Owner’s record The model and serial numbers are located at the rear of the unit. Record these numbers in the spaces provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product. Model No. Serial No.
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If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, contact your Sony dealer. • Unplug the unit from the wall outlet if you do not intend to use it for an extended period of time.
Table of contents Basic Operations Playing a tape Recording TV programs 10 Locating a channel using the channel list 12 Recording TV programs using VCR Plus+* 15 Setting the timer manually Additional Operations 18 Playing/searching at various speeds 21 Searching for a selected point on the tape 23 Skip-searching automatically 24 Creating a favorite channel list...
Basic Operations Playing a tape You can play back both VHS and S-VHS tapes on this VCR. However, you cannot obtain the original resolution quality of S-VHS (simplified playback). Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Insert a tape.
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Additional tasks Press Stop play p STOP Pause play P PAUSE P PAUSE or · PLAY Resume play after pause Fast-forward the tape ) FF during stop Rewind the tape 0 REW during stop Eject the tape 6 EJECT To skip playback You can skip a portion of playback you don’t want to watch such as a commercial and restart playback by pressing a single button.
Recording TV programs Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. To record from a cable box, turn it on. Insert a tape with its safety tab in place. Basic Operations SP/EP INPUT SELECT TV/VIDEO DISPLAY CH +/– COUNTER/ REMAIN r REC...
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INPUT Press INPUT SELECT until a channel number appears in the display SELECT window. Press CH +/– to select the channel you want to record. •CH SP / EP Press SP/EP to select the tape speed, SP or EP. EP (Extra Play) provides recording time three times as long as SP (Standard Play);...
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Recording TV programs (continued) To check the remaining tape length Press DISPLAY. The white bar indicates the approximate length of tape remaining. 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.
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Tips • To select a channel, you can use the number buttons on the remote commander. Enter the channel number, then press ENTER. • You can select a video source form the LINE-1 IN or LINE-2 IN jacks using INPUT SELECT.
Locating a channel using the channel list You can select the TV program from the channel list. Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. When using a cable box, turn it on. • ENTER Press ENTER. The channel list appears on the TV screen.
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• CH Press CH +/– to select the channel you want. • ENTER Press ENTER. Basic Operations...
Recording TV programs using VCR Plus+ How VCR Plus+ works Whenever you want to record a TV program, all you need to do is look up the program’s “PlusCode,” a number assigned to each program published in the TV section of most newspapers, cable TV listings, and even TV GUIDE magazine.
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VCR Plus+ Press VCR Plus+. When the Channel map selection menu appears on the TV screen, you have to select the channel map of your area. For details on how to select the channel map, see “To select the channel map” on page Press the number buttons to enter the program’s PlusCode, then press the cursor stick (OK).
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Recording TV programs using VCR Plus+ (continued) To stop recording To stop the VCR while recording, press p STOP. To use the VCR after setting the timer To use the VCR before a timer recording begins, just press POWER. The indicator turns off and the VCR switches on.
Setting the timer manually If VCR Plus+ and GUIDE Plus+ are not available in your area, follow the instructions below to set the timer to record programs. You can manually preset up to eight programs at one time not including those of VCR Plus+ and GUIDE Plus+ recording.
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Setting the timer manually (continued) Set the date, start and stop times, channel number and tape speed: • CURSOR 1 Push the cursor stick to / to highlight each item in turn. 2 Push the cursor stick to ./> to set each item.
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Daily/weekly recording In step 2 above, push the cursor stick to . to select the recording pattern. Each time you push the cursor stick to ., the indication changes as shown below. Push the cursor stick to > to change the indication in reverse order. the current date n SUN-SAT n MON-SAT n MON-FRI n EVERY SAT ...
Additional Operations Playing/searching at various speeds 0 REW Playback options View the picture during fast- forward or rewind Search forward Search backward Rewind and start play Additional Operations PLAY · ) FF Shuttle ring Operation During fast-forward, hold ) FF down. During rewind, hold 0 REW down.
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 counterclockwise.
