways to access the recording functionality:

  • Modify your remote control. Surprise! There actually are hidden  REC  and "safety" buttons under the cover of the nEUtered RMT-814 remote control. Open it up and see for yourself. It is possible to make them work. (Instructions coming up soon.)
  • Buy a non-nEUtered 'replacement' from Sony. If you do not feel like modifying your original remote, you could order a "replacement" from Sony. (I.e. simply purchase a remote control that is intended for non-nEUtered Sony camcorders, or for high-end Sony camcorders that were never nEUtered in the first place.)
  • Use any other Sony remote you can find. You can purchase/use a Sony remote control that was originally intended for some other device than camcorder - such as a Sony VHS VCR. The only requirement is that it must be able to send the VTR2 REC code, which is what the Sony camcorders respond to.
  • Purchase a 'universal', Sony compatible remote control. You can purchase/use a 'universal' remoter control. Just make sure that can send the Sony SIRC VTR2 REC code. Also check out all the AV devices you have at the house - especially tv sets. Some of them might have come with a remote control that offers a limited compatibility with devices by other manufacturers - possibly also Sony. Read the manual to find out how to set your remote to send Sony IR codes.
  • Issue the REC command via LANC cable. You can use your computer and a parallel port <=> LANC cable to start recording. (Most DV-in utilities already feature the basic tape control buttons, including record.)
  • Buy a LANC remote control with a record button. You can purchase a special LANC remote control that has a record button. There are several available - ranging from widgets with only a record button on them to full-fledged remotes with variable zoom functions and other neat features.
  • Issue the REC command via i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 interface. You can connect your camcorder to your computer by using the i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 port. It is then possible to start recording by issuing a record command from a computer program.

Confirmed to work on

• DCR-TRV210E

See also

• 1394 input mode (DV-in)

Display aperture and gain readings while in  MANUAL EXPOSURE  mode

Configuration

Description

When enabled, the camcorder will display aperture and gain information (superimposed on the picture) while the user is in manual exposure mode.

Affected functionality

•  MANUAL EXPOSURE  mode will display F:#.# and ##dB on-screen indicators

Background

What are aperture and gain readings?

• Aperture is a measurement that tells how wide open the iris inside the camcorder is. Every camcorder has an adjustable iris that only lets certain amount of light to pass on the CCD chip. The idea is to adjust the iris so that you don't overexposure the image, while still letting as much light on the CCD as possible. Aperture is measured as F-stops.
• Gain means electronic signal amplification. Low-light situations may require amplifying the signal to let you see what is really going on. Unfortunately, amplifying the signal will also amplify the background noise, so if you use high gain, you might get a grainy picture. Gain is measured as decibels, or dBs.

Usage

1. Enable aperture and gain readings.
2. Press  MANUAL EXPOSURE . The camcorder will now display F:#.# and ##dB indicators on the picture. (The F reading is for aperture, the dB reading is for gain.)
3. Use the  THUMB WHEEL  to adjust exposure. As you will see, you have a certain range for controlling the aperture (the iris that lets the light on the camera's CCD chip). After it is wide open, the gain control (electrical amplification of the signal) kicks in.

Confirmed to work on

• DCR-TRV210E

Alternative settings on  AE PROGRAM  button (including manual shutter speed control)

Configuration

Description

When enabled, totally changes the way how the  AE PROGRAM  button works. The predefined AE programs will disappear and in their place you will see these three new modes:

1. AEA (manual aperture control)
2. AES (manual shutter speed control)
3. [MOON] symbol (I do not know what this one is good for)

When disabled, the predefined AE programs will come back on-line again.

Affected functionality

•  AE PROGRAM  button will show AEA / AES / [MOON] instead of the usual options
• access to normal AE presets is disabled

Usage

1. Enable alternative settings.
2. Press  AE PROGRAM .
3. Roll  THUMB WHEEL  to select one of the three modes:
   • AEA is the manual aperture control (see the notes below)
   • AES is the manual shutter speed control
   • [MOON] is - well, actually, I do not know! Please e-mail me if you do.
4. Push  THUMB WHEEL  to acknowledge your selection.
5. Roll  THUMB WHEEL  to adjust the values.
6. Push  THUMB WHEEL  again to acknowledge your selection.
7. Press  AE PROGRAM . to exit.

Notes

• AEA mode adjustments works erratically. When adjusting aperture, the numeric values may jump or freeze unpredictably.
• You cannot access predefined AE Programs (BEACH, SKI etc.) while this mode is enabled.

Confirmed to work on

• DCR-TRV210E

1394 input mode (DV-in)

Configuration

Description

When enabled, allows inputting DV data to camcorder via i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 connector. The input mode will be active at all times when a DV cable is connected, except when playing back tapes.

Note: When disabled, allows transcoding analog signals directly over the 1394 interface - in real time, without recording to tape first. You understood it right: this means that your video camera can double as a real-time video digitizer! (Of course this only works on models that have analog inputs in the first place. All D8 models do.)

Affected functionality

• i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 connector will accept DV data
• While DV cable is connected to camcorder,
  • i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 connector will be set to input mode, except when playing back tapes.
  • s-video and composite video connectors will be set to forced output mode

Usage

1. Enable 1394 input mode.
2. Plug in the DV cable.
3. Start sending DV data over the cable.
4. You can now monitor DV picture on the LCD screen, on the viewfinder or via the analog connectors.
5. If you have set your camcorder in VTR mode, you can also record DV data on tape.

Notes

• The default setting for 1394 input mode is
  • 'disabled' for the nEUtered models.
  • 'enabled' for the others
• 2nd generation D8 camcorders have a menu option for setting this bit (would anyone please tell me the exact name of that menu and menu item?), so there is probably no need to touch this setting at all on them
• Enabling this mode makes it impossible to transcode analog signals to i.Link/Firewire/IEEE-1394 port in real time since the analog connectors turn to outputs each time you plug in a DV cable. If you want to regain this real-time transcoding ability, you must disable the 1394 input mode.
• If you want to record DV data from an outside source, enabling this mode alone is not enough. You must also set the camcorder to VTR mode.

Confirmed to work on

• DCR-TRV210E

See also

• Player / VTR mode (enable recording)