Model 107 4-Head HQ VHS VCR (160-0544) Recording Faxback Doc. # 18794 RECORDING You can use the following methods to record with your VCR: Immediate recording Quick timer recording Automatic timer recording Dubbing NOTES: You VCR automatically records the audio signal and adjusts the sound level while it records. The video tape you use for recording must have the erase-protection tab in place. If the tab is removed, the VCR automatically ejects the tape if you try to record on it (see "Erase Protection"). RECORDING SPEEDS There are three VHS recording/playback speeds: SP (short play), LP (long play), and EP (extended play). SP (short play) is the fastest recording speed and results in the highest quality picture but uses the most tape. EP (extended play) records more slowly and uses less tape, but the picture quality is not as high as with a recording made at the SP speed. However, your VCR has a special 19- micron record/play head that improves the playback quality of recordings made at the EP speed. This lets you conserve tape when recording and still enjoy a high quality picture during playback. NOTE: Your VCR can play tapes recorded at the LP speed, but cannot record at the LP speed. TAPE SELECTION The quality of tape you use greatly affects record/playback quality and the life of the VCR. Use only video cassettes that display the official VHS logo. High-grade tape has a better oxide coating that helps prevent dirty video heads and gives the best results. Although T-160 video cassettes offer the longest recording time, they contain thinner tape that is more likely to jam. We suggest you use T-120 or shorter length-tape. The following chart shows the maximum recording times for different-length tapes at the two recording speeds. Tape Length SP EP T-60 1-hour 3 hours (60 minutes) (180 minutes) T-120 2 hours 6 hours (120 minutes) (360 minutes) T-160 2 2/3 hours 8 hours (160 minutes) (480 minutes) ERASE PROTECTION Video cassettes have an erase-protection tab to prevent accidental erasure of a tape. To prevent recording on a tape, break off the tab using a screwdriver. The cassette automatically ejects if you try to record on the tape. If you want to record on a video cassette that has had its tab removed, put a piece of heavy plastic tape over the erase-protection tab hole. SELECTING THE SIGNAL TO RECORD To choose a signal to record, press INPUT on the remote control until the desired indicator appears on the display window: a channel number for recording VHF/UHF signals, AV1 for recording signals from the rear AUDIO/VIDEO INPUT jacks, or AV2 for recording signals from the front input jacks. RECORDING STEREO/SAP BROADCASTS (MODEL 58 ONLY) The Model 58 has 3 channels for audio recording - two (left and right) stereo channels on the Hi-Fi track, and one monaural channel on the linear track. You can select which audio output channels you hear when you connect the VCR to your stereo system (or to a stereo TV). The AUDIO OUTPUT setting is useful when the main signal is recorded on the left channel, and a secondary audio program (SAP) signal is recorded on the right channel. You can change the AUDIO OUTPUT setting so you hear only the regular audio program, only the SAP program, or the two combined. NOTE: The AUDIO OUTPUT setting has no effect on recording. When a broadcast contains a SAP signal, you can choose to record both the main stereo signal and the SAP sound, or only the main stereo signal, by changing the SAP setting in the SET UP menu. Follow these steps to change the SAP setting. 1. From the main menu display, press 2 on the remote control to select SET UP. 2. Press 5 on the remote control to select SAP. SAP is highlighted, on the currently selected SAP option (ON or OFF) flashes. 3. Repeatedly press CH positive or negative to select ON or OFF. When SAP is set to ON, SAP appears on the VCR's display and on the TV screen. When a SAP signal is present, SAP appears next to the ON indicator. The following chart shows what is recorded on the left and right channels for each SAP setting. BROAD- SAP Hi-Fi Hi-Fi LINEAR CAST SETTING L R TRACK TYPE Stereo OFF L R L+R ON L R L+R Stereo/ OFF L R L+R SAP ON L +R SAP SAP When you watch a broadcast or video tape recorded with SAP, you can listen to either the main signal or the SAP signal. To listen to the main signal, repeatedly press CH positive or negative to set SAP to OFF, press 6 to select AUDIO OUTPUT, then repeatedly press CH positive or negative to set AUDIO OUTPUT to L-R. To listen to the SAP signal, repeatedly press CH positive or negative to set SAP to ON, press 6 to select AUDIO OUTPUT, then repeatedly press CH positive or negative to set AUDIO OUTPUT to R. IMMEDIATE RECORDING You can record the same program you watch, or record one program while you watch another. NOTE: If you want to record from another VCR, a laser disc player, or other audio/video source with A/V outputs, see "Dubbing (Copying) a Tape". Recording a Program As You Watch It NOTE: If you are using a TV/monitor that is connected to the VCR's AUDIO/VIDEO OUT jacks, set it to the video mode and skip Steps 2 and 3. 