Portable Music Player VGF-AP1 Series Operating Instructions
Trademarks • VAIO, , SonicStage, VAIO music transfer, ATRAC, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus and the associated logos are trademarks of Sony Corporation. • Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. • Other system names and product names appearing in this document are generally registered trademarks or trademarks of their manufacturers. • ™ and ® marks are not shown in this document.
Table of Contents Introduction What you can do with the portable music player ............................................... 4 System requirements ........................... 5 Names of parts ..................................... 6 Portable music player ................... 6 Cradle ............................................ 7 Reading the display ....................... 9 G-sense pad buttons ........................... 10 Basic playback buttons ............... 10 Navigation buttons ......................
Introduction What you can do with the portable music player The Portable Music Player VGF-AP1 / AP1L incorporates a 20 GB* or 40 GB* hard disk, and allows you to carry an entire music library wherever you go. * Some portion of hard disk capacity is reserved for application / data management function. Portable music player • Easy-to-carry player with built-in 20 GB / 40 GB hard disk. The player also serves as an external hard disk for your computer. • 2.
Introduction System requirements To use the player, the following hardware and software requirements must be met. Computer IBM PC/AT compatible CPU Pentium II processor, 400 MHz or above (Pentium III, 450 MHz or above recommended) Free hard disk space 200 MB or more (1.5 GB recommended) Depending on the Windows version and the number of music files, more space may be required.
Names of parts Portable music player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Display (page 9) 2 POWER/HOLD switch When you slide this control in the arrow direction, operation of the player is disabled. 3 Headphone connector (page 15) 4 G-sense pad (page 10) 5 Carrying strap ring 6 Reset button If the player has ceased to operate normally, try pressing this button with a pointed object (such as a bent paper clip).
1 2 3 Introduction Cradle 4 1 Support bracket Supports the cradle when in use. When the cradle is not in use, the bracket can be folded. 2 LINE OUT connector Lets you connect external speakers to the player. When a cable is plugged in here, the headphone output is cut off. To use the LINE OUT connector, disconnect the USB cable from the cradle. While a USB cable is plugged in, the player automatically is in Data Transfer Mode and no sound will be heard from the external speakers.
Remote control 1 4 2 5 3 6 1 Basic operation button : Play/Stop . : Rewind/Skip back > : Fast forward/Skip ahead 2 Display 3 Selector button v : Scroll cursor up ENTER: Select item on menu V : Scroll cursor down 7 8 4 Headphone connector 5 Volume button 6 Hold switch Sliding this switch in the direction of the arrow until the yellow marker is visible disables the remote control. 7 BACK button Moves up one menu level.
Introduction Reading the display Display on the player 2 1 456 7 3 1 Play status icon 2 Song title 3 Playback time 4 Equalizer setting 5 Battery charge icon 6 Timer icon 7 Time Remote control display Main menu screen Play screen 1 2 3 4 1 Cursor 2 Timer icon 3 Equalizer icon 4 Volume indicator 5 AVLS icon 6 Battery charge icon 5 6 7 8 9 0 qa qs 7 Song icon/song title 8 Artist icon/album icon/artist name/ album title 9 Play status icon 0 Repeat mode icon qa Shuffle mode icon qs Play time 9
G-sense pad buttons Various features of the player are controlled by on-screen buttons accessed by using the G-sense pad. These buttons are hidden until you choose to display them.
Introduction Navigation buttons Use the navigation buttons to move between display screens and change the sort order of lists. To display the navigation buttons, touch any button in the left column on the G-sense pad. Touch here Navigation buttons Move your finger up or down on left column of buttons on the G-sense pad to select a button. Press to activate the selected button. Note Available buttons differ on for different screens.
Advanced operation buttons Use the advanced operation buttons to modify the displayed list. To display the advanced operation buttons, move the cursor to the appropriate item in the displayed list by sliding your finger up and down the middle three columns of buttons on the G-sense pad. When the cursor is on the desired item, press and hold the current button until the advanced operation buttons appear.
