Sony Super Beta Hi-Fi SL-HF870D User manual

3-750-623-21 (1)
SONY.
Beta
Stereo Video Cassette Recorder [a
SL-HF870D
Operating Instructions
Before operating the unit, please read this manual
thoroughly, and retain it for future reference.
BILE Cory
Do pol remcve
Super Betahi-ii
This unit can be used with any video cassette tapes having the mark TD.
It is compatible with the [Bl and (BI type recording and playback formats, and will play back tapes recorded in the [BI
and [Is formats.
©1989 by Sony Corporation

[WARNING
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not ex-
pose the unit to rain or moisture.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
OO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL
This symbol is intended to alert the
user to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the prod-
uct’s enclosure that may be of suffi-
cient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.
This symbol is intended to alert the
user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompa-
nying the appliance.
INFORMATION
; This equipment generates and uses radio frequency
Owners Record
The modei number of your set is focated at the rear and
| the serial number is located on the top of the front panel.
Record the serial number in the space provided below.
Refer to these numbers whenever you call upon your
Sony dealer regarding this product.
Model No. SL-HF870D Seriai)No.
-— Note to CATV system installers: -————_———
| This reminder is provided to call the CATV system
installers attention to Article 820-22 of the NEC that
Provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in
particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be
connected to the grounding system of the building, as
close to the point of cable entry as practical.
——
energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in
strict accordance with the manufacturers instructions,
may cause interference to radio and television reception.
{t has been type tested and found to comply with the timits
for a Class B computing device in accordance with the
specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which
| are designed to provide reasonable protection against
such interference in a residential installation. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause
interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:
Reorient the receiving antenna
Relocate the equipment with respect to the receiver
More the equipment away from the receiver
Plug the equipment into a different outlet so that |
equipment and receiver are on different branch circuits.
'f necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an
experienced radio/television technician for additional
' suggestions. The user may find the following booklet pre-
pared by the Federal Communications Commission
helpful:
“How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference
Problems”. This booklet is available from the U.S. Govern-
ment Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, Stock No.
004-000-00345-4.
se —!

NF-\0)(-Wo) M@re)n} (111)
Precautions: «.:.cic2% ose Sab eel eh enten tea a oe elds 3
Location and function of controls...............-... 4
Handling the video cassettes ..........-....0- 200s 10
Remote control operation ..................0000-. 10
Basic Operations
Recording TV programs. .............20 0.00000 00. 11
Playback? ee eiiG oo ace, se isiatiogse Sealants HAS SES 13
Various playback modes .......-..... 0.00.2 eee ee 14
Watching digital pictures. . 02.0... 2... ee eee ee eee 16
Timer-activated recording ............ 0... e eee eee 22
Quick timer recording ............00 cece eee eee 24
Use of the tape Counter........... 00.00. cee ee eee 25
Advanced Operations
Beta hi-fi audio recording ............ 0.0.2. ee eee 26
PCM recording and playback ............ 0200-5005 27
Camera recording 2.0... .. 2. cece eee eee eee eee 27
Editing atape... 0... eee ee eee eee 28
Connections
Antenna/cable and TV connections ................ 33
Connecting an audio system... 0.0.2... eee 37
Adjustment
Adjusting the TV aac oxsa jake ieawawiaw aswel eee 38
Setting the Clock 2.00... .. ccc ees 39
Presetting the active channels in your area .......... 40
General
Specifications ..... 6... eee eee ee eee 42
Troubleshooting .. 0.0.2... eee eee eens 43
Precautions
On safety
*Before using, check that the operating power voltage and
frequency of the unit are identical with those of your
focal power supply.
*Should any solid object or liquid fall into the cabinet,
unplug the unit and have it checked by qualified
personnel before operating it any further.
One blade of the plug is wider than the other for the
purpose of safety and it will fit into the power outlet only
one way. !f you are unable to insert the plug fully into the
outlet, contact your dealer.
Unplug the unit from the wall outlet if it is not to be used
for an extended period of time. To disconnect the cord,
pull it out by the plug. Never pull the cord itself.
On installation
*Allow adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat
build-up.
