Description:

This driver controls a Focus Enhancements Centerstage CS-2 video scaler. The CS-2 provides pretty much all of the modern conveniences and functions that are expected of video scalers, with SDI and DVI support, HD support, and a wide variety of resolutions.

This driver is based on the protocol description language, since it is a fairly simple protocol.

Quirks and Limitations:

Though it is yet to be confirmed with Focus Enhancements, it seems that this device, when it goes into standby mode, will not respond to anything but a power up command. This is a huge deficiency, because there is zero difference between a device that isn't responding and one that has been unplugged or run over by a paving machine. So once it stops responding, CQC thinks it is unplugged and puts the driver into offline state.

So, in order to get around this, the driver will try to turn on the device. If the device is there, it will power on and start responding. This means you won't be able to put the device into standby mode while the driver is talking to it, since the driver will turn it right back on. If FE provides some fix for this issue in the future, that would be great, and we are attempting to get some verification of this issue from them. Clearly the device is still monitoring the serial port, because it responds to a power on command.

The front panel brightness level doesn't seem to have much effect. It may be interacting with the auto-dimming feature, which adjusts the level according to room brightness? This will be explored.

Connection Details

The CS-2 uses a serial connection. It runs at a quite high speed for it's very light protocol at 57600 baud, at 8 bits, no parity, and one stop bit. Each command only requires six bytes, so the speed is more than sufficient to keep up.

It uses a standard straight through cable, and a 3 wire connection is sufficient, though a standard full 9 wire is fine also.

• Note that the device supports two baud rates, 9600 and 57600. This is controlled via a menu item in the Miscellaneous menu. The driver only supports the 57600 speed, since it doesn't make sense to use the slower speed. So you must insure your box is set up for this speed.

Driver Fields

This section lists the fields that the driver makes available, their types, minimum and maximum values, etc...

Name	Type	R/W	Description/Limits
Brightness	Int	R/W	Read or set the brightness level. It must be from -50 to +50.
Contrast	Int	R/W	Read or set the contrast level. It must be from -50 to +50.
FPLevel	String	R/W	Read or set the brightness level of the front panel. It is an enumerated string which must be set to one of the following values: Full, Med-High, Med-Low, Off
Input	String	W	Read or set input which is to be monitored. This is an enumerated field which must be set to one of the following values: Composite A, Composite B, S-Video A, S-Video B, YUV A, YUV B, RGB A, RGB B, RGBs A, RGBs B, Prog RGB, Prog YUV, DVI, SDI, Passthrough
InputAR	String	R/W	Read or set the input aspect ratio. This is an enumerated field which must be set to one of the following values: 16x9, 4x3, 4x3LB
OutputAR	String	R/W	Read or set the output aspect ratio. This is an enumerated field which must be set to one of the following values:  16x9, 4x3, Anamorphic
Saturation	Int	R/W	Read or set the saturation level. It must be from -50 to +50.
Tint	Int	R/W	Read or set the tint level. It must be from -50 to +50.
VideoMode	String	R/W	Read or set the video processing mode. This is an enumerated field which must be set to one of the following values: Video, Film