Use the advanced playback buttons available on the play screen to access advanced playback features, such as repeat play, shuffle play, and equalizer settings. The advanced playback buttons are assigned to the second column from the right on the G-sense pad. Touch here Advanced playback buttons Move your finger up or down this column of buttons to select a button on the display. Press to activate the selected button. Note Available buttons differ on for different screens.
Button Function Remarks Add the currently playing song to playlist Show the next image Show the previous image 14 Start slide show To stop a slide show, press any button on the G-sense pad. Switch display mode There are two display modes: Speed Priority Mode ) and High Quality Mode ( ). The Speed ( Priority Mode enables quick displaying of large images copied from a digital camera.
Operation Listening to music 1 Connect the remote control. Headphone connector Plug in firmly Remote control (supplied) Headphones (supplied) 2 Turn the power on. zHints • You can also turn on the player by pressing any of the buttons on the remote control. • For details about turning the power off, refer to the Quick Start Guide. Note The first time the player is turned on, set up automatically begins for the G-sense sensitivity, language, and clock settings.
1 Press the v or V side of the selector button to move the cursor to the appropriate item. 2 Press the ENTER section of the selector button. Use the same principle to select other items and bring up a list of songs. The menu configuration may differ depending on the type of stored songs and the available information. (You can move back in the menu structure by pressing the BACK button on the remote control.
4 Play the song. The basic operation button and the volume button work as follows: Basic operation button BACK button Operation Volume button Operation Button action (on remote control) Start playback Press on the basic operation button Jump to start of current song Press . on the basic operation button Jump to start of next song Press > on the basic operation button Rewind Hold down .
Finding songs You can search for songs in the following ways: • Genre, Artist, Album, All songs Music files are transferred to the player together with information about album genre, artist name, album title and all songs. Search for a desired music file by specifying such information (this page). • My History My History lists all songs played in the past, making it easy to return to a favorite song. If the songs are still on the player, you can start playback from the My History list (page 19).
Searching among previously played songs 1 Select “My History”, and press the button. 2 Select the year, month, and day. The song selection screen appears. 3 The play screen for the selected song appears, and the song begins playing. Note Songs on the player will no longer display in My History if you use the “SonicStage” software to remove them or transfer them to a computer.
Using playlists By adding songs stored on the player to playlists, you create sets of music that you can switch between. The player can store up to five playlists at a time. Registering a playlist There are two methods for registering a song to a playlist: Registering the currently playing song to a playlist Display the advanced playback buttons during play, move the cursor to the then press the button.
Removing songs from a playlist 1 On the main menu screen, select “My Playlist”. 2 Move the cursor to the song you want to remove. 3 Display the advanced operation buttons, move the cursor to the position, and then press the button. 4 Operation A confirmation message asking whether to remove the song from the playlist appears. Select “Remove”, and then press the button. The selected song is removed from the playlist.
1 Remove the supplied USB cable from the computer and the cradle. 2 Connect the cable removed in step 1 to the digital camera and cradle, as shown below. Move the sliding cover to the left USB cable (supplied) Large plug (Type A) plugs into cradle Small plug (Mini-B) plugs into digital camera Notes • Do not disconnect the USB cable from the digital camera or the cradle before the still image file copy is complete.
Viewing the transferred still images This function is used to view still images copied from a digital camera. Note Avoid shaking the player or subjecting it to shocks or vibration while images are being displayed. Such conditions may interrupt slide show playback, cause images to display incorrectly, and cause a clicking sound. This behavior is normal and not cause for concern. z Hint 1 On the main menu screen, select “Photo Viewer”. 2 Select the item and press the button.
Using the portable music player as a hard disk drive The player can be used as an external USB hard disk for your personal computer, increasing the available data storage capacity and serving as portable media. When the player is connected to a computer using the USB cable, it is recognized by the computer as a removable hard disk, allowing data read and write. (For details on how to connect the player to a computer, see the Quick Start Guide.
Other Information Setup items and settings To adjust settings for the display and operation functions of the player, select “Setting” on the Main Menu screen. Setup item My Playlist Setting and description The player can store up to five playlists. This setting specifies which is currently active. Display Setting The following display-related settings can be adjusted. Sound Setting The following sound-related settings can be adjusted.
