3-861-925-11 (2) Video Cassette Recorder Operating Instructions PAL NTSC 4.
WARNING To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture. To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only. Mains lead must only be changed at qualified service shop. Precautions Safety • This unit operates on 220 – 240 V AC, 50 Hz. Check that the unit’s operating voltage is identical with your local power supply.
Table of contents Getting Started Step 1: Unpacking Step 2: Setting up the remote commander Step 3: Connecting the VCR Step 4: Tuning your TV to the VCR Step 5: Setting up the VCR with the Auto Set Up function Step 6: Setting the clock Manual setup — Selecting a language, Presetting channels Basic Operations 21 Playing a tape 24 Recording TV programmes 28 Recording TV programmes using the timer Additional Operations 32 Playing/searching at various speeds 35 Recording TV programmes using the quick timer 36
Getting Started Step 1 Unpacking Check that you have received the following items with the VCR: • Remote commander • R6 (size AA) batteries 4 Getting Started • Aerial cable
Step 2 Setting up the remote commander Inserting the batteries Getting Started Insert two R6 (size AA) batteries by matching the + and – on the batteries to the diagram inside the battery compartment. Insert the negative (–) end first, then push in and down until the positive (+) end clicks into position. Using the remote commander You can use this remote commander to operate this VCR and a Sony TV. Buttons on the remote commander marked with a dot (•) can be used to operate your Sony TV.
Step 2 : Setting up the remote commander (continued) ON/STANDBY OK MENU WIDE FASTEXT buttons TV/VIDEO DISPLAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 CURSOR >/.
Press Use FASTEXT FASTEXT buttons Call up on-screen display DISPLAY Change the Teletext page √/◊ Operate TV menu options MENU CURSOR >/./?// OK Switch to/from wide mode of a Sony wide TV (For other manufacture’s wide TV, see “Controlling other TVs with the remote commander” below.) WIDE Notes • With normal use, the batteries should last about three to six months.
Step 2 : Setting up the remote commander (continued) Code numbers of controllable TVs If more than one code number is listed, try entering them one at a time until you find the one that works with your TV. To make wide mode settings, see the footnotes below this table for the applicable code numbers. Manufacturer Sony Aiwa Akai Blaupunkt Brionvega C.G.
Step 3 Connecting the VCR Getting Started AERIAL IN AERIAL OUT Mains lead AERIAL IN to mains Aerial cable (supplied) : Signal flow 1 Disconnect the aerial cable from your TV AERIAL and connect it to AERIAL IN on the rear ANTENNE IN ENTREE panel of the VCR. OUT SORTIE 2 AERIAL ANTENNE Connect AERIAL OUT of the VCR and IN the aerial input of your TV using the ENTREE supplied aerial cable. OUT SORTIE 3 Connect the mains lead to the mains.
Step 3 : Connecting the VCR (continued) Additional connections This additional connection improves picture and sound quality. Connect the TV as shown below. Whenever you want to watch the VCR picture, press TV/VIDEO to display the VIDEO indicator in the display window. To a TV that has a EURO-AV (Scart) connector If your TV has a EURO-AV (Scart) connector, connect your TV by using VMC-2121 EURO-AV cable as shown on the right.
Step 4 Tuning your TV to the VCR If you have connected the VCR to your TV using the EURO-AV cable, skip this step. Getting Started ON/STANDBY PROGRAM +/– RF CHANNEL 1 ON/STANDBY 2 Press ON/STANDBY to turn on the VCR. Press RF CHANNEL on the VCR. RF CHANNEL The factory-preset RF channel appears in the display window. The VCR signal is output through this channel to the TV. 3 Turn on your TV and select a programme position for the VCR picture.
Step 4 : Tuning your TV to the VCR (continued) 5 – PROGRAM + 6 Press PROGRAM +/– (repeatedly) to select the correct TV system. If you watch the system B/G, select “G.” If you watch the system D/K, select “K.” Tune the TV to the same channel as that shown in the display window so that the picture on the right appears on the TV screen. SONY VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER Refer to your TV manual for tuning instructions. If the picture does not appear clearly, see “To obtain a clear picture from the VCR” below.
Step 5 Setting up the VCR with the Auto Set Up function AUTO SET UP AUTO SET UP Getting Started Before using the VCR for the first time, set up the VCR using the Auto Set Up function. With this function, you can set the TV channels guided by the sequence indicated on the TV screen. Hold down AUTO SET UP on the VCR for more than three seconds. The VCR automatically turns on. The ATP (Auto Tuner Preset) function starts searching for all of the receivable channels and presets them in numerical order.
