BCD VC-16a  &  BCD VC-16b*
Versatile Interactive DVD Controllers
for Museums, Exhibits, Displays, Trade Shows...
* Multiple Unit Control
VC-16b: Click Here
Reader's Choice Platinum Award fromAV Video & MultiMedia Producer Magazine - 2002
VC-16 Wins Platinum Readers Choice Award from AV Video & Multimedia Producer Magazine!

More than a
DVD Exhibit Controller !
BCD VC-16a
Front of BCD VC-16a DVD Controller

Rear view of BCD VC-16a DVD Controller
In Stock & Shipping.
The Most Versatile BCD VC-16a
DVD Controller
PDF VC-16a Operations Manual

BCD VC-16b

The BCD VC16b
For Consumer machines. We took out the second serial port, so it only controls Infrared machines. It has 16 inputs for your buttons, and as an option, 8 of them can be configured as TTL outputs. Same user-programmable macro commands. Same set of IR controllable machines.
VC-16b Info Page
VC-16B Spec Sheet (pdf)
VC-16b Museum Brochure (pdf)
Pushbutton Control of your DVD Player !
Create (and save) your own Macro Commands !
  • Push Button Control of Consumer & Industrial DVD Players
    (Use your own buttons or our Large, Deluxe, Industrial Buttons.
    Also available: Illuminated Buttons, Assembled Control Panels, and
    Complete Kiosk Enclosures.)
  • 16 Contact Inputs
    (for buttons or TTL control)
  • 8 GPI Contact Outputs (VC-16a)
    (for LEDs or TTL relay output)
  • IR Output for All Players
  • RS-232 Serial Control Output (VC-16a) for Pioneer & Philips Industrial Players
  • Optional Real-Time Clock Control w/battery backup (VC-16a)
  • Field Flash Programmable
  • Non-Volatile Flash Memory
    (web/email updates for added features)
  • No Computer Needed for Operation!
VC-16a I/O Descriptions            VC-16a Preliminary Hook-Up Manual (PDF)

DVD Authoring Tips for pushbutton displays.         Compare BCD Products

Rugged Industrial-Quality Design

Exhibit Managers have asked us for a simple DVD exhibit controller to perform simple tasks:
  • "Make the DVD play a specific scene when the user presses a button."
  • "Let us use ordinary pushbuttons for the Arrow and Enter keys."
  • "Operate DVD changers for our massive video collection."
The VC-16a & VC-16b DVD Controller does just that. The VC-16a controls either industrial or consumer DVD players, and the VC-16b controls consumer machines. The BCD controller detects the press of your own push buttons and sends the corresponding command to the DVD player.

It can even send multiple commands (Macros) on your command. For example, with a numeric menu, Sony DVD players require the sequence <Number> followed by <Enter>. The VC-16a does that automatically when your user presses your doorbell button.

  • Simple Play
    • Play the "Attract Loop" until someone presses the button.
      Attract repeat is part of the DVD disc programming.
    • Play the important video scene, then return to the attract loop.
  • Numbered Play
    • Play segment #'x' when presses the #'x' button.
      (Segments are menu items, numbered according to the disc authoring system.)
Preset Commands
Even though all 16 buttons are user-programmable, one has to start somewhere! There are currently 16 pre-programmed commands, one for each pair of contacts:
  • General Navigation:
    Step Up(arrow up), Step Down, Step Left, Step Right, Enter/OK, Return, Previous, & Next.
  • Numeric:
    1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
RS-232 Commands:
Your computer program can send BCD Commands via its serial port to control the VC-16a, which then controls the machine. Current commands for all machines are: Stop, Play, Fast Forward/ScanF, Rewind/ScanR, Pause, Step Fwd, Record, Slow Fwd, Next, Previous, Return, Enter, Up (Arrow), Down, Left, Right, Menu, Top Menu(Title), and the numerals 0-9. All BCD commands are 4-characters, terminated by Carriage Return, like PLAY. Host computer Baud Rate is 1200 - 38,400. Certain machines like the Pioneer DVD-7400 have additional commands like 'Go To Frame #'.

