Panasonic Aj D440 Aj D450 Operating Instructions Manual

							IMPORTANT
“Unauthorized recording of copyrighted televi-
sion 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 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 (servicing) instructions in 
the literature accompanying the appliance.
CAUTION:
To reduce the risk of fire or shock hazard and 
annoying interference, use the recommended 
accessories only.
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 instruc-
tion 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.
is the safety information.
Do not insert fingers or any objects into the video 
casette 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. n
n
n
n
n
n
nUse 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. n
n
n
n
n
n
– 2 –
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR 
SHOCK HAZARD, REFER MOUNTING OF 
THE OPTIONAL INTERFACE BOARD TO 
AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL. 
						

							– 3 –
Contents
General and Features
Controls and their functions
•Front panel
•Connector area
Tapes
Connections
•When recording/playback using 1 unit
•When recording, playback and editing
     with 2 units
•When using an editing controller
Internal encoder adjustments
Printed circuit board
Switching on the power/inserting the cassette
STOP mode
Recording 
(AJ-D450 only)
Playback
Setup (default settings)
Setup (setting) menus
•System menu
•Basic menu
•Operation menu
•Interface menu
•Edit menu
•Tape protect menu
•Time Code menu
•Video menu
•Audio menu
•Menu menuTime code/user bit
•Recording internal/external time codes
•Reproducing the time code/user bit
Superimpose screen
Servo reference
Audio V Fade Function 
(AJ-D450 only)
Rack mounting
Head cleaning
Condensation
Error messages
RS-232C interface
Connector signals
Specifications44
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Before operating this unit, check that all of its accessories are present and accounted for.
                 Power cord....1 pc
Option
• AJ-YA750P component serial interface board
• AJ-CS750P Cassette adaptor
• AJ-MA75P Rack mounting adaptor
• AJ-YA655P Digital Audio Interface Board
• AJ-YA752P Audio memory unit 
Controls and their functions
Connections and settings
Basic operations
Time code
Functions
Maintenance
Specifications and others
Setup menus 
						

							– 4 –
General and Features
This unit is a digital video cassette recorder which uses 1/4-inch tapes.
It incorporates digital compression technology so that the deterioration in picture quality and 
sound quality resulting from dubbing is significantly minimized compared with existing 
analog systems.
Furthermore, since it has a compact 4U size and light weight, the unit can be carried around 
or mounted in a 19-inch rack with ease.
The settings for the unit’s setup can be performed while viewing the screen menus on the 
TV monitor. With the AJ-D450 unit, both assemble and insert editing are possible through 
external control.  
Compact size and light weight
This is a 4U size digital VTR. It can be mounted in a 19-inch rack with ease using the 
optional rack-mounting adaptors (AJ-MA75P).
Up to 184 minutes of recording
Two sizes of cassette tapes can be used with this unit: M cassette (max. 66 minutes) and L 
cassette (max. 184 minutes).  The width of the tapes measures 1/4 inch to achieve a 
compact design.
Compatibility with consumer products
Consumer cassette tapes shot with digital cameras available on the consumer market can 
be played back on this unit using the optional cassette adaptor (AJ-CS750P).

•Slow motion playback is not possible with consumer cassette tapes.
•Consumer cassette tapes recorded in LP mode cannot be played back.
Digital slow motion/jog
The slow motion playback images can be reproduced clearly at any of the speeds given below 
using commands from the external controller or other such device: –0.43/–0.3/–0.2/–0.1/ 
–0.03/0/ +0.03/+0.1/+0.2/+0.3/+0.5/+0.75.

•Some noise may occur when the slow motion speed is changed.
•When slow motion playback is used, the image shakes slightly in the vertical direction.
Dialy shuttle operation is possible through the external controller
Shuttle operations enable the tape to be played back with color images at a speed of up to 
60 times normal tape speed in either the forward or reverse direction.
Time codes
This unit comes with a built-in time code generator* (TCG)/time code reader (TCR). In 
addition to the internal time code, an external time code input or input signal VITC can be 
recorded in the machine as the LTC time code.
Features
* Applicable only to 
AJ-D450. 
						