Playing/searching at various speeds (continued) • Adjust the picture using the TRACKING +/– buttons if: – streaks appear while playing in slow motion. – bands appear at the top or bottom while pausing. – the picture shakes while pausing. Notes •...
Searching for a selected point on the tape You can easily find a specific point by moving the pointer on the TV screen. The VCR fast-forwards or rewinds to the point you indicate and starts playback automatically. Press DISPLAY repeatedly until the bar indication appears on the TV screen.
Searching for a selected point on the tape (continued) Notes • The figure on the bar indication represents the total time length of the inserted tape as shown below. The total time length may not be displayed correctly for: – tapes other than T-60, T-120, or T-160 –...
Skip-searching automatically You can spot check a whole tape quickly. At intervals, the VCR skips playback while searching forward or backward. Press ) FF (or 0 REW) for more than two seconds during stop. “SKIP” appears on the TV screen. The VCR searches forward (or backward) for about two minutes on the counter, then fast- forwards (or rewinds) for about ten minutes on...
Creating a favorite channel list You can create your favorite channel list from the TV channels. You can store up to 10 channels and select the channel from your favorite channel list. Before you start… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel.
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Selecting a channel from your favorite channel list Press SET. Your FAVORITE CH screen appears on the TV screen. Press CH +/– to select the channel you want to select. You can also use the cursor stick (>/.) instead. Press ENTER. You can also use the cursor stick (OK) instead.
Recording TV programs using the quick timer After starting recording in the normal way, you can have the VCR stop recording automatically after a specified duration. While recording, press QUICK TIMER once. Press QUICK TIMER repeatedly to set the duration. Each press advances the time in increments of 30 minutes.
Checking/ changing/ canceling the manual timer settings Before you start… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Press POWER to turn on the VCR. Press MENU and select TIMER SET/CHECK: • If you want to change a setting, go on to the next step.
Checking/changing/canceling the manual timer settings (continued) When the manual timer settings overlap The program that starts first has priority and the second program starts recording only after the first program has finished. If the programs start at the same time, the program listed first in the menu has priority. Program 1 Program 2 Program 1...
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• If the manual timer setting and GUIDE Plus+ timer setting are scheduled to start at the same time, the VCR starts recording the program preset with the GUIDE Plus+ timer. • If the GUIDE Plus+ timer setting is scheduled to start while the VCR is already recording a manual timer setting, the VCR stops recording the manual timer setting and starts recording the GUIDE Plus+ timer setting.
Recording stereo and bilingual programs Recording stereo programs This VCR automatically receives and records stereo programs. When a stereo program is received, the STEREO indicator lights up. If there is noise in the stereo program, set AUTO STEREO in the ADVANCED OPTIONS menu to OFF.
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How sound is recorded on a video tape The VCR records sound 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. Monaural sound Normal audio track Hi-fi audio track...
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.
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.
Changing menu options Press MENU and select ADVANCED OPTIONS. Push the cursor stick to >/. to select the option to change, then push the cursor stick to ?// to change the setting. The ADVANCED OPTIONS menu has 2 pages. To select page 2, push the cursor stick to .
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Menu option Set this option to ON to switch on the APC (Adaptive Picture Control) function and improve picture quality, OFF to switch off APC. ON to make the display window dim, OFF to make it brighter. DIMMER AUTO TAPE SPEED ON to change the manual timer recording tape speed automatically to EP mode when the remaining tape becomes shorter than the recording time, OFF to keep the same tape speed.
Editing with another VCR How to hook up to record on this VCR This VCR (Recorder) LINE-2 IN : Signal flow How to hook up to a stereo system Connect LINE-2 IN AUDIO on this VCR to the audio output jacks on the stereo system, using the RK-C510KS audio cable (not supplied).
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Operation (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/EP to select the tape speed, SP or EP. Insert a source tape with its safety tab removed into the other (playback) VCR.
This feature allows you to easily find the program you want to watch, or to quickly find a tape with enough recording space. * SmartFile is a trademark of Sony Corporation. SmartFile Function SmartFile search list 8/10/98~8/16/98 p .
