Monitor Control Command Set
VESA standard for binary monitor control protocol.
The Monitor Control Command Set (MCCS) is a VESA standard that uses a binary protocol to let a host device—like a PC or set-top box—adjust a monitor’s settings. It needs a two-way communication link, such as Display Data Channel, but the standard itself doesn’t pick a specific protocol.
Commands in MCCS are called virtual control panel (VCP) codes, each with a variable number of data parameters and attributes. The standard groups these controls into several categories: factory preset (restoring defaults for color, geometry, brightness/contrast, TV settings, and storing/restoring presets), color adjustment (color temperature, hue, saturation), geometry adjustment (CRT-specific settings like parallelogram and pincushion), and image adjustment (orientation, degauss, gamma, zoom, focus, brightness/contrast, backlight). Input source selection is also possible via VCP commands; some monitors only accept these from the active input, while others accept them from any connected source.
Controls fall into three types: continuous (C), allowing any value from zero to a maximum; non-continuous (NC), supporting only a limited set of values; and table (T), for large data blocks. Each control can be read-write (RW), read-only (RO), or write-only (WO). A monitor advertises its supported controls through capability strings.
The original MCCS version 1 came out on September 11, 1998. Version 2, released October 17, 2003, was a major update that added support for flat panels, the VESA DPVL standard, TV controls, and multi-window management, plus new VCP classes for asset management, secondary displays, and remote processor calls. Version 2, Revision 1 (May 28, 2005) brought minor updates and clarifications. Version 3 (July 27, 2006) was another major revision but saw little industry adoption. The latest V2 release is version 2.2a, adopted in January 2011.
- Developer
- Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA)
- Original release
- September 11, 1998
- Latest version
- 2.2a (adopted January 2011)
- Major updates
- Version 2 (October 17, 2003), Version 2 Revision 1 (May 28, 2005), Version 3 (July 27, 2006)
Lore & Background
The original MCCS standard version 1 was released on September 11, 1998. MCCS Version 2 was released on October 17, 2003, as a major update that provided support for flat panel displays and the VESA DPVL (Digital Packet Video Link) standard. It added a range of television controls and introduced individual control of multiple windows on a display, along with new classes of VCP codes for asset management, secondary displays, and remote program calls. MCCS Version 2, Revision 1 was released on May 28, 2005, with minor updates, clarifications, and improved usability. MCCS Version 3, released on July 27, 2006, was a major revision introducing significant changes, but saw very little industry support. The latest release of the V2 standard is version 2.2a, adopted January 2011.
The standard defines a virtual control panel (VCP) code as a binary code representing a single command entity. Each command contains a variable number of data parameters and command attributes. Controls are grouped into categories: factory preset (restoring defaults, storing/restoring presets), color adjustment (color temperature, hue, saturation), geometry adjustment (CRT display geometry such as parallelogram and pincushion), and image adjustment (display orientation, degauss, gamma, zoom, focus, brightness/contrast, backlight control). Input source selection is possible via a VCP command; some monitors accept VCP commands only from the active input source, while others accept from any connected source.
Three categories of controls exist: Continuous (C), allowing values between zero and a maximum; Non-continuous (NC), supporting only a limited set of values; and Table (T), for large blocks of data. Control data may be read and write (RW), read-only (RO), or write-only (WO). The display exposes its supported internal controls via capability strings.
Reader's Guide
MCCS is significant as a VESA standard that provides a unified binary protocol for host-to-monitor control, enabling software-based adjustment of display properties such as brightness, contrast, color, geometry, and input source selection. Its reliance on a bidirectional protocol like Display Data Channel ensures communication between host and display, though the specification remains protocol-agnostic. The standard's version history reflects evolving display technology: Version 2 added support for flat panel displays and television controls, while Version 3 introduced major changes but failed to gain industry adoption. The latest widely supported version is 2.2a from January 2011. MCCS defines a structured command system using VCP codes, with controls categorized by function (factory preset, color, geometry, image) and by data type (continuous, non-continuous, table). The ability to read and write control data, along with capability strings exposed by displays, allows host devices to query and configure monitor settings dynamically. The standard's legacy lies in its role as a foundational protocol for monitor control, though its Version 3 revision saw little industry uptake.
Did You Know?
- MCCS was developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).
- MCCS Version 3, released July 27, 2006, introduced significant changes but saw very little industry support.
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