							– 5 –
Multi-function input/output interfaces (AJ-D450 only for input)
•Analog input/output
Component (Y, P
B, PR) and composite and S-VIDEO signal input and output connectors are 
provided.
•Digital audio input/output
AES/EBU audio input/output is possible when the optional digital audio interface board (AJ-
YA655P) is used.
•Serial digital input/output
Serial digital (SMPTE 259M-C, 272M) input/output is possible when the optional component 
serial interface board (AJ-YA750P) is used.

The AJ-YA655P board, sold separately, is necessary when using serial digital audio 
(SMPTE 272M).
•9-pin (RS-422A)/(RS-232C) remote
The standard 9-pin serial (RS-422A) connector or RS-232C connector is used.
2-channel high-sound-quality digital audio (AJ-D450 only for recording)
Sound can be edited separately for two channels, and channel mixing capabilities are also 
available.  One channel is provided for the analog cue track.
Information selected from audio CH1 and CH2 can be recorded in the cue track memory. 
(Set at the set up menu.)
•Cue track input and output connectors are not provided.
Automatic editing functions from the external controller (only AJ-D450)
AJ-D450 allows both assemble and insert editing from the external controller.
Menu-driven setup
The setup settings, which are conducted prior to operating the unit, are performed while 
viewing the setup menus either on the unit display or TV monitor.
Features
 (continued) 
						

							– 6 –
Controls and their functions
Front panel
Counter Display Section
ON
OFFPOWEREJECT
REC PLAY FF STOP REW COUNTER/
REMAIN
RESET CH CONDITION
LEVEL
HEADPHONES
CH 1
AUDIO
REC LEVELCTL
TC
UB
CH 1
MIX
CH 2INT
EXTTC
AUDIO
MONITOR
DIGITAL
ANALOGY PB PR
CMPST
S-VIDEODIGITAL
AES/EBU
ANALOGREMOTE
LOCALMENU
PAGETC
PRESET
FILESET
DIAG
VIDEO INAUDIO INCH 2
@3*@4@5@6*#2*#3*#4
@7@8@9#0#1
@1@2!4!5!6!7!8!9@0*
ewq
rtyuio!0
!1!2!3
* Applicable only to AJ-D450. 
						

							– 7 –
POWER switch
When the ON side is pressed, the power is switched on, and the counter display lights up.
Cassette insertion slot
The M cassette, L cassette and consumer cassette (S cassette) with adaptor are inserted 
into this slot.
Consumer cassettes can be played back only.
EJECT button
When this is pressed, the tape is unloaded and several seconds later the cassette is 
automatically ejected.  When the counter display indicates “CTL”, the display is reset.
EDIT/EDIT REC/REC/REC INH lamps 
(AJ-D450 only)
EDIT:
EDIT REC:
REC:
REC INH:
REMOTE lamp
This lights when the REMOTE/LOCAL switch has been set to the REMOTE position.
WIDE lamp
This lights when the unit is in 16:9 wide screen mode.
Consumer cassette insertion display lamp
This lights when a cassette recorded on a consumer DV device has been inserted.
SCH lamp
This lights when the SCH of the external sync signal is within a specific range.
SERVO lamp
This lights when the drum servo and capstan servo have locked.
Channel condition lamps
One of these lamps lights in accordance with the error rate status.  (Green®blue®red)
Green:
Blue:
Red:
Level meters
These indicate the PCM audio signal CH1/CH2.
The audio signal indicates the input signal levels during recording and EE selection, and 
the output signal levels during playback.
Cassette insertion display lamp
This lights when a cassette has been inserted into the unit.
Counter display
This displays the TC and CTL count values, on-screen information and other messages.This lights when the error rates for the video and audio playback signals are both 
acceptable.
This lights when the error rate for the video or audio playback signals has 
deteriorated.
The playback picture will remain normal even when this lamp lights.
This lights when the video or audio signals are subject to rectification or 
interpolation. q
w
e
r
t
y
u
i
o
!0
!1
!2
!3This lights when the editing mode is chosen from the 9P remote control.
This lights when editing from the 9P remote control.
Thsi lights during video recording.
This lights when the accidental erasure prevention mode has been set for the 
cassette. In this state, neither recording nor editing is possbile. 
						

