Pioneer DVR-440H-S User Manual

DVR-540H-S
DVR-440H-S

DVD RECORDER

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Operating Instructions

www.pioneer.co.uk

®

®

Thank you for buying this Pioneer product.
Please read through these operating instructions so you will know how to operate your model properly.
After you have finished reading the instructions, put them away in a safe place for future reference.

IMPORTANT

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

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.

CAUTION:

TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR
BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS
INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.

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.

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WARNING

This equipment is not waterproof. To prevent a fire
or shock hazard, do not place any container filed
with liquid near this equipment (such as a vase or
flower pot) or expose it to dripping, splashing, rain
or moisture.

CAUTION

This product is a class 1 laser product, but this product
contains a laser diode higher than Class 1.
To ensure continued safety, do not remove any covers or
attempt to gain access to the rear of the product.
Refer all servicing to qualified personnel.
The following caution labels appear on your unit.
Location: top and rear of the unit

CLASS 3B VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN OPEN, AVOID EXPOSURE TO THE BEAM.

CAUTION

RADIATIONS LASER VISIBLES ET INVISIBLES DE CLASSE 3B QUAND OUVERT. ÉV ITEZ TOUT EXPOSITION AU FAISCEAU.

ATTENTION

KLASSE 3B SYNLIG OG USYNLIG LASERSTRÅLING VED ÅBNING. UNDGÅ UDSÆTTELSE FOR STRÅLING.

ADVARSEL

KLASS 3B SYNLIG O CH OSYNLIG LASER STRÅLNING NÄR DENNA DEL ÄR ÖPPNAD. UNDVIK AT T U TSÄ TTA DIG FÖR STRÅLEN.

VARNING

BEI GEÖFFNETER ABDECKUNG IST SICHTB ARE UND UN SICH TBARE LASERSTRAHLUNG DER KLASSE 3B IM GERÄTEINNEREN VORHANDEN .

VORSICHT

NICHT DEM LASERSTRAHL AUSSETZEN!
CUANDO SE ABRE HAY RADIACIÓN LÁSER DE CLASE 3B VISIBLE E INV IS IB LE . E VI T E LA EX PO SIC IÓN A LOS RAYO S LÁSER.

PRECAUCIÓN

AVATTAESSA OLET ALTTIINA NÄKYVÄLLE JA NÄKYMÄTTÖMÄLLE LUOKAN 3B LASERSÄTEILYLLE. ÄLÄ KATSO SÄTEESEEN.

VARO!

This product complies with the Low Voltage Directive
(73/23/EEC, amended by 93/68/EEC), EMC Directives
(89/336/EEC, amended by 92/31/EEC and
93/68/EEC).

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WARNING

Before plugging in for the first time, read the following

section carefully.

The voltage of the available power supply differs
according to country or region. Be sure that the
power supply voltage of the area where this unit
will be used meets the required voltage (e.g., 230 V
or 120 V) written on the rear panel.

VRW2262 - A

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WARNING

To prevent a fire hazard, do not place any naked
flame sources (such as a lighted candle) on the
equipment.

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If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a separate collection system for used
electronic products in accordance with legislation that requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling.

Private households in the 25 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may return their used electronic products free of charge to
designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar new one).

For countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for the correct method of disposal.

By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery and recycling and thus prevent potential
negative effects on the environment and human health.

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Operating Environment

Operating environment temperature and humidity:
+5 ºC to +35 ºC (+41 ºF to +95 ºF); less than 85 %RH
(cooling vents not blocked)
Do not install this unit in a poorly ventilated area, or in
locations exposed to high humidity or direct sunlight (or
strong artificial light)

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VENTILATION CAUTION

When installing this unit, make sure to leave space
around the unit for ventilation to improve heat
radiation (at least 10 cm at top, 10 cm at rear, and
10 cm at each side).

WARNING

Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for
ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the
product, and to protect it from overheating. To
prevent fire hazard, the openings should never be
blocked or covered with items (such as newspapers,
table-cloths, curtains) or by operating the
equipment on thick carpet or a bed.

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CAUTION

The STANDBY/ON switch on this unit will not
completely shut off all power from the AC outlet.
Since the power cord serves as the main disconnect
device for the unit, you will need to unplug it from
the AC outlet to shut down all power. Therefore,
make sure the unit has been installed so that the
power cord can be easily unplugged from the AC
outlet in case of an accident. To avoid fire hazard,
the power cord should also be unplugged from the
AC outlet when left unused for a long period of time
(for example, when on vacation).

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This product is for general household purposes. Any
failure due to use for other than household purposes
(such as long-term use for business purposes in a
restaurant or use in a car or ship) and which
requires repair will be charged for even during the
warranty period.

