Panasonic Aj D250 Operating Instructions Manual

							AJ- P
Operating Instructions
Digital Video Cassette Recorder
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TAUDIO
REC LEVELES-VIDEO
LINEOPTIONBEGIN
ENDDigital Video Cassette RecorderCH1
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SELECT
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S0699W3119 A Printed in Japan
VQT8188-2P 
						

							2
indicates safety information.
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.”
$Do not insert fingers or any objects into the video
cassette holder.
$Avoid operating or leaving the unit near strong magnetic
fields. Be especially careful of large audio speakers.
$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.
$Do not spray any cleaner or wax directly on the unit.
$If the unit is not going to be used for a length of time,
protect it from dirt and dust.
$Do not leave a cassette in the recorder when not in use.
$Do not block the ventilation slots of the unit.$Use this unit horizontally and do not place anything on
the top panel.
$Cassette tape can be used only for one-side, one
direction recording. Two-way or two-track recordings
cannot be made.
$Cassette tape can be used for either Color or Black &
White recording.
$Do not attempt to disassemble the recorder.
There are no user serviceable parts inside.
$If any liquid spills inside the recorder, have the recorder
examined for possible damage.
$Refer any needed servicing to authorized service
personnel.
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 equilateral 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.
CAUTION:
Do not install or place this unit in a bookcase,
built-in cabinet or in another confined space
in order to keep well ventilated condition.
Ensure that curtains and any other materials
do not obstruct the ventilation condition to
prevent risk of electric shock or fire hazard
due to overheating.
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT
TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD AND ANNOYING INTERFERENCE,
USE THE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES
ONLY.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, REFER MOUNTING OF THE
OPTIONAL INTERFACE BOARD TO
QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
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.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, REFER CHANGE OF SWITCH
SETTING INSIDE THE UNIT TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL. 
						

							3
Contents
Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Features  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Parts and Their Functions  . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Front panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Connector panel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Tapes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Turning on the power/inserting a cassette . . . . . . 11
STOP mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Recording  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Pause/recording (frame-to-frame continuity)  . . . . 14
Playback  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Cue/review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Still picture playback  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Frame by frame advance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Audio switching  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
REC CHECK  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Repeat playback  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Time Codes and User’s Bit  . . . . . . . . . . 18
Time codes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
User’s bit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Setting the time code  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting the user’s bit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Playing back the time code/user’s bit  . . . . . . . . . 20
Superimposed Screens  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Setup (Initial Settings)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
How to perform the settings using the on-screen
menus  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
How to restore the factory settings  . . . . . . . . . . . 23
How to set the user default settings  . . . . . . . . . . 24
How to load the user default settings  . . . . . . . . . 25
How to initiate the menu protect mode  . . . . . . . . 25
How to release the menu protect mode . . . . . . . . 26
How to display the DIAG menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Setup Menus  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SYSTEM menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
BASIC menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
OPERATION menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
INTERFACE menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
TAPE PROTECT menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
TIME CODE menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
VIDEO menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
AUDIO menu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Editing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Audio editing functions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Cutting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
V-fading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
First Edit Function  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
RS-232C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
1. Hardware specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
1) Interface specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
2) Communication parameters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
2. Software specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
1) External interface specifications  . . . . . . . . . 39
2) Sending format (computer 
VTR)  . . . . . . . 39
3) Receiving format (VTR 
computer)  . . . . . . 40
4) Command list  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5) Checkpoints for RS-232C communication  . . 73
Error Messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Emergency Eject  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Video Head Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Condensation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Maintenance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 
						