Step 6 Setting the clock You must set the time and date on the VCR to be able to use the timer recording features properly. Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the TV to the video channel. 1 • MENU 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 0 SETTINGS OPTIONS TUNER CLOCK LANGUAGE SELECT SET • OK • CURSOR OK CURSOR >/./?// Press MENU, then press CURSOR >/. to select SETTINGS and press OK. • CURSOR 2 MENU Press CURSOR >/. to select CLOCK, then press OK. : : OK CLOCK 1 . 1 .
4 • CURSOR Press CURSOR / to flash the month and set the month pressing CURSOR >/.. CLOCK 2 7 . 1 . 1 9 9 8 TU SELECT SET END • CURSOR Set the year, hour, and minutes in sequence, pressing CURSOR / to flash the item to be set, and press CURSOR >/ . to select the digits. The day of the week is set automatically. 6 Press CURSOR / to start the clock. : : : OK CLOCK 2 7 . 1 1 . 1 9 9 8 FR SELECT SET END 15 : 30 : : : OK Getting Started 5 0 : 00 CLOCK • CURSOR 2 7 . 1 1 .
Manual setup — Selecting a language You can change the on-screen display language. Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the TV to the video channel. 1 • MENU MENU OK 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 Press MENU, then press CURSOR >/. to select SETTINGS and press OK. CURSOR >/./?// 0 SETTINGS OPTIONS TUNER CLOCK LANGUAGE • CURSOR SELECT SET • OK 2 • CURSOR Press CURSOR >/. to select LANGUAGE and press OK.
Manual setup — Presetting channels Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the TV to the video channel. 1 • MENU 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 Press MENU, then press CURSOR >/. to select SETTINGS and press OK. • CURSOR • CURSOR 0 PROG +/– SETTINGS OPTIONS TUNER CLOCK LANGUAGE : : OK SELECT SET • OK 2 CURSOR >/./?// Press CURSOR >/. to select TUNER and press OK.
Manual setup –– Presetting channels (continued) 4 • CURSOR Press CURSOR >/. to move the cursor (”) to CHANNEL SET. TUNER [D/K ] [ NORM] [ C2 1 ] AFT FINE TUNING [ ON • PROG Selected programme position Press PROG +/– to select the programme position.
7 • CURSOR If the TV sound is distorted or noisy, press CURSOR >/./?// to move the cursor (”) to SYSTEM, then select B/G or D/K so that you get the better sound. TUNER [D/K ] [ NORM] [ C2 1 ] AFT FINE TUNING [ ON SELECT SET 9 ] : : To allocate another channel to another programme position, repeat steps from 5 to 7. • OK Press OK.
Manual setup –– Presetting channels (continued) If the picture is not clear Normally, the Auto Fine Tuning (AFT) function automatically tunes in channels clearly. If, however, the picture is not clear, you may also use the manual tuning function. 1 Press PROG +/– or the programme number buttons to select the programme number for which you cannot obtain a clear picture. 2 3 4 Press MENU, then select SETTINGS and press OK. Select TUNER, then press OK. Select FINE TUNING. The fine tuning meter appears.
Basic Operations Playing a tape 6 EJECT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 COUNTER RESET DISPLAY REPLAY ) FF P PAUSE 0 REW · PLAY NTSC PB Basic Operations p STOP VIRTUAL STEREO 1 2 Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Insert a tape. The VCR turns on and starts playing automatically if you insert a tape with its safety tab removed. 3 PLAY Press · PLAY. When the tape reaches the end, it will rewind automatically.
Playing a tape (continued) Additional tasks To Press Stop play p STOP Pause play P PAUSE Resume play after pause P PAUSE or · PLAY Fast-forward the tape ) FF during stop Rewind the tape 0 REW during stop Eject the tape 6 EJECT To replay a recently watched scene You can immediately rewind and playback the scene you want to watch again. During playback, press REPLAY up to four times. The VCR rewinds the tape about 10 seconds on the counter for each press of the button, and restarts playback.
To use the time counter At the point on the tape that you want to find later, press COUNTER RESET. The counter in the display window resets to “0:00:00.” Search for the point afterwards by referring to the counter. SP VIDEO To display the counter on the TV screen, press DISPLAY. Enjoying the simulated stereo sound (Virtual Stereo) When you connect the VCR to a stereo TV or a stereo system, you can use the Virtual Stereo function to give monaural sources a simulated stereo effect.
