Panasonic AJ-D230P User manual

DVCPRO
DIGITAL VIDEO CASSETTE
Digital
Video
Cassette
Recorder
a as- DZA e
Operating Instructions

IMPORTANT
“Unauthorized recording of copyrighted
television programs, video tapes and other
materials may infringe the right of copyright
owners and be contrary to copyright laws.”
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER TO SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilatera! triangle, is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
"dangerous voltage" within the product's
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to
persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (service) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
[LL] is the safety information.
B Do not insert fingers or any objects into the video
cassette holder.
Bl Avoid operating or leaving the unit near strong
magnetic fields. Be especially careful of large audio
speakers.
W Avoid operating or storing the unit in an excessively
hot, cold, or damp environment as this may result in
damage both to the recorder and to the tape.
ll Do not spray any cleaner or wax directly on the unit.
E lí the unit is not going to be used for a length of time,
protect it from dirt and dust.
W Do not leave a cassette in the recorder when not in
use.
E Do not block the ventilation slots of the unit.
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
FCC Note:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
To assure continued compliance follow the attached
installation instructions and do not make any
unauthorized modifications.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a class A digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed
to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in
a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to
correct the interference at his own expense.
E Use this unit horizontally and do not place anything on
the top panel.
B Cassette tape can be used only for one-side, one
direction recording. Two-way or two-track recordings
cannot be made.
E Cassette tape can be used for either Color or Black &
White recording.
B Do not attempt to disassemble the recorder.
There are no user serviceable parts inside.
Bf any liquid spills inside the recorder, have the
recorder examined for possible damage.
B Refer any needed servicing to authorized service
personnel.

Table of Contents
Introduction ies tn eke pP ERAN nan NE Sah Ok UE A an Ma ae qn qa 5
Features PS ted
Controls and Their Functions ........................................ 6
e Front Panel s ded time Mi Mea HP cave ERI ER Ge sé ones 6
e Connector section: se qs nipone ea KR wa io rentrant
VODGS 2 LS retail tee ia Sh ai HS a Sh, Men Cees 11
Operation soe E ooo bat oe aa ae wot mec une AOE Seeds 12
e Switching on the power and inserting the cassette ............,....... 12
e Stop ModE T creda tone MM AN Deu der mui es 13
Recording há Wiss ves ed wi ERR E REA E ead ara e pair Ro e Sac 14
e Pause/still recording (frame-to-frame continuity) ............,.,..,...... 15
o Plavback AND ————c TE 15
è Cue and Review dass XP E ue Rr RO CR AH A CR an PA ds 16
e Still-picture playback ........................,.,,.....,,..,.,... 16
e Frame advance: orsa RARUS RR VETERE IU e dk eee DSHS 16
© Sound selection «sav vw o donde d Eo Face ac Ca De Je Wak 16
è Repeat playback iouis es Db a ced E XR ACCRUE CN 17
Time Code and User's BL... ---- eA 19
O TIME COEUR here T 19
BUSES OW tc woes rei a tshirt Malone R H NR pes 19
e Setting the time COUG ~ sara oce res S Re er e e AR ERA Ñ 20
e Setting the users bit ...... e e x 444 eee o ra ahhh és 20
e Time Code and Users Bit Playback .-- 0.0... cee eee eee 21
Superimposed Display Screens ..................................... 22
Set-up (Default Settings) .----- eres 23
Setup Menus ccn eon MS de ren en bee ee EET QUT S PENES 24
© BASIC menu VE VE ER ENSEET REPRE SCOR SERES SSE Sere 24
e OPERATION menu 14e Ere p ER CERO te xn me SCR one c obe 25
6 INTERFACE Menu: iu Lo m b R hist MS EA Aie ve a Lave Wes i eo 26
* MEMORY MODE menu ...............,.,...,,,,,...,.,,,,42... 27
è TAPE PROTECT merces Se «OE ERRARE SAC URL ee ee ee cR Ua 27
S TIME CODE men «ee xw XC ard ACH OR N Ne tered Poe PERIERE ES 28
e VIDEO menu 5S ares ass sims De RHET I Ee FERT RNC OR ac E CR lee à 29
+ AUDIO MENU soucis iso ct sera EO Ger dieu pet i n re eee « 29

