William C. McCain - Independent Software Vendor
SAVR3 Adapter
SAVR3 Adapter
by BlackBoxDesigns

Connects Your Computer
to Sony CD Mega-Changers

We sell software products called Music Library and Disc Library that control CD changers attached to a USB or RS232 serial port (also known as a COM port) on your computer. The most popular high-capacity CD changers are the 200-disc, 300-disc, and 400-disc "carousel" models made by Sony.
To attach a Sony CD mega-changer to a serial (COM) port, you need an adapter. The adapter converts the Sony-proprietary bi-directional "S-Link" protocol (also known as Control-A1 or Control-A1 II) into a standard serial protocol. The most readily available adapter on the market today is called the "SAVR3", successor to the popular "SAVR" and "SAVR2" adapters, and it is made by BlackBoxDesigns. In the past, there have been other such adapters from other manufacturers, including Sony, but as far as we know none of them are in current production.

The SAVR3 uses one COM port on your computer and it has three S-Link ports (Ch. A, Ch. B, and Ch. C) for attaching Sony CD changers. (With the original SAVR, only two of these ports could be used to control Sony CD changers.) These ports can also be used to control other Sony devices with one-way (output only) "wired IR" signals (which Sony calls Control-S). Each S-Link port on the SAVR3 can control up to three Sony CD changers, so a total of up to nine Sony CD changers can be attached to a single SAVR3 on a single COM port. (Recommended maximum is two CD changers per port, for a total of up six Sony CD changers per SAVR3.)

Like the original SAVR and SAVR2, the SAVR3 uses the computer's COM port more efficiently than previous S-Link adapter products, as it operates at a higher serial data rate (57600 bps). Also, the SAVR3 is considerably less expensive than other such products that have been marketed in the past.

Notes:

  • The SAVR3 has been improved over the SAVR2 by being "hardened" against failure due to voltage spikes and electromagnetic interference (EMI). The SAVR3 also adds built-in support for one-way IR flashing control for Sony and other brands of consumer electronics devices.

  • Our software products support bi-directional hard-wired Control-A1 only, and only for control of Sony CD changers (and, optionally, a DXS digital audio switch). We do not support one-way hard-wired Control-S, or the one-way IR flashing capability of the SAVR3.

Product Includes: A USB cable or an RS232 cable (your choice) and a 120-volt AC power adapter.

S-Link cables are not included. For S-Link cables, use shielded cables with 1/8" mono mini-plugs on each end. A good choice is a cable sold at Radio Shack as an "audio cable" (Catalog No. 42-2420).


SAVR3 Price:    USB Version $99.00 plus price of software (bundled with Music Library or Disc Library)
 
RS232 Version $94.00 plus price of software (bundled with Music Library or Disc Library)
 
In stock!  Updated to work with Sony CDP-CX355!
Click Here to Order CD Mega Changer sales@metaconnect.com
About Music Library Version 2.5
User Guide

Music Library Interactive Demo  •  Music Library Screen Shots  •  William C. McCain
William C. McCain Independent Software Vendor Music Library Version 2.5