Recording TV programmes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 TV/VIDEO COUNTER/ REMAIN DISPLAY INPUT SELECT PROG +/– SP/LP r REC p STOP 1 Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. To record from a decoder, turn it on. 2 3 Insert a tape with its safety tab in place. INPUT SELECT Press INPUT SELECT until a programme position number appears in the display window.
4 • PROG Press PROG +/– to select the programme position you want to record. SP VIDEO 5 SP / LP Press SP/LP to select the tape speed, SP or LP. LP (Long Play) provides recording time twice as long as SP, however, SP (Standard Play) produces better picture and audio quality. VIDEO LP 6 REC Press r REC to start recording. The recording indicator lights up red in the display window. VIDEO LP Basic Operations Recording indicator To stop recording Press p STOP.
Recording TV programmes (continued) To check the remaining time Press DISPLAY. With the display on, press COUNTER/REMAIN to check the remaining time. Each time you press COUNTER/REMAIN, the time counter and the remaining time appear alternately. The remaining time with the indicator also appears in the display window.
Tips • To select a programme position, you can use the programme number buttons on the remote commander. For two-digit numbers, press the ? (ten’s digit) button followed by the programme number buttons. • You can select a video source from the LINE-1 (TV) connector or LINE 2 IN VIDEO/AUDIO jacks using INPUT SELECT. • The display appears on the TV screen indicating information about the tape, but the information won’t be recorded on the tape.
Recording TV programmes using the timer You can preset up to eight programmes at a time. Before you start… • Check that the VCR clock is set to the correct time. • Insert a tape with its safety tab in place. Make sure the tape is longer than the total recording time. • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. ON/STANDBY MENU OK 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 CURSOR >/./?// 0 INPUT SELECT p STOP 1 • MENU • CURSOR • OK 28 Basic Operations Press MENU and select TIMER, then press OK. 9 .
2 • CURSOR Set the date, programme position, start and stop times, and tape speed: 1 Press CURSOR / to flash each item in turn. 2 Press CURSOR >/. to set each item. To correct a setting, press CURSOR ? to return to that setting and reset. 9 . 1 2 WE TIMER DATE TODAY TIME – : –– – : –– PROG –– SP / LP SP SELECT SET OK : : : OK • To record the same programme every day or the same day every week, see “Daily/weekly recording” on page 30. INPUT SELECT 3 • ON/ STANDBY Press OK to complete the setting.
Recording TV programmes using the timer (continued) Daily/weekly recording In step 3 above, press CURSOR . to select the recording pattern. Each time you press CURSOR ., the indication changes as shown below. Press CURSOR > to change the indication in reverse order. TODAY n SU-SA (Sunday to Saturday) n MO-SA (Monday to Saturday) n MOFR (Monday to Friday) n SA (every Saturday) .....
Tips • To set the programme position, you can also use the PROG +/– or programme number buttons. • To set the tape speed, you can also use the SP/LP button. • When you are recording a programme in the SP mode and the remaining tape becomes shorter than the recording time, the tape speed is automatically changed to the LP mode. Note that some interference will appear on the picture at the point the tape speed is changed.
Additional Operations Playing/searching at various speeds 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ) FF JOG 0 REW ) FF 0 REW · PLAY Playback options Shuttle ring Operation View the picture during fast- During fast-forward, press ) FF. During rewind, press and hold forward or rewind 0 REW. Rewind and start play 32 Additional Operations During stop, press · PLAY on the VCR while holding 0 REW down on the VCR.
Using the shuttle ring With the shuttle ring, you can operate a variety of playback options. There are two ways for using the shuttle ring, normal mode and jog mode. To use the shuttle ring in normal mode During playback or pause, turn the shuttle ring clockwise or anticlockwise. Each change in the shuttle ring position changes the playback mode in the following way.
Playing/searching at various speeds (continued) To resume normal playback Press · PLAY. Tip • Adjust the picture using TRACKING +/– if: – Streaks appear while playing in slow motion. – Bands appear at the top or bottom while pausing. – The picture shakes while pausing. To set tracking to the centre position, press both buttons (+/–) at the same time. Notes • The playback sound is muted during the operations in the above table. • In the LP mode, noise may appear or there may be no colour.
Recording TV programmes using the quick timer After starting recording in the normal way, you can have the VCR stop recording automatically after a specified duration. 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 QUICK TIMER 0 While recording, press QUICK TIMER once. The indicator appears in the display window. SP VIDEO 2 Press QUICK TIMER repeatedly to set the duration. Each press advances the time in increments of 30 minutes.
