Panasonic Memory Card Video Recorder AG-CPD15P Operating Instructions

							21
Operation on the Memory 
Card Video Recorder
Starting and Stopping Recording
Recording
  Recording Start Methods
•  Press the [REC] button (the REC 
buttons on the recorder, Color 
Camera and Remote Control Panel 
all operate the same way)
•  Apply a Recording Trigger
•  When power-on recording is 
enabled, recording starts when the 
recorder is turned on
•  Programmed Recording 
(see “Programmed recording” on 
pages 28, 29)
The prerecord function (see “Prerecording 
and postrecording” on pages 24, 25) 
records video for a pre-specified period 
prior to a recording-start trigger event 
(or pressing the [REC] button). The 
amount of the prerecord time is set from 
the Remote Control Panel. You can use 
this function to prerecord video without 
audio. An audio prerecord time, as well 
as an audio postrecord time, can be set 
independently, although it cannot be 
longer than the specified video prerecord/
postrecord time.
 
  Recording Triggers
The following types of recording 
triggers are available.
•  When [Action] set for detection of 
trigger signals (GPIO1 - 8) is “REC”, 
“CAM1REC” or “CAM2REC” and the 
trigger signal is valid.
•  Vehicle Speed Signal
  Speed data detected by the recorder 
serves as a recording trigger when 
the specified speed is exceeded. This 
signal is handled as an edge signal 
to start recording, and is not used to 
stop recording.  Select from the following detection 
methods according to the intended 
application or installation conditions.
  Detection of own vehicle speed: 
        Uses the vehicle speed pulse 
(see “Speedpulse” on page 84, 
“Vehicle Speed Pulse Setting Table 
(at 40 mph)” on pages 106, 107 
and “Vehicle Speed Pulse Setting 
Table (at 60 kph)” on pages 108, 
109) or GPS
  Target vehicle speed: 
        Uses a radar gun
Note:
To use the vehicle speed pulse, 
GPS or radar gun as the recording 
trigger, check with your supplier to 
ensure that connections have been 
made correctly, then specify the 
source device (see “Radar/GPS” on 
pages 83, 84, 85). 
Notes:
•  If both the vehicle speed pulse 
and GPS are enabled, the vehicle 
speed pulse has priority as the 
recording trigger.
    
After the recording trigger is 
detected by vehicle speed pulse or 
GPS, if the vehicle is stopped or a 
speed of 5 mph or 5 kph below the 
set speed is detected, the recording 
trigger can be used again.
•  Recording is allowed only when 
the [READY] lamp on the recorder 
is lit. If pressing the [REC] button 
or applying a recording trigger fails 
to start recording, the [REC] lamps 
on the recorder, Color Camera 
and Remote Control Panel blink at 
a high rate. 
•  The Remote Control Panel, the 
Color Camera and this unit [REC] 
lamps go on during recording.
(Continued on the next page) 
						

							22
•  Video input at the [CAMERA1] 
or [CAMERA2] connector (see 
“Setup” on page 34, “Selecting 
a camera” on page 55 and “Init 
Camera Select” on page 75) is 
recorded.
•  Audio input at the [AUDIO IN 1,2] 
or [IN CAR MIC] connectors (see 
“Setup” on page 34, “Selecting 
Audio2 input” on page 59 and “Init 
Audio2 In Select” on page 75) is 
recorded.
•  Recording stops if the P2 card slot 
cover is opened.
•  Recording cannot start unless the 
P2 card slot cover is closed.
•  Recording will not start while the 
user is configuring administrator 
settings, even if the level signal 
satisfies the recording start 
conditions. In this case, recording 
will still not start when the user 
quits the administrator settings. 
To start recording, the recording 
start conditions must be satisfied 
again after configuration of the 
administrator settings is finished.
•  When multiple recording triggers 
are enabled, recording starts 
when the first recording start 
criteria are met, and if a prerecord 
time has been set, the specified 
period before the start event is 
also recorded.
•  Recording will not start under the 
following conditions even if there 
is space left on a P2 card. 
   -  
When the number of files recorded 
on the P2 cards inserted in slots 1 
and 2 totals over 20,000 files.
 
