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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. The mains lead must only be changed at a qualified service shop.
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 10 Step 5: Selecting a language 11 Step 6: Presetting channels 17 Step 7: Setting the clock Basic Operations 19 Playing a tape 22 Recording TV programmes...
Getting Started Step 1 Unpacking Check that you have received the following items with the VCR: • Remote commander • R6 (size AA) batteries Checking your model name The instructions in this manual are for the 10 models: SLV-ED915PS/ TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH, ED815PS, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS.
(+) 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 3 Connecting the VCR Connect the aerial to your VCR and TV as shown below to watch TV programmes and VCR pictures on your TV. In addition, if your TV has audio/video (A/V) input jacks, we recommend you connect the VCR to your TV using an audio/video cable to get a better picture and sound.
Additional connections To a TV that has audio/video input jacks This additional connection improves picture and sound quality. Connect the TV as shown on the right. For SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only To a stereo system You can improve sound quality by connecting a stereo system as shown on the right.
Step 4 Tuning your TV to the VCR If you have connected your VCR to the TV using the audio/video cable, skip this step. ?/1 ON/STANDBY ON/STANDBY Press ?/1 ON/STANDBY to turn on the VCR. Press RF CHANNEL on the VCR. The factory-preset RF channel flashes in the display window for RF CHANNEL about three seconds.
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VCR and TV using the audio/video cable (see “To a TV that has audio/video input jacks” on page 7). If the same symptom persists, consult your nearest Sony dealer. Note • If you set the wrong TV system, you may have no sound or sound may be distorted (noisy sound).
Step 5 Selecting a language You can change the on-screen display language from English to Arabic. Before you start… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. • ]/1 Press ?/1 (on/standby) to turn on the VCR. MENU Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to LANGUAGE and press OK.
Step 6 Presetting channels First, we recommend that you preset the receivable channels in your area using the One Touch Tuning function or AUTO PRESET in the TUNER PRESET menu. Then, if some channels cannot be preset automatically, set them manually. If there are any unwanted channels among the preset ones, you can disable the channels.
Step 6: Presetting channels (continued) Presetting all receivable channels automatically Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the TV to the video channel. Press MENU, then press M/m to move the MENU cursor (B) to TUNER PRESET and press PLAY Press M/m/</, to move the cursor (B) to SYSTEM, then select B/G, D/K or I,...
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Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to AUTO PRESET, then press OK. PLAY All receivable channels are preset in numerical sequence. When no more receivable channels can be found, presetting stops and the picture from the lowest numbered channel is displayed on the TV screen.
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Step 6: Presetting channels (continued) Presetting channels manually Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the TV to the video channel. MENU Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to TUNER PRESET and press PLAY Press M/m/</, to move the cursor (B) to NORMAL/CATV, then select NORM.
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Press PROG +/– to select the programme PROG position. Press , repeatedly until the channel you want is displayed. PLAY Pressing < goes back to the previous channels. The channels are scanned in the following order: Channel coverage CATV (TV distribution) If you know the number of the channel you want, press the programme number buttons.
Step 6: Presetting channels (continued) Disabling unwanted programme positions After presetting channels, you can disable unused programme positions. The disabled positions will be skipped later when you press the PROG +/– buttons. In step 5 on page 15, press programme number button “0” twice to display the number “0”...
Step 7 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. MENU Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to CLOCK SET and press OK.
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Step 7: Setting the clock (continued) Set the year, hour and minute in sequence, using , to select the item to be set, and PLAY M/m to select the digits. Press OK to start the clock. PLAY • To change the digits when setting, press < to return to the item to be changed, and select the digits using M/m.
Basic Operations Playing a tape m REW A EJECT X PAUSE COLOR SYSTEM 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.
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Playing a tape (continued) Press H PLAY. PLAY When the tape reaches the end, it will rewind automatically. Additional tasks Stop play Pause play Resume play after pause Fast-forward the tape Rewind the tape Eject the tape To set the colour system If streaks appear during playback, press COLOR SYSTEM on the VCR to conform to the system that the tape was recorded in.
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To use the time counter At the point on the tape that you want to find later, press CLEAR. The counter in the display window resets to “0:00:00.” Search for the point afterwards by referring to the counter. To display the counter on the TV screen, press DISPLAY. Press DISPLAY again and the counter will disappear from the TV screen.
Recording TV programmes Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Insert a tape with its safety tab in place. Press PROG +/– to select the programme position you want to PROG record. Basic Operations INPUT SELECT PROG +/–...
