Sony J3 Maintenance Manual

							Chapter 1Overview
Chapter 1 Overview1-5
Example for the J-30/30SDI
Digital cassette
J-30/30SDI
SDI (J-30SDI) S video/analog composite/
analog component (J-30)
VTR Betacam SP camcorder
Analog cassette
Computer
SDI (J-30SDI)
S video/analog composite/
analog component (J-30) Video monitor
Analog audio Audio monitor
RS-422A
RS-232C
Betacam SX camcorder
MPEG IMX camcorder Digital Betacam camcorder
JZ-1
a)
a) MPEG IMX cassette
Digital Betacam
cassette
SDI (J-30SDI)
Server
Reference video signal generator
EXT SYNC
DV
Computer TC OUTPUT
(J-30SDI)
Time code reader
Note
Editing through this unit is not recommended.
a) 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts2-1
Chapter 2
Location and Function
of Parts
2-1 Control Panel
1Carrying handle
2 POWER switch
3Cassette compartment
6 PHONES jack and
control knob Display section
(See page 2-2) Search control section
(See page 2-6)
Tape transport control
section (See page 2-7) 4
 Remote control detector
5 PF-1/2  buttons
1 Carrying handle
Use this handle to carry the unit or to stand the unit
vertically. 2
 POWER switch
Press the side of the POWER switch marked “ON” to
turn the unit on. The fluorescent display and indicators
in the display section light.
Press the side of the POWER switch marked “OFF” to
turn the unit off. 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
2-2Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts
2-1-1 Display Section
1LTC/VITC button
2 SET/MENU button
3 AU MON SEL/DOLBY C NR button
4 SHIFT button 5
CTL/TC/UB button
2-1 Control Panel
3 Cassette compartment
Insert an S or L cassette.
4  Remote control detector
Receives the infrared signal from the supplied Remote
Commander.
For details on the Remote Commander, see section 4-3
“Using the Remote Commander” on page 4-6.
5  PF (programmable function)-1/2 buttons
When using the Betacam SX or MPEG IMX format
and settting this unit into noiseless mode, use these
buttons to perform frame step playback  (see page 4-3).
To the PF-2 button, you can assign functions that are
set in basic menu item 022, PF2 KEYSELECT.
Function “tape remain time” is assigned to the PF-2 button as the factory default settings. While you are
pressing the button, the remaining tape time are
displayed in the display section.
For details on function assignment, see the section “Menu
bank operations (basic menu items B01 to B12) “ on page
7-5.
6  PHONES (headphones) jack and control knob
Connect stereo headphones with an impedance of
8 ohms to monitor the sound during playback.
The control knob adjusts the volume.
It is possible to make a setting so that the output
volume from the AUDIO MONITOR connectors is
controlled simultaneously.
Set AUDIO MONITOR OUTPUT LEVEL, extended
menu item 114, to VAR to enable the above feature.
1  LTC/VITC button
This selects the time code displayed in the FL display
in the following sequence: LTC
1), VITC2). The
underline for the 
LTC or VITC time code setting
indicators lights corresponding to the selection.
Note
In this unit, VITC may not be displayed correctly
except during normal playback.
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1) LTC:  abbreviation of Longitudinal Time code. This time code is recorded on a longitudinal track on the tape.
Reading is unreliable at low speeds, and not possible at
all during still playback. 2) VITC:  abbreviation of Vertical Interval Time code.
This time code is inserted in the vertical blanking
interval and recorded on the video tracks.
6 CTL RESET button
7 FL (Fluorescent) display and indicators 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts2-3
2 SET/MENU button
Use this button for setup menu operations and settings.
Press the SET/MENU button while holding down the
SHIFT button to display the contents of the setup
menu items on the FL display. When the setting is
finished, press only the SET/MENU button to fix the
settings and return to the normal display.
For details of setup menu settings and operations, see
Chapter 7.
3  AU MON SEL (audio monitor output select)/
DOLBY C NR1) (noise reduction) button
Press this button to function the AU MON SEL button.
Each press of this button switches the audio channel as
listed below. The selected channels are displayed in
the display section.
For the Betacam/Betacam SP format
a) Set in basic menu item 026 of the setup menu
For the Betacam SX format
a) Set in basic menu item 026 of the setup menu
Output modea)STEREO MONO
Audio channel L R L R
Press once CH-1 CH-2 CH-1 CH-1
Press twice CH-1,2 CH-1,2 CH-2 CH-2
Press 3 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2
Press 4 times Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence. Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence.