   -  When the maximum number 
of recording days on a 16 GB 
or higher capacity P2 card has 
been exceeded. (See “Format” 
on page 86)   -  When, on a single day, the 
maximum number of files that 
can be recorded on a 16 GB 
or higher capacity P2 card has 
been exceeded. (See “Format” 
on page 86)
      (However, when the [Rule 
of Filename] is set to “WT”, 
recording can be started the 
next day (the next day according 
to world standard time) if the 
maximum number of recording 
days has not been exceeded. 
(see “Setup” on page 36 and 
“Rule of Filename” on page 76) 
Starting and Stopping Recording (continued)
Stopping Recording
Setting criteria determines when 
recording stops. Settings that affect 
when recording stops include the stop 
timer setting for Rec Continue Time 
and the presence of the recording 
trigger level signal.
The following conditions are handled in 
the same manner. 
•  When the [STOP] button on the 
recorder is pressed
•  When the [STOP] button on the 
Remote Control Panel is pressed
•  When the [REC] button on the Color 
Camera is kept pressed for about 2 
seconds. 
•  When [Action] for detection of trigger 
signals (GPIO1 - 8) is set to “STOP” 
and the trigger signal has reached an 
active edge.  
						

							23
Operation on the Memory 
Card Video Recorder
Starting and Stopping Recording (continued)
Level 
SignalStop 
Timer 
SettingCriteria to Stop 
Recording (whichever 
happened earlier)
No No [STOP] button is 
pressed
Yes [STOP] button is 
pressed or the time set 
for the stop timer of the 
edge trigger recording 
is reached
Yes No [STOP] button is 
pressed or the level 
signal changes to an 
invalid level
Yes [STOP] button is 
pressed, the level 
signal changes to an 
invalid level, or the 
signal whose level is 
specified is invalid and 
the stop timer setting 
for the edge trigger 
recording is reached
  Recording Stop Criteria
The postrecording function continues 
to record video after the recording 
stop trigger event. The amount of time 
to continue recording after the stop-
recording event can be set from the 
Remote Control Panel.
Recording stops also under the 
following conditions.
•  There is no more space left on the 
P2 card. 
•  
When an administrator setup is started.
•  When an error is detected on a P2 card 
and recording is no longer possible.
•

When the stop time of programmed 
recording (see “Programmed recording” 
on pages 28, 29) is reached.
•

When a 16 GB or higher capacity P2 
card is inserted and the maximum 
number of recording days or files has 
been exceeded.
Notes:
•  Continuous video and audio from 
starting to stopping recording, 
and including prerecording and 
postrecording periods, are recorded 
as one file on the P2 card.
•  If recording time exceeds 17 
hours, or if the size of one file 
would exceed 4 GB, the data is 
automatically split into multiple 
files during recording.
•  Once recording starts, it may 
not be possible to stop it during 
the first five seconds (approx.). 
Pressing the [STOP] button during 
this period causes the [REC] lamp 
to blink for about one second as 
recording continues.
•  Pressing the [STOP] button when 
recording is already stopped also 
causes the [REC] lamp to blink for 
about one second.
•  When recording is stopped by the 
stop timer at the end of the Rec 
Continue Time, the postrecording 
function is disabled.
•  After recording is started by a 
level trigger signal, it continues 
for at least one minute regardless 
of changes to the signal level. 
During this period, you can press 
the [STOP] button to interrupt the 
recording.
•  If the [REC] button was pressed 
multiple times and the recording 
trigger set as the edge signal 
had multiple active edges, Rec 
Continue Time is applied to the 
last button press and active edge.
•  Intermittent recording does not 
stop due to the Rec Continue 
Time. 
						

							PROTECT
write-protect switch
[REC] button pressed
(Recording starts)[STOP] button pressed
(Recording stops)
Actual recording time
Prerecord time Postrecord time
Time
24
Write-protect switch
The P2 card is equipped with a write-
protect switch. Sliding this switch to the 
PROTECT position prevents writing 
data, formatting P2 cards and deleting 
files.
Prerecording and postrecording
Prerecording is the capability of 
including material from an interval 
before the specified start point in a 
recording. Similarly, postrecording is 
the capability of including material from 
an interval after the specified stop point 
in a recording.
Prerecording and postrecording times 
can be set for each recording time. 
Audio prerecording and postrecording 
times can be set separately from video, 
so prerecording and postrecording 
audio may be partly omitted. Because 
video prerecording and postrecording 
time settings have priority, audio 
prerecording and postrecording times 
cannot be set longer than video 
prerecording and postrecording times.
Notes:
•  Any attempt to change the position 
of the write-protect switch during 
power-on will have no effect. To 
produce the effect, turn the power off 
and then turn it on again or remove 
the card and then insert it again.
•  If the write-protect switch is set 
to the PROTECT position on any 
of the cards in the two card slots, 
recording will not start.
On Recording
Note:
Pressing the [STOP] button turns 
off the [REC] lamp and video and 
sound recordings stop when the 
post record interval has elapsed. 
Then the [BUSY] lamp goes off. 
						

