Cross-platform PCLK-MN10 USB device control.
This project isn't a driver as such, but it does contain enough to control some hi-fi equipment, when connected appropriately to a PCLK device, for example turning it on or off! I intend to map as many functions of the link as is useful to me (and others, if they care to help) until I get bored. I do not intend for this to become well-written software at any stage(!) Despite huge gaps between updates, this is likely to continue to be updated for as long as I still have working PCLK equipment.
Requirements:
- Python 3.x (tested on 3.6+)
- PyUSB >= 2.x
- libusb >= 1.0.recent
- An OS with USB support that run all of the above:
- Linux should work out of the box with
libusb - MacOS might also require
libusb, probably frombrew - Windows WFM with the magic of Zadig / libusbK: https://zadig.akeo.ie/
- Linux should work out of the box with
Additional requirements, if you want the software to actually do anything:
- A PCLK-MN10, PCLK-MN10a or PCLK-MN20. Possibly also known as a CAV-MN10 (and if you have a spare, please let me know!)
- A Sony hifi / MiniDisc / audio device compatible with the above such as the DHC-MD595 (also possibly MDS-PC3, or one of a handful of circa 2001 MD-only decks)
- or, for the very brave, utterly untested (by me)... any Sony hi-fi device with Control-I functionality, since it would appear that the PC-LINK port is essentially a Control-I port with power control!
What this will never control:
- transfer of audio data (one way or the other) - these devices all handle MD contents as a separate audio stream (which can be analogue or digital!) and there is no in-band audio pathway whatsoever.
- NetMD devices (they're entirely different and covered by the likes of the excellent https://wiki.physik.fu-berlin.de/linux-minidisc/doku.php / https://github.com/AlexanderS/linux-minidisc)
- Connection without a PCLK-MN10 - but that's OK... you can now build your own! https://github.com/Sir68k/pclink-i2c
What it's possible this could do in future, but probably won't unless I find some in a junk sale:
- use of hardware like the PCLK-PX1/PX2/PX3 in place of the MN10, and with some older pre-PCLK-MN10 hardware - but this would require testing with equipment I don't have.
As this project is more of a journey of understanding than a product of any sort, please see the wiki for more details / work in progress.