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If the AC plug of this unit does not match the AC
outlet you want to use, the plug must be removed
and appropriate one fitted. Replacement and
mounting of an AC plug on the power supply cord of
this unit should be performed only by qualified
service personnel. If connected to an AC outlet, the
cut-off plug can cause severe electrical shock. Make
sure it is properly disposed of after removal.
The equipment should be disconnected by removing
the mains plug from the wall socket when left
unused for a long period of time (for example, when
on vacation).

Replacement and mounting of an AC plug on the power supply cord of this unit should be performed only by qualified
service personnel.

IMPORTANT: THE MOULDED PLUG

This appliance is supplied with a moulded three pin mains plug for your safety and convenience. A 5 amp fuse is fitted in this plug. Should the
fuse need to be replaced, please ensure that the replacement fuse has a rating of 5 amps and that it is approved by ASTA or BSI to BS1362.

Check for the ASTA mark or the BSI mark on the body of the fuse.

If the plug contains a removable fuse cover, you must ensure that it is refitted when the fuse is replaced. If you lose the fuse cover the plug
must not be used until a replacement cover is obtained. A replacement fuse cover can be obtained from your local dealer.

If the fitted moulded plug is unsuitable for your socket outlet, then the fuse shall be removed and the plug cut off and disposed of
safely. There is a danger of severe electrical shock if the cut off plug is inserted into any 13 amp socket.

If a new plug is to be fitted, please observe the wiring code as shown below. If in any doubt, please consult a qualified electrician.

WARNING : THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED.
IMPORTANT: The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code:
Green & Yellow : Earth Blue : Neutral Brown : Live
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in
your plug, proceed as follows ;

The wire which is coloured GREEN-AND-YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or
by the earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN-AND-YELLOW.
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the

letter N or coloured BLACK.
The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the
letter L or coloured RED.

How to replace the fuse: Open the fuse compartment with a screwdriver and replace the fuse.

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Handle the power cord by the plug. Do not pull out the
plug by tugging the cord and never touch the power
cord when your hands are wet as this could cause a
short circuit or electric shock. Do not place the unit, a
piece of furniture, etc., on the power cord, or pinch the
cord. Never make a knot in the cord or tie it with other
cords. The power cords should be routed such that they
are not likely to be stepped on. A damaged power cord
can cause a fire or give you an electrical shock. Check
the power cord once in a while. When you find it
damaged, ask your nearest PIONEER authorized
service center or your dealer for a replacement.

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POWER-CORD CAUTION

Contents

01 Before you start

What’s in the box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Putting the batteries in the

remote control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Using the remote control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Disc / content format playback

compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

About the internal hard disk drive . . . . . . 12

Symbols used in this manual . . . . . . . . . 13

02 Connecting up

Rear panel connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Front panel connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Easy connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Using other types of audio/video output .17
Connecting to a cable box, satellite

receiver or digital terrestrial receiver . . . . 18

Connecting an external decoder box (1) .20
Connecting an external decoder box (2) .21
Connecting to an AV amplifier/receiver . . 22

Connecting other AV sources . . . . . . . . . 23

Plugging in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

03 Controls and displays

Front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

05 Using the GUIDE Plus+®
electronic program guide

The GUIDE Plus+® system . . . . . . . . . . 36

Using the GUIDE Plus+® system . . . . . 37

Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

GUIDE Plus+® FAQ and

troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

06 Recording

About DVD recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

About HDD recording. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Recorded audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Restrictions on video recording . . . . . . . 54

Using the built-in TV tuner . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Setting the picture quality/recording

time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Basic recording from the TV . . . . . . . . . . 57

Pause Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Setting a timer recording . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Timer recording FAQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Simultaneous recording and playback

(Chase Play) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Recording from an external

component. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Playing your recordings on other DVD

players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Initializing recordable DVD discs . . . . . . 66

04 Getting started

Switching on and setting up . . . . . . . . . . 29

Setting up the GUIDE Plus+® system . . 32

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07 Playback

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Basic playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Using the Disc Navigator to browse

the contents of a disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Scanning discs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Playing in slow motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Frame advance/frame reverse . . . . . . . . 74

The Play Mode menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Displaying and switching subtitles
Switching DVD and DivX soundtracks
Switching audio channels
Switching camera angles
Displaying disc information on-screen