Output modea)STEREO MONO
Audio channel L R L R
Press once CH-1 CH-2 CH-1 CH-1
Press twice CH-3 CH-4 CH-2 CH-2
Press 3 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2 CH-3 CH-3
Press 4 times CH-3,4 CH-3,4 CH-4 CH-4
Press 5 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2
Press 6 times CH-3,4 CH-3,4
Press 7 times
Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence. Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence.
For the MPEG IMX format (J-30/30SDI)
a) Set in basic menu item 026 of the setup menu
For the Digital Betacam format (J-30/30SDI)
a) Set in basic menu item 026 of the setup menu
The latest setting for each format is saved in the
memory regardless of whether the power has been
turned on/off. Therefore, when you play any cassette
next time, it will be played back in the format last
saved. If there is no cassette in the unit, you can
change the audio channel in the format used the last
time you ejected the cassette.
Output modea)STEREO MONO
Audio channel L R L R
Press once CH-1 CH-2 CH-1 CH-1
Press twice CH-3 CH-4 CH-2 CH-2
Press 3 times CH-5 CH-6 CH-3 CH-3
Press 4 times CH-7 CH-8 CH-4 CH-4
Press 5 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2 CH-5 CH-5
Press 6 times CH-3,4 CH-3,4 CH-6 CH-6
Press 7 times CH-5,6 CH-5,6 CH-7 CH-7
Press 8 times CH-7,8 CH-7,8 CH-8 CH-8
Press 9 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2
Press 10 times CH-3,4 CH-3,4
Press 11 times CH-5,6 CH-5,6
Press 12 times CH-7,8 CH-7,8
Press 13 times Each press of this button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence.
Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence.
Output modea)STEREO MONO
Audio channel L R L R
Press once CH-1 CH-2 CH-1 CH-1
Press twice CH-3 CH-4 CH-2 CH-2
Press 3 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2 CH-3 CH-3
Press 4 times CH-3,4 CH-3,4 CH-4 CH-4
Press 5 times CUE CUE CUE CUE
Press 6 times CH-1,2 CH-1,2
Press 7 times CH-3,4 CH-3,4
Press 8 times Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence.
Each press of this
button switches the
mode as in the
above sequence.
1) DOLBY C NR: Dolby C noise reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation. “DOLBY” and the double-D symbol 
are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation.
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							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
2-4Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts
MODEL NAME      DNW 0090
SERIAL NUMBER     010001
DATE          2001.05.11
TIME            12.55.10
CASSETTE NUMBER     0095
SHOT NUMBER         0052
ID1         AAAAAAAAAAAA
ID2         BBBBBBBBBBBB
ID3         CCCCCCCCCCCC
ID4         DDDDDDDDDDDD
   TCR 23:59:59:29  
Press this button while holding down the SHIFT
button to function the DOLBY C NR button. The
DOLBY C NR indicator lights in the display section.
When you are using an oxide tape, it switches the
Dolby NR C-type system for analog audio on or off.
When you are using a metal tape, the Dolby C NR
system is automatically switched on, regardless of the
setting of this switch.
ON:  Enables the Dolby C NR system for playback of
an analog Betacam oxide tape.
OFF:  Disables the Dolby C NR system for playback
of an analog Betacam oxide tape.
T he factory default setting is OFF.
4  SHIFT button
Hold down this button and press the AU MON SEL/
DOLBY C NR button to enable the DOLBY C NR
function. To enable the menu function, press the SET/
MENU button while holding down the SHIFT button.
Press the F FWD or REW button while holding down
the SHIFT button to do the forward or reverse cue-up
of the shot marks
 1). These marks are located before
and after of the current tape position. In addition, press
the PLAY button while holding down the SHIFT
button to superimpose the shot data
2) (when using the
Betacam/Betacam SP/Betacam SX format) or UMID
(when using the Digital Betacam/ MPEG IMX format)
over the playback image. To clear the shot data or
UMID, again press the PLAY button while holding
down the SHIFT button.
For details on UMID, see Chapter 5.
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1) Shot marks If you use a camcorder which allows you to use shot
marks, you can insert REC START marks or shot marks
in the user bits area in advance for easy editing.