Checking/ changing/ cancelling timer settings Before you start… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. 1 2 ON/STANDBY MENU OK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Press ON/STANDBY to turn on the VCR. Press MENU and select LIST, then press OK: • If you want to change or cancel a setting, go on to the next step. • If you do not need to change or cancel the settings, press OK, then turn off the VCR to return to recording standby. 36 CURSOR >/./?// CLEAR Additional Operations LIST DATE 9. 12 28.
3 Press CURSOR >/. to select the setting you want to change or cancel, then press OK. The selected setting appears in the TIMER menu. 4 To change the setting, press CURSOR ?/ / to flash the item you want to change, and press CURSOR >/. to reset it. 9 . 1 2 WE TIMER DATE TODAY TIME PROG 19 : 00 20 : 00 35 SP / LP LP SELECT SET OK : : : OK To cancel the setting, press CLEAR. 5 Press OK. If any settings remain, turn off the VCR to return to recording standby.
Searching using the index function The VCR marks the tape with an index signal at the point where each recording begins. Use these signals as references to find a specific recording. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 =/+ INDEX SEARCH 1 2 Insert an indexed tape into the VCR. Press =/+ INDEX SEARCH: • To search ahead, press + INDEX SEARCH. • To search backwards, press = INDEX SEARCH. INDEX SEARCH The VCR starts searching and playback starts automatically from that point. To stop searching Press p STOP.
Adjusting the picture Adjusting the tracking Although the VCR automatically adjusts the tracking when playing a tape (the indicator flashes in the display window, then goes off), distortion may occur if the tape was recorded in poor condition. In this case, manually adjust the tracking. During playback, press TRACKING +/– on the VCR to display the tracking meter. The distortion should disappear as you press one of the two buttons (the indicator lights up).
Adjusting the picture (continued) Tip • To set tracking to the centre position, press the TRACKING + and – buttons at the same time. Notes • You can adjust the tracking for the NTSC-recorded tape but the tracking meter won’t be displayed. • With the Auto Tape Speed function on, the OPC function will work only in SP mode. If the tape speed automatically switches from SP to LP, the OPC function turns off. If, however, the entire programme is recorded in LP mode, the OPC function will work.
Changing menu options 1 2 Press MENU, then select SETTINGS. Select OPTIONS. OPTIONS TAPE OPTIONS VIDEO OPTIONS POWER SAVE SELECT SET 3 [ OFF ] : : OK Press CURSOR >/. to select the option you want to change: • To change the TAPE OPTIONS or VIDEO OPTIONS 1 Press OK after selecting TAPE OPTIONS or VIDEO OPTIONS. VIDEO OPTIONS TAPE OPTIONS AUTO TAPE SPEED TAPE SELECT SELECT SET [ ON ] [ 195 ] : : OPC EDIT SYSTEM SELECT SET [ ON ] [ OFF ] [ AUTO ] : : 2 Press CURSOR >/.
Changing menu options (continued) VIDEO OPTIONS menu choices Menu option Set this option to OPC • ON to switch on the OPC (Optimum Picture Control) function and improve picture quality. • OFF to switch off OPC. EDIT • ON to minimise picture deterioration when editing. • OFF to turn off EDIT. SYSTEM • AUTO to set the colour system automatically. • PAL to play back a tape recorded in the PAL colour system. • MESECAM to play back a tape recorded in the MESECAM colour system. For details, see page 22.
Editing Connecting to a VCR or stereo system How to connect to record on this VCR This VCR (Recorder) TV LINE-2 IN Other VCR (Player) LINE OUT VMC-710M/720M audio/video cable (not supplied) : Signal flow Notes • Make sure you connect the plugs to jacks of the same colour. • If the other VCR has the AUDIO L and R jacks, use the 3-phono to 2 phono type audio/video cable.
Connecting to a VCR or stereo system (continued) This VCR (Player) TV LINE-2 OUT Other VCR (Recorder) LINE IN VMC-810 audio/video cable (not supplied) : Signal flow Notes • Make sure you connect the plugs to jacks of the same colour. • If the other VCR is a monaural type, leave the red plugs unconnected. • If you connected this VCR to both the LINE IN and LINE OUT jacks of the other VCR, select the input correctly to prevent a humming noise.
Basic editing r REC (when recording on this VCR) Before you start editing • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. • Press INPUT SELECT to display “L2” or “L1” in the display window. • Press SP/LP to select the tape speed, SP or LP. • On this VCR, set EDIT in the VIDEO OPTIONS menu to ON. If the other VCR has a similar function, turn it on also. P PAUSE 1 Insert a source tape with its safety tab removed into the other (playback) VCR.
