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Discrete input selection means sending a command to choose one specific audiovisual input—such as HDMI 2—instead of pressing a control that cycles through inputs. The distinction matters when setting up a remote-control macro: a direct command can select the intended source without relying on which input the TV is currently using.
Discrete selection versus cycling through inputs
The difference is what the command targets. A discrete command names a particular input. A cyclic command, often called a toggle, moves to another input from the device’s current position.
| Method | What the command does | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Discrete selection | Selects a named input directly, such as Video 1 or Video 2. | The device or control system must support a working command for that input. |
| Cyclic selection | Advances through inputs, usually one step at a time. | The current input and the number of steps needed to reach the desired one. |
For example, Control4 describes a compatible television being controlled with separate commands for Video 1, Video 2, and Video 3, rather than a single command that toggles between them: Control4 Composer Pro help.
Why direct selection can help with remote macros
A macro may turn on a TV, switch on an audio device, and select the source needed for an activity. If it uses a toggle command, the result can depend on the TV’s starting input: the same number of button presses may land on different sources. A direct-selection command avoids that state-tracking step when it is available and works as intended.
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Philips’ Prestigo manual distinguishes cyclic selection using an A/V button from controls that directly select a particular source. It recommends using discrete input selection where possible to make macros more reliable. The manual also advises trying the available input commands and checking the TV’s response, because the remote’s command names may differ from the input labels shown by the television: Philips SRT9230 manual.
How to check whether it works with your equipment
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Look in the remote or control system’s device-command list for individual input commands, not just an A/V or input-toggle command.
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Try the command for the source you want while the TV is on. Confirm that the displayed input changes to the intended source.
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Test the command from more than one starting input. A direct-selection command should reach the same named source without requiring you to count how many inputs away it is.
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Run the macro from the states you expect to encounter, including when the TV is already on the desired input. If an individual command is unavailable or does not work reliably, use the device’s supported alternative rather than assuming that the label guarantees compatibility.
Support varies by television and control system. The fact that a programmable system offers separate input commands does not by itself establish that every TV will respond to them.
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Discrete input selection in other technical contexts
The phrase can mean something different outside audiovisual control. For example, Emerson’s process-control documentation describes an input-selector function block whose discrete DISABLE inputs enable or disable associated input channels. That is not the same as choosing a TV source with a remote: Emerson DLC3020f instruction manual.
There is also a product-specific AV example in Kramer’s SID-X1 documentation, which describes discrete input switching over RS-232 for HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA. Those commands apply to that product and should not be taken as a universal method for other devices: Kramer SID-X1 white paper.
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