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Labelling a recorded program and tape (page 47) You can attach an electronic “label” to the video tape and its programs on the SmartFile list. Labelling the recorded programs enables you to find a program easily when you want to play it back. Protecting a recorded program (page 52) You can protect a recorded program from accidental over-recording or erasure.
• For the customers in the USA To order additional SmartFile labels, see the back page. • For the customers in Canada Additional SmartFile labels can be purchased at Sony of Canada Ltd. Authorized VHS Dealers. Notes • The SmartFile label is equipped with a memory chip. The memory chip may be damaged and cannot be used when you: –...
Recording a program on the SmartFile tape When recording a program on the SmartFile tape, no matter what method you use to record the program (normal recording, VCR Plus+ recording, GUIDE Plus+ recording, etc.), program data (date, channel, recording start time, etc.) is stored in the memory of the SmartFile label.
Recording using the SmartFile function (continued) To check the information of a recorded program Press SMARTFILE. The SmartFile search list appears. The recording day of the week, start time, channel, date, station ID, recording time, and tape speed appear on the list. The longest space which doesn’t have any program data (Blank Time space) appears as “BLANK TIME.”...
Recording after locating the Blank Time space The SmartFile function identifies not only the largest amount of available blank space, but also recorded material that doesn’t have corresponding program data stored in the SmartFile label. The longest available recording space (including programs that are not stored on the SmartFile label) is referred to as “Blank Time space.”...
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Recording using the SmartFile function (continued) Press SP/EP to select the tape speed, SP or EP. The BLANK TIME changes according to the selected tape speed. Select a tape speed that matches the length of the program you want to record. Press the cursor stick (OK).
Selecting and playing a program You can automatically locate and start playback of a program recorded on the SmartFile tape. Select a program in the SmartFile search list. The SmartFile search list can contain up to 12 programs. Before you start… •...
Checking the contents of a tape You can display the program data list of a SmartFile tape on the TV screen. It is not necessary to insert the tape into the VCR. This feature allows you to quickly find a specific program or to find a tape with enough recording space. The SmartFile check list can contain up to 12 programs.
Labelling a recorded program and tape You can electronically “label” a program and select a category, such as SPECIAL or MOVIE, for a recorded program in the SmartFile list. You can also label a tape. Up to 18 characters can be input for a program and tape label.
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Labelling a recorded program and tape (continued) Press MENU and select SMARTFILE EDIT. The SMARTFILE EDIT menu appears. Push the cursor stick to >/. to select a program. Push the cursor stick to /. The cursor moves to the program label input position.
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Press the cursor stick (OK). Push the cursor stick to >/. to select a category. Each time you push the cursor stick to ., the category changes as shown below. SPECIAL n MOVIE n NEWS n SHOW n SPORTS n KIDS n MUSIC n ARTS n SERIES n EDUCATI (education) n HOBBY n SHOPPIN (shopping) n VARIETY n COMEDY n DRAMA n DAYTIME n...
Labelling a recorded program and tape (continued) Labelling a tape Before you start... • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Insert a SmartFile tape. The VCR turns on, the SMARTFILE indicator lights up, and the SmartFile search list automatically appears on the TV screen.
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Label the tape. 1 Push the cursor stick to >/. to select a character. Each time you push the cursor stick to ., the character changes as shown below. A n B n … n Z n symbol n 0 n 1 n …...
Protecting a recorded program You can protect a recorded program using the SmartFile function from accidental over-recording or erasure. When you start recording from a position prior to the protected program, the recording stops automatically before the protected program. Before you start… •...
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To unlock the protected program Push the cursor stick to ? in step 4 above. The you can record over this program. Tips • When you start recording from a position prior to the protected program, the recording automatically stops no more than about three minutes in SP mode and about eight minutes in EP mode before the beginning of the protected program.
Erasing the data of an unwanted program You can erase an unwanted program from the SmartFile list. When you erase a program from the list, that portion of tape is subject to Blank Time space priority. Before you start… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel.