1. Turn on the VCR and the TV. 2. Set the TV's tuner to the same channel as the VCR's OUTPUT CHANNEL switch (3 or 4). 3. Press TV/VCR until VCR appears on the VCR's display. 4. Insert a blank cassette, or one that you want to record over, into the VCR. The stop indicator <<||>> appears on the VCR's display. 5. Press TAPE SPEED on the remote control until the desired recording speed (SP or EP) appears on the VCR's display. 6. Press CH positive or negative or use the remote control's number buttons to select the desired channel. 7. (Model 58 only) Set SAP to the desired mode in the SET UP menu (see "Recording Stereo/SAP broadcasts (Model 58 Only"). 8. Press REC. REC appears on the VCR's display, and the VCR records what you see on the TV. NOTES: You can press PAUSE/STILL during recording to temporarily pause recording (during commercials, for example). To resume recording, press PAUSE/STILL again or press REC. If you pause the VCR for 5 minutes while recording, the VCR automatically stops the tape to protect the VCR's heads. 9. Press STOP to stop recording. Recording One Program While You Watch Another 1. Follow Steps 1-8 of "Recording a Program As You Watch It". 2. Repeatedly press TV/VCR until VCR disappears from the VCR's display. 3. Set the TV's tuner to the channel you want to watch. 4. Press STOP to stop recording. QUICK TIMER RECORDING Quick Timer Recording (QTR) lets you quickly set the VCR to start recording immediately then stop after a length of time you specify (from 1 minute to 24 hours, within the next 24 hours). NOTE: Depending which VCR model you have, some of the indicators described in the following steps might be displayed differently. 1. Follow Steps 1-8 under "Recording a Program as You Watch It". 2. Press REC again. TIMER appears on the VCR's display, and the following information about the recording appears on the TV's screen: Tape speed (SP or EP). STOP: (recording stop time) - the time the VCR will automatically stop recording. NOTE: The QTR information appears on the TV screen for 10 seconds, then disappears. If the information disappears before you finish entering all changes, simply press REC again. 3. To change the displayed tape speed, repeatedly press TAPE SPEED until the tape speed you want appears. NOTE: You can change the tape's speed during recording, but it might cause playback to jitter at the point where you changed the tape's speed. 4. To change the displayed recording stop time, repeatedly press REC to advance the displayed stop time in 10-minute increments. Then repeatedly press CH positive or negative to change the displayed stop time in 1-minute increments. 5. When you finish entering all QTR information, simply wait 10 seconds without pressing any key. The QTR information disappears. The VCR continues to record, stops recording at the recording stop time you set in Step 4, then turns itself off. QTR Hints To ensure that you record all of the desired program, set the recording stop time a few minutes later than the scheduled end of the program. You can program QTR information only while a tape is recording. You cannot program QTR information during playback or while a tape is stopped. You can check automatic program timer settings during QTR. See "Automatic Timer Recording". Be sure the tape length you select for QTR is long enough to record the entire program. Even though you can set the VCR to record for up to 24 hours, the actual recording time is limited by the tape's length. To cancel QTR while the VCR is recording, press STOP/EJECT on the VCR or STOP on the remote control. AUTOMATIC TIMER RECORDING The VCR's automatic timer lets you program it to select a channel, start recording a broadcast on that channel at a time you set, then stop recording the broadcast at a time you set. You can set up to eight program timers to record any combination of weekly, daily, or one-time broadcasts on the same channel or different channels. You can set up the VCR to record at any time on a specific day you set within a 1-year period (ONCE), any time at the same time Monday through Friday (DAILY), and any time the same day every week (WEEKLY). Automatic timer recording consists of two steps: setting the program timer and making the automatic timer recording. NOTES: The VCR can record only one broadcast at a time. If you program the VCR's timer to record broadcasts on different channels that start at the same time, the VCR records the broadcast you programmed first or with the lowest program number. You must turn the VCR off for it to make an automatic timer recording. Setting the Program Timer NOTES: Before you start, be sure you have set the VCR's clock (see "Setting the Clock"). Your VCR can hold up to eight timer programs. If you try to enter more, the VCR displays the programs you have already entered and MEMORY FULL on the TV screen, and does not let you enter the new program. 