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Press REC SPEED to select the tape speed, SP or LP. REC SPEED LP (Long Play) provides recording time twice as long as SP (Standard Play), however, SP produces better picture and audio quality. Press z REC to start recording. The recording indicator lights up red in the display window.
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Recording TV programmes (continued) To record NTSC colour system programmes NTSC colour signals can be recorded on this VCR from the LINE-1 IN and LINE-2 IN (SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS only) jacks only. To select the line input, press INPUT SELECT or PROG +/– so that “L1” or “L2”...
Recording TV programmes using the Easy Timer function The Easy Timer function allows you to make a timer recording of a programme without turning on your TV. Set the recording timer to record only one programme that will be broadcast within the next 24 hours using the EASY TIMER knob.
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Recording TV programmes using the Easy Timer function (continued) Set the recording stop time in the same way as in step 2, then push EASY TIMER the EASY TIMER knob. A programme number flashes. Turn the EASY TIMER knob clockwise or counterclockwise to select EASY TIMER the programme you want to record.
Setting or changing the Easy Clock When “–:– –” is displayed in the display window, the VCR clock has not been set. You need to set the clock using the Easy Clock function before setting the timer. You can also change the current time using the Easy Clock function.
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Recording TV programmes using the Easy Timer function (continued) EASY TIMER Push the EASY TIMER knob to finish setting the clock. The VCR enters the timer recording setting mode. To continue the Easy Timer setting, go to step 2 in “Setting the Easy Timer”...
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To stop recording To stop the VCR while recording, press x STOP. To check or change the timer setting Push the EASY TIMER knob repeatedly until the setting you want to check or change flashes. Then re-enter the new setting, if necessary. If you do not want to change any of the settings, push the EASY TIMER knob repeatedly until the t indicator appears in the display window.
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Recording TV programmes using the Easy Timer function (continued) Tips • To record from a source connected to the LINE-1 IN or LINE-2 IN (SLV-ED915PS/ TH, ED818ME/SG, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS only) jacks, press INPUT SELECT or PROG +/– or turn the EASY TIMER knob to display “L1” or “L2” (SLV- ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS only) in the display window.
Setting the timer manually 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.
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Setting the timer manually (continued) To record the same programme every day or the same day every week, press m while the date is flashing. For details, see “Daily/ weekly recording” below. To record from a source connected to the LINE-1 IN or LINE-2 IN (SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS only) jacks;...
Search Operations Searching for the beginning of an Easy Timer recorded programme If you record a programme using the Easy Timer function, you can easily find the beginning of the recording with the SEARCH MODE function. The SEARCH MODE indicator flashes when the VCR finishes making an Easy Timer recording.
Searching for the current position on a tape This feature enables you to find the current position on a tape as well as the remaining time of the tape. Press SEARCH MODE repeatedly until the REMAIN indicator appears in the display window as shown on the right.
Searching using the Blank Search function This feature enables you to find a blank section on your tape. Press SEARCH MODE repeatedly until the BLANK indicator appears in the display window. The SEARCH MODE indicator lights up. Push the EASY TIMER knob on the VCR. The SEARCH MODE indicator turns off.
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. The VCR can search up to 99 index signals ahead of or behind the current position.
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Using the SEARCH MODE button and EASY TIMER knob on the VCR Press SEARCH MODE on the VCR repeatedly until “INDEX” appears in the display window (the SEARCH MODE indicator lights up). Turn the EASY TIMER knob to specify how many index signals ahead or behind you want to search: •...
Searching using the Time Search function You can easily find a specific point on a tape by using the Time Search function. For example, you can find a recorded section 15 minutes ahead of or behind the current position of a tape by using the Time Search function.
Additional Operations Playing/searching at various speeds H PLAY m REW M FF Playback options View the picture during fast- forward or rewind Play at high speed Play at twice the normal speed Play in slow motion Play frame by frame Rewind and start play To resume normal playback Press H PLAY.
Setting the recording duration time After you have started recording in the normal way, you can have the VCR stop recording automatically after a specified duration. While recording, press z REC. The t indicator appears in the display window. Press z REC 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. Press ?/1 to turn on the VCR. Press MENU, then select TIMER SET/CHECK and press OK: • If you want to change or cancel a setting, go on to the next step.
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Checking/changing/cancelling timer settings (continued) Press M/m to select the setting you want to change or cancel: • To change the setting, press </, to select the item you want to change, and press M/m to reset it. Then, press , repeatedly until the cursor (B) appears at the beginning of the line.
Recording stereo and bilingual programmes (for SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only) This VCR can record and receive stereo and bilingual sound. When a stereo or bilingual sound is received, the STEREO indicator appears in the display window. For SLV-ED915PS/TH only In the ZWEITON (German stereo) system This VCR automatically receives and records stereo and bilingual programmes based on the Zweiton system.