							4
Introduction
The AJ-D250 is a digital VTR which uses 1/4˝ wide tapes.  The incorporation of digital compression technology
ensures that the deterioration in picture and sound quality suffered during dubbing will be much less than with
conventional analog systems.
The model has a compact and lightweight design, enabling it to be readily carried about or easily installed in a
rack.
The interactive system, which is featured for the unit’s settings, enables these settings to be performed while
viewing the menus on the TV monitor screen.
The model AJ-D250 comes with an RS-232C connector which makes it possible to control the editing operations
and exercise remote control from a computer using the RS-232C remote control (AJ-A250 - available as an
optional accessory).
Features
Compatible with consumer-use equipment
Using the cassette adapter (AJ-CS750P: optional
accessory), consumer-use cassette tapes shot using
a consumer-use digital camera can be played back on
this unit.  The LP mode is not supported.
Time codes
The unit comes with a built-in time code generator
(TCG)/time code reader (TCR).
Repeat playback
Any section on a tape can be played back repeatedly
for an unlimited number of times or one time only.
Menu-driven setup
The unit’s settings are performed using an interactive
system while viewing the menus on the TV monitor
screen.
Remote control
The unit can be operated from distances up to 5
meters away when the AG-A11 remote control
(optional accessory) is connected.
For AJ-5P92LP cassette tapes, use a VTR supporting
DVCPRO (25 Mbps) 184 minute tapes.
Compact and light
This unit is 8 7/16˝ (214 mm) wide, 5 1/4˝ (132 mm) high
and 15 7/16˝ (391 mm) deep, and weighs 14.3 lb (6.5
kg). It is equipped with grips so that it can be carried
easily.
Assemble editing and insert editing
Using the RS-232C remote control (AJ-A250 -
available as an optional accessory), two units—one a
player and the other a recorder—can be controlled
directly from the remote control to perform editing
operations.
Encoder control
The video output signals can be adjusted using the
items on the setup menus.
2-channel digital audio with high sound quality
RS-232C control
Use of the RS-232C remote control (AJ-A250 -
available as an optional accessory) enables not only
editing operations to be performed but remote control
can also be exercised, from a computer by connecting
the RS-232C cable between from the computer and
this VTR.
Up to 184 minutes of recording
The unit uses two types of cassette tapes: one for
news gathering (max. 66 minutes) and the other for
general-purpose applications (184 minutes: using AJ-
5P92LP
).
The unit’s compact design accommodates tapes with
a 1/4˝ width. 
						

							5
ON
POWER OFF
DIGITAL VIDEOCASSETTE
EJECT
MENU
REMOTE
LOCAL
AUDIO
REC LEVEL
CH 1
CH 2 INPUT SELECTS-VIDEO
LINE OPTION
BEGIN END
AUDIO OUT
SELECT
CH 3
CH 4
MENU DATA
DOWNUP MODE
-+SETREWSTOP FF PLAYPAUSE/STILLREC
RESETCOUNTER
REMOTE Digital Video Cassette Recorder 
Parts and Their Functions
Front panel
Counter display
DV WIDEREMOTEREC
INH
CH 1
CH 2dB -30-25 -20 -16 -12 -8 -4 0-CTL
TC
UB
HOURS MINUTES SECONDS FRAMES
SERVO
23>
M LNO K J I H G F DE BC A @ ?4
;5
6789:

						

							6
Front panel
1
POWER switch
When the ON side is pressed, power is supplied to
the unit, and the counter display is illuminated.
2
Cassette insertion slot
News gathering cassettes, general-purpose
cassettes and consumer-use cassettes
accompanied by the adapter are inserted into this
slot.  Consumer-use cassettes can be used for
playback only.
3
EJECT button
When this button is pressed, the tape is unloaded,
and a few seconds later it is automatically ejected.
If the counter display is set to the CTL display, the
display will be reset.
4
REC/REC INH lamp
REC:The lamp lights during recording.
REC INH:The lamp lights when the accidental
cassette erasure prevention status is
established.
It also lights when “ON” is selected as the
“REC INHIBIT” setting on the setup
menu.
Recording cannot be conducted while
this lamp is lighted.
5
REMOTE lamp
This lamp lights when the LOCAL/MENU/REMOTE
switch has been set to REMOTE.
6
WIDE lamp
This lamp lights in the 16:9 wide screen mode.
7
Consumer-use cassette insertion lamp
This lamp lights when a cassette recorded using a
consumer-use DV device has been inserted.
8
REPEAT lamp
This lamp lights during repeat playback.
9
SERVO lamp
This lamp lights when the drum servo and capstan
servo are locked.
:
Channel status lamps
One of these lamps lights depending on the error
rate status. (Green 
Blue Red)
Green:This lamp lights when the error rate for both
the video and audio playback signals is at
an acceptable level.
Blue:This lamp lights when the error rate for
either the video or audio playback signals
has deteriorated.  A normal playback picture
appears even when the lamp is lighted.
Red:This lamp lights when either the video or
audio playback signals have become
subject to correction or interpolation.;
Level meter
This indicates the levels of the audio signals.
During recording or E-E selection, it indicates the
audio input signal levels; during playback, it
indicates the audio output signal levels.
<
Cassette insertion lamp
This lamp lights when a cassette has been inserted
into the unit.
=
Counter display
The time codes, CTL count values and on-screen
information and other messages appear on this
display.
>
LOCAL/MENU/REMOTE switch
This switch is set when the menu settings are to be
performed or when the unit is to be controlled from
an external source.
LOCAL:Set here when the unit is to be controlled
using the controls provided on the unit’s
operation panel.
MENU:Set here when the on-screen menu items
are to be set.
REMOTE:Set here when the unit is to be controlled
using the RS-232C interface or other
external control device.
?
INPUT SELECT switch
This is used to select the input signals.
LINE:Set here to record the signals which are
supplied to the video signal input
connector.
S-VIDEO:Set here to record the signals which are
supplied to the S-VIDEO input connector.
OPTION:Set here to supply video and audio
signals from the optional board and
record them.
@
BEGIN button
This button sets the start point for repeat playback
and it indicates the start point which is currently
entered.
A
END button
This button sets the end point for repeat playback
and it indicates the end point which is currently
entered.
B
CH3/CH4 lamps
These lamps light when the audio signals have
been set to CH3 and CH4 during DV format
playback.
C
AUDIO OUT SELECT button
This button selects the audio signals which are to
be output.
Parts and Their Functions 
						

