Panasonic Digital Video Cassette Recorder Ajd455 Operating Instructions

							Operating Instructions
Printed in Japan 
VQT9172
AJ-                P
Digital Video Cassette Recorder
PS0401H D 
						

							2
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.
THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED
To ensure safe operation the three-pin plug must 
be inserted only into a standard three-pin power 
point which is effectively earthed through the 
normal house-hold wiring.
Extension cords used with the equipment must be 
three-core and be correctly wired to provide 
connection to earth. Wrongly wired extension 
cords are a major cause of fatalities.
The fact that the equipment operates satisfactorily 
does not imply that the power point is earthed and 
that the installation is completely safe. For your 
safety, if in any doubt about the effective earthing 
of the power point, consult a qualified electrician.
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.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR 
SHOCK HAZARD, REFER MOUNTING OF 
THE OPTIONAL INTERFACE BOARD TO 
AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
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. 
						

							3
Contents
Be fore ope rating this unit, check that all of its  acc essorie s are present and accounte d for.
Power cord .................................. 1 pc
AJ-CS455P Cassette adaptor ..... 1 pc
Option
• AJ-YA455P component serial  interface  board
• AJ-MA75P Rack mounting  adaptor
• AJ-YAD455P Digital video interface  board
• AJ-YA752P Audio memory  unit
Time  code
Time code/user bit .................................................... 38
Recording internal/external time codes .................... 39
Reproducing the time code/user bit ......................... 40
Functions
Superimpose screen ................................................ 41
Servo reference ........................................................ 42
Maintenance
Rack mounting ......................................................... 43
Video head cleaning ................................................. 44
Condensation ........................................................... 44
Error messages ........................................................ 45
Specifications and othe rs
Connector signals .................................................... 48
Printed circuit board ................................................. 50
Specifications ........................................................... 51
General and Features ................................................ 4
Controls and their functions
Controls and their functions ....................................... 6
•Front panel ...............................................................6
•Connector area ...................................................... 11
Tapes ........................................................................ 14
Se tup  menu s
Setup (default settings) ............................................ 15
Setup menus ............................................................ 16
•SYSTEM menu ......................................................20
•USER menu ........................................................... 22
•BASIC menu ........................................................22
•OPERATION menu .............................................. 24
•INTERFACE menu ...............................................26
•EDIT menu ........................................................... 27
•TAPE PROTECT menu........................................ 30
•TIME CODE menu ...............................................31
•VIDEO menu ........................................................33
•AUDIO menu ....................................................... 35
•MENU menu ........................................................ 37 
						

							4
General and Features
This u nit is a dig ital 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 compa ct 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 men us on the TV
monitor. When DVCPRO cassette tapes are used, both assemble and insert editing can be
performed by exercising control from an external component.
Features
Compact size and light weight
This is a 4 U size digita l VTR. It can be mounted in a 19-inch rack with ease using the optiona l
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 min utes). The  width o f the tapes measures 1/4 inch to achieve a compact
design.
Compatibility with consumer products
This un it can play back consumer-use cassette tape s shot by a d igital camera or o ther
consumer component. It can also record on consumer-use cassette tapes using the DV
format. A cassette adapter (AJ-CS455P) is used for mini DV cassette tapes.
Digital slow motion/jog
The  slo w motion  playback images ca n be repro duced clearly at any of the spee ds 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/+0.43.

• 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 u nit comes with a built-in time code generato r (TCG)/time cod e reade r (TCR). In
addition to the internal time code, an external time cod e input or inp ut signal VITC can be
recorded in the machine. 
						

							5
Features
 (continued)
Multi-function input/output interfaces
• Analog input/output
Component (Y, P
B, PR) and composite and S1-VIDEO signal input and output connectors
are provided.
• Digita l audio input/output
AES/EBU audio BNC input and output connectors are provided.
• Se rial digital input/output
Serial digital (SMPTE 259M-C, 272M-C) input/output is possible when the optional compo-
nent serial interface board (AJ-YA455P) is used.
• IEEE1394 digital input/output
Signals can be input and output using the IEEE1394 interface if the digital video interface
board (AJ-YAD455P, optional accessory) is used.
• 9-pin (RS-422A)/RS-232C remote
The  standard 9 -pin se rial (RS-422A) connector or RS-232C co nnecto r is used.
2-channel high-sound-quality digital audio
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
Both assemble and insert editing can be performed using an external controller (but only
when DVCPRO cassettes are used).
Menu-driven setup
The  setup settings, which are conducted prior to  o pera ting the unit, are performe d while
vie wing the setup  menus either on  the u nit displa y or TV monitor. 
						