							– 9 –
Headphones jack
The sound being recorded, played back or edited can be monitored on stereo 
headphones when they are connected to this jack.
Volume control
This is used to adjust the headphones volume.
Audio recording level controls 
(AJ-D450 only)
These are used to adjust the recording levels of the analog audio signal CH1/CH2.
CTL/TC/UB switch
Use this switch when selecting the counter display.
CTL:
TC:
UB:
MONITOR SELECT switch
This is used to select the audio signals output to the monitor channel.
(With the No. 713 (MONI CH SEL) setting on the setup menu, the display may not match 
the monitor output.)
INT/EXT switch 
(AJ-D450 only)
INT:
EXT:
MENU button
When this is pressed, the setup menu appears on the TV monitor using VIDEO OUT 3 
connector, and the setup menu No. appears on the display.
When it is pressed again, the setup mode is exited and the original operating mode is 
restored.
TC PRESET (FILE) button 
(TC PRESET function: AJ-D450 only)
When this is pressed, the time code setting mode is established.
User file can be selected when the cursor buttons (    ,    ) are used during the setup 
menu mode. (For details, see setup menu items on page 26.)
Cursor buttons (     ,     ,     ,     )
These are used when setting time codes and settings at menu setup.
    ,     :
    ,     :
The flashing digit changes continuously when the button is continously pressed.
For details about operation during setup menu mode, see setup menu items (page 25).For using the built-in time code generator.
For using the time external code which is input from the time code input connector or 
the video signal VITC. The selection is set at the setup menu. @1
@2
@3
@4
@5
@6
@7
@8
@9Tape timer (control signal) is displayed.
Time code is displayed.
User bit is displayed.
These change the flashing digit in the time code indicators.
Each time they are pressed, the flashing indicator moves incremently to the left or 
right.
     increments to the left;     increments to the right.
These change the flashing digit in the time code indicators.
Each time they are pressed, the indicated value increments and decrements.
     decrements the value;     increments the value. 
						

							– 10 –
Controls and their functions (continued)
SET button
When this is pressed, the data which has been set on the setup menu is entered.  After 
data entry, the setup mode is exited and the original operating mode is restored.
DIAG button
When this is pressed, VTR information is displayed. When it is pressed again, the original 
display is restored.
There are two types of VTR information: “HOURS METER” information and “WARNING” 
information. Swithcing between these types is enabled by pressing the cursor buttons      
(     ,     ).
Indicated on the “HOUR METER” screen are the power-on time, drum rotation time, tape 
travel time, loading count, etc.
Indicated on the “WARNING” screen are the warnings.
VIDEO INPUT switch
 (AJ-D450 only)
This switches the video input signal.
DIGITAL:
ANALOG:
* The optional AJ-YA750P serial interface board is necessary.
AUDIO INPUT switch
 (AJ-D450 only)
This switches the audio input signal.
DIGITAL:
AES/EBU:
ANALOG:
*
1 
Both the optional AJ-YA750P serial interface board and the optional AJ-YA655P digital 
audio interface board are necessary.
*
2 
The optional AJ-YA655P digital audio interface board is necessary.
REMOTE/LOCAL switch
This switch is set when the unit is to be controlled from an external source using the 
REMOTE connector or RS-232C connector.
REMOTE:
LOCAL: #0



#1









#2











#3









#4For selecting serial component digital video signal (SMPTE 259M-C) 
recording.*
For selecting analog video signal recording.
Select the analog video signal as follows to correspond with the input signal.
Y PB PR: For recording an analog component video signal.
CMPST:   For recording an analog composite video signal.
S-VIDEO: For recording a S-VIDEO signal.
For selecting serial digital audio signal (SMPTE 272M) recording.*
1 
For recording a digital audio signal.*2 
For recording an analog audio signal.
Set to this position when controlling the unit by a device connected using the 
9-pin REMOTE connector or RS-232C connector.
Set to this position when controlling the unit using the controls on its own 
operation panel.