Akai VS-J4600 User manual

Operator’s manual
6HEAD
VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER
VS-J4600
AKAI ELECTRIC CO, LTD.
JAPAN

1
WORTH
knowing
Precautions
Please keep the video machine's guarantee card and receipt safe for warranty purposes.
◆Read carefully through this manual to familiarize yourself with this
high-quality video recorder.
◆Make sure the rating of your household electricity supply matches
that shown on the back of the video recorder.
◆Refer to this chapter and the "Initial installation" chapter to help you
install and adjust your video recorder.
Do not ...
... expose the video recorder to high levels of humidity and heat, to
avoid the risk of fire and electric shock.
... open the video recorder. Have a qualified technician carry out repairs.
... connect the video recorder to the power supply if you have just moved
it from a cold to warm environment. This can result in condensation
inside the recorder and cause serious damage to the machine and
cassettes. Wait around two hours to allow it to reach room
temperature.
Make sure ...
... the recorder is placed on a steady, flat surface.
... the recorder should be placed at least 10cm apart from the other
home appliances or the obstacles to get sufficient ventillation.
... you clean the recorder only with a soft, lint-free cloth; do not use
aggressive or alcohol-based cleaning agents.
... you disconnect the power supply if the recorder appears to be
working incorrectly, is making an unusual sound, has a strange smell,
has smoke emitting from it or liquids have got inside it. Have a
qualified technician check the recorder.
... you disconnect the power supply and aerial if you will not be using
the recorder for a long period or during a thunderstorm.
◆ This apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects
filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on this apparatus.
For your own safety!
◆There are no components in this video recorder you can
service or repair yourself.
◆Do not open the case of the video recorder. Only allow
qualified personnel to repair or service your set.
◆This video recorder is designed for continuous operation.
Switching it off does not disconnect it from the mains
(stand-by). To disconnect it from the mains, you have to
unplug it.
◆Recording any copyright protected material may infringe a
copyright.
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
AUTOSET
CH.
OP EJECT
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
WORTH
knowing
Contents
Before doing anything with the machine, please read the
chapter "Initial installation".
◆On the following pages, the pictures show the buttons you press on the remote control to perform
the function, and what you should see in the On Screen Display or machine display (if present).
Controls
The remote control unit ................................................................................................. 2
The machine, On screen display ................................................................................... 3
Initial installation
Connecting up the video recorder, Fitting the remote control’s batteries ................... 4
Setting up the video cassette recorder ......................................................................... 5
OSD (On Screen Display) ON & OFF............................................................................... 7
Playing cassettes
Playing back ...................................................................................................................8
Still, Variable picture search, Variable slow motion,
Accessing new recordings (index scan)..........................................................................9
CM Skip, Auto Repeat...................................................................................................10
Recording cassettes
Setting time and date ...................................................................................................11
Simple recording ......................................................................................................... 12
One touch recording (OTR) ......................................................................................... 13
More functions
Normal timer recording ............................................................................................... 14
Timer Review – changing and erasing ....................................................................... 15
Clock/Counter display, Remaining time and Cassette length,
Accessing counter zero position, Resetting the counter to zero ............................... 16
Child lock, Cassettes, and ... ....................................................................................... 17
The Hi-Fi system, What you can listen to ................................................................... 18
Choice of sound output................................................................................................ 19
Tuning in new stations
Tuning .......................................................................................................................... 20
Station names ............................................................................................................. 21
Sorting programme locations, Clearing programme locations ................................... 22
Connections and copying
To the TV via antenna cable (if you are not using a RCA cable) ................................ 23
Copying, Assembling ................................................................................................... 24
Appendix
Brief instruction for experienced users...................................................................25/26
Before you ask a specialist ......................................................................................... 27
Index, Technical data .................................................................................................. 28