							6
Contr o ls  and  t h eir  fu nctio n s
Front  p an el
C ou nte r D is p la y  Sec tio n
@4  @5   @7  #3  #4 #5
@
8@9  #0  # 1#2
@2
 @3   !4!5   !6  !7  !8  !9  @0  @1 ewq
r
ty u  i o
!1 !0
!2   !3
@6
ON
OFF POWER
EJECT
RECPLAY
DVCPRODV
FF
STOPREW
CTL/TC/UB/
REMAIN
RESET
CH CONDITION
LEVEL
HEADPHONES
CH 1
AUDIO
REC LEVEL ON
OFF
CH 1MIX
CH 2AUDIO
MONITOR
SUPER
DVCPRO/DVSDI
ANALOG Y PB PR
CMPST
S-VIDEO SDI
AES/EBU ANALOG REMOTE
LOCAL
MENU
PAGETC
PRESET FILESET
DIAG
VIDEO INAUDIO INCH 2
INT
EXTTC 
						

							7
qPOWER switch
When the ON side is pressed, the power is switched on, and the counter display lights up.
wCassette insertion slot
eEJECT 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.
rEDIT/EDIT REC/REC/REC INH lamps
EDIT:This lights when the editing mode is chosen from the 9P remote control.
EDIT REC: This lights when editing from the 9P remote control.
REC:This lights during video recording.
REC INH:This lights when the accidental erasure prevention mode has been set for the
cassette. In this state, neither recording nor editing is possible.
tREMOTE lamp
This lights when the REMOTE/LOCAL switch has been set to the REMOTE position.
yWIDE lamp
This lights when the unit is in 16:9 wide screen mode.
uTape counter type display
CTL:This indicates the tape timer (control signal).
TC:This indicates the time code.
UB:This indicates the user bit.
No lighting:The remaining tape is displayed.
iSCH lamp
This lights when the SCH phase of the reference video signal is within the prescribed
range.
oSERVO lamp
This lights when the drum servo and capstan servo have locked.
!0Channel condition lamps
One of these lamps lights in accordance with the error rate status. (Green→blue→red)
Green:This lights when the error rates for the video and audio playback signals are both
acceptable.
Blue: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.
Red:This lights when the video or audio signals are subject to rectification or
interpolation.
!1Level 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.
!2Cassette insertion display lamp
This lights when a cassette has been inserted into the unit.
!3Counter display
This displays the TC and CTL count values, on-screen information and other messages. 
						

							8
Controls and their functions
!4CTL/TC/UB/REMAIN button
Each time this is pressed, the counter display is switched by one setting in the following
sequence: CTL → TC → UB → REMAIN.
“r
∗∗∗-
∗∗∗” appears when the remaining tape is displayed. The amount of tape remaining
is displayed after “r” and the total tape length is displayed after “–”. The display shows
“r – ” at EJECT and after a tape is inserted until the remaining tape and total tape length
are calculated.
!5RESET button
When this is pressed during CTL mode, the counter returns to the 00:00:00:00 display.
During menu setup, initial setting values are restored when the RESET button is pressed.
!6REW button*
The tape is rewound when this is pressed.
The unit goes into shuttle (SHTL) mode at –9.5× normal tape speed when this button is
pressed together with the PLAY button.
!7STOP button
When this is pressed, the tape stops traveling, and if the setup menu No. 111 (STOP EE
SEL) is set to TAPE, still pictures can be monitored.
The drum continues to rotate even in the stop mode, and the tape remains in close contact
with the drum.
If the stop mode continues for more than a certain period of time, the unit automatically
switches to the standby OFF mode in order to protect the tape.
The stop mode is established immediately after a cassette has been inserted into the unit.
!8FF button
The tape is fast forwarded when this is pressed.
The unit goes into shuttle (SHTL) mode at +9.5× normal tape speed when this button is
pressed together with the PLAY button.
!9PLAY button
Playback commences when this button is pressed.
Recording commences when the button is pressed together with the REC button.
@0 Format display
The DVCPRO lamp lights when a DVCPRO cassette has been inserted or when no
cassette is inserted. The DV lamp lights when a consumer-use DV cassette has been
inserted.
@1REC button
Recording commences when this button is pressed together with the PLAY button.
When it is pressed during playback, search, fast forward or rewind, EE mode images and
audio signals can be monitored for as long as it is kept depressed.
When it is pressed in the stop mode, EE mode images and sound can be monitored.
When the STOP button is pressed, the original picture and sound are restored.
DVCPRO recording is performed when a DVCPRO cassette is used; DV recording is
performed when a consumer-use cassette is used.
@2Headphones jack
The sound being recorded, played back or edited can be monitored on stereo head-
phones when they are connected to this jack.
* The FF/REW speed can be selected on the setup menu No. 102 (FF. REW MAX), and it is
set to the same speed. 
						