							Prerecord time Postrecord time
Actual recording time
[REC] button pressed
(Recording starts)[STOP] button pressed
(Recording stops)Startup 
completed
Time
[REC] button pressed
(Postrecording halted and 
next recording starts)[STOP] button 
pressed
(Recording stops)[STOP] 
button 
pressed
Postrecord time
Postrecord time
Actual recording time
Time
Recording start trigger activation
Recording of signal from 
[CAMERA2] connectorRecording of signal from 
[CAMERA1] connectorTime
Prerecording Recording after 
trigger activation
25
Additional Information 
on Operation
  If recording is started immediately 
after system startup
Prerecord time will be shorter.
  If recording is started during 
postrecord interval
Postrecording will be terminated and 
next recording starts. There is no 
prerecording interval for the second 
recording. In the cases shown below, the actual 
prerecord and postrecord time may be 
shorter than the respective setting.
Notes:
•   
 
If you press the [REC] button and 
[STOP] button alternately in rapid 
succession, the system may not 
separate the two recording sessions, 
resulting in a single video file.
•   
 
If the remaining capacity of the P2 
card is low, the prerecord time or post-
record time may become shorter.
•   
 Postrecording is interrupted by 
playback, trial shoot (RecCheck), 
file restoration or administrator 
setup.You can select and record video input 
at the [CAMERA1] or [CAMERA2] 
connector on the rear panel of the 
recorder. Also, when the action set 
for the detection of trigger signals 
(GPIO1 - 8) is “CAM1REC” or 
“CAM2REC” and the trigger signal 
is enabled, the selected video is 
recorded. If prerecording is enabled 
and the video source is switched by a 
recording trigger, the prerecord video is 
taken from the source selected before 
switching, and the video is taken from 
the source selected after switching. You 
can select whether the video source is 
switched by the recording trigger or 
not, as well as selecting which video is 
recorded upon switching.
Notes:
•  When switching video input, the 
video or audio may be briefly 
disrupted.
•  For best results, minimize the 
amount of video source switching 
while recording.
On Recording (continued)
Selecting the video source to record 
						

							26
The Memory Card Video Recorder 
can record up to two audio channels 
(Audio1 and Audio2). Out of the 
three audio input connectors on the 
rear panel ([AUDIO IN 1, 2], and [IN 
CAR MIC]), the signal of the source 
connected to the [AUDIO IN 1] 
connector will always be recorded 
on the Audio1. For the Audio2, you 
can select either the sound from the 
[AUDIO IN 2] connector or the [IN CAR 
MIC] connector. This selection is made 
using the Remote Control Panel.
The following two audio recording 
modes are available: INCAR and 
WMIC
Audio sources when recording
  INCARAudio input at the [IN CAR MIC] 
connector is recorded on the second 
audio channel (Audio2).
  WMICAudio input at the [AUDIO IN 2] 
connector is recorded on the second 
audio channel (Audio2).
On Recording (continued)
The recorder automatically starts 
recording when it is powered on. 
Also when the recorder is operating 
with the [PowerOff Time] setting, 
recording will start automatically when 
the recorder is turned on.
Power-on recording 
						

							Recording trigger input
Prerecording
Postrecording∗
When a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are met
Intermittent recording
Time
Normal recording
Recording trigger input
PrerecordingPostrecording∗
When a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are met
Intermittent recording
Time
Normal recording
About 5 seconds About 5 seconds
Period when recording cannot be terminated
27
Additional Information 
on Operation
On Recording (continued)
Intermittent recording records only one image per second extending recording 
time. Entering a recording trigger during intermittent recording interrupts 
intermittent recording and starts normal recording. Normal recording includes 
prerecording so intermittent recording and prerecording of normal recording may 
overlap during prerecording. When a recording stop criteria other than the [STOP] 
button are met, intermittent recording starts after postrecording.
Intermittent recording
Under the following conditions, pressing the [STOP] button does not stop recording. 
•  About the first five seconds after intermittent recording transitions to normal 
recording (not including prerecording)
•  The first five seconds (approx.) after normal recording transitions to intermittent 
recording
Notes:
•  When both intermittent recording and power-on recording are set to “ON”, 
intermittent recording starts in the intermittent recording mode when the 
recorder is turned on. (When intermittent recording mode is set to “OFF”, 
normal recording starts.)
•   When recording stops after the Rec Continue Time elapses, intermittent 
recording starts without activating postrecording. 
•  When prerecording time is set to something other than “0”, and a recording 
trigger starts normal recording during intermittent recording, the prerecording 
time is automatically set to start after the intermittent recording start time. 
•  The [REC] lamp lights during postrecording after a transition from normal to 
intermittent recording.
 
