Data Video DN-400 User manual

.DV / HDV RECORDER.
DN-400
Instruction Manual
www.datavideo-tek.com

2
Table of Contents
Warnings and Precautions ..............................................................................................................................4
Warranty ............................................................................................................................................................5
Standard Warranty ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Two Year Warranty......................................................................................................................................... 5
Disposal ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Packing List: .....................................................................................................................................................6
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................6
Features ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
How to fit a 2.5" SATA Hard Drive into the removable HE-1 Caddy.............................................................7
Connections & Controls...................................................................................................................................8
Front Panel..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Rear Panel ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Powering On....................................................................................................................................................10
Menu Options..................................................................................................................................................10
HDD Mode Menu ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Connecting to a PC / MAC........................................................................................................................... 12
Record Formats Menu ................................................................................................................................. 13
Input Video Standard Menu ......................................................................................................................... 13
NTSC Setup Level Menu ............................................................................................................................. 14
Video Input Source Menu............................................................................................................................. 15
GPI Mode & Functions Menus ..................................................................................................................... 15
Select the GPI Function ............................................................................................................................... 16
Set Date & Time Menu ................................................................................................................................. 16
Set Full Syt Menu......................................................................................................................................... 17
Format Hard Disk Menu ............................................................................................................................... 17
Erase Track Menu ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Convert DV to AVI Menu .............................................................................................................................. 19
Set Output Channel Menu ........................................................................................................................... 20
Scan HDD Surface Menu............................................................................................................................. 20
Operation with a DV Camcorder / Deck / Vision Mixer ...............................................................................21
Recording a track ......................................................................................................................................... 21
Playing a DV Track....................................................................................................................................... 22
Operation with a HDV Camcorder / Deck.....................................................................................................23
Recording a track ......................................................................................................................................... 23
Playing a M2T (HDV) Track ......................................................................................................................... 24
Operation with an Analogue Video Source..................................................................................................24
Recording a Track ........................................................................................................................................ 24
Connecting the removable HE-1 Caddy directly to a PC............................................................................26
Connecting the HE-1 drive caddy directly to a MAC...................................................................................28
Connection to PC when HE-1 drive caddy is still inside DN-400...............................................................30
Connecting to a MAC when HE-1 drive caddy is still in DN-400................................................................32
Free DV File Converter Software CD ............................................................................................................33
Software Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 33
Software Registration................................................................................................................................... 33
PC Software Installation and Removal ........................................................................................................ 33
Software instructions.................................................................................................................................... 33

3
RS 422 Command Set / Protocol Version 1.2...............................................................................................34
Interface Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 34
RS 422 Version History................................................................................................................................ 34
Command Block Format .............................................................................................................................. 34
Connector Pin Assignment........................................................................................................................... 35
Communication Protocol .............................................................................................................................. 35
Command Table (without Checksum byte) .................................................................................................. 36
Detailed Description of Commands (without Checksum byte)..................................................................... 36
Return Data (without Checksum byte) ......................................................................................................... 38
Status Return Data....................................................................................................................................... 39
DN-400 Firmware Version ..............................................................................................................................40
How to update the firmware on your unit ..................................................................................................... 40
Specifications .................................................................................................................................................41
Service and Support.......................................................................................................................................42
Disclaimer of Product and Services
The information offered in this instruction manual is intended as a guide only. At all times, Datavideo Technologies will try to give correct,
complete and suitable information. However, Datavideo Technologies cannot exclude that some information in this manual, from time to
time, may not be correct or may be incomplete. This manual may contain typing errors, omissions or incorrect information. Datavideo
Technologies always recommend that you double check the information in this document for accuracy before making any purchase
decision or using the product. Datavideo Technologies is not responsible for any omissions or errors, or for any subsequent loss or
damage caused by using the information contained within this manual. Further advice on the content of this manual or on the product
can be obtained by contacting your local Datavideo Office or dealer.