Storing program data from the DSS receiver (Program Data Download) If you connect a DSS receiver equipped with the Program Data Download function and use the timer recording of the DSS receiver, the program and category name transmitted from the DSS are stored on the SmartFile tape. The DSS receiver equipped with the Data Download function will be available in the future.
You have to set the VCR brand number on the DSS receiver. For example, select “99” in the VCR CONTROL menu to use a Sony VCR with the SmartFile function. For details, refer to the instruction manual of your DSS receiver.
GUIDE Plus+ System About the GUIDE Plus+ system The GUIDE Plus+ system can display a two-day on-screen program list (transmitted from certain TV stations) on the TV screen. You can select the program you want to record from this program list. You need to use the on-screen menus to use the GUIDE Plus+ system.
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About the GUIDE Plus+ system (continued) Push the cursor stick to >. The cursor moves to the menu bar. Push the cursor stick to ?// to select the menu you want to display. The selected menu appears on the TV screen.
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To select the channel map If the program information signal in your area has several channel map patterns, the Channel map selection menu appears on the TV screen. In this case, you have to select the channel map on the Channel map selection menu.
Overview of the GUIDE Plus+ menu The GUIDE Plus+ system has six menus. See below for a summary of each menu. For details about the operations for each menu, see the pages listed next to each menu title. Grid menu (page 62) You can view the program listings of up to 50 channels for the current time and on through midnight of the next day.
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Messages menu This menu is provided exclusively for service and repair personnel and is not intended for use during normal operation. Demo menu (page 76) You can practice operating the menu using the GUIDE Plus+ demonstration function. 9:05pm Message displays a list of messages sent to the guide.
Using the Grid menu 9:05pm Grid displays show listings by channel and time, scroll down to use, right to view Sort. Panel Advertisement Grid LAST Today's Hits WCVB Baseball Panel WFXT Doctors and Lawyers Advertisement The Forrest files WSBK Virtual Channel You can view the program listing for the current time and on through midnight of the next day using the Grid menu.
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• If i is displayed in the information box, you can receive detailed information about that program and view the program’s channel listing by pressing the INFO button. You can set the GUIDE Plus+ timer to record by pressing the green (Record) button, or to view by pressing the blue (Watch) button.
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Using the Grid menu (continued) Setting the GUIDE Plus+ timer to record Push the cursor stick to >/./?// to select the program you want to record, then press the green (Record) or VCR Plus+ button. The selected program listing turns red, and the VCR is set to record this program in EP mode.
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Viewing advertisements GUIDE Plus+ has two different types of advertisements; a panel advertisement and a virtual channel advertisement. You can view detailed information about these advertisements and set the GUIDE Plus+ timer to record or view these programs. To view a panel advertisement All menus have a panel advertisement.
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Using the Grid menu (continued) Locking the channel behind the menu As you select programs using the cursor stick (>/./?//), every time the cursor shifts, the program behind the menu changes as well. If you want to display the same channel behind the menu, you can set it so that one channel is locked-in behind the menu regardless of cursor movements.
Using the Sort menu 9:05pm Sort displays show listings by program category and time. Scroll down to view, right to view Schedule, left Panel to view Grid. Advertisement Grid Sort Schedule Messages Movies Action Panel Adventure Advertisement Animated Biography You can display the program listings for the next eight days in the Sort menu according to category (movie, sports, etc.).
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Using the Sort menu (continued) Push the cursor stick to >/. to select the subcategory you want, then press the cursor stick (OK). The program listing sorted by the selected category and subcategory appears. Push the cursor stick to >/. to select the program you want. Information about the program appears in the information box.
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Tips • You can cancel the GUIDE Plus+ timer settings, change the recording pattern (Once, Daily, or Weekly), and change the tape speed by using the Schedule menu (page 71). When you select a program for recording and press the green (Schedule) button, you will go to the Schedule menu.
Using the Schedule menu 9:05pm Schedule displays a list of shows set to watch or record. Shows may be removed or frequencies Panel changed from here. Scroll down to use, right to view Advertisement Messages, left to view Sort. Grid Watch/Record Schedule 9/20 10:00pm Music madness...