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Recording stereo and bilingual programmes (continued) Bilingual programme To listen to Main Main and sub Standard sound* * Usually the main sound (monaural) For SLV-ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only This VCR can record stereo and bilingual programmes only through the line input (the stereo indicator appears on the TV screen and the display window).
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How sound is recorded on a video tape The VCR records sounds onto two separate tracks. Hi-fi audio is recorded onto the main track along with the picture. Monaural sound is recorded onto the normal audio track along the edge of the tape. Stereo Normal audio track (monaural)
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 turns off), distortion may occur if the tape was recorded in poor condition. If so, manually adjust the tracking.
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About the Adaptive Picture Control (APC) function The Adaptive Picture Control (APC) function automatically improves recording and playback quality by adjusting the VCR to the condition of the video heads and tape. To maintain better picture quality, we recommend that you set APC to ON in the SET UP MENU (The APC indicator lights up in the display window).
Changing menu options Press MENU, then select SET UP MENU. Press M/m to select the option to change, then press </, to change the setting. (For SLV-ED915PS/TH only) The SET UP MENU has 2 pages. To select page 2, press m repeatedly until page 2 appears.
Editing Editing with another VCR How to connect to record on this VCR e.g. SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS This VCR (Recorder) LINE-1 IN VMC-810HG audio/video cable (not supplied) e.g. SLV-ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS This VCR (Recorder) LINE-1 IN VMC-710/720HG audio/video cable (not supplied) : Signal flow Other VCR (Player) LINE OUT...
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Editing with another VCR (continued) How to connect to a stereo system (SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only) Connect LINE-1 IN AUDIO or LINE-2 IN AUDIO (SLV-ED915PS/TH and ED818ME/SG only) on this VCR to the audio output jacks on the stereo system, using the RK-C510HG audio cable (not supplied).
Basic editing (when recording on this VCR) Before you start editing • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. • Press INPUT SELECT or PROG +/– to display “L1” or “L2” (SLV- ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS only) in the display window.
Audio dubbing (SLV-ED818ME/SG and ED616ME/MJ/ SG only) This feature lets you record over the normal audio track. The monaural sound previously recorded is replaced while the original hi-fi sound remains unchanged. Use this feature to add commentary to a tape that you have recorded with a camcorder.
If these cleaning cassettes are not available in your area, have the heads cleaned at your nearest Sony service facility (a standard service charge will be required). Do not use a commercially available liquid type cleaning cassette other than Sony’s, as they may damage the video heads.
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Troubleshooting (continued) Symptom A TV programme does not appear on the TV screen. TV reception is poor. The recorded picture has no colour or unusual colour. The tape starts playing as soon as it is inserted. The tape is ejected when you press z REC.
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“Adjusting the picture” on page 46). When playback is finished, be sure to clean the heads with a video head cleaning cassette. Be sure to use the Sony T-25CLD, T-25CLW or E-25CLDR video head cleaning cassette. If these cleaning cassettes are not available in your area, have the heads cleaned at your nearest Sony service facility (a standard service charge will be required).
Specifications System Colour system PAL, MESECAM, NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43 TV system B/G, D/K, I Channel coverage B/G: VHF E2 to E12/UHF E21 to E69/ CATV S01 to S05, S1 to S41 D/K: VHF R1 to R12/UHF R21 to R69 I: VHF SA4 to SA13/UHF B21 to B69/ CATV S01 to S05, S1 to S41 RF output signal...
Index to parts and controls Refer to the pages indicated in parentheses ( ) for details. Front panel !• !¶ !§ 1 ?/1 ON/STANDBY switch (8) 2 Tape compartment 3 A EJECT button (20) 4 m REW (rewind) button (20, 39) 5 H PLAY button (20) 6 M FF (fast-forward) button (20, 39)
Index to parts and controls (continued) Remote commander Additional Information TV/VIDEO remote control switch (5) 2 Z EJECT button (20) 3 TV/VIDEO button (for TV) (5) 4 INPUT SELECT button (24, 32) 5 CLEAR button (21, 42) 6 EASY TIMER button (28) (Reality Regenerator) button (46) 8 z REC button (23, 40) 9 REC SPEED button (23)
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Dubbing. See Editing E, F, G Easy Clock 27 Easy Timer recording 25 Editing 49 EP mode 24 Sony Corporation Head Condition Sensor 55 Hi-fi audio track 45 I, J, K Index Search 36 Language selecting 10 LP mode 23...