							9
@3Volume control
This is used to adjust the headphones volume.
@4Audio recording level controls*
These are used to adjust the recording levels of the audio signal CH1/CH2.
@5SUPER ON/OFF switch
ON:The time code or other display is superimposed onto the signals supplied to the
VIDEO OUT 3 connector.
OFF: No display is superimposed.

• When the AJ-YA455P is used, the superimposed display appears at the VIDEO OUT 3
connector.
• When the SUPER ON/OFF switch is set to ON, the EDH of the SDI OUT 3 connector is
not superimposed.
@6MONITOR SELECT switch
This is used to select the audio signals output to the monitor channel.
@7INT/EXT switch
INT:For using the built-in time code generator.
EXT: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.
@8MENU 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.
@9TC PRESET (FILE) button
The time code setting mode is established by pressing this button. (For details, refer to the
time code section on page 39.)
User file can be selected when the cursor buttons (
, ) are used during the setup
menu mode. (For details, see setup menu items on page 16.)
#0Cursor buttons (
, , , )
These are used when setting time codes and settings at menu setup.
, :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.
The flashing digit changes continuously when the button is continuously pressed.
For details about operation during setup menu mode, see setup menu items (page 15).
#1SET button
The time code is set or the data selected for the setup menu settings are entered by
pressing this button.
After the data has been entered, the setup mode is exited, and operation returns to the
original mode.
* The recording level of the audio signals cannot be adjusted when DVCPRO/DV has been
selected by the VIDEO INPUT switch #3. 
						

							10
Controls and their functions
#2DIAG 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. Switching 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.
• The status information on the IEEE1394 interface can be referenced when the
AJ-YAD455P digital video interface board is used.
#3VIDEO INPUT switch
This switches the video input signal.
DVCPRO/DV:Set to this position when recording digital video interface signals (IEEE1394).
(At the same time, audio input signals from IEEE1394 will also be
recorded.)*
1
SDI:For selecting serial component digital video signal (SMPTE 259M-C)
recording.*2
ANALOG:For selecting analog video signal recording.
Select the analog video signal as follows to correspond with the input
signal.
Y P
B PR:For recording an analog component video signal.
CMPST:For recording an analog composite video signal.
S-VIDEO: For recording a S-VIDEO signal.
*1: The AJ-YAD455P digital video interface board (optional accessory) is required for this.
*2: The AJ-YA455P serial interface board (optional accessory) is necessary.
#4AUDIO INPUT switch
This switches the audio input signal.
SDI:For selecting serial digital audio signal (SMPTE 272M-A) recording.*
AES/EBU: For recording a digital audio signal.
ANALOG:For recording an analog audio signal.
* The AJ-YA455P serial interface board (optional accessory) is required for this.

• The DVCPRO/DV format will also apply to the audio input signals when DVCPRO/DV
has been selected by the VIDEO INPUT switch #3.
• When SD or AES/EBU is to be selected, the reference video signal must be input, and
the audio data synchronized with the REF VIDEO signal must be supplied.
#5REMOTE/LOCAL switch
This is set to control the unit from an external component using the REMOTE, RS-232C or
digital video interface (IEEE1394) connector.
REMOTE:Set here to control the unit by a component connected to the unit using the
9-pin REMOTE, RS-232C or digital video interface (IEEE1394) connector.
LOCAL:Set here to control the unit using the switches and controls on the unit’s control
panel.