Description

LaserDisc is an optical disc technology, and looks like a very large CD-ROM. It was envisioned to be the future of Multimedia and was backed by amongst others Sony, Philips and Pioneer. While Philips never did anything with MSX and LaserDisc, Pioneer launched several MSX computers with integrated LaserDisc control ability, and various LaserDisc players.

While LaserDisc capable MSX systems from Pioneer were available in Japan, Europe and the US, commercially available software for the system was only published in Japan from 1984-1986 by the LaserDisc Corporation, a Pioneer subsidiary.

Sony created the S-Link protocol which can control all kinds of its AV (Audio-Video) devices, not only LaserDisc players, and released only in Japan a MSX1 system using it.

Later, Sony released exclusively in Europe a series of professional MSX2 computers with LaserDisc support, but no compatible software has been publicly released. One possible explanation is that this support was only used in-house by large media organisations which used these systems.

Hardware

MSX systems with LaserDisc support

The below MSX systems have LaserDisc support, however since every single LaserDisc published for MSX is in NTSC format for the Pioneer systems, it is highly recommended to get a Japanese MSX system to play LaserDiscs.

LaserDisc Interfaces for MSX

MSX compatible LaserDisc players

Players compatible with MSX1 Pioneer system

DIN-8 connector marked

Any LaserDisc player should work with the 8-pin U-DIN connector pictured.

A JC-303 cable is required to connect to the the DIN 45326 type 8B connector of the Pioneer MSX1 computer or ER-101 Expansion Processor unit.

In addition, since every single LaserDisc for the MSX is in NTSC format, it is required to get a NTSC player if you want to run any of the MSX titles. Here's a list of players with the special I/O connector:

(*) The PAL version, released in Europe, does not have the required connector.
(**) The NTSC-J version, released in Japan, does not have the required connector.

Players compatible with MSX2 Pioneer system

DB-15 connector marked

Many Pioneer players support LaserDisc through a special DB-15 interface connector.

A CC-03 cable is required to connect to the Pioneer UC-V102 DB-25 RS-232 connector.

You can also use Pioneer and Sony players with a DB-25 RS-232 connector. The list below is limited to a few examples.

Players compatible with MSX1 Sony system

S-Control connector marked

The compatible players have a S-Control connector.

It seems to be present on most (or all?) Sony MDP players. MDP = Multi Disc Player.

Players compatible with MSX2 Sony system

Many players support LaserDisc through a RS-232 port with a DB-25 connector. The list below is limited to a few examples.

LaserDisc software for MSX

(*) Box with 5 LaserDiscs (2 lessons per LD)
(**) Box with 2 LaserDiscs (2 lessons per LD)
(***) LaserDisc + tape