1. Turn on the VCR and the TV. NOTE: If you are using a TV/monitor that is connected to the VCR's AUDIO/VIDEO OUT jacks, set it to the video mode and skip Step 2. 2. Set the TV's tuner to the same channel as the VCR's OUTPUT CHANNEL switch (3 or 4). 3. Press TV/VCR on the remote control until VCR appears on the VCR's display. 4. (Model 58 only) Set SAP to the desired mode in the SET UP menu (see "Recording Stereo/SAP Broadcasts (Model 58 Only"). 5. Insert a blank cassette, or one that you want to record over, into the VCR. The stop indicator <<||>> appears on the VCR's display. 6. From the main menu display, press 1 on the remote control to select TIMER. The timer program screen appears on the TV screen. This screen displays the following information about each timer program you set. P (program number) M/D (month and day of the program) START (start time of the program) STOP (stop time of the program) CH (channel to record) 7. Use the number buttons (1-8) on the remote control to select the desired program number. If you select a program number with a program already assigned, the following information about the program appears on the TV screen: - MODE (program mode (ONCE, WEEKLY, or DAILY)) - DATE (date (month and day)) - START (start time of the broadcast) - END (end time of the broadcast) - CH (channel number for the broadcast) - SPEED (tape speed) You can change any displayed information in the program you select. Or, if it is correct, press MENU and stop here. If you select an empty program number, a blank program screen appears instead. You can add information on the screen to program the timer. 8. Press 1, 2, or 3 on the remote control to select the desired program mode (ONCE, WEEKLY, or DAILY (MON-FRI)). 9. Use the number keys on the remote control to enter the month and day. For example, press 0, 2, 1, and 5 to set February 15. NOTES: Precede a single-digit number with a 0 - for example. 01, 02, etc. If you enter an incorrect number, repeatedly press CH positive and negative to move to the incorrect number, then enter the correct number. If you set a month and day that is before the VCR's current clock date, the VCR sets the month and day for the next day. 10. Use the number keys on the remote control to enter the start hour and minute. For example, press 1, 0, 2, and 8 to set 10:28. 11. Press 1 (AM) or 2 (PM) on the remote control to select AM or PM. 12. Repeat Step 10 to enter the stop hour and minute. 13. Use the number keys on the remote control to enter the channel number. For example, press 0 and 7 to set channel 7. 14. Press 1 (SP) or 2 (EP) on the remote control to select the tape speed. 15. Double-check all the set information. If it is correct, press MENU. If an entry is not correct, repeatedly press CH positive and negative to move to the incorrect entry, use the number keys to enter the correct information, then press MENU. The VCR displays the timer program setting on the TV screen. 16. Press MENU on the remote control. TURN VCR POWER OFF FOR TIMER RECORDING briefly appears on the TV screen. NOTE: If you want to exit the programming mode without storing the timer settings, press CANCEL. 17. Press POWER to turn off the VCR's power. TIMER flashes on the VCR's display. IMPORTANT: You can turn on and operate the VCR manually prior to the set times, but the VCR makes automatic timer recording(s) only if the power is off at the set start time(s). Be sure that TIMER appears steadily on the VCR's display when you turn off the VCR. If it does not, check your programming. If you set up the VCR to record a CATV program through a cable box, be sure to leave the cable box turned on before the timer program starts. If you cannot use the remote control to select channels on your cable box, be sure to leave the cable box turned on and set to the channel you want to record. If you cannot use the remote control to select channels on your cable box, be sure to leave the cable box turned on and set to the channel you want to record. Automatic Timer Recording Hints If a power failure occurs or the VCR is unplugged for more than about 1 hour, the VCR loses the clock setting and all timer settings. If you set the timer and turn off the VCR without loading a tape, TIMER flashes on the VCR's display. If you insert a tape with its erase-protection tab removed and set the VCR's timer, the tape ejects and TIMER flashes on the display. Monitoring an Automatic Timer Recording 1. Turn on the TV and set it to the same channel as the VCR's OUTPUT CHANNEL switch (3 or 4). NOTE: If you are using a TV/monitor that is connected to the VCR's AUDIO/VIDEO OUT jacks, set it to the video mode and skip Step 2. 