							7
D
Headphones jack
When headphones are connected to this jack, they
can be used to monitor the sound being recorded or
played back.
E
Volume control
This is used to adjust the volume to the
headphones.
F
Audio recording level controls
These controls are used to adjust the recording
level for PCM audio signals CH1 and CH2.
G
REW button
When this button is pressed, the tape is rewound,
and the playback pictures can be monitored if
“TAPE” has been selected for the “S/F/R EE SEL”
setup menu item setting.
H
STOP button
When this button is pressed, the tape stops
traveling, and the still picture can be monitored
when the “TAPE” setting has been selected for the
“S/F/R EE SEL” setup menu item.  
In the stop mode, the drum still continues to rotate,
and the tape remains tightly wrapped around the
drum.
When the designated period of time has elapsed in
the stop mode, the unit is automatically set to the
standby OFF mode in order to protect the tape.
I
FF button
When this button is pressed, the tape is fast-
forwarded, and the playback pictures can be
monitored if “TAPE” has been selected as the
“S/F/R EE SEL” setup menu item setting.
J
PLAY button
When this button is pressed, playback is
commenced.
Recording is commenced when it is pressed
together with the REC button.
K
PAUSE/STILL button
When this button is pressed during recording,
recording is stopped temporarily.  When it is
pressed again, recording is resumed.
When this button is pressed during playback, the
still picture mode is established.  When it is pressed
again, playback is resumed.
L
REC button
Recording is commenced when this button is
pressed together with the PLAY button.  When it is
pressed during playback or in the STOP mode or
standby OFF mode, the REC CHECK mode is
established.  (See page 15)M
REMOTE connector
When the remote control (AG-A11) is plugged into
this connector, the unit can be operated at a
distance using the controls on the remote control
instead of the unit’s function buttons.
Keep the LOCAL/MENU/REMOTE switch at the
REMOTEposition.
N
COUNTER button
This button is used to switch the counter display.
CTL:Set here to display the tape timer (control
signal).
TC:Set here to display the time code.
UB:Set here to display the user’s bit.
Remaining tape:
Set here to display the amount of remaining
tape.
O
RESET button
When this button is pressed in the CTL mode, the
counter display is reset to 00:00:00:00.
DATA+SETPAUSE/STILLRECRESET COUNTER
REMOTE
tte Recorder    AJ-
Panasonic
(AG-A11)
Parts and Their Functions 
						

							8
RS-
232C
AC  IN
SIGNAL
GND
OUTPUT
CH1CH2AUDIO 2CH1CH2AUDIO 1
VIDEO
MONITVIDEOS-VIDEO
INPUT
CH1CH2AUDIO
REF
VIDEOVIDEOS-VIDEO
1 3
; 92 >:78 6 54
= <
Connector panel
Parts and Their Functions 
						