. . . . . . . . . . . . 78

. . . . . . . . . . . . 79

. . . . . 77

. . . 78

. . 79

14 The Initial Setup menu

Using the Initial Setup menu
Selecting other languages for language

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

options

. . . . . . . . 116

08 Editing

Editing options
The Disc Navigator screen

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

. . . . . . . . . . . . 82

09 Copying and backup

Introduction
One Touch Copy
Using Copy Lists
Using disc backup

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

10 Using the Jukebox

Copying music to the HDD
Playing music from the Jukebox
Editing Jukebox albums

. . . . . . . . . . 104

. . . . . . . . . . . . 106

11 The PhotoViewer

Locating JPEG picture files
Playing a slideshow

. . . . . . . . . . 107

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

12 The Disc Setup menu

Basic settings
Initialize settings
Finalize settings
Optimize HDD
Initialize HDD

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . 105

15 Additional information

Minimum copying times
Manual recording modes
Troubleshooting
On-screen displays and recorder
displays
Language code list
Country/Area code list
Screen sizes and disc formats
Handling discs
Cleaning the pickup lens
Condensation
Hints on installation
Moving the recorder
Resetting the recorder

Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

. . . . . . . . . . . . 129

. . . . . . . . . . . 130

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

. . . . . . . 139

. . . . . . . . . . . 140

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

13 The Video Adjust menu

Setting the picture quality for TV and
external inputs
Setting the picture quality for disc
playback

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

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01

Before you start

Chapter 1

Before you start

What’s in the box

Please confirm that the following
accessories are in the box when you open it.

• Remote control

• AA/R6P dry cell batteries x 2

• Audio/video cable (red/white/yellow)

• G-LINK™ cable

• RF antenna cable

• Power cable

• These operating instructions

• Warranty card

Putting the batteries in the
remote control

1 Insert two AA/R6P batteries into the
battery compartment following the
indications (
compartment.

Incorrect use of batteries can result in
hazards such as leakage and bursting.
Please observe the following:

• Don’t mix new and old batteries
together.

,

Important

) inside the

• Don’t use different kinds of batteries
together—although they may look
similar, different batteries may have
different voltages.

• Make sure that the plus and minus ends
of each battery match the indications in
the battery compartment.

• Remove batteries from equipment that
isn’t going to be used for a month or
more.

• When disposing of used batteries,
please comply with governmental
regulations or environmental public
instruction’s rules that apply in your
country or area.

Do not use or store batteries in direct sunlight or
other excessively hot place, such as inside a car or
near a heater. This can cause batteries to leak,
overheat, explode or catch fire. It can also reduce the
life or performance of batteries.

WARNING

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Using the remote control

Please keep in mind the following when
using the remote control:

• Make sure that there are no obstacles
between the remote and the remote
sensor on the unit.

• Remote operation may become
unreliable if strong sunlight or
fluorescent light is shining on the unit’s
remote sensor.

• Remote controllers for different devices
can interfere with each other. Avoid
using remotes for other equipment
located close to this unit.

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Before you start

01

• Replace the batteries when you notice a
fall off in the operating range of the
remote.

• When the batteries run down or you
change the batteries, the remote control
mode is reset to Recorder 1. See Remote
Control Mode on page 126.

• Use within the operating range in front of
the remote control sensor on the front
panel, as shown.

7 m

• You can control this recorder using the
remote sensor of another Pioneer
component using the CONTROL IN jack
on the rear panel. See Rear panel
connections on page 14 for more
information.

Disc / content format
playback compatibility

Compatible media

• DVD-RW ver. 1.1 / 1 x / 1 x to 2 x, ver. 1.2
/ 2 x to 4 x / 2 x to 6 x

• DVD-R ver. 2.0 /1 x / 1 x to 4 x /
1 x to 8 x / 1 x to 16 x, ver. 2.1 / 1 x to 8 x /
1 x to 16 x

• DVD+RW 1 x to 2.4 x / 1 x to 4 x / 3.3 x to
8 x

• DVD+R 1 x to 2.4 x / 1 x to 4 x / 1 x to 8 x
/ 1 x to 16 x

• DVD-RAM ver. 2.0 / 2 x, ver. 2.1 / 2 x / 2 x
to 3 x / 2 x to 5 x, ver. 2.2 / 2 x / 2 x to 3 x /
2 x to 5 x

• DVD-R DL ver. 3.0 / 2 x to 4 x

• DVD+R DL 2.4 x / 2.4 x to 8 x

Note that older models of DVD recorders
and DVD writers may reject DVD-RW ver. 1.2
discs and/or corrupt the data on the disc. If
you want to share DVD-RW discs between
this recorder and an older recorder/writer,
we recommend using ver. 1.1 discs.

The following table shows older Pioneer DVD
recorders’ limited compatibility with DVD­RW ver. 1.2 discs.

Model Playable Recordable

DVR-7000

DVR-3100 /
DVR-5100H

1

Discs should be finalized in this recorder before
playing. Unfinalized VR mode and Video mode discs
may not play.

2

Cannot read the CPRM information will show in
the display when you load a disc. However, this will not
affect playback.

3

Copy-once protected disc titles will not play.