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Changing the VCR Plus+ and GUIDE Plus+ recording or viewing pattern To change the recording or viewing pattern, first push the cursor stick to >/ . to select the program you want to change. Then press the green (Change) button repeatedly to select Once, Daily, or Weekly. You cannot select Daily or Weekly for a program that airs more than seven days ahead.
Using the Schedule menu (continued) Recording TV programs using VCR Plus+ You can set a future program which isn’t on the GUIDE Plus+ list yet by using the PlusCode feature of VCR Plus+. For details about VCR Plus+, see “How VCR Plus+ works” on page 12. Press VCR Plus+.
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• If the recording stop time of the GUIDE Plus+ timer setting and the recording start time of the manual timer setting are set at the same time, the manual timer setting is canceled. Manual timer setting GUIDE Plus+ timer setting •...
Using the Editor menu 9:05pm Editor displays your channel lineup, channels may be turned on or off or changed from here. Scroll down Panel to use, right to view Demo, left to view Massages. Advertisement Sort Channel Editor WCVB WFXT Panel Advertisement WSBK...
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Changing channel numbers Push the cursor stick to >/. to select the channel you want to change. Using the number buttons, enter the new channel number which you want to assign to that station. The TV stations in your area appear in the channel list.
Using the Demo menu You can see a demonstration of the various menu operations of the GUIDE Plus+ system. Even if the VCR hasn’t received the program list data of GUIDE Plus+, you can practice operating the GUIDE Plus+ system using this menu.
25CLW video head cleaning cassette. If these cleaning cassettes are not available in your area, have the heads cleaned at your nearest Sony dealer (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 program does not appear on the TV screen. TV reception is poor. The tape starts playing as soon as it is inserted. The tape is ejected when you press r REC. Nothing happens when you press r REC.
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Symptom The Grid menu doesn’t appear on the TV screen when you press GUIDE. The program listing data disappeared from the program list. The VCR has not received the program listing data. The GUIDE Plus+ or VCR Plus+ timer recording program does not record, or timer recording stops halfway.
Specifications System Format VHS NTSC standard Video recording system Rotary head helical scanning FM system Video heads Double azimuth four heads Video signal NTSC color, EIA standards Tape speed SP: 33.35 mm/s (1 inches/s) EP: 11.11 mm/s ( inches/s) LP: 16.67 mm/s ( inches/s), playback only Maximum recording/playback time...
Index to parts and controls Refer to the pages indicated in parentheses ( ) for details. Front panel 1 POWER switch/indicator (13, 16) 2 SmartFile sensor (46) 3 SMARTFILE indicator (41, 46) 4 INPUT SELECT button (7, 37) 5 EASY SET UP button 6 Tape compartment 7 CHANNEL/TRACKING +/–...
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Index to parts and controls (continued) Display window 1 Timer indicator (13) 2 Child Lock indicator (14) 3 STEREO indicator (30) 4 SAP (Second Audio Program) indicator (30) 5 Tape speed indicator (7) 6 VIDEO indicator (8) 7 APC (Adaptive Picture Control) indicator (33) Additional Information STEREO SAP SPEP LP VIDEO APC...
Rear panel 1 AC power cord 2 S LINK (CONTROL S IN) jack (36) 3 CABLE BOX CONTROL (CONTROL S OUT) jack 4 LINE-1 IN AUDIO L/R/VIDEO jacks (36, 55) 5 CPD (Control and Program Data) IN jack (55) * This jack is provided for future expected functions. 6 G-Link jack* 7 VHF/UHF IN connector (55) 8 VHF/UHF OUT connector (55)
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Cost is $9.95 for a package of 5 labels. If you have any questions about this product, you may call: Sony Customer Information Center 1-800- 222-SONY (7669) or write to: Sony Customer Information Center Sony Drive, Mail Drop #T1-11, Park Ridge, NJ 07656 Printed in Malaysia...