---
name: "dvcont"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libavc1394"
version: "0.5.4-7"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dvcont"
---

# dvcont(1)

send control commands to DV cameras

## NAME

dvcont - send control commands to DV cameras

## SYNOPSIS

**dvcont** *\<command1\>* **\[** *\<command2\>* ... **\]**

## DESCRIPTION

**dvcont** is a command line tool to send control commands via an IEEE1394 link to a device that implements the AV/C specifications by the 1394 Trade Association. Or for the non-techies: **dvcont** lets you remote control your DV camera via a Firewire cable. The following *command*s are understood:

- **dev** *\<number\>*

  Select device *number* on chain to use. (dvcont tries to automatically detect the camera. Use the **dev** command BEFORE any other commands for manual control.)

- **play**

  Tell the camera to play. If already playing, it toggles slow-motion.

- **reverse**

  Tell the camera to play in reverse. If already playing, it toggles slow-motion.

- **trickplay \< -14 to +14 \>**

  Tell the camera to play at various speeds.  0 = forward play, -14  = fastest reverse, -8 = 1X reverse, -1 = slowest reverse, 1 = slowest forward, 8 = 1X forward, 14 = fastest forward. (Not supported by all cameras.)

- **stop**

  Tell the camera to stop playing.

- **rewind**

  Tell the camera to rewind. (Use in stop or play mode.)

- **ff**

  Tell the camera to fast forward. (Use in stop or play mode.)

- **pause**

  Tell the camera to toggle pause play.

- **next**

  Tell the camera to go to the next frame. (Use in pause mode.)

- **nextindex**

  Tell the camera to search for the next scene. (Use in pause or play mode.)

- **prev**

  Tell the camera to go to the previous frame. (Use in pause mode)

- **previndex**

  Tell the camera to search for the previous scene. (Use in pause or play mode)

- **record**

  Tell the camera to record. (Use with caution!)

- **eject**

  Tell the camera to eject the tape. (Not supported by all cameras.)

- **timecode**

  Report the timecode on tape in the format HH:MM:SS:FF (hours, minutes, seconds, intra-second frames).

- **seek** *\<timecode\>*

  Tell the camera to go to the *timecode*, given in format HH:MM:SS:FF as above.

- **status**

  Report the status of the device.

- **pluginfo**

  Report available plugs.

- **verbose**

  Tell the program to tell you debug info.

- **version**

  Tell the program to tell you the program version.

- **help**

  Tell the program to show you a help screen.

## AUTHORS

**dvcont** was written by Jason Howard \<jason@spectsoft.com\> and Dan Dennedy  \<dan@dennedy.org\>.  This man page was written with the help of **help2man** by Daniel Kobras \<kobras@debian.org\> for the Debian GNU/Linux distribution (but may be used by others). Updated by Dan Dennedy \<dan@dennedy.org\>.