Yes

Yes

1,2,3

No

1

No

DVD/HDD Recording and playback
compatibility

This recorder can play and record all the
currently popular DVD disc types, as well as
providing HDD functionality. The table below
shows some specific compatibility
differences between the different disc types.

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7

01

Before you start

Marks used in this
manual

Logos

Re-recordable /
Erasable

Editing of recorded
programs

Recording of Copy­once protected
material

Playback in other
players/recorders

Chase play

16:9 and 4:3 pro­gram recording

Bilingual broadcast
recording of both
audio channels

HDD DVD-R DVD-RW DVD+R

HDD DVD (VR) DVD (Video) DVD ( VR) DVD (Video) DVD+R DVD+RW DVD-RAM

*1 *1 *2 *13, 16



   *4   *4  *4  *4 

 

n/a



   



*10, 11

*3

*5



*12

*11

*3

 



 *6



*12

*7

*11

*3

 *6 

*6, 15

DVD
+RW



 *8 

*14

DVD­RAM







*12

*9

*11

Notes to table

*1 Must be initialized for VR mode recording (page 110)
*2 Must be initialized for Video mode recording
(page 110)
*3 Erasable, but free space does not increase
*4 Cannot erase sections, edit chapters or use playlist
editing
*5 Must be compatible with DVD-R(VR) playback
*6 Finalize using this recorder (may not playback in
some units) (page 64)
*7 Must be compatible with DVD-RW(VR) playback
*8 Must be compatible with DVD+RW playback
*9 Must be compatible with DVD-RAM playback
*10 Only when HDD Recording Format is set to Video
Mode Off (page 124)
*11 Only when the recording mode is not set to LPCM

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*12 CPRM-compatible discs only
*13 Take the disc out of the cartridge before use. Only
Matsushita and Maxell discs have been tested to work
reliably with this recorder. Discs from other makers may
become unusable when recorded or edited.
*14 Erasing a title does not increase the available
recording time, nor increase the number of recordable
titles left.
*15 Must be compatible with DVD+R playback
*16 Depending on the disc, it may have to be initialized
before it can be recorded (page 110). In this case,
initialization will take about 1 hour.

is a trademark of DVD Format/Logo

Licensing Corporation.

Before you start

01

Using DVD-R DL/DVD+R DL discs

DVD-R DL (dual-layer) and DVD+R DL
(double-layer) discs contain two recordable
layers on a single side, giving about 1.8
times the recording capacity of a
conventional single-layer disc. This unit can
record to both DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL
discs.

• If you intend to play DVD-R DL (Video
mode) or DVD+R DL discs recorded on
this unit on other DVD recorders/players,
you must finalize them. (Note that some
DVD recorders/players may not play
even finalized DL discs.)

• Please read the information provided on
the disc packaging carefully before
purchasing DVD-R DL/DVDw+R DL
discs:

•

Confirm the disc version:

2 x to 4 x DVD-R discs.

•

Confirm the recording speed:

should be compatible with 2 x or 4 x
recording; DVD+R with 2.4 x to 8 x
recording.

• This logo indicates that the disc is a
DVD-R DL or DVD+R DL disc:

Use ver. 3.0 /

DVD-R

The non-DVD, audio side of the disc is not
compliant with the CD Audio specification
and therefore may not play.

It is possible that when loading or ejecting a
DualDisc, the opposite side to that being
played will be scratched. Scratched discs
may not be playable.

The DVD side of a DualDisc plays in this
product. DVD-Audio content will not play.

For more detailed information on the
DualDisc specification, please refer to the
disc manufacturer or disc retailer.

Other disc compatibility

In addition to DVD, this recorder is
compatible with a wide range of disc types
(media) and formats. Playable discs will
generally feature one of the following logos
on the disc and/or disc packaging. Note
however that some disc types, such as
recordable CD (and DVD), may be in an
unplayable format—see below for further
compatibility information.

Audio CD CD-R

Video CD

CD-RW

Super Video CD (Super VCD)

• Correct operation has been confirmed
for DVD-R DL discs (Ver. 3.0 / 2 x, 4 x)
produced by the following
manufacturers: Mitsubishi Kagaku
Media, Verbatim (as of March 2005).

About DualDisc playback

A DualDisc is a new two -sided disc, one side
of which contains DVD content –video,
audio, etc. –while the other side contains
non-DVD content such as digital audio
material.

CD-R/RW compatibility

This recorder cannot record CD-R or CD-RW
discs.

• Readable formats: CD-Audio, Video CD/
Super VCD, ISO 9660 CD-ROM*
containing MP3, WMA, JPEG or DivX
files.
*

ISO 9660 Level 1 or 2 compliant. CD
physical format: Mode1, Mode2 XA Form1.
Romeo and Joliet file systems are both
compatible with this recorder.

