Using Visca to Control a PTZ Camera From Aximmetry

Introduction

Starting from version 2023.2.0, Aximmetry can natively control PTZ cameras using the Visca protocol. This document discusses how to achieve this. It also lists the currently available commands and their respective settings.

Setting Up Visca for Controlling Cameras

Open the Manage Devices... menu.
NOTE: If you just started Aximmetry Composer and you are at the Aximmetry Startup Configuration Window, click on the Manage Devices... button. If you already running Aximmetry Composer, go to Edit\Manage Devices...

Scroll down to the bottom and select Visca under Camera Controllers, then click Add...:

Specify the target camera's Hostname (IP address) and the Port number. Click OK when you are ready to Add a new Visca Channel, then click OK again to save the changes in the Manage Devices menu:

Sending Commands From Aximmetry

To send commands to the camera from Aximmetry use the Camera Controller module.

Below is a list of the pins of this module and their description:

Device

Here you can select the Device you want to control. Only devices previously added in the Manage Devices menu are listed here.

Command

The Command allows you to choose the type of command you want to transmit.

Params

Param 1-4 are the values you want to set the camera for.

NOTE: The range of supported values depends on the type of command you choose. See the list at the bottom of this document.
NOTE: Depending on the type of command, you may not need these parameters at all, or you may need to provide values for Param 1, Param 1 and 2, Param 1-2-3, or Param 1-2-3, and 4 too. This is specified in the list at the bottom of this document in the column Number of parameters used.

Auto Send

Turning ON Auto Send means that the Camera Controller module automatically updates every change of value towards the camera.
NOTE: It is recommended to use this feature if you want to control the camera in real-time.

Send

Send allows for manually triggering the commands towards the camera.
NOTE: It is recommended to use this feature if you want to use the settings as presets or in cases where the Param 1-4 pins are not used (e.g. Zoom Tele, Zoom Wide, etc.)

List of Commands

The following table contains the supported Visca commands and how Aximmetry interprets parameters.
NOTE: In the Command cases, where the Number of parameters used is "-", use the Send pin on the Camera Controller module to Trigger the command.