Setup item Setting and description Language Selects the language for the menus and commands. G-sense setting Adjust G-sense pad parameters for optimum efficiency. Sensing Area Setting Select one of the following: • Thumb operation This setting works best when holding the unit with one hand and operating it with your thumb. • Flat Response is evenly distributed over the button area. Sensitivity Setting Move the cursor to “Start” and press a G-sense pad button.
About the internal battery When the player is operated on the internal battery, the battery charge gradually decreases. The battery icon on the display indicates the current state of the battery's charge.
Precautions Usage and storage • Use only the specified AC adapter. • Never short-circuit any of the connectors. • Do not leave the unit in locations that can become hot (over 60°C), such as in a closed car or exposed to direct sunlight. • Protect the player from water and moisture. Disk handling To protect the data on the supplied CD-ROM, observe the following precautions. • Do not attach paper stickers or similar to the disc, and do not scratch or otherwise damage the disc.
Hard disk precautions 2 Detach the internal battery. 3 Disconnect the internal battery cable from the connector on the player. • Never disconnect a cable or turn the computer or the player off while data are being written to or read from the hard disk. Otherwise data may be corrupted or lost. Sony Corporation does not accept any liability for damage caused by data loss. • Hard disks can hold a vast amount of data, but damage or malfunction can lead to sudden and irreplaceable data loss.
Maintenance Cleaning the cabinet Wipe the outside of the unit with a soft, dry cloth. To remove stubborn stains, moisten the cloth with a mild, neutral detergent. Do not use solvents, cleaning alcohol, benzene or other substances that may damage the finish. Disc cleaning • Fingerprints and other contamination on the disc surface can lead to read errors. Always keep the disc clean. • To clean the disc, lightly wipe it from the center outwards.
Specifications Main unit Ambient conditions Display 2.2 inch TFT color display (320 H × 256 V dots) Operating temperature 41°F to 95 °F (5°C to 35°C) (temperature gradient less than 18°F (10°C)/hour) Hard disk capacity 1) 20 GB / 40 GB Supported playback file formats ATRAC3plus, ATRAC3, JPEG External connectivity Headphone connector: stereo mini phone jack Cradle connector Power source Lithium-ion rechargeable battery or AC adapter Playback time Approx. 20 hours 20GB model: Approx. 4.6 × 2.5 × 0.
Troubleshooting If a problem occurs during operation of the unit, please check the points listed in this troubleshooting guide. For contact information, see “Getting Help” on page 30. You should also consult the printed and electronic documentation of the computer. Power Symptom Cause/remedy Power does not come on. c The internal battery may be fully discharged. Charge the battery as described in the Quick Start Guide. c Press the reset button (page 6).
Symptom Cause/remedy Unit does not respond to controls. c While the player is connected to a computer, the unit is in data transfer mode and no operation is possible at the player. Disconnect the player from the computer. c When the player is removed from the cradle or when the USB cable is disconnected from the cradle, data about transferred files are updated. The update process takes about 40 seconds for every 100 songs.
G-sense pad Symptom Cause/remedy G-sense pad does not function properly. c Change the area and sensitivity setting of the G-sense pad. For details, see page 25. c Press the reset button (page 6). After a reset, the G-sense pad sensitivity must be set again (page 25). c If there is moisture on the G-sense pad, it will not operate normally. Wipe it with a dry cloth. “SonicStage” software Also refer to the “SonicStage” online help. Symptom Cause/remedy Cannot transfer music.
Symptom Cause/remedy The player is not recognized by the “SonicStage” software. c Check whether the player is recognized properly on the Windows “Device Manager” screen. If an exclamation mark is shown next to the symbol for the player in the “Device Manager” screen, the unit was not recognized properly. Reinstall the driver for the player. A warning message appears when disconnecting the player from the computer. c Wait a while and then perform the disconnection procedure again.
Other problems Symptom Cause/remedy The unit vibrates. c This is due to the operation of the built-in hard disk and is not a defect. A clicking noise is heard from the unit. c This is due to the operation of the built-in hard disk and is not a defect. The remote control does not function. c When the remote control is set to the HOLD mode, no operation is possible. Cancel the HOLD mode. c Confirm that the remote control is plugged in correctly into the connector.
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