•  
The Rec Continue Time setting does not function outside of a recording trigger.
∗ When intermittent 
recording is started 
after postrecording, 
audio is postrecorded 
for the duration of 
the video postrecord 
time, regardless of the 
value set for the audio 
postrecord time.
∗ When intermittent 
recording is started 
after postrecording, 
audio is postrecorded 
for the duration of 
the video postrecord 
time, regardless of the 
value set for the audio 
postrecord time. 
						

							Recording trigger input
Time
AB
Programmed 
recording start timeWhen a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are metProgrammed recording 
stop time
Normal recording
Time
C
D
Programmed 
recording start timeProgrammed 
recording stop time
Intermittent recording
E Normal recordingIntermittent recordingRecording 
trigger inputWhen a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are met
28
On Recording (continued)
Programmed recording is a function that allows you to set recording to start and 
stop every day or on a specified day of the week. Programmed recording starts 
and stops recording according to intermittent recording setting. 
For example, when intermittent recording is set to “ON”, intermittent recording 
starts at the set start time. 
Programmed recording
•  Recording started by a recording trigger, which takes precedence over 
programmed recording, is a normal recording. A recording started by a recording 
trigger continues even if programmed recording has been set to start during this 
recording interval. Programmed recording starts when a recording stop criteria 
other than the [STOP] button are met during recording started by a recording 
trigger. A recording started by a recording trigger is not stopped by a stop time 
set using the programmed recording function.
•  When a recording trigger is set and both intermittent recording and programmed 
recording are set to “ON”, the recording is split into intermittent and normal 
recording files. In the following conditions, recording is split into three files.      A :  A normal recording file started by a recording trigger
     B :  A normal recording file started by programmed recording
     C :  A intermittent recording file started by programmed recording
     D :  A normal recording file started by a recording trigger
     E :  A intermittent recording file started by programmed recording 
						

							Start time of first recording
Recording durationTimeMondayTuesday
Start time of second recording
Time
C’ E’
Normal recordingD’
Programmed 
recording start timeProgrammed 
recording stop timeRecording trigger input
When a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are met
29
Additional Information 
on Operation
On Recording (continued)
•  If a recording trigger is set when intermittent recording is set to “OFF” and 
programmed recording is set to “ON”, only normal recording occurs and the file is 
not split.
     C’ :  A normal recording file started by programmed recording
     D’ :  A normal recording file started by a recording trigger
     E’ :  A normal recording file started by programmed recording
Notes:
•  When the recording start time for the next day is reached during normal or 
intermittent recording, normal or intermittent recording continues without 
interruption.
•  
If the stop time is set to the same time as the start time or before the start time, the 
stop time will be moved to the following day. 
•  If the stop time and the start time on the following day are the same, the recording 
will become one continuous file. 
•  The following settings are not available during programmed recording. 
  • Rec Continue Time  • Video prerecording time  • Audio prerecording time  • Video postrecording time  • Audio postrecording time 
						

							30
On Recording (continued)
Status prior 
to inputInput[STOP] button 
pressed[REC] button 
pressedWhen a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are metRecording 
trigger input
Recording 
stop statusNo change
Intermittent 
recording statusNo changeNormal 
recording status
Intermittent 
recording statusRecording 
stop statusNo change No changeNormal 
recording status
Normal 
recording statusRecording 
stop statusNo changeIntermittent 
recording statusNo change 
Status prior 
to inputInput[STOP] button 
pressed[REC] button 
pressedWhen a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are metRecording 
trigger input
Recording 
stop statusNo change
Normal 
recording statusNo changeNormal 
recording status
Normal 
recording statusRecording 
stop statusNo changeNormal recording 
statusNo change 
Status prior 
to inputInput[STOP] button 
pressed[REC] button 
pressedWhen a recording stop 
criteria other than the 
[STOP] button are metRecording 
trigger input
Recording 
stop statusNo change
Normal recording 
initiated by a 
recording triggerNo changeNormal recording 
initiated by a 
recording trigger
Normal recording 
status initiated 
by programmed 
recordingRecording 
stop statusNormal recording 
initiated by a 
recording triggerNo changeNormal recording 
initiated by a 
recording trigger
Normal recording 
initiated by a 
recording triggerRecording 
stop statusNo changeNormal recording 
status initiated by 
programmed recordingNo change

Status changes caused by button operations, recording triggers, recording stop 
criteria and other inputs are shown below for set intermittent recording and 
programmed recording conditions.
Changes in Intermittent recording and Programmed Recording Status