4
Warnings and Precautions
1. Read all of these warnings and save them for later reference.
2. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on this unit.
3. Unplug this unit from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use a
damp cloth for cleaning.
4. Do not use this unit in or near water.
5. Do not place this unit on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The unit may fall, causing serious damage.
6. Slots and openings on the cabinet top, back, and bottom are provided for ventilation. To ensure safe
and reliable operation of this unit, and to protect it from overheating, do not block or cover these
openings. Do not place this unit on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface, as the ventilation openings on
the bottom of the cabinet will be blocked. This unit should never be placed near or over a heat
register or radiator. This unit should not be placed in a built-in installation unless proper ventilation is
provided.
7. This product should only be operated from the type of power source indicated on the marking label
of the AC adapter. If you are not sure of the type of power available, consult your Datavideo dealer or
your local power company.
8. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this unit where the power cord will be
walked on, rolled over, or otherwise stressed.
9. If an extension cord must be used with this unit, make sure that the total of the ampere ratings on the
products plugged into the extension cord do not exceed the extension cord’s rating.
10. Make sure that the total amperes of all the units that are plugged into a single wall outlet do not
exceed 15 amperes.
11. Never push objects of any kind into this unit through the cabinet ventilation slots, as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in risk of fire or electric shock. Never
spill liquid of any kind onto or into this unit.
12. Except as specifically explained elsewhere in this manual, do not attempt to service this product
yourself. Opening or removing covers that are marked “Do Not Remove” may expose you to
dangerous voltage points or other risks, and will void your warranty. Refer all service issues to
qualified service personnel.
13. Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer to qualified service personnel under the following
conditions:
a. When the power cord is damaged or frayed;
b. When liquid has spilled into the unit;
c. When the product has been exposed to rain or water;
d. When the product does not operate normally under normal operating conditions. Adjust only
those controls that are covered by the operating instructions in this manual; improper
adjustment of other controls may result in damage to the unit and may often require
extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the unit to normal operation;
e. When the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged;
f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance, indicating a need for service.
To avoid any possible static damage to your equipment please ensure your camcorder / deck is switched off
when connecting or disconnecting the IEEE-1394 cable.
IEEE-1394 pin Power; ensure the connector is inserted the correct way around otherwise short circuit
damage may result to either the computer or the DN-400 port.

5
Warranty
Standard Warranty
Datavideo equipment is guaranteed against any manufacturing defects for one year from the date of
purchase.
The original purchase invoice or other documentary evidence should be supplied at the time of any
request for repair under warranty.
Damage caused by accident, misuse, unauthorized repairs, sand, grit or water is not covered by this
warranty.
All mail or transportation costs including insurance are at the expense of the owner.
All other claims of any nature are not covered.
Cables & batteries are not covered under warranty.
Warranty only valid within the country or region of purchase.
Your statutory rights are not affected.

Two Year Warranty
All Datavideo products purchased after 01-Oct.-2008 qualify for a free one year extension to the
standard Warranty, providing the product is registered with Datavideo within 30 days of purchase. For
information on how to register please visit www.datavideo-tek.com or contact your local Datavideo
office or authorized Distributors
Certain parts with limited lifetime expectancy such as LCD Panels, DVD Drives, Hard Drives are only
covered for the first 10,000 hours, or 1 year (whichever comes first).
Any second year warranty claims must be made to your local Datavideo office or one of its authorized
Distributors before the extended warranty expires.
Disposal
For EU Customers only - WEEE Marking
This symbol on the product indicates that it should not be treated as household waste. It
must be handed over to the applicable take-back scheme for the recycling of Waste
Electrical and Electronic Equipment. For more detailed information about the recycling of
this product, please contact your local Datavideo office.