Table of Contents (continue)
RS-232C Interface 3250652 256s we he Co UE dn aA red P NRA 30
1. Hardware specifications vu ew vg WO Y we wor arca x oS TR RR REA 31
1) Interface specifications ........................,.,.......,.... 31
2) Communication parameters ............,........,.........,.,. 31
2. Software specifications ........-.......................,.,...... 32
1) External interface specifications .................,..,.......... 32
2) Sending format (from personal computer to VTR) .................. 32
3) Receiving format (from VTR to personal computer) ................ 32
A) Command NSE os oes qv ERREUR E SEV bal Ned SR NE nee 34
Error Messages - 0c. cc X AT sr ete cee ERE EN d Ea Vb qas ades 36
Video Head Cleaning .---- soo una EI lausanne sise 37
Condensation 5.339 256 sere X au n suh adco mx Ri LAN pea ete eae ees 37
Maintenance noue E owe Se yah BRE ee wed RS Tu mm eee pea ee eae Ss 37
Specifications eo Rr en DS ee RR ORES 38

Introduction
The model AJ-D230 is a digital VTR which uses 1/4-inch wide tapes.
It features digital compression technology which significantly reduces the deterioration in the picture and sound
quality during dubbing compared with conventional analog systems.
With its compact and lightweight design, the unit can be carried around with the greatest of ease, and it is also
easy to install it in a rack.
An interactive format is used to perform the unit's settings while monitoring the menus on the screen of the TV
monitor.
The model AJ-D230 is provided with an RS-232C connector as a standard feature to enable the unit to be
operated by remote control from a computer.
Features
Compact size and light weight
The unit measures 8-7/16" wide, 5-1/4" high and 15-
7/16" deep, and it weighs only 15.4 Ibs.
Grips are incorporated to make the unit easy to
carry.
2-channel digital audio with high sound quality
Computer control
The unit can be operated by remote control from a
computer by connecting the RS-232C cable
between the unit and the computer.
Up to 123 minutes of recording
Either news-gathering cassette tapes (max. 63
minutes) or general-purpose cassette tapes (max.
123 minutes) can be used. In both cases, the tape
is one-fourth of an inch wide to achieve a compact
design.
Compatibility with consumer-use equipment
Consumer-use cassette tapes which have been shot
using a consumer-use digital camera can be played
back on this unit using the cassette adaptor (AJ-
CS750P: option).
Please note that the LP mode is not supported.
Time code
This unit incorporates a time code generator
(TCG)Aime code reader (TCR).
Repeat playback
Repeat playback can be performed continuously or
only once for any section of the tape.
Menu-driven set-up
An interactive system is used to perform the unit's
settings while monitoring the menus appearing on
the screen of the TV monitor.
Remote control
Connection of the AG-A11 remote controller (option)
enables the unit to be operated at a distance of
about 5 meters.

Controls and Their Functions
Front Panel
Counter display area
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Front Panel
Q POWER switch
When the ON side is pressed, the power is turned
on, and the counter display area lights.
@ Cassette slot
A news gathering cassette, general-purpose
cassette or consumer-use cassette with an adaptor
is loaded through this slot. Consumer-use
cassettes can be played back only.
OEJECT button
When this is pressed, the tape is unloaded, and
several seconds later the cassette is automatically
ejected.
When the counter display area shows the CTL
display, the display is now reset.
OREC/REC INH lamp
REC: This lights during recording.
REC INH: This lights when the cassette is in the
accidental erasure prevention status.
Recording is not possible in this status.
QREMOTE lamp
This lights when the LOCAL/MENU/REMOTE
Switch has been set to the REMOTE position.
QWIDE lamp
This lights in the 16:9 wide screen mode.
@ "Consumer-use cassette loaded" display lamp
This lights when a cassette recorded on a
consumer-use DV unit has been loaded.
G REPEAT lamp
This lights during repeat playback.
Q SERVO lamp
This lights when the drum servo and capstan servo
are locked.
(p Channel condition lamps
One of these lamps lights (green — blue — red) in
accordance with the status of the error rates.
Green: This lights when the error rates for the video
and audio playback signals are both
satisfactory.
Blue: This lights when the error rate for either the
video or audio playback signals has
deteriorated. The playback picture is stili
normal even while this tamp is lighted.
Red: This lights when either the video or audio
playback signals are corrected or
interpolated.
@ Level meter
This displays the audio signal levels.
The input audio signal levels are displayed during
recording and E-E selection; the output audio signal
levels are displayed during playback.
(p "Cassette loaded" display lamp
This lights when a cassette has been loaded into
the unit.
® Counter display area
The TC and CTL counts, on-screen information and
messages appear in this area.
D LOCAL/MENU/REMOTE switch
This is operated when menu settings are to be
performed or when the unit is to be controlled from
a remote location.
LOCAL: For controlling the unit using the controls
on the unit's operation panel.
MENU: For setting the on-screen menu.
REMOTE: For controlling the unit with an RS-232C
or other external control unit.
INPUT SELECT switch
This is used to select the input signals.
LINE: For recording signals which have been
supplied to the video signal input
connector.
S-VIDEO:For recording signals which have been
supplied to the S-VIDEO input connector.
OPTION: For supplying video and audio signals
from an optional board and recording
them.
(p BEGIN button
This sets the repeat playback start point, and it
displays the currently entered start point.
(p END button
This sets the repeat playback end point, and it
displays the currently entered end point.
(D CH3/CH4 lamp
This lights during DV format playback when the
audio signals have been set in CH3 and CH4.
(D AUDIO OUT SELECT button
This selects the audio signals which are to be
output.

