DB15M - 15 pin male connector
The JVC DB15M connector is a 15-pin D-subminiature male interface found on JVC consumer video tape recorder (VTR) decks produced during the mid-1980s. It carries composite video, chroma, hue, and setup (pedestal) signals alongside deck-control lines such as Operate/Bypass and Freeze, enabling external editing controllers to govern playback and recording functions. Professional JVC models of the same era (such as the BR-8600U) used larger 45-pin remote connectors, so this DB-15 interface is specific to the consumer and semi-professional editing range. The interface is proprietary and no official JVC specification was published.
| Pin | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | ? |
| 2 | +12VDC |
| 3 | GND |
| 4 | Video |
| 5 | Chroma |
| 6 | Hue |
| 7 | Setup |
| 8 | ? |
| 9 | ? |
| 10 | Operate/Bypass |
| 11 | Freeze |
| 12 | ? |
| 13 | ? |
| 14 | ? |
| 15 | ? |
Notes
- The connector shell is a standard DB-15 (DE-15 in IEC nomenclature) male D-sub; the mating female socket is on the editing controller or accessory device.
- Pins marked ‘?’ have unknown functions; do not assume these pins are unused or safe to ground.
- The +12 V DC on pin 2 likely provides power to an attached controller or accessory.
- The JVC DB-15 editing connector is electrically distinct from the DE-9 (9-pin) RS-422A serial interface used for professional machine control.
- Only connect equipment designed to interface with this specific JVC VTR model; incorrect connections risk damage to video circuitry.
Signals
- +12VDC — 12 V DC supply on pin 2, likely powering an attached editing controller or accessory unit.
- GND — common signal ground reference on pin 3.
- Video — composite video signal on pin 4, used by the editing controller to monitor or process the deck’s video output.
- Chroma — colour subcarrier / chrominance component on pin 5.
- Hue — hue (colour phase) control or reference signal on pin 6.
- Setup — video setup (pedestal) level signal or adjustment line on pin 7.
- Operate/Bypass — deck-control line on pin 10; switches the VTR between normal operating mode and a bypass (pass-through) state under external control.
- Freeze — deck-control line on pin 11; commands the VTR to hold (freeze) the current video frame during playback or editing.