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director of photography, peter gray, dp, cinematography, dop, cinematographers, lighting cameraman, videographers, dv, high definition, 24p, digital films, HDW-F900, CineAlta, Varicam, AJ-HDC27F, Viper, 70mm, independent films, lighting directors, filmmakers, filmmaking, HDW-700ASetting the internal menus in the Sony RM-B150 remote "paint box"
The RM-B150 remote unit incorporates what is known as the "RM Configuration Menu". This is an internal menu structure within the unit itself, often over looked in the field. As will be explained, it is used for setting various parameters for using the remote, and also to determine the range and function of various knobs and switches on the front of the unit. The menu structure is divided into two sections, namely BASIC MENU and DETAIL MENU. TO SELECT THE BASIC MENU: Push the RM Configuration switch downwards. This is the little toggle switch just to the right of the rotary encoder under the plastic flip-down lid on the end of the unit. The little green display above this switch will show "Cbl Comp", which is the first category of the Basic Menu. LEN: This item specifies the length of the cable to the RM-B150 for the cable compensation circuit. The options are 10 meters or approximately 33 feet, 50 meters or approximately 165 feet, and 100 meters or approximately 330 feet. Choose the option closest to the RM-B150 cable length in actual use. I assume this is a compensation for loss of signal strength (or voltage drop) when using longer cable lengths. 100 meters is the maximum cable length recommended for this unit. BRIGHT: The next item sets the level of brightness of the LED's on the front panel. The range is 10 to 99 with a factory default of 50. Set to a higher number for day exterior use, and a lower number for a darkened environment. Disp: This item sets the level of brightness for the green menu display. The range is 10 to 99 with a factory default of 50. Set to a higher number for day exterior use, and a lower number for a darkened environment. Lvl: This item sets the level for the volume for the unit's buzzer. The range is 10 to 99 with a factory default of 50. Set to a higher number for a noisy environment, or a lower number for a quieter environment. Out: This turns the buzzer either ON or OFF. Normally set to ON, unless it might cause a disturbance while shooting etc.
TO SELECT THE DETAIL MENU: While holding the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right (or towards the ENTER position), simultaneously push the RM Configuration switch downwards. Once again, this is the little toggle switch just to the right of the rotary encoder under the plastic flip-down lid on the end of the unit. The small green display above this switch will show "Mode Set", which is the first category of the Detail Menu. Mode Set has two items: Act: Options are Md2 or Md3. For Md2, each time the ACTIVE button is pressed, it toggles between FULL and LOCK. For Md3, each time the ACTIVE button is pressed, it toggles between FULL, PART,and LOCK. The default is Md3. In FULL mode, all controls on the unit are enabled, and the ACTIVE led and the IRIS/MB ACTIVE led are both lit. In PART mode, only the MASTER BLACK and the IRIS controls are active. In this state, the ACTIVE led goes dark while the IRIS/MB ACTIVE led stays lit. In LOCK mode, all controls on the remote are disabled and no adjustments can be made whatsoever. In this state, the ACTIVE led and the IRIS/MB ACTIVE led both go dark. FltMax: Defines the default number of ND (Neutral Density) and CC (Color Correction) on-board camera filters. The default is 5, but most camcorders have 4 levels of filters, so this should be set to 4 in most cases. The next category is Gain SW which has 4 sub-groups: L (RM): Options for levels of gain, in 3dB steps, are: -3,0,3,6,9,12,15,18, up to 42dB Maximum. When set to Mode = RM (Remote) as shown below, the camera gain is set according to the position of the gain switch on the RM-B150 remote unit only (and completely overrides the gain switch on the camcorder itself). In this case, the LOW position on the RM-B150 is set according to the value selected in this menu. M (RM): Options for levels of gain, in 3dB steps, are: -3,0,3,6,9,12,15,18, up to 42dB Maximum. When set to Mode = RM (Remote) as shown below, the camera gain is set according to the position of the gain switch on the RM-B150 remote unit only (and completely overrides the gain switch on the camcorder itself). In this case, the MID position on the RM-B150 is set according to the value selected in this menu. H (RM): Options for levels of gain, in 3dB steps, are: -3,0,3,6,9,12,15,18, up to 42dB Maximum. When set to Mode = RM (Remote) as shown below, the camera gain is set according to the position of the gain switch on the RM-B150 remote unit only (and completely overrides the gain switch on the camcorder itself). In this case, the HIGH position on the RM-B150 is set according to the value selected in this menu. Mode: Options are RM (Remote) and CAM (Camera). When set to RM, the level of camera gain is determined by the position of the gain switch on the RM-B150 remote unit only. This is regardless of the GAIN L/M/H switch position on the camcorder itself (so completely overriding the gain switch on the camcorder). The next category is SW Setup: AtKnee: This assigns the function of the AUTO KNEE button. When set to "AtKnee" (the default) it can be used to turn the Auto Knee function either ON (when lit) or OFF (when dark). But you can re-assign the button to turn either Knee Saturation ("KneeSat"), or Black Gamma ("BlkGamma"), or Skin Detail ("SkinDtl") either ON (when lit) or OFF (when dark). Test: This selects the type of test signal output when the OUTPUT