The remote control unit
2
CHANNEL
3
CONTROLS
max. 7 m.
30° 30°
TV/VCR
PROG
PR
PR MENU
EJECT
PAL/SEC
A.SEL
AV
SP/LP
INDEX
123
456
789
0
30
A
TV/VCR
AV
30
EJECT
SP/LP
PAL/SEC
A.SEL
INDEX
PR
PR MENU
123
456
789
0
PROG
◆ The remote control is the principle means of control, but the main playback and record
functions are also available on the front of the machine.
◆ Press any button to turn on the power.
power on/off
this button is not available for this set
a button for selecting input sources for recording:
TV stations – input sockets
You can select the external line by using “00”, “AV”, or
“PR+/-“ button. (refer to page 24)
clock/counter on-screen display
this button is not available for this set
this button is not available for this set
this button is not available for this set
CM skip button to cue the tape for 30 seconds
to eject the cassette
the variable slow motion button
this button is not available for this set
to search the beginnings of records (index)
a button that doubles the maximum recording time for very
long recordings
the record or OTR button
(One Touch Recording means: each time you press the
button recording is extended by 30 minutes)
pause (record), still (playback)
playback start
playback stop
rewinding/fast forwarding a cassette from stop, or
picture search backwards/forwards from playback mode
number buttons to select programmes (stations) or to type
in numbers
the menu controls, programme (station) selection (PR +/–)
to select the sound output (if available)
The buttons to
use are marked
on the following
pages.
CONTROLS
The machine
◆ Press any button to turn on the power.
On screen display
MAIN MENU
example
The menus show you
which button to press for
the next step.
In addition, some other
functions appear on
screen temporarily.
REW SP PR04 EURO
The video’s menu system
gives you easy-to-understand
access to the less used
functions such as tuning to
stations, clock setting and
more.
“Tape Control” Menu
appears only when a tape is
in the VCR.
*
TIMER PROGRAM
PR PRESET
VCR SETUP
TAPE CONTROL
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
VCR SETUP
CLOCK SET
RF OUTPUT SET
16:9 SET
OSD ON/OFF
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
* Though the ”16:9 Set” is displayed on the screen, this function is not available for this set.
STANDBY/ON
playback stop and ejecting the cassette
front input sockets for connecting a camcorder
CHANNEL
CHANNEL
programme (station) selection
recording or OTR
(One Touch Recording means: each time you press the button recording is extended by
30 minutes)
rewinding / fast forwarding a cassette from Stop, or picture search
backwards / forwards from playback mode.
playback start
MENU
2x
PR
STEREO ON

4
TV/VCR
PROG
PR
PR MENU
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A.SEL
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SP/LP
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A
5
Initial
INSTALLATION
The buttons to
use are marked
on the following
pages.
Connecting up the video recorder
Place your video
◆ horizontally on a flat, steady base so that air can circulate around it for ventilation.
◆ away from humidity and heat, magnetic fields, such as those from loudspeakers etc.,
and with no heavy objects placed on top.
Fitting the remote control's batteries
Switch off all components when connecting or disconnecting cables.
◆Unplug the aerial cable from your TV and plug it into the "ANT. IN"
socket of the video.
Plug the short coaxial cable provided into the "ANT.OUT" socket of
the video and the aerial socket of the TV.
◆Plug a RCA cable into the "RCA” socket of the video and the AV
socket on the TV if available.
This connection will provide best picture and sound quality.
Ask your dealer for an appropriate cable if you do not have one.
Without a RCA cable, you need to follow the steps described under "If you are not
using a RCA cable" (right page and page 23).
◆Make sure the rating of the household mains supply matches the rating shown on
the back of the video.
Now plug in the mains lead. The display of the video should now
light.
◆ Plug a phone cable into “Audio L, R” jack on the rear panel and into
the Audio jack on any audio amplifier, if needed.
Fit the batteries
as shown by the
pictures in the
bay.
ANT . OUT
ANT . IN
AUDIO
AUDIO
VIDEO
OUT
IN
LL
R
R
+
–
+
–
1.5 V (AAA)
AC 200-240 V~
50/60Hz
◆Protect your environment by returning used batteries to your dealer. Since batteries
contain toxic substances they require special disposal methods.
◆Make sure the batteries are always of the same type and age, and remove them
from the remote control if you are not using it for a long period.
Initial
INSTALLATION
Setting up the video cassette recorder
◆ Switch the TV on.
◆ You can also start "Auto Search" in the menu "PR
Preset" "Auto Search".
◆ To tune in new stations (manual tuning) and to enter
station names see page 20-22.
You should see this picture the first
time you switch on the TV and video.
“AUTO SEARCH” tunes in all the stations you can
receive in your conutry and sorts them in an order
common for your country.
PLEASE WAIT...
CH25
If other stations are positioned on near the
current RF OUTPUT CH, the guide message
appears automatically.
The VCR recommends the optimal RF OUTPUT CH
number automatically.
RF OUTPUT SET
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
CURRENT CH 52
RECOMMENDED CH 54
MENU:END
Press the OK button to confirm the
recommended CH.
PLEASE CHANGE THE TV
CH TO 54.
IMPORTANT!