*Do not place the unit on surfaces (rugs, blankets, etc.) or
near materials (curtains, draperies) that may biock the
ventilation slots.
¢Do not install the unit near heat sources such as
radiators or air ducts or in a place subject to direct
sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shock.
¢The unit is designed for operation in a horizontal position.
Do not install it in an inclined position.
°Keep the unit and cassette tapes away from equipment
with strong magnets, such as microwave ovens or large
loudspeakers.
*Do not piace any heavy object on the unit.
On operation
When the unit is not in use, turn the power off to
conserve energy and to extend the life of the unit.
«Remove and store video cassettes after recording or
playback.
*Store the cassettes in their cases and keep them in an
upright position to prevent intrusion of dust and uneven
winding.
On cleaning
Clean the cabinet, panet and controls with a dry soft cloth,
or a soft cloth lightly moistened with a mild detergent
solution. Do not use any type of solvent, such as alcohol
or benzine, which might damage the finish.
On repacking
Do not throw away the carton and packing materials, They
make an ideal container in which to transport the unit.
When shipping the unit to another location, repack it as
illustrated on the carton,

Wever-1
(ela
ie-late|
Function
of
Controls
Remote
sensor
7
TIMER
SET
button
[2}
SAP
(Second
Audio
Program)
—~
indicator
(——
[9]
CHANNEL
41
~
butions
Cassette
aia
[3]
STEREO
indicator
[10)
NEXT
button
[4]
TVIVTR
button
(11]
TIMER
REC
(timer
recording)
a
button
POWER
switch
|
[8]
TAPE
RETURN
button
:
and
indicator
ae
PLAY,
PAUSE
and
|
L§|
CLEAR/RESET
button
REC
(
recording)
indicators
(4.}@
EdECT
button
[7]
CLock/couNTeR
|
|
|
[12]
QUICK
TIMER
button
~~
button
AMAL PA: TUNE
a]
}
|
|
|
(98)
LINE
IN
2
VIDEO/AUDIO
jacks
HEADPHONES
jack
a
~~
and
LEVEL
trol
contro
|
Se)
(19)
SYNCHRO
EDIT
button
and
indicator
14)
Beta
hi-fi
indicator
|
(20)
@
REC
(recording)
switch
|
PEAK
PROGRAM
METER’
(24}
Tape
transport
buttons
REC
LEVEL
(recording
level)
controls
————”
(22
CHECK
button
Nort ot
CLOCK
SET
button
eae
SuperBeta
indicator
Sl &) &) |

For details on the use of each control, refer to the pages indicated in the black circles (@).
%}
(4
2)
@ EJECT button
Press to eject the cassette.
This button does not function during recording.
SAP indicator
Lights when the NORMAL AUDIO selector is set to
SAP.
STEREO indicator
Lights when a stereo broadcast is being received.
TVIVTR button
Press so that VTR indicator lights up in the display
window (VTR mode) to watch the program selected
on the recorder. To watch one TV program while
recording another, press this button again so that the
VTR indicator goes off.
TAPE RETURN button ©
In the stop mode, press this button to advance or
rewind the tape to the counter zero point.
CLEAR/RESET button
Press to reset the tape counter to “OHOOMOO0S” and
also to clear a timer setting or an unused channel.
1} CLOCK/COUNTER button
Press to select the clock display or the tape counter
display.
TIMER SET button
Press to start timer setting.
' CHANNEL +/- buttons
Press to select channels, to set the clock or timer
recording and to preset channels. Press + to advance
and — to reverse.
NEXT button
Press to advance to the next item to be set during
clock setting, timer setting or channel presetting.
TIMER REC button
Press to activate timer recording.
QUICK TIMER button
Press to start a quick timer recording and then set
the duration of the recording.
(23)
HEADPHONES jack and LEVEL control
Connect stereo headphones (with a stereo miniplug)
to the HEADPHONES jack. The volume can be
adjusted with the LEVEL control.
Beta hi-fi indicator
Lights to show Beta hi-fi recording and playback. With
a Beta hi-fi recorded tape, the indicator lights even
when the sound recorded on the conventional audio
track is being played back.
PEAK PROGRAM METER
Shows the peak input level of the right and left
channels during Beta hi-fi recording.