Audio dubbing This feature lets you record over the normal audio track. The monaural sound previously recorded is replaced while the original sound remains unchanged. Use this feature to add commentary to a tape that you have recorded with a camcorder. To use this feature, connect another VCR or stereo system to the LINE-2 IN jacks on the VCR. 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 7 0 COUNTER RESET AUDIO DUB P PAUSE Before you start editing… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel.
Additional Information Troubleshooting Symptom Remedy The ON/STANDBY switch does not function. • Connect the mains lead to the mains securely. The power is turned on but the VCR does not operate. • Moisture condensation occurs. Turn the power off, unplug the mains lead and leave the VCR to dry for over one hour. The clock has stopped and “–:– –” lights in the display window. • The clock stops if the VCR is disconnected from the mains for more than one hour. Reset the clock (and timer).
Symptom Remedy No TV programme appears on the TV screen. • Make sure the TV is set to the video channel. If you are using a monitor, set it to video input. TV reception is poor. • Adjust the TV aerial. • Make sure the TV system is correctly set for your TV. • Make sure SYSTEM (B/G or D/K) in the TUNER PRESET menu is set to the system in your area. The tape starts playing as soon as it is inserted. • The safety tab has been removed. To record on this tape, cover the tab hole.
Others Symptom Remedy A tape cannot be inserted. • Check that a tape isn’t already in the tape compartment. The remote commander does not function. • Make sure you are pointing the remote commander at the remote sensor on the VCR. • Replace all the batteries in the remote commander with new ones if they are weak. • Make sure the TV / VIDEO remote control switch is set correctly. The tracking indicator does not appear on the screen.
Specifications System General Channel coverage VHS E2-E12, R1-R12 UHF E21-E69, R21-R69 CATV S1-S41, S01-S05 RF output signal UHF channels 21 to 69 Aerial out 75-ohm asymmetrical aerial socket Power requirements 220 – 240 V AC, 50 Hz Power consumption 23 W Operating temperature 5°C to 40°C Storage temperature –20°C to 60°C Dimensions Approx. 430 × 100 × 314 mm (w/h/d) including projecting parts and controls Mass Approx. 4.
Index to parts and controls Refer to the pages indicated in parentheses ( ) for details.
Index to parts and controls (continued) Display window SP VIDEO OPC LP EP 1 Timer indicator (29) 6 Tracking indicator (39) 2 Tape speed indicators (25) 7 Time counter/clock/line/ programme position indicator (23, 24, 45) 3 VIDEO indicator (10, 26) 4 OPC (Optimum Picture Control) indicator (39) 5 Audio dubbing indicator (46) 52 Additional Information 8 Remaining time indicator (26) 9 Tape/recording indicator (23, 25)
Rear panel 1 Mains lead (9) 4 NTSC PB switch (22) 2 AERIAL IN ANTENNE ENTREE connector (9) 5 : LINE-1 (TV) : LIGNE-1 (TV) connector (10) 3 AERIAL OUT ANTENNE SORTIE connector (9) 6 LINE-2 OUT VIDEO/AUDIO (MONO) jacks (44) continued Additional Information 53
Index to parts and controls (continued) Remote commander 1 6␣ EJECT button (22) 2 Menu buttons (16, 36, 41) MENU button CURSOR >/.
@º TV / VIDEO remote control switch (5) @¡ ON/STANDBY switch (6, 29) @™ Programme number buttons (6, 19, 20, 27) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 @£ ? (ten’s digit) button (27) @¢ PROG (programme) +/– buttons (6, 18, 25) 0 √/◊ Teletext page access buttons (for TV) (7) @∞ VOL (volume) +/– buttons (for TV) (6) @§ JOG button (33) @¶ P PAUSE button (22) @• REPLAY button (22) V (Teletext) button (for TV) (6) Additional Information 55
Index A, B L, M, N Accessories supplied 4 Adjusting picture 20, 34, 39 tracking 34, 39 Aerial hookup 9 AFT (Auto Fine Tuning) 20 ATP (Auto Tuner Preset) 13 Auto Set Up 13 Auto Tape Speed 41 Language selecting LP mode 25 C Cleaning the video heads 47 Clock setting 14 Colour system compatible colour systems 2 setting 22 Connecting the VCR and your TV 9 to a stereo system 44 to a TV with a EURO-AV connector 10 Counter 23 T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z 16 O OPC (Optimum Picture Control) 39 P Picture adjustment.