6
TV/VCR
PROG
PR
PR MENU
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SP/LP
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A
Initial
INSTALLATION
Setting up the video recorder (continued)
Should you wish the stations
to have the same numbers as
those used on the TV, follow
the instructions in "Sorting
programme locations" on
page 22.
MANUAL SET
PR01 P-01 PR08 P-08
PR02 P-02 PR09 P-09
PR03 P-03 PR10 P-10
PR04 P-04 PR11 P-11
PR05 P-05 PR12 ----
PR06 P-06 PR13 ----
PR07 P-07 PR14 ----
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
Then type in the current time
and date.
CLOCK SET
123
456
789
0
MENU
0-9:SETUP (HOUR)
/ :CORRECT MENU:END
TIME - - : - -
DATE - - / - - /- - - -
◆If you don´t see this picture, because you don´t use a RCA cable,
search this picture now (CH 52) with the station tuning functions of
your TV set (see its user manual).
◆In case of interference problems on CH 52, type in
an other transmission channel between 21 and 69
using the number buttons.
OSD ON/OFF
ON
OFF
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
OSD(On Screen Display) ON & OFF
This VCR is set to “OSD (On Screen Display) ON” mode at the factory, but you can change it to OFF
mode. When a function is changed at the front display or remote control the change will be
displayed on the screen.
Call the video’s "MAIN MENU".
Choose “VCR SETUP”.
And press the OK button.
Select “OSD ON/OFF”.
If you want OSD OFF mode, select it and press OK
button to confirm.
Then OSD characters are not displayed in the
normal picture.
MENU
MENU
MAIN MENU
TIMER PROGRAM
PR PRESET
VCR SETUP
TAPE CONTROL
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
VCR SETUP
CLOCK SET
RF OUTPUT SET
16:9 SET
OSD ON/OFF
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
Initial
INSTALLATION
7
*
* Though the ”16:9 Set” is displayed on the screen, this function is not available for this set.
Else ...
exit the basic installation function and enjoy your video
recorder.

8
TV/VCR
PROG
PR
PR MENU
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A.SEL
AV
SP/LP
INDEX
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0
30
A
Playing back
◆ Your TV and your video recorder are switched on.
◆ To see the picture from your video, press the station button on the TV reserved for
video input or the AV (Audio/Video) button.
PLAYING
cassettes
Load the cassette by pushing
it smoothly and squarely into
the cassette bay, with its
windows pointing up.
Start playback.
Stop playback.
Eject the cassette.
Fast forward or rewind the
cassette from stop.
CHANNEL
AUTOSET
20 : 10
VHS
VCR
VCR
VCR
VCR
VCR
◆When you load a protected cassette (e.g. pre-recorded film,
see page 17) playback starts automatically.
◆PLAY switches back to normal playback.
◆During still, slow or search, you don’t hear the sound.
◆If the still picture is jittering, you can steady it by using the PR +/– buttons.
◆You can reduce horizontal interference stripes resulting from inaccurate
tracking (when playing tapes of poor quality or recorded on other machines)
by using the PR +/– buttons during playback.
◆After approx. 5 minutes in still, the cassette plays back automatically.
◆NTSC PLAYBACK on PAL TV ; If you playback the tapes, which have been
recorded on NTSC color system, on this VCR, you can watch the pictures on a
PAL TV.
◆Clock / Counter / Remaining time – page 16.
PLAYING
cassettes
Still
Variable picture search
Variable slow motion
Accessing new recordings (index scan)
Still picture from playback.
Each press of the button advances the picture
one frame.
PLAY switches back to normal playback.
Keep pressing to vary the forward search
speed.
Keep pressing to vary the rewind search
speed.
Pressing the above buttons will vary the search
speed in two speeds.
PLAY switches back to normal playback.
Starting from playback you can control slow
motion speed in 6 steps (1/15, 1/10, 1/5, 1/30,
1/25, 1/20, 1/15, ...). Press repeatedly.
PLAY switches back to normal playback.
Select INDEX + or INDEX – to search forwards or
backwards.
The video will now wind to the beginning of the first
recording, play it for about 6 seconds then wind on to the
next one.
When you see the recording you want, press
PLAY.
Access the beginning of recordings in the middle of the tape using the Index + / – function.
The video recorder automatically sets an electronic marker (index) at the beginning of each recording. It is
these markers which the Index + / – function detects.
FF SP
INDEX 01
0:11:09
VCR
VCR
VCR -
VCR
9
EJECT
INDEX
If you hear an unclear or
mixed sound output in
different languages, select
one of the sound options, see
pages 18-19.
PLAY SP Hi-Fi
L+R
A.SEL