6
Packing List:
Item No. Description Quantity
1 Instruction Manual 1
2 DN-400 Recorder 1
3 12V DC 4.2A PSU 1
4 HE-1 Hard Drive Caddy* 1
5 Mains Cable 1
6 6 Pin to 6 Pin DV Cable 2m 1
7 USB mini to standard USB (Y type) 1
8 BNC to BNC Cable 1.2m 2
9 Mini XLR 3P-F to 2x Normal 3P-M 60cm 2
10 S-Video Plug to Plug Cable 1.2m 1
11 DV File Converter CD 1
*The Drive Caddy may be supplied empty or with drive already fitted please check with your dealer.
Introduction
The Datavideo DN-400 is a HDV / DV Hard Drive Recorder. It can record HDV via the IEEE-1394 (iLink,
FireWire) output from HDV Camcorders (.m2t), or DV from DV or Analogue video sources (.dv). The DN-400
can be used as an external FireWire drive from which files can be dragged and dropped to a PC or MAC.
The DN-400 has a built in utility to convert .dv files to .avi files, and is also supplied with DV File Converter
software to allow conversion of .dv files to other file formats such Quicktime. The DN-400 has a removable
hard drive in a caddy, this can be ejected from the unit and connected to a PC or MAC via USB to transfer
the video files.
Features
Stand Alone DV / HDV Hard Drive Recorder / Player with Removable HE-1 Drive caddy
Front Connections
Headphone Mini Jack socket, IEEE-1394 socket
Rear Connections
2x IEEE-1394 ports, YUV (on BNC) In and Out, Black burst sync (on BNC)
S-Video, Composite Video and Stereo Audio In / Out
2 x Mini XLR Inputs and Outputs for Balanced Audio Connection
Records .DV files from IEEE-1394 (iLink, FireWire) port or Analogue Video Inputs.
Files can be recorded in 16:9 or 4:3 aspect
Records HDV (.m2t) files via IEEE-1394 (iLink, FireWire) port only
Allows up to 999 tracks to be selected for playback/record
Automatically records to an empty track if the current track number is already used
Full VTR playback functionality, including loop playback
RS-422 control via rear panel Sub D 9pin port
Simple GPI input to trigger play/pause play or record/ record pause actions
Drag and Drop file transfer to PC or MAC via IEEE-1394 connection in HDD mode
Remove Caddy from unit then Drag and Drop file transfer to PC or MAC via USB connection
N.B. The DN-400 cannot be operated as an AVC Device - The AVC Command set is not supported.

7
How to fit a 2.5" SATA Hard Drive into the removable HE-1 Caddy
If your DN-400 does not come with a hard drive already fitted inside the removable caddy please follow
these instructions to fit your own drive.
Please note the warnings on the removable caddy and only replace or install the hard drive from the
end indicated.
For up-to-date information about compatible hard drives please contact your local Datavideo Office.
1. Carefully remove the two screws from the cover at the
connections end of the HE-1 caddy, then pull out the PCB.
2. Push the 2.5” SATA drive into the socket side of the PCB.
turn the PCB over and use the 4 supplied screws to
secure the drive to the PCB.
3. Slide the PCB and hard drive module into the
HE-1 caddy the right way up using the guide slots.
The USB and SATA connections should be just
visible at the open end of the HE-1 caddy.
4. Carefully replace the two screws to secure the
cover to the end of the HE-1 caddy again.
Do NOT over tighten the screws.
Insert the caddy into the DN-400; USB and SATA connections end first as shown on the next page.
When fully in lock the caddy into place by moving the locking lever to the left.

8
Connections & Controls
Front Panel
Power On / Off Button. This is a soft power on / off button which
powers the unit on from a state of standby; the main power on / off
switch is on the rear panel
Menu Button. This calls up the menu display which is navigated using
the Fwd / Rew Buttons and Previous / Next Buttons
Display Panel. Displays the status of the DN-400. The display will
show Track Number, Timecode, or if the Menu Button is pressed the
Menu Display
Fwd / Rew Buttons. In playback mode these buttons will operate as
Fast Forward and Rewind Buttons. If the Menu Button is pressed these
buttons will navigate backwards and forwards between the various
menu options
Stop Button. Stops playback or record.
Play / Pause Button. Starts playback of a track, or pauses playback of
a track- status will be displayed on the Display Panel. Also Starts /
Pauses a recording when unit is in Record mode
Video Input Button. Switches the DN-400 to Analogue Inputs
(Component YUV / S-Video Y/C / Composite CVBS) – NB: Analogue
Inputs can only be recorded to .dv files.
Record Button. Puts the DN-400 into Record Mode. To start
recording press the Record Button and Play Button simultaneously.
N.B. Unit will not record if no video signal is present.
Previous / Next Buttons. These buttons navigate up and down
between recorded tracks and menu options.
Audio Level Meters. These provide a useful indication of the
presence of audio for recording or playback. If the audio level peaks
into red, then audio may be distorted.
Hard Drive Caddy inserted in bay. Lever left to lock, right to unlock.
Push HE-1 caddy unit in to release or insert. Always insert and
release the HE-1 caddy with the unit power turned off.
6 Pin IEEE-1394 In/Out Port. This is a convenient front mounted Port
for connection to a DV / HDV camcorder, or to a PC for file transfer.