This is called inserting shot marks.
2) Shot data The information recorded continuously during the
process of shooting is called shot data.
The contents of the display vary corresponding to the
change of shooting conditions (e.g. changing
camcorders, shooting on different dates, etc.). If there
are any parts that contain no shot data by changing a
shooting camcorder, the unit displays blank data.
5 CTL/TC/UB (display switching) button
This selects the time data displayed in the fluorescent
display in the following sequence: CTL, TC, UB. As
the display changes, the corresponding indicators over
the fluorescent display also light/go off.
Time data display selection and display contents
a) The LTC/VITC button switches between LTC and VITC.
6  CTL RESET button
Press this button to reset a CTL value displayed in the
FL display area.
7  FL (Fluorescent) display and indicators
These comprise a time data display, an audio monitor
display and of indicators.  (See the figure on next page.)
Date
2-1 Control Panel
Serial number
Time
Shot number
Camera ID
Time code
at recordingModel name
Cassette
number
Display
selection Value displayed Indicator status
CTL Tape running time (hours, minutes, seconds, frames)
computed from the CTL
(control) signal recorded on
the tape during playback. CTL indicator
lights.
TC Playback time code read by the internal time code
reader.
a)
The TC indicator
lights.
UB User bit value inserted in the playback time code.
a)The UB indicator
lights. 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts2-5
Audio monitor display area
• L/R audio level meter
Indicates the audio levels of the 2 optionally selected
channels making up L/R (Left/Right).
• L/R audio channel display
Indicates the optionally selected channel numbers.
Time data display area
Normally this displays a CTL count, time code value,
or user bit value according to the selection of the CTL/
TC/UB button or LTC/VITC button. When a cassette
recorded in the DF mode is played back, the dot by the
❉  mark in the illustration above lights. At this time, the
two dots (:) located above the dot disappear.
It is also used to display error messages and the setup
menus.
For details of the display of the CTL count, time code value,
or user bit value, see the explanation given in “ 5 CTL/TC/
UB button” on page 2-4.
Indicator area
This includes the following indicators.
• DOLBY C NR (Dolby C noise reduction)
indicator:  This lights when the Dolby noise
reduction circuit is functioning..
• CTL (control) indicator:  This lights when a tape
running time (hours, minutes, seconds, frames)
computed from the CTL signal is displayed in the
time data display area.
• TC (time code) indicator:  This lights when a time
code is displayed in the time data display area. •
UB (user bits) indicator:  This lights when a user bit
value is displayed in the time data display area.
•  LTC, VITC indicators:  Regardless of the display in
the time data display area, these indicators light when
the corresponding time code values are being read.
When LTC has been selected using the LTC/VITC
button, the LTC indicator is displayed and
underlined. On the other hand, when VITC is
selected, the VITC indicator is displayed and
underlined.
•  SERVO indicator:  This lights when the servo lock
is functioning.
•  ALARM indicator:  This lights when a hardware
error is detected on the unit, and goes off when the
error is resolved. When this indicator is lit, an error
message appears in the time data display area.
•  Cassette-in indicator  q: This lights when a
cassette is loaded in the unit.
•  DATA indicator:  This lights when a tape, containing
audio data such as Dolby-E and AC-3 on its
DIGITAL AUDIO track, is played back.
• 525, 625 (scan lines for the television standard)
indicators:  Either of these indicators lights to show
the system for which this unit is set in basic menu
item 013 (NTSC: 525 scan lines, field frequency 60
Hz; PAL: 625 scan lines, field frequency 50 Hz).
Audio monitor display area
Time data display area
Indicator area
Tape transport indicator area
❉ 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
2-6Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts
2-1 Control Panel
Tape transport indicator area
• Tape transport indicator
When you press each button in the tape transportcontrol section, the corresponding indicators light.
m : REW (rewind) indicator
B :PLAY indicator
When AUTO TRACKING (the automatic tape
loading function) is in operation, this indicator
flashes.
M : F FWD (fast forward) indicator
x : STOP indicator
• JOG/SHTL (jog/shuttle) indicator The “JOG” indicator lights when playback is carriedout in jog mode, and the “SHTL” indicator lights
when playback is carried out in shuttle mode.