10
TV/VCR
PROG
PR
PR MENU
EJECT
PAL/SEC
A.SEL
AV
SP/LP
INDEX
123
456
789
0
30
A
PLAYING
cassettes
RECORDING
cassettes
Setting time and date
Call the video’s "MAIN MENU",
choose "VCR Setup", then "Clock Set".
Move to the position you want to change and type
in the new values.
Wait a few seconds after typing a one-digit number.
Store with OK button and exit with MENU button.
CLOCK SET
0-9:SETUP (HOUR)
/ :CORRECT MENU:END
TIME - - : - -
DATE - - / - - /- - - -
CLOCK SET
0-9:SETUP (HOUR)
/ :CORRECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
TIME 06:05
DATE 11/07/2003(FRI)
2x
2x
MENU
MENU
123
456
789
0
PR
CM Skip
If you press [CM Skip] button on the remote control, tape
advances for 30 seconds segment.
30
Auto Repeat
If you press the PLAY button for 5secs during playback
mode, REP should appear on your display, the video goes
into Auto repeat mode. This video repeatedly plays the
tape from beginning to end.
To release this mode, press any mode operation button
such as PLAY, FF, REW or STOP.
11

12
TV/VCR
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PR
PR MENU
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SP/LP
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A
13
RECORDING
cassettes
Simple recording
◆ The TV stations on the video have been tuned in (page 5).
◆ The video is switched on.
◆ You can either watch the picture from the video on the TV by pressing the station
button reserved for video input or the AV button, watch another TV station or switch
off the TV altogether.
Load a cassette with its safety
tab in place (see page 17).
Start your recording.
If you wish to interrupt recording
briefly - then continue.
Stop your recording.
Choose the station whose
programme you want to record.
If the programme you wish to
record is very long, double the
possible recording time with "LP"
(Long Play).
Up to eight hours with an E-240 cassette.
VCR
STOP SP PR09 EURO
STEREO ON
◆The video stops automatically, if
pause exceeds five minutes.
VCR
VCR
One touch recording – OTR
◆If you want to record from a source connected to your video see page 24.
◆To cancel OTR press the button (stop) more than 5 seconds.
◆Clock / Counter / Remaining time – page 16.
Choose the station you want and press the button
once for every 30 minutes of programme you wish
to record.
Up to ten hours are possible.
VCR
RECORDING
cassettes
PR
SP/LP
PR
◆ For timer recordings, clock, date, and stations must be
set correctly.
◆ Load a cassette with its safety tab in place
(see page 17) and with sufficient free space for the
recording.