* Multiple Unit Control: VC-16b
Each VC-16b controls one machine, and you can connect several VC-16b Controllers together to just one serial port on your computer. The VC-16b Serial ports are Daisy-Chained together and addressed with the DECK x command. Issue DECK 6 and all subsequent commands will be accepted only by the VC-16b that controls deck #6.

User-Defined 'Buttons' (You assign commands to buttons):
Each of the 16 buttons is user-programmable. You may assign any BCD RS-232 command to a button. For example, with a DVD-7400, button 1 can be 'STIL 12345;PLAY'. This makes the DVD go to frame #12345 and begin playing from there. After defining the command with your computer/serial connection, the command SAVE will burn the command into the VC-16as non-volatile Flash ROM. No battery backup required. Current VC-16as include User-Defined 'Buttons'. Because the firmware of the VC-16a is field-upgradable via a serial cable(provided) and a computer(not provided), every VC-16a in operation today can be upgraded to have user-defined buttons.

Custom Commands: We didn't think of everything, but our customers do!. One client wanted to control other devices via our 8 TTL/GPI outputs. Another wanted 30 closed contact inputs. Enhancements and updates like this can be just an email away. Call BCD to get a quote on custom programming the 'buttons' for your specific application.


VC-16 DVD Controller " Supported Machines
Your choice of controlled-devices is growing all the time. These are machines we have tested in-house.
You specify the machine make/model when you order. If you change your mind, just download new Flash Firmware from our web site or we can email it to you.

  • Infrared: Apex AD-1010W*, Apex-1110W*, Go Video DVP-G853, Panasonic DVD L-50 portable *, Panasonic DVD CV51 5-Disc Changer*Random Access 5 DVD discs, Panasonic DVD-RV32K, Philips DVD-170 *, Philips DVD-711 *, Pioneer DVD-7400, Pioneer DV-250, Sony DVP-S330 *, Sony DVP-NC600B Changer *§, Sony DVP-CX860 Changer *§,
  • RS-232: Panasonic LQ-DRM200 Recorder, Philips DVD-170/175, Pioneer DVD-V7400,
  • RS-422 Pioneer LX1 Recorder, Misc BetaCam


*May operate other machines of the same brand.
See Player Notes for more details.
Can't find your machine in this list? Click Here and tell us what you need.



Specifications
Control Inputs
  • 16 TTL pull-down inputs, normally high(open).
    • VC-16a: Two 8-conductor ribbon connectors
    • VC-16b: One DB-25 25-pin connector
  • One RS-232 Serial Input (for Flash Programming & Computer Control of Player)
    RJ-11(6) connector
  • One RS-232 Loop-thru output for multiple device daisy-chain operation (VC-16a)
    RJ-11(6) connector
Control Outputs
  • (VC-16a only) RS-232 output for device control: 1200 Baud - 38.4K Baud (VC-16a)
    RJ-11(6) connector
  • 8 TTL open-collector outputs (Standard VC-16a, Configurable on VC-16b)
    1     8-conductor ribbon connector
  • IR Output
    1/16" sub-mini jack
VC-16a Dimensions & Pricing
  • Dimensions: 7.5" Wide, 5.25" Deep, 1.5" High
  • Weight: 12 oz.
  • Electrical: 9VDC - 14VDC, 9VDC nominal, approx 300ma
    Includes: US style 110VAC-9V wall power adapter, tip/center positive, and your choice of 9-pin or 25-pin computer serial connector.
    Pricing: MSRP $ USD
VC-16b Dimensions & Pricing
  • Dimensions: 5.062" Wide, 5.25" Deep, 1.5" High
  • Weight: 10 oz.
  • Electrical: 9VDC - 14VDC, 9VDC nominal, 200ma-225ma
    Includes: US style 110VAC-9V wall power adapter, tip/center positive, and your choice of 9-pin or 25-pin computer serial connector.
    Pricing: MSRP $ USD
Discounts available for qualified dealers, qualifying museums and institutions. Call for details

OEM quantity board units available without case & power supply.
Inquire with oem@bcdusa.com