RS-232C
TASCAM HD-R1
Serial Control port
RS-232C Protocol Specification Document
Ver. 1.00
September 2008
TEAC Corporation
TASCAMHD-R1RS-232CProtocolSpecifications
2 TEAC Corporation
1. Overview
You can control the HD-R1 from a computer or other external device using its RS-232C port. In this document,
the HD-R1 is the controlled device, and the external device that controls it is the control device.
2. Specifications
Electrical specifications
Applicable standard JIS X-5101 (equivalent to old JIS C-6361 and EIA RS-232C)
(Not compatible with RS-422A in commercial use VCRs and other equipment)
Receiver impedance 3 KΩ or more measured at applied voltage of ±3 – ±25 V
Sender open circuit voltage ±25 V or less
Receiver open circuit voltage ±3.3 or less
Signal discrimination Logic “1” +2 V or more
Logic “0” +0.8 V or more
Transmission specifications
Circuit format Three-wire, half duplex
Transmission format Digital binary serial transmission
Data signal speed 9600 bit/sec
Character length 8 bits
Parity bit None
Stop bit 1 bit
Note: The settings are fixed for the data signal speed, character length, parity bit and stop bit. The control device
must be adjusted to match the HD-R1 settings.
Pin configuration
Connector D-sub 9-pin female (inch screw thread)
Port pin allocations and input and output signals
Pin
number
In/Out
Signal
Description
1
-
NC
Not used
2
In
Rx Data
Receive data*
3
Out
Tx Data
Send data
4
-
NC
Not used
5
-
GND
Ground
6
-
NC
Not used
7
-
NC
Not used
8
-
NC
Not used
9
-
NC
Not used
*Raise the voltage of Rx Data to comply with the RS-232C standard.
TASCAMHD-R1RS-232CProtocolSpecifications
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Controlled device (this unit) Control device
3. Command format
3.1 Command format overview
The serial protocol was designed to be able to function using common terminal programs. Therefore, all markers are
printable 8-bit ASCII characters, and the end of line marker is flexible. Unless otherwise indicated, character strings
are not case sensitive. Every message has the same structure as indicated below, but some messages do not contain all
the fields defined below.
Parameter ID: A string of 1–24 characters specifies the parameter handled, including queries. Spaces before and
after parameter character strings are ignored. Unless otherwise indicated, character strings are not case sensitive, and
do not contain equal signs, question marks or exclamation points.
Command: One character defines what the command does. This is the same for queries.
Commands include “=” (set value) and “?” (query).
Value: Strings are of 1 to 24 characters, including query values. Spaces before and after character strings are ignored.
Unless otherwise indicated, character strings do not distinguish between upper and lower case characters.
End Marker: One or two character strings. Both a carriage return followed by a line-feed (CR LF) and a line-feed
(LF) are valid. The HD-R1 always accepts either type of end marker, and it can also send them.
Below is an example of a typical message. There are no blank spaces inserted after the Parameter ID and Value
character strings, and one end marker character string is used.
TASCAMHD-R1RS-232CProtocolSpecifications
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The command format is as follows.
Parameter ID
Cmd
Value
End Marker
Character string
Input Source
=
Analog/Mic
LF
(or CR+LF)
ASCII codes
(decimal)
73 110 112 117 116 32 83 111 117 114
99 101
61
65 110 97 108 111 103 47 77
105 99
10
Conventions
In this document commands sent to the HD-R1 are indicated as follows.
Input Source?
Responses from the HD-R1 are indicated in italic.
Input Source=Analog/Mic
3.2 Explanation of command types and concrete examples
Input commands
Parameter query
When the input message command field contains a “?” (question mark), the message is a parameter query command.
If a parameter is not recognized or does not support this function, the HD-R1 will return an error message. Otherwise,
it will respond with the current value of the parameter. The following is an example of a command that requests the
current value of a parameter and the response from the HD-R1.
Input Source?
Input Source=Analog/Mic
Set parameter
When the input message contains an equal sign in the command field, the message is a set parameter command.
When the HD-R1 receives a set parameter command, it will set the parameter as requested if conditions make it
possible and the value is valid. If the parameter is set successfully, the HD-R1 will not respond. If the parameter is
not recognized or the value is not valid, it will respond with an error. Usually, character strings for the parameter IDs
and their values match the text shown on the LCD user interface screen. The following is an example of a command
that sets a parameter.
Input Source=Analog/Mic
TASCAMHD-R1RS-232CProtocolSpecifications
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Output commands
Parameter value response
When the command field of a message being set contains “=” (equal sign), the HD-R1is reporting the current value of
the parameter. Usually, character strings for parameter IDs and their values match the text shown on the LCD user
interface screen. For example:
Input Source?
Input Source=S/PDIF
Error responses
When the command field of a message being sent to it contains “?” (question mark), if the HD-R1 cannot interpret
the received message it reports an error. For example, the HD-R1 will respond as follows if it receives a parameter
query for an invalid parameter called “Blah.”
Blah?
Blah???
If the HD-R1 receives an invalid parameter set command, it will respond as follows.
Blah=Foo
Blah???Foo
Set value refusal responses
If the HD-R1 receives a parameter set command for a valid parameter, but the value is invalid, the HD-R1 will
respond with “!” (exclamation point) added to the command field.
Input Source=Blah
Input Source!Blah
If the HD-R1 receives a parameter set command for a valid parameter, but the value is missing, the HD-R1 will
respond as follows.
Input Source=
Input Source!Missing Value
Some parameters can be applied only when the transport is stopped. If you try to change one of these parameters
when the transport is not stopped, the HD-R1 responds with “*” (asterisk). For example, if you try to change the
sampling frequency while recording, the HD-R1 will respond as follows.
WAV Sample Rate=44.1 kHz
WAV Sample Rate*44.1 kHz
Special incoming commands
End markers
By sending a line feed (LF) or carriage return and line feed (CR LF), the HD-R1 can be informed of the end of a
message. The HD-R1 can accept this query or command at any time. After turning the power on, the end marker is
set to CR LF by default. The following are end marker setting commands.
End Marker=LF
End Marker=CR LF
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