REC LEVEL controls ©
Adjust the audio recording level. Normally keep these
controls at the indented center position |[5".
CLOCK SET button
Press to start clock setting.
LINE IN 2 VIDEO/AUDIO jacks (phono type)
Use to connect a recording source, such as a
portable VCR, video camera, stereo system, etc.
SYNCHRO EDIT button and indicator ©
Press to start and stop playback on this VCR and
recording on another VCR simultaneously for synchro
editing.
@ REC switch
Slide to the right to start recording.
21] Tape transport buttons
<@4 REW (rewind), ® PLAY, FF (fast-forward),
» SLOW, BSTOP IV/@PAUSE/STILL
CHECK button
Press to check the timer settings.
SuperBeta indicator
Lights when the SUPER BETA switch is set to ON.

Location and Function of Controls
Inside the front panel
~~~ 127] PRESET button
(28)
FINE
TUNE
button
REC
MODE
(recording
mode)
button
TRACKING buttons
[25]
STILL
ADS
(still
picture
adjustment)
button
fo (29! AUTO STEREO switch
(39)
SHARPNESS
control
[33]
NORMAL
AUDIO
selector
-
(34)
MPX
FILTER
(multiplex
filter)
switch
[31]
SUPER
BETA
switch
[38]
AUDIO
MONITOR
STEREO/L/R
selector
{32]
INPUT
SELECT
switch
[36]
AUDIO
MONITOR
HI-FI/NORM
selector
For
watching
digital
pictures,
see
pages
16
through
21.
DIGITAL PICTURE indicator
P in P (picture in picture)
button and indicator
ZOOM button and indicator
MULTI STROBE 9 and 16
STOP
MOTION
button
and
buttons
and
indicators
indicator
MANUAL multistrobe
FLASH
MOTION
button
and
button
and
indicator
indicator
[38] DIGITAL OFF button
MOSAIC ART button and
indicator
(39] EFFECT +/— buttons
PICTURE ART button and
indicator
RECALL
button
and
indicator

{3}
'3)
2]
REC MODE button
Prass to select the recording speed, FAI or (ATI.
STILL ADJ button
Press to stabilize the still picture, if it shakes.
TRACKING buttons
Press the ¥ or & button if streaks, snow or noise
bands appear during normal or slow motion playback.
PRESET button
Press to start the presetting of TV channels, Press
again to cancel presetting mode.
FINE TUNE button
Press to start the fine tuning of a TV channel. Press
again to cancel fine-tuning mode.
[2] AUTO STEREO switch
Normally set to ON. When the signal is weak on a
particular channel, set to OFF.
SHARPNESS control
Use to adjust the sharpness of the picture if
necessary. Normally set the contro! at the indented
center position.
SUPER BETA switch ©
Normally keep this switch at ON.
INPUT SELECT switch
Select the program to be recorded.
TUNER: For recording TV programs
LINE 1: For recording signals from the LINE IN 1
VIDEO/AUDIO jacks
LINE 2: For recording signals from the LINE IN 2
VIDEO/AUDIO jacks on the front panel
NORMAL AUDIO selector
Select the sound to be recorded on the conventional
audio track. Normally set to MAIN, To record SAP
(Second Audio Program), set to SAP.
MPX FILTER switch
When making a recording other than regular TV
recordings, set the selector as follows:
OFF: For recording the sound from a record player or
a compact disc player
ON: For recording FM radio broadcast programs.
{If your FM tuner is provided with an MPX filter, set
this selector to OFF)
AUDIO MONITOR STEREOILIR selector
Select the channel(s) of the Beta hi-fi sound to be
monitored.
STEREO: To monitor in stereo mode
L: To monitor the L (left) channel of a stereo program
R: To monitor the R (right) channel of a stereo
program
AUDIO MONITOR HI-FI/NORM selector
Select the sound to be monitored.
HI-FI: Normally set to this position for beta hi-fi sound
NORM: To monitor the sound recorded on the
conventional audio track.
DIGITAL PICTURE Indicator
Lights when one of the digital picture functions is
activated.
DIGITAL OFF button
Press to cancel the digital picture function in use.