• JOG/SHTL (jog/shuttle) transport indicator b : Jog/shuttle reverse indicator (green)
B : Jog/shuttle forward indicator (green)
x : Jog/shuttle still indicator (red)
2-1-2 Search Control Section
1  JOG/SHUTTLE button
Use this button to toggle between jog mode and shuttle
mode when using the JOG dial or SHUTTLE dial.
Press this button once for playback in jog mode, or
press this button twice for playback in shuttle mode
during playback or F FWD/REW. The corresponding
“JOG” indicator or “SHTL” indicator lights in the
display section.
2  JOG dial
Turn this to carry out playback in the modes shown in
the table in the right column. Turn the dial clockwise
for forward playback and counterclockwise for reverse
playback. 3
 SHUTTLE dial
Turn this to carry out playback in the modes shown in
the following table. Turn the dial clockwise for
forward playback and counterclockwise for reverse
playback.
After pressing the JOG/SHUTTLE button, turn the
JOG dial for playback in jog mode and the SHUTTLE
dial for playback in shuttle mode.
Playback modes using the JOG/SHUTTLE dial
Notes
•N ormally, you turn the SHUTTLE dial after setting
the jog/shuttle mode by pressing the JOG/SHUTTLE
button. However, you can also set the jog/shuttle
mode simply by turning the dial. (This feature is
available when SELECTION FOR JOG/SHUTTLE
DIAL ENABLE, extended menu item 101 of the
setup menu, is set to DIAL.) In this case, you must
reset the SHUTTLE dial to the center position after
turning it, otherwise the dial may be moved by
vibration and the tape may start running in the shuttle
mode during playback.
1 JOG/SHUTTLE button
2 JOG dial
3 SHUTTLE dial
Playback mode Operations and functions
Jog Press the JOG/SHUTTLE button once to
light “JOG,” then turn the JOG dial, or
simply turn the JOG dial without lighting
“JOG.” Playback is carried out at a
speed corresponding to the rotating
speed of the JOG dial. The playback
speed range is from –1 to +1 times
normal speed.
The JOG dial has no detents.
Shuttle Press the JOG/SHUTTLE button twice to light “SHTL,” then turn the SHUTTLE
dial, or simply turn the SHUTTLE dial
without lighting “SHTL.” Playback is
carried out at a speed corresponding to
the angular position of the SHUTTLE
dial. The playback speed range is as
follows.
When using a Digital Betacam tape
(J-30/30SDI): –21 to +21 times normal
speed
When using an MPEG IMX tape (J-30/
30SDI):  –32/–38 to +32/+38 times
normal speed (NTSC/PAL)
When using a Betacam SX tape:  –35
to +35 times normal speed
When using an analog Betacam tape: –18/–20 to +18/+20 times normal
speed (NTSC/PAL)
The SHUTTLE dial has detents at the
center position, and at that point a still
picture is displayed. 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts2-7
•If the unit carries out reverse playback in the shuttle
mode at –0.5 times or less normal speed for 20
consecutive minutes, the reel motor heat protection
circuit automatically functions and the unit enters still
mode.
2-1-3 Tape Transport  Control
Section
1  EJECT button
Press this button to eject the cassette.
2  REW (rewind) button
To rewind the tape, press this button. The REW
indicator in the display section lights. When you are
using a tape containing shot marks, press this button
while holding down the SHIFT button to cue-up a shot
mark position in the reverse direction.
3  PLAY button
To start playback, press this button. The PLAY
indicator in the display section lights.
When you are using a Betacam/Betacam SP/Betacam
SX tape containing shot data, press this button while
holding the SHIFT button to display shot data  (see
page 2-4) .
When you are using a Digital Betacam/MPEG IMX
tape containing UMID, press this button while holding
the SHIFT button to display UMID  (see page
5-2) .
To clear the shot data or UMID, again press this button
while holding down the SHIFT button. 4
 F FWD (fast forward) button
To start fast forwarding the tape, press this button. The
F FWD indicator in the display section lights. When
you are using a tape containing shot marks, press this
button while holding down the SHIFT button to cue-up
a shot mark position in the forward direction.
5  STOP button
To stop playback, press this button. The STOP
indicator in the display section lights.
If REFERENCE SYSTEM ALARM, extended menu
item 105 of the setup menu, has been set to ON, this
button flashes when the external reference video signal
is not supplied.