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01

Before you start

• Multi-session playback: Yes (except CD­Audio and Video CD/Super VCD)

WMA (Windows Media Audio)
compatibility

• Unfinalized disc playback: CD-Audio
only

Compressed audio compatibility

• Compatible media: CD-ROM, CD-R,
CD-RW

• Compatible formats: MPEG-1 Audio
Layer 3 (MP3), Windows Media Audio
(WMA)

• Sampling rates: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz or
48 kHz

• Bit-rates: Any (128 Kbps or higher
recommended)

• Variable bit-rate (VBR) MP3 playback:
Yes

• VBR WMA playback: No

• WMA encoder compatibility: Windows
Media Codec 8

(files encoded using
Windows Media Codec 9 may be playable
but some parts of the specification are not
supported; specifically, Pro, Lossless,
Voice and VBR)

• DRM (Digital Rights Management)

1

file

playback: No

• File extensions: .mp3, .wma (these must
be used for the recorder to recognize
MP3 and WMA files – do not use for
other file types)

• File structure: Up to 99 folders / 999 files
(if these limits are exceeded, only files
and folders up to these limits are
playable)

Note

1 DRM (digital rights management) copy protection is a technology designed to prevent unauthorized copying by

restricting playback, etc. of compressed audio files on devices other the PC (or other recording equipment) used
to record it. For detailed information, please see the instruction manuals or help files that came with your PC
(or other WMA recording equipment) and/or software.

The Windows Media® logo printed on the
box indicates that this recorder can playback
Windows Media Audio content.

WMA is an acronym for Windows Media
Audio and refers to an audio compression
technology developed by Microsoft
Corporation. WMA content can be encoded

by using Windows Media

®

Windows
Windows Media

XP, Windows Media® Player 9 or

®

®

Player for

Player 10 series.

Microsoft, Windows Media, and the Windows
logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.

DivX video compatibility

DivX is a compressed digital video format
created by the DivX

Inc. This recorder can play DivX video files
burned on CD-R/RW/ROM discs. Keeping
the same terminology as DVD-Video,
individual DivX video files are called "Titles."
When naming files/titles on a CD-R/RW disc
prior to burning, keep in mind that by default
they will be played in alphabetical order.

®

video codec from DivX,

10

En

Before you start

01

• Official DivX® Certified product.

• Plays all versions of DivX
(including DivX
playback of DivX

• File extensions: .avi and .divx (these
must be used for the recorder to
recognize DivX video files). Note that all

files with the .avi extension are recognized
as MPEG4, but not all of these are
necessarily DivX video files and therefore
may not be playable on this recorder.

• File structure: Up to 99 folders or 999
files.

DivX, DivX Certified, and associated logos are
trademarks of DivX, Inc. and are used under
license.

®

®

®

video

6) with standard
media files.

DivX® VOD content

DivX

In order to play DivX VOD (video on demand)
content on this recorder, you first need to
register the recorder with your DivX VOD
content provider. You do this by generating a
DivX VOD registration code, which you
submit to your provider.

Some DivX VOD content may only be
playable a fixed number of times. When you
load a disc containing this type of DivX VOD
content, the remaining number of plays is
shown on-screen and you then have the
option of playing the disc (thereby using up
one of the remaining plays), or stopping. If
you load a disc that contains expired DivX
VOD content (for example, content that has
zero remaining plays), the message Rental
Expired is displayed.

If your DivX VOD content allows an unlimited
number of plays, then you may load the disc
into your recorder and play the content as
often as you like, and no message will be
displayed.

Important

• DivX VOD content is protected by a DRM
(Digital Rights Management) system.
This restricts playback of content to
specific, registered devices.

• If you load a disc that contains DivX VOD
content not authorized for this recorder,
the message Authorization Error is
displayed and the content will not play.

• Resetting the recorder (as described in
Resetting the recorder on page 141) will
not cause you to lose your registration
code.

JPEG file compatibility

• Compatible formats: Baseline JPEG and
EXIF 2.2* still image files
*File format used by digital still cameras

• Sampling ratio: 4:4:4, 4:2:2, 4:2:0

• Horizontal resolution: 160 to 5120 pixels

• Vertical resolution: 120 to 3840 pixels

• Progressive JPEG compatible: No

• File extensions: .jpg, .jpeg, .jpe, .jif, .jfif
(must be used for the recorder to
recognize JPEG files – do not use for
other file types)

• File structure: The recorder can load up
to 99 folders / 999 files at one time (if

there are more files/folders that this on
the disc then more can be reloaded)

11

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01

Before you start

PC-created disc compatibility

Discs recorded using a personal computer
may not be playable in this unit due to the
setting of the application software used to
create the disc. In these particular
instances, check with the software publisher
for more detailed information.