selector (CAM/BARS/TEST) is switched to the TEST position. Position #1 = Gamma-waveform signal, and the #1 position is the default. Position #2 = Three-value staircase signal. Position #3 = Ten-value staircase signal. The next category is VR Setup: The first three sub-categories assigns a selectable function to each of the knobs labeled "KNEE", "M GAMMA" and "DETAIL" on the front of the unit. Knee, Master Gamma, and Detail are the default assignments, but other functions can be assigned to these particular knobs in this menu, as follows: Knee: This knob can be assigned to control (1) Knee, (2) Slope, (3) Knee Saturation, (4) M-VMS or Master V Modulation Shading Adjustment, (5) Master Gamma, (6) Black Gamma, (7) Detail, or (8) Skin Detail. KNEE is the default. The next sub-menu item Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via this knob is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. M Gamma: This knob can be assigned to control (1) Knee, (2) Slope, (3) Knee Saturation, (4) M-VMS or Master V Modulation Shading Adjustment, (5) Master Gamma, (6) Black Gamma, (7) Detail, or (8) Skin Detail. M GAMMA is the default. The next sub-menu item Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via this knob is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. Detail: This knob can be assigned to control (1) Knee, (2) Slope, (3) Knee Saturation, (4) M-VMS or Master V Modulation Shading Adjustment, (5) Master Gamma, (6) Black Gamma, (7) Detail, or (8) Skin Detail. DETAIL is the default. The next sub-menu item Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via this knob is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. White: Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via the R & B WHITE control knobs is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. Black: Item: Black or Flare - This assigns a selectable function to the R & B Black Control knobs, either BLACK for Black Balance Adjustment, or FLARE for Flare balance adjustment. Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via the R & B BLACK control knobs, is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. M Black: Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via the MASTER BLACK control knob is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. Iris: Ctrl determines if the adjustment values are displayed as Rel or Relative values, or as Abs or Absolute values. If you select Relative mode, the next sub-menu item Scal determine if the range of adjustment via the MASTER BLACK control knob is the full range [1/1], or half the available range [1/2], or a quarter the available range [1/4]. Min sets the smallest aperture allowed in Absolute mode. Cls = closed. Max sets the largest aperture allowed in Absolute mode. Mode: RM: In RM Mode, the iris can be set by turning the dial on the RM-B150, and can be adjusted between the minimum and maximum apertures defined in this menu above. CAM allows automatic exposure adjustments on the camera itself, if the camera and lens is equipped with this facility. The next category is RM Diag: System - COM: This shows the communication status of the command port, or the status of the connection to the camcorder. OK = normal communication, Sens = failure to communicate, and Open = the cable is not connected, or the connectors are not plugged together securely. Obj: Shows the type of device connected to the RM-B150. "----" is none, "CHU" is a camera head, "CCU" is a Camera Control Unit, and "CNU" is a Camera Network Unit. DIP SW: S1-1: ON or OFF - Shows DIP switch S1-1 status (S1=CPU-266 board S1) Pnl Test: This executes a "Panel Test" routine, or a test sequence of the functionality of the whole unit. In the test mode, a check of the switches, LED's, and the units volume is performed. To launch the test sequence, push the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right towards the ENTER position, while this sub-menu is displayed i.e. while "Pnl Test" is displayed). To cancel the test sequence while in progress, hold the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right towards the ENTER position, while simultaneously pushing the RM Configuration switch upwards. Once again, this is the little toggle switch just to the right of the rotary encoder under the plastic flip-down lid on the end of the unit. Version: This options is used to display the ROM version of the internal software. To display the version information, push the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right towards the ENTER position, while this sub-menu is displayed (i.e. while "Version" is displayed). To cancel the version information, push the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the left towards the CANCEL position. Preset: option - AllReset. This resets all menus discussed above to their factory default settings in a single operation. To reset all menus, push and hold the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right towards the ENTER position, while this sub-menu is displayed (i.e. while "Preset" is displayed)and while simultaneously pushing the RM Configuration switch downwards. If done correctly, "AllReset" flashes on the display. Again push the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right towards the ENTER position, and "OK?" flashes on the display. Finally, push the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the right towards the ENTER position again, and the reset operation is executed. When the operation is complete, the word "Complete" appears on the display for several seconds. If you decide to abandon the resetting operation, push the CANCEL/ENTER switch to the left towards the CANCEL position, instead of ENTER, in any of the earlier steps.
Peter Gray
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