EFFECT +/- buttons
Used to adjust the effects of various digital pictures,
Regardless of the setting of the selector, TV programs are
automatically recorded in MPX FILTER ON mode.

Location and Function of Controls
Display window
Tape
speed
indicator
Tuning
band
indicator
TIMER REC (timer recording) indicator
Day-of-the-week indicators
Channel number
Timer turn-on and turn-off
setting indicators
VTR indicator
AFT (Automatic Fine Tuning) indicator
TUNE
indicator
Tape
counter
Clock, timer turn-on time or
timer turn-off time
Channel scanning indicator
For basic connections, see pages 33 through 37.
VHF/UHF
IN
connector
(F
type)
VHF/UHF
OUT
connector
(F
type)
AC power cord
RF UNIT selector
CONTROL
S
IN/OUT
AUDIO
OUT
jacks
(phono
type)
jacks (mini type)
LINE
IN
1
VIDEO/AUDIO
LINE
OUT
ViDEO/AUDIO
jacks
jacks
(phono
type)
{phono
type)

Remote Commander RMT-160
DIGITAL/CH (digital picture/
channel number button) selector
Channel number buttons and
ENT (enter) button
(3) Digital picture buttons
[4] Tape transport buttons
>
(5] ANT TV/VTR
(TV/VTR mode) selector
awn
POWER switch
CHANNEL + /— buttons
4}
@REC (recording) buttons
SEARCH (locked picture
search) buttons
DIGITAL SCAN button
(<]
Battery compartment (rear) >
[. DIGITAL/CH selector
When using the digital picture functions, set to
DIGITAL. When selecting a channel directly with 0
through 9 channel number buttons and ENT button,
set to CH.
% Channel number buttons and ENT button
These buttons function as the channel number buttons
and ENT button for selecting channels when the
DIGITAL/CH selector is set to CH.
To select a channel, press the digits of the desired
channel one by one and press ENT.
E.g. To select channel 12, press 1, 2 and ENT.
32. Digital picture buttons
These buttons function as the digital picture buttons
when the DIGITAL/CH selector is set to DIGITAL.
STOP MOTION, FLASH MOTION, P in P, MANUAL
(manual multi-strobe), 9 MULTI (9-frame multi-strobe),
16 MULTI (16-frame multi-strobe), MOSAIC ART,
PICTURE ART, ZOOM, RECALL, DIGITAL OFF,
EFFECT +/—
{4] Tape transport buttons
PAUSE, SLOW, ® (playback), |<< (rewind),
[pe] (fast-forward), m (stop)
(5) ANT TV/VTR (TV/VTR mode) selector
Select TV or VTR mode.
(6) CHANNEL +/— buttons
Select the channels.
7, @ REC buttons
To start recording, press these buttons simultaneously.
[8] SEARCH buttons
During playback or in freeze picture mode, press to
watch the picture at a fast speed.
‘$! DIGITAL SCAN button
In fast-forward or rewind mode, press to watch the
picture at a fast speed.

a Felavelliate Mt loma ace (cre)
Cassettes
To avoid erasing a recording
Break off the safety tab on
the rear of the cassette.
To re-record the cassette
If the safety tab has been removed, re-cover the opening
with a piece of cellophane tape.
When the inserted cassette has had its safety tab
removed
\f you activate @ REC, QUICK TIMER or TIMER REC, the
cassette will be automatically ejected.
Recording time available in each mode
By selecting the recording speed, JHII or (BM, with the
REC MODE button, you can decide the recording time.
aaeee TBI mode (Bll mode
| used
L-125 30 min. 45 min.
L-250 1 hr. 1 hr. 30 min.
L-500 2 hr. 3 hr.
L-750 3 hr. 4 hr. 30 min.
L-830 3 hr. 20 min. 5 hr.
Playback speed is set automatically.
10
Remote Control! Operation
Battery Insertion
Insert two size AA (R6) batteries with the polarity
lined up correctly.
Battery life
With normal operation, batteries will last for about six
months.
Remote sensor
Point the Commander
here.
Maximum distance
approx. 7 m (23 feet)
eThe buttons without an explanation will function the
same as the buttons on the recorder with a similar name
or mark.
*Auto play cannot be activated with <q and » on the
Commander.