14
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PROG
PR
PR MENU
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A.SEL
AV
SP/LP
INDEX
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A
MORE
functions
Normal timer recording
◆ For timer recordings, clock, date, and stations must be set correctly.
◆ Load a cassette with its safety tab in place
(see page 17) and with sufficient free space for the recording.
Call the video’s "MAIN MENU",
choose "Timer Program".
Decide if you want to record
"Once", "Weekly" or "Daily"...
... and confirm.
If you wish to make changes:
Move to the position you want to change
using the / buttons. Change the
setting using the PR+/- or number buttons.
If all setting are ok, press or , till
you see “OK : CONFIRM” in the bottom
line.
Confirm.
Switch your video off.
Type in one after the other:
◆The programme location
number;
◆the time the broadcast starts,
◆the time the broadcast ends,
◆the day of the broadcast, if it
is not today.
◆Select LP if you wish to make
a very long recording .
HOW OFTEN DO YOU WANT
TO RECORD THIS PROGRAM?
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
ONCE
WEEKLY(ONCE A WEEK)
DAILY(MON-FRI)
DAILY(MON-SAT)
DAILY(MON-SUN)
PR+/-: SELECT(AV)
0-9 :SETUP (PR)
/ :CORRECT MENU:END
PR --
START TIME --:--
END TIME --:--
START DATE --/--
TAPE SPEED SP
TIMER PROGRAM (ONCE)
TIMER PROGRAM (ONCE)
PR 01
START TIME 18:10
END TIME 20:30
START DATE 11/07(FRI)
TAPE SPEED LP
PR+/-: SELECT(AV)
0-9 : SETUP (PR)
/ :CORRECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
◆Wait a few seconds after typing a one-digit-number.
◆If you have made a mistake, move to the position you want to change using the
/ buttons and change the setting.
◆If programme timings overlap, the machine will give a warning message. If you
don’t adjust the times, the machine will record the first programme completely
then continue with the second one.
◆If there is no sufficient free space for the recording on the cassette the video
switches automatically to “LP” for double recording capacity.
◆The recorder will eject cassettes which have the safety tab removed (page17).
◆To cancel the normal timer recording, press (stop) button more than
5 seconds.
15
MORE
functions
Timer Review – changing and erasing
Call the video’s "MAIN MENU",
choose "Timer Program".
Select the programming to change or erase.
If you want to erase this programming press
button 0, confirm with OK.
If you wish to make changes:
Move to the position you want to change using
the / buttons.
Change the settings using the PR +/– or number
buttons.
If all setting are ok, press or , till you see
"OK: CONFIRM" in the bottom line.
Confirm changes with OK. Exit the menus.
TIMER PROGRAM
PR START END DATE
03 21:20 22:20 13/07
01 18:30 20:20 11/07
-- -- : -- -- : -- -- / --
-- -- : -- -- : -- -- / --
-- -- : -- -- : -- -- / --
-- -- : -- -- : -- -- / --
-- -- : -- -- : -- -- / --
-- -- : -- -- : -- -- / --
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
TIMER PROGRAM (ONCE)
PR 03
START TIME 21:20
END TIME 22:20
START DATE 13/07(SUN)
TAPE SPEED SP
0 :ERASE
/ :CORRECT MENU:END
2x
MENU
123
456
789
0
PR
MENU
PR
PR MENU
123
456
789
0
MENU

16
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PROG
PR
PR MENU
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AV
SP/LP
INDEX
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456
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A
MORE
functions
Clock / counter display
◆ The counter counts in real time from the point you load the cassette. This does not
have to be its beginning! The counter does not count unrecorded parts of the tape.
◆ If you rewind beyond the zero position, the counter counts in negative values
(e.g. – 0:01:15).
Remaining time and cassette length
STOP SP PR01 ARD
14:00 11/07
1x: Time and date+current
status Time and date
2x: Counter+current status
counter
3x: disappear
If didn’t wind tape (PLAY, FF, REW,...), it
doesn’t appear the tape remain time.
When you want the video to show the time remaining from the current video
tape position (to find out if there is sufficient space for a recording, for example).
To ensure the remaining time shown is accurate, select the length of cassette
currently loaded by selecting this function until you reach the correct length.
Remaining time display is only possible when the cassette is loaded.
E-240 01:27
Call the video’s “MAIN MENU”, choose “Tape Control”.
TAPE REMAIN
E-180
E-240
E-300
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
TAPE CONTROL
TAPE REMAIN
GO TO ZERO
COUNTER RESET
PR+/-:SELECT
OK:CONFIRM MENU:END
Resetting the counter to zero
Accessing counter zero position
Reset the counter.
The video will wind to the
position 0:00:00 and stop.
COUNTER RESET
REW SP
GO TO ZERO
0:02:13
MORE
functions
Child lock
Press the button for about 5 seconds.
No buttons of front panel can be operated now
and LOCK INDICATOR (“SAFE”) will be
displayed momentarily on LED display. Keep
your remote control in a safe place.
To release child lock, press any button of the
remote control.
and ...
Cassettes
Dimmer
Your video recorder dims its display when switched to stand-by mode.
Auto power off
Your video recorder switches to stand-by when no tape is played and no station is
received for more than 5 minutes.
Use only good quality tape cassettes with the VHS logo.
◆Keep cassettes away from excessive moisture or dust, magnetic and
electrical fields (loudspeakers and computer monitors, for example).
◆Always wind the tape to the beginning when you have finished. Store
with the full spool at the bottom and with the cassette in its cover.
You can protect your precious recordings from being wiped by breaking out
the safety tab on the side of the cassette (some cassettes have a slide).
Should you wish to re-use the tape after removing the tab, cover the hole
with adhesive tape.
PAL
17
STEREO ON You can only set the child lock with your remote control.