Discs recorded in packet write mode (UDF
format) are not compatible with this
recorder.

Check the DVD-R/RW or CD-R/RW software
disc boxes for additional compatibility
information.

Dolby Digital

Manufactured under license from Dolby
Laboratories. "Dolby" and the double-D
symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

DTS

“DTS” and “DTS Digital Out” are registered
trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

About the internal hard disk
drive

The internal hard disk drive (HDD) is a fragile
piece of equipment. Depending on the
conditions under which it is used, or through
careless use, it is possible that the recorded

contents will be damaged or lost completely,
or that normal playback and recording will
not be possible. Please understand that in
the event of repair or replacement of the
HDD or related components, all your HDD
recordings will be lost.

Please use the recorder following the
guidelines below to protect against possible
HDD failure.

The HDD should not be regarded as a place to
store recordings permanently. We
recommend that you back up your important
recordings onto DVD discs in order to protect
against accidental loss.

Pioneer cannot under any circumstances
accept responsibility for any direct or indirect
loss arising from any inconvenience or loss of
recorded material resulting from HDD failure.

• Do not move the recorder while it is on
(this includes during EPG download
when the display shows

• Install and use the recorder on a stable,
level surface.

• Do not block the rear vent/cooling fan.

• Do not use the recorder in excessively
hot or humid places, or in places that
may be subject to sudden changes in
temperature. Sudden changes in
temperature can cause condensation to
form inside the recorder. This can be a
cause of HDD failure.

• While the recorder is switched on
(including during EPG download when
the display shows
from the wall socket or switch the
electricity off from the breaker switch.

• Do not move the recorder immediately
after switching it off. If you need to move
the recorder, please follow the steps
below:

EPG

EPG

), do not unplug

).

12

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Before you start

1

After the message
shown in the display, wait at least two
minutes.

2

Unplug from the wall socket.

3

Move the recorder.

• If there’s a power failure while the
recorder is on there is a chance that
some data on the HDD will be lost.

• The HDD is very delicate. If used
improperly or in an unsuitable
environment, it is possible that the HDD
will fail after a few years of use. Signs of
problems include playback unexpectedly
freezing and noticeable block noise
(mosaic) in the picture. However,
sometimes there will be no warning
signs of HDD failure. If the HDD fails, no
playback of recorded material will be
possible. In this case it will be necessary
to replace the HDD unit.

Optimizing HDD performance

As you record and edit material on the HDD,
the data on the disk becomes fragmented,
eventually affecting the recorder’s
performance. Before this happens, the
recorder will warn you that it is time to
optimize the HDD (which you can do from
the Disc Setup menu; see
page 111).

POWER OFF

Optimize HDD

is

on

Symbols used in this manual

The following icons are provided to help you
quickly identify which instructions you need
for which kind of disc.

HDD

DVD

DVD-Video

DVD (Video)

DVD (VR)

DVD+R

DVD+RW

DVD-RAM

CD

HDD

Any type of DVD disc
(recordable or playback

only), finalized or not.

Commercially produced
DVD, finalized Video mode

DVD-R/-RW.

Video mode DVD-R/-RW
(unfinalized)

VR mode DVD-R/-RW

DVD+R

DVD+RW

DVD-RAM

Audio CD

01

Video CD

Super VCD

WMA/MP3

DivX

A L L

Video CD

Super VCD

WMA or MP3 files

DivX files

All of the above

13

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02

Connecting up

+6Chapter 2

Connecting up

Rear panel connections

1 2

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

AC IN

5 6 7 8 9

DIGITAL

CONTROL

OUT

COAXIAL

IN

G-LINK

1 AV1(RGB)-TV AV connector

Audio/video output SCART-type AV
connector for connecting to a TV or other
equipment with a SCART connector. The
video output is switchable between video, S­video and RGB. See page

AV1 Out

on

page 119 for how to set this up.

2 OUTPUT

Stereo analog audio, video and S-video
outputs for connection to a TV or AV
amplifier/receiver.

3 AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER) AV
connector

Audio/video input/output SCART-type AV
connector for connecting to a VCR, or other
equipment with a SCART connector. The
input accepts video, S-video and RGB. See

AV2/L1 In

on page 119 for how to set this up.

4 ANTENNA IN (RF IN)/OUT

Connect your TV antenna to the

IN (RF IN)

to the

jack. The signal is passed through

ANTENNA OUT

jack for connection to

ANTENNA

your TV.

3 4

COMPONENT

VIDEO OUT

Y

P

B

OUTPUT

L

R

P

R

AUDIO

VIDEO

S-VIDEO

IN

OUT

ANTENNA

5 AC IN – Power inlet

6 DIGITAL AUDIO OUT

Coaxial digital audio jack for connecting to
an AV amplifier/receiver, Dolby Digital/DTS/
MPEG decoder or other equipment with a
digital input.