@ Headphone jack
When stereo headphones are connected here, the
recording or playback sound can be monitored
through the headphones.
@ Volume control
This is for adjusting the headphones volume.
@ Volume recording level control
This is for adjusting the PCM audio signal CH1/CH2
recording level.
REW button
When this is pressed, the tape is rewound, and
when “TAPE” is set for the “S/F/R EE SEL" set-up
menu item, the playback picture can be monitored.
€) STOP button
When this is pressed, the tape stops traveling, and
when “TAPE” is set for the “S/F/R EE SEL" set-up
menu item, the still picture can be monitored. Even
in the stop mode, the drum continues to rotate with
the tape kept in close contact with the drum. After
the unit has been kept in the stop mode for a
specific period of time, it is automatically set to the
standby off mode in order to protect the tape. It is
set to the stop mode immediately after a cassette
has been loaded into the unit.
@FF button
When this is pressed, the tape is fast forwarded,
and when “TAPE?” is set for the “S/F/R EE SEL” set-
up menu item, the playback picture can be
monitored.
@ PLAY button
When this is pressed, playback commences. When
it is pressed together with the REC button,
recording commences.
@ PAUSE/STILL button
When this is pressed during recording, the tape
travel is temporarily stopped (pause mode). When
it is pressed again, recording is resumed.
When this is pressed during playback, the stili
picture mode is established. When it is pressed
again, playback is resumed.
@ REC button
When this is pressed together with the PLAY
button, recording commences.
€ Remote contro! connector
When the remote controller (AG-A11) is connected
to this connector, the unit can be operated from a
distance by this controller instead of by its function
buttons. In this case, the LOCAL/MENU/REMOTE
switch must be set to the REMOTE position.
RESET COUNTER
AUSE/STILL REC [go]
ar SET
(AG-A11)
EB COUNTER button
This switches the display on the counter display
area.
CTL: The tape timer (control signal) is displayed.
TC: The time code is displayed.
UB: The user's bit is displayed.
Remaining tape:
The amount of tape remaining is displayed.
ER RESET button
When this is pressed in the CTL mode, the counter
display is reset to 00:00:00:00.

Connector Section
S-VIDEO :

Connector Section
Q AC IN connector
Use the power cord supplied to connect this connector to the power outlet.
SIGNAL GND terminal
This is connected to the signal ground terminal on the unit connected in order to reduce the
noise. It is not a safety ground.
© Fan motor
This is for cooling the unit.
© Handle
Q S-VIDEO IN connector
This is the input connector for the S-VIDEO video signals.
Q VIDEO IN connector
This is the input connector for the analog video signals.
@ SYNC IN connector
This is connected to the composite sync signals of a reference sync signal generator if
synchronization with an external reference sync signal is to be obtained during playback.
Q AUDIO IN connector
This is the input connector for the analog audio signals.
Q S-VIDEO OUT connector
This is the output connector for the S-VIDEO video signals.
(D VIDEO OUT connector
This is the output connector for the analog video signals.
@ MONITOR OUT connector
This is the output connector for the video monitor signals.
Superimposed video signals can be output from it.
(D AUDIO OUT connector
This is the output connector for the analog audio signals.
(p RS-232C connector
Connecting the optional RS-232C cable to this connector enables many kinds of
computerized operations to be performed for the unit.
Personal Computer
RS-232C connector
zit