							9
RS-
232C
AC  IN
SIGNAL
GND
OUTPUT
CH1CH2AUDIO 2CH1CH2AUDIO 1
VIDEO
MONITVIDEOS-VIDEO
INPUT
CH1CH2AUDIO
REF
VIDEOVIDEOS-VIDEO
Connector panel
1
AC IN socket 
Plug one end of the unit’s power cord into this
power socket.
2
SIGNAL GND terminal
In order to reduce noise, connect this terminal to
the signal grounding terminal on one of the devices
to which the unit is connected.  This is not a safety
ground.
3
Fan motor
This motor is used to cool the unit.
4
Grip
This grip is fitted on the side panel.  When
operating the unit, however, place the unit flat on its
bottom surface.
5
S-VIDEO IN connector
The S-VIDEO video signals are supplied to this
connector.
6
VIDEO IN connector
The analog video signals are supplied to this
connector.
7
REF VIDEO IN connector
This is connected to the reference video signal
when the unit is to be synchronized with the
reference sync signals of an external unit during
playback.
8
AUDIO IN connectors
The analog audio signals are supplied to this
connector.
9
S-VIDEO OUT connector
The S-VIDEO video signals are output from this
connector.
:
VIDEO OUT connector
The analog video signals are output from this
connector.
;
MONITOR OUT connector
The video monitor signals are output from this
connector.  Superimposed video signals can be
output.
<
AUDIO 1 OUT connectors
The analog audio signals are output from this
connector.
=
AUDIO 2 OUT connectors
The analog audio signals are output from this
connector.>
RS-232C connector
Editing operations can be conducted speedily and
efficiently by connecting the RS-232C remote
control (AJ-A250 - available as an optional
accessory) to this connector.  Various operations
can be performed from a computer by using the
RS-232C cable which is available as an optional
accessory.
RS-232C
connector
Parts and Their Functions 
						

							10
ON
POWER OFF
DIGITAL VIDEOCASSETTE
EJECT
MENU
REMOTE
LOCAL
AUDIO
REC LEVEL
CH 1
CH 2 INPUT SELECTS-VIDEO
LINE OPTIONBEGIN END
AUDIO OUT
SELECTCH 3
CH 4
MENU DATA
DOWNUP MODE-+SETREWSTOP FF PLAYPAUSE/STILLRECRESETCOUNTER
REMOTE Digital Video Cassette Recorder
Tapes
Tape
Consumer-use
cassettes
(S cassette)
M cassettes
L cassettes
Description
Tapes with up to 66 minutes of recording/playback time
(AJ-P12MP, AJ-P24MP, AJ-P33MP, AJ-P46MP, AJ-P66MP)
Tapes with up to 184 minutes of recording/playback time
(AJ-P34LP, AJ-P66LP, AJ-P94LP, AJ-P126LP, AJ-5P92LP
)
For AJ-5P92LP cassette tapes, use a VTR supporting  DVCPRO (25 Mbps) 184
minute tapes.
Align the cassette with the center of the insertion
slot, and push it in gently.
The cassette tape is loaded automatically.
M cassette
L cassette

OConsumer-use DV tapes can be used for playback only.
OConsumer-use tapes recorded in the LP mode cannot be played back.
ORecording onto consumer-use tapes is not possible, therefore the recording-related functions
are inhibited.
OThe maximum speed at which consumer-use tapes can be forwarded or reversed is 32 times
normal tape speed.
OThe still pictures of consumer-use tapes are subject to disturbance.
OIn the interest of protecting the tapes, it is recommended that consumer-use tape cue-up be
kept to the minimum extent possible.
OThe maximum time for the STILL TIMER when a consumer-use tape is used has been set to
10 seconds.
When the unit has been left standing in the STILL mode, the standby OFF (half loading) mode
will be established after one minute has elapsed.
ODuring consumer-use tape search and still picture operations, a display indicating that the
time code cannot be read may appear.
These tapes are designed to be used exclusively with consumer-use camera
recorders.
They can be used only for playback on this unit and only with the cassette adapter
(optional accessory).
Long-playing tapes (80 min. in standard mode, 120 min. in LP mode) cannot be
used with this unit.
It is recommended that Panasonic brand consumer-use DV tapes be used.
Remember that inserting a cassette tape without using the cassette adapter can
cause malfunctioning.