7 CONTROL IN

Use to control this recorder from the remote
sensor of another Pioneer component with a

CONTROL OUT

Pioneer

OUT

of the other component to the

CONTROL IN

terminal and bearing the



mark. Connect the

of this recorder using a mini-

plug cord.

8 G-LINK™

Use to connect the supplied G-LINK™ cable
to enable GUIDE Plus+® to control an
external satellite receiver, etc.

9 COMPONENT VIDEO OUT

A high-quality video output for connecting to
a TV or monitor with a component video
input.

CONTROL

14

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Connecting up

Front panel connections

On the front panel a flip-down cover hides
more connections.

02

S-VIDEO VIDEO L AUDIO R

INPUT 2

(MONO)

10

10 INPUT 2

Audio/video input (stereo analog audio;
composite and S-video video), especially
suitable for camcorders, game consoles,
portable audio, etc.

15

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02

Connecting up

Easy connections

The setup described below is a basic setup
that allows you to watch and record TV
programs, and play discs. Other types of
connections are explained starting on the
following page.

Important

• These connections use SCART cables
(not supplied). If your TV (or VCR) does
not have a SCART connection, see the
following page for connecting up using
the supplied audio/video cable.

• The

AV1(RGB)-TV

AV connector can
output ordinary (composite), S-video or
RGB video, plus stereo analog audio. The

AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER)

connector
accepts ordinary, S-video and RGB video
input, as well as stereo analog audio.
See

AV1 Out

on page 119 and

AV2/L1 In

on page 119 for how to set them up.

• Before making or changing any rear
panel connections, make sure that all
components are switched off and
unplugged from the wall outlet.

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

4

AC IN

TV

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

DIGITAL

CONTROL

OUT

COAXIAL

IN

G-LINK

5

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

VCR

COMPONENT

VIDEO OUT

Y

P

B

OUTPUT

PR

AUDIO

ANTENNA

LR

IN

ANTENNA

IN

3

ANTENNA
IN (RF IN)

IN

OUT

VIDEO

ANTENNA

S-VIDEO

ANTENNA

OUT

2

ANTENNA

OUT

1

Antenna/cable TV
wall outlet

16

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Connecting up

02

1 Connect the cable from the antenna/
cable TV outlet to the antenna input on
your VCR.

• If you are not connecting a VCR in the
chain, connect it to the

(RF IN)

jack on this recorder and skip the

ANTENNA IN

next step.

2 Use an RF antenna cable (one is
supplied) to connect the antenna output
of your VCR to the ANTENNA IN (RF IN) of
this recorder.

3 Use another RF antenna cable to
connect the ANTENNA OUT of this
recorder to the antenna input on your
TV.

4 Use a SCART cable (not supplied) to
connect the AV1(RGB)-TV AV connector
on this recorder to the SCART AV
connector on your TV.

5 Use another SCART cable to connect
the AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER) AV
connector to a SCART AV connector on
your VCR.

Tip

• This recorder has a ‘through’ function
which allows you to record a TV program
from the built-in TV tuner in this recorder
while watching a video playing on your
VCR. (To use this feature when the
recorder is in standby,
must be set to

Off

Power Save

—see

Power Save

on

page 116).

Using other types of audio/
video output

If you can’t use the SCART AV connector to
connect your TV to this recorder, there are
standard audio/video output jacks, as well as
an S-video and component video output.

Using the supplied audio/video
cable

AUDIO
INPUT

VIDEO
INPUT

TV

1

2

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

AC IN

Y

B

P

OUTPUT

DIGITAL

CONTROL

L

R

OUT

PR

COAXIAL IN

VIDEOAUDIO

COMPONENT

G-LINK

S-VIDEO

VIDEO OUT

1 Connect the VIDEO OUTPUT jack to a
video input on your TV.

Use the yellow jack of the supplied audio/
video cable for the video connection.

2 Connect the AUDIO OUTPUT jacks to
the corresponding audio inputs on your
TV.

Use the red and white jacks of the supplied
audio/video cable for the audio connection.
Make sure you match up the left and right
outputs with their corresponding inputs for
correct stereo sound.

IN

OUT

ANTENNA

17

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02

Connecting up

Using the S-video or component
video output

COMPONENT
VIDEO INPUT

S-VIDEO

S-VIDEO

on page 119

INPUT

1

IN

OUT

ANTENNA

S-VIDEO

AUDIO
INPUT

TV

2

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

AC IN

Y

P

B

OUTPUT

DIGITAL

CONTROL

L

R

OUT

PR

COAXIAL IN

VIDEOAUDIO

COMPONENT

G-LINK

VIDEO OUT

1 Connect the S-video or component
video output to a similar input on your
TV.

For an S-video connection, use an S-video
cable (not supplied) to connect the

OUTPUT

jack to an S-video input on your TV.