6  STANDBY on/off button
When a cassette is inserted in the unit and the unit is in
the Stop mode, you can toggle the VTR standby mode
on and off by pressing this button.
In standby mode, the drum rotates and the tape sticks
to the drum. As a result, playback starts immediately.
If the unit is set to 8 minutes elapse (this value can be
varied using STILL TIMER extended menu item 501
of the setup menu) in standby mode, it automatically
switches out of standby mode to protect the tape.
1 EJECT button
2REW button
3PLAY button
4F FWD button
5STOP button
6STANDBY
on/off button 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
2-8Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts
2-2-1 Connector Panel of the J-10/30
2-2 Connector Panel
2RS232C connector
5 VIDEO OUTPUT
connectors
6
AUDIO MONITOR
OUTPUT connectors 1
AC IN connector
3 REMOTE IN (9P) connector
4 EXT SYNC input connector
1 AC IN connector
Connects to an AC outlet using the power cord (not
supplied).
2  RS232C (RS-232C serial interface) connector
(D-sub 9-pin)
Used to send or receive RS-232C remote control
signals and VTR status signals to/from an external
device such as a computer with the JZ-1 installed.
3  REMOTE IN (9P) connector (RS-422A serial
interface, 9-pin)
Controls the unit remotely from an external device
equipped with the Sony 9-pin remote control function.
4  EXT SYNC (external synchronization) input
connector
Inputs the reference video signal. However, on this
unit, use this for frame synchronization only, not for
color subcarrier synchronization. 5
 VIDEO OUTPUT connectors
COMPOSITE (analog composite video) (SUPER)
output connector (phono jack):  Outputs an analog
composite video signal. When basic menu item
005, DISPLAY INFORMATION SELECT, of the
setup menu is set as anything other than OFF, the
output from this connector outputs superimposed
character information such as time code, menu
settings, or alarm messages.
COMPOSITE (analog composite video) (SUPER)
output connector (BNC):  Outputs an analog
composite video signal. When basic menu item
005, DISPLAY INFORMATION SELECT, of the
setup menu is set as anything other than OFF, the
output from this connector outputs superimposed
character information such as time code, menu
settings, or alarm messages.
S VIDEO output connector (Mini-DIN 4-pin): Outputs an S VIDEO signal. 
						

							Chapter 2Location and Function of Parts
Chapter 2 Location and Function of Parts2-9
 DV (i.LINK DV) output connector (IEEE1394,
6-pin): Outputs video/audio signals in DV format
(IEEE1394, 6-pin).
When basic menu item 030, i.LINK
CHARACTER, of the setup menu is set to ON
and basic menu item 005, DISPLAY
INFORMATION SELECT is set as anything other
than OFF, the output from this connector outputs
superimposed character information such as time
code, menu settings, or alarm messages.
Notes
•Through the DV connector, only one DV
device can be connected to this unit. If you
intend to connect multiple DV devices, refer to
the manuals of them.
• The i.LINK (DV) output of this unit is used to
provide materials to a computer on which non-
linear editing software is installed. You can use
a Sony VTR equiped with an i.LINK (DV)
connector (DVCAM series of VTRs for
example) with this unit, though, the auto
dubbing function and editing function will not
be available.
• If the unit is connected to a device equipped
with a 6-pin DV jack, when you intend to
disconnect or reconnect the DV cable, turn off
the device and pull out the plug of its power
cord from the AC outlet beforehand. If you
connect or disconnect the DV cable while the
device is connected to the AC outlet, high-
voltage current (8 to 40 V) is output from the
DV jack of the device to this unit, which may
cause a malfunction.
•W hen connecting a device that has a 6-pin DV
jack to this unit, first connect the plug of the
cable to the 6-pin DV jack of the device.
COMPONENT (Y/R–Y/B–Y)  output connectors
(BNC):  Output analog component video signals (Y/
R–Y/B–Y).
6  AUDIO MONITOR OUTPUT connectors
Audio monitor (L/R) output connectors (XLR
3-pin, male):  Output two (L and R) audio monitor
signals according to the setting of the AU MON
SEL/BOLBY C NR button on the control panel.
Audio monitor (L/R) output connectors (Phono
 jack):  Output two (L and R) audio monitor signals
according to the setting of the AU MON SEL/
DOLBY C NR button on the control panel.