2. Press TV/VCR until VCR appears on the VCR's display. Checking/Changing Program Timers 1. Turn on the TV and set it to the same channel as the VCR's OUTPUT CHANNEL switch (3 or 4). NOTE: If you are using a TV/monitor that is connected to the VCR's AUDIO/VIDEO OUT jacks, set it to the video mode. 2. Press TV/VCR until VCR appears on the VCR's display. 3. From the main display, press 1 on the remote control to select TIMER. The timer program screen appears on the TV screen. 4. If necessary, use the number buttons (1-8) on the remote control to select the program number you want to check or change. The VCR displays the timer program settings on the TV screen. 5. Double-check all the set information. If it is correct, press MENU. If an entry is not correct, repeatedly press CH positive or negative to move to the incorrect entry, enter the correct information, then press MENU. 6. Press POWER to turn off the VCR's power. TIMER flashes on the VCR's display. Clearing a Program Timer 1. Follow Steps 1-3 under "Checking/Changing Program Timers". 2. Use the number buttons (1-8) on the remote control to select the program number you want to clear. The VCR displays the timer program settings on the TV screen. 3. Press CANCEL on the remote control to clear the program timer. DUBBING (COPYING) A TAPE The process of recording from one audio/video device to another is called dubbing. An audio/video device where a signal originates is called the dubbing source. You can use another VCR, camcorder, satellite receiver, or other device with A/V outputs as the dubbing source, connect the dubbing source, connect the dubbing source and the VCR, then use your VCR to record the signal from the dubbing source. NOTE: Always use video-quality shielded cables with phono-type connectors to connect a dubbing source to the VCR. Do not use standard audio patch cords. Connections for Dubbing You can connect the video and audio outputs of a dubbing source to the AV1 AUDIO/VIDEO IN jacks on the rear of the VCR or the AV2 AUDIO/VIDEO IN jacks on the front of the VCR. NOTE (Model 58 only): If the dubbing source is mono, use a Y-adapter (such as Cat. No. 42-2438, not supplied) to connect the source's audio output jack to both AUDIO IN jacks on the front or rear of the VCR. Dubbing a Tape NOTE: For the best results while dubbing, hold the remote control close to the VCR's infrared window when you press a button. Otherwise, the remote control might affect the dubbing source's operation. 1. Turn on the TV and set it to the same channel as the VCR's OUTPUT CHANNEL switch (3 or 4). NOTE: If you are using a TV/monitor that is connected to the VCR's AUDIO/VIDEO OUT jacks, set it to the video mode. 2. Insert a blank cassette, or one that you want to record over, into the VCR. The VCR turns on, and the stop indicator <<||>> appears on the VCR's display. 3. Press TV/VCR until VCR appears on the VCR's display. 4. Repeatedly press INPUT on the remote control until the jacks you used to connect the dubbing source to the VCR (AV1 or AV2) appear on the VCR's display. 5. Press TAPE SPEED on the remote control until the desired recording speed (SP or EP) appears. 6. Press REC to begin recording. 7. Start the dubbing source. 8. Press STOP to stop recording on the VCR before it automatically stops at the end of the tape. Then stop the dubbing source. AUDIO-ONLY RECORDING (MODEL 58 ONLY) Because of the superior quality of VHS Hi-Fi audio recordings, you might want to use your Model 58 as an audio-only recorder. You can also make live recordings by connecting a pre-amplifier or mixer to the Model 58's AUDIO IN jacks. CAUTION: Do not connect a microphone directly to the Model 58. NOTE: For the best audio fidelity, we recommend you use a high-quality video tape (such as Cat. No. 44-410) to make audio-only recordings. 1. Prepare the dubbing source. 2. Insert a blank cassette, or one that you want to record over, into the Model 58. The Model 58 turns on, and the stop indicator (<<||>>) appears on the Model 58's display. 3. Connect the audio outputs of the dubbing source to the Model 58's front or rear AUDIO IN jacks. NOTE: For an audio-only recording, make sure nothing is connected to the Model 58's VIDEO IN jacks. 4. Repeatedly press INPUT on the remote control until the jacks you used to connect the audio source to the Model 58 (AV1 or AV2) appear on the Model 58's display. 5. Press TAPE SPEED on the remote control until the desired recording speed (SP or EP) appears. 6. Press REC to begin recording. 7. Start the dubbing source. To play back the audio-only recording, play the video tape and set its sound (see "Viewing a Video Tape".