9
Rear Panel
2x 6 Pin IEEE-1394 In/Out Ports. Ports for connecting to a DV / HDV
camcorder, or to a PC for file transfer.
YUV In/Out and Black Burst Sync.
See Video Input Source Menu for more details.
NB: YUV Input is only suitable for recording .dv files - It is not
possible to record or playback HDV(.m2t) files via the YUV In/Out.
RS-422 Port. The DN-400 can be controlled via RS-422 from external
devices. The DN-400 uses standard Sony protocol. Connect the RS-422
control cable to this port.
S-Video / Composite Video and Unbalanced RCA Phono In / Out.
These are the standard connections for analogue video and audio
signals. A standard analogue video monitor could be connected to the
output for simple record / playback monitoring of .dv tracks.
See Video Input Source Menu for more details.
NB: These Inputs are only suitable for recording .dv files - It is not
possible to record or playback HDV(.m2t) files via these
connections.
Mini XLR inputs and Outputs for Balanced Audio Connection.
Note: XLR and RCA Phono inputs can not be used at the same time.
GPI socket. Can be used for simple external control. The DN-400 can
accept pulse or level trigger inputs, these can trigger record, playback
and pause commands See GPI Mode & Function Menu.
RS-232 Socket. May be used for some firmware updates, or other future
uses.
DC In Socket. Connect the supplied 12V 4.2A PSU to this socket. The
connection can be secured by screwing the outer fastening ring of the
DC In plug to the socket
Power On/Off Switch.
Grounding Terminal. When connecting this unit to any other
component, make sure that it is properly grounded by connecting this
terminal to an appropriate point. When connecting, use the socket and
be sure to use wire with a cross-sectional area of at least 1.0 mm2.

10
Powering On
Connect the DN-400 power supply to the DC In socket. Ensure the power cable is connected to a suitable
mains socket.
Switch the power On/Off
switch to the ON position Press the Power Button until it lights up
The LCD display panel should show DN-400, then initializing and after a few seconds the track display
should appear. The DN-400 is then ready for use.
Menu Options
The DN-400 is a menu driven unit; there are 24 menus which are used to initially set up the unit. The menu
settings are non-volatile (settings are stored even when the unit is switched off). So many of the settings,
such as date and time, will only need to be set once. We will look at each individual menu in more detail, but
here is a quick overview of them.
N.B. Not all menu options appear when the Video Input Button is illuminated – ensure this is off.
The 24 Menus are:
HDD MODE – This sets the DN-400 to HDD mode for drag and drop
file transfers to a PC or MAC. See HDD Mode Menu for more details.
SETUP LOOP PLAY – Sets the DN-400 to loop play a track, the track
will continuously loop until stopped.
SET POWER ON AUTORUN – Allows a chosen track to automatically
start playing out at DN-400 power on.
RECORD FORMATS – Sets the DN-400 record format to .dv for DV
recordings or .m2t for HDV recording. See Record Formats Menu for
more details.
FREE SPACE – Displays how much HDD space is available on the
DN-400.
TOTAL SPACE – Displays the total available HDD storage on the
DN-400.
INPUT VIDEO STANDARD – Sets the DN-400 video input to NTSC to
PAL. See Input Video Standard Menu for more details.
NTSC SETUP LEVEL – Sets the IRE Black level to 0 or 7.5 for NTSC.
7.5 IRE is most commonly used in the U.S.A. and Canada and 0 IRE
in far eastern countries such as Japan. Not used in PAL mode.
VIDEO INPUT SOURCE – The DN-400 has three types of Analogue
Input – select between CVBS (Composite), Component (YpbPr/YUV)
or S-Video (Y/C). See Video Input Source Menu for more details.