For a component video connection, use a
component video cable (not supplied) to
connect the

COMPONENT VIDEO OUT

jacks to a component video input on your TV.
See also

Component Video Out

for how to set up the component video
output for use with a progressive scan­compatible TV.

2 Connect the AUDIO OUTPUT jacks to
the corresponding audio inputs on your
TV.

You can use the supplied audio/video cable,
leaving the yellow video plug disconnected.
Make sure you match up the left and right
outputs with their corresponding inputs for
correct stereo sound.

Connecting to a cable box,
satellite receiver or digital
terrestrial receiver

If you have a cable, satellite or digital
terrestrial receiver with a built-in decoder,
connect it to this recorder and your TV as

shown on the following page.
using a separate decoder box for your cable/
satellite TV, set up following the instructions
on the next page.

Using the setup on this page you can:

• Record any channel by selecting it on
the cable box, satellite receiver or digital
terrestrial receiver.

• Change channels and set timer
recordings on the external receiver using
the GUIDE Plus+® system (via the
G-LINK™ cable, and after setting up).

Important

• Do not connect this recorder to your TV
‘through’ your VCR, satellite receiver or
other component. Always connect each
component directly to your TV or AV
amplifier/receiver.

• When using the GUIDE Plus+ system to
make a timer recording from an external
receiver, make sure that the external
receiver is switched on.

1

If you are

Note

1 The diagram shows SCART video connections, but you can alternatively use any of the other audio/video con-

nections.

18

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Connecting up

DIGITAL

OUT

CONTROL

G-LINK

COAXIALIN

AUDIO

L

R

COMPONENT
VIDEO OUT

Y

P

B

PR

OUTPUT

AV 1 (RGB) – TV

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

2

TV

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

AC IN

Y

B

P

OUTPUT

DIGITAL

CONTROL

L

R

OUT

PR

COAXIAL IN

COMPONENT

G-LINK

VIDEO OUT

4

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

Cable/Satellite/
Digital Terrestrial
receiver

3

ANTENNA

1 Connect RF antenna cables as shown.

This enables you to watch and record TV
channels.

2 Use a SCART cable (not supplied) to
connect the AV1(RGB)-TV AV connector
to a SCART AV connector on your TV.

This enables you to watch discs.

3 Use another SCART cable to connect
the AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER) AV
connector to a SCART AV connector on
your cable box/satellite/digital terrestrial
receiver.

This enables you to record scrambled TV
channels.

ANTENNA

IN

1

ANTENNA
IN (RF IN)

IN

OUT

S-VIDEO

ANTENNA

OUT

ANTENNA

ANTENNA

OUT

VIDEOAUDIO

IN

1

Satellite dish/
antenna/cable TV
wall outlet

4 Plug the supplied G-LINK™ cable to
the G-LINK™ jack.

This enables you to control the tuner in the
external receiver using the GUIDE Plus+®
system.

Position the IR transmitter end of the G­LINK™ cable so that the IR receiver on your
cable/satellite/digital terrestrial receiver will
pick up the control signals (see diagram).

1

G-LINK cable

See the manual that came with your cable/
satellite/digital terrestrial receiver if you’re
not sure where the IR receiver is on the front
panel. Alternatively, experiment with the
remote control, operating it from very close
range until you find the place where the
receiver responds.

Tip

• This recorder has a ‘through’ function
which allows you to record a TV program
from the built-in TV tuner in this recorder
while watching a video playing on your
VCR. (To use this feature when the
recorder is in standby,
must be set to

Off

Power Save

—see

Power Save

page 116).

02

on

19

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02

Connecting up

Connecting an external
decoder box (1)

If you have an external, dedicated decoder
box for your satellite or cable TV system, use
the setup described on this page. See the
previous page for how to connect the G­LINK™ cable.

Important

• Do not connect your decoder box directly
to this recorder.

• Information from the decoder (for
example, relating to pay TV services), is
only viewable when this recorder is off
(in standby).

• For timer recording to work properly on
this recorder, the VCR/satellite receiver/
cable box must also be switched on
during recording.

• It is not possible to watch one TV
program and record another using this
setup.

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

4

TV

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

AC IN

Decoder

Antenna/cable TV
wall outlet

DIGITAL

OUT

COAXIAL IN

CONTROL

G-LINK

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

COMPONENT
VIDEO OUT

Y

B

P

OUTPUT

PR

LR

VIDEOAUDIO

S-VIDEO

2

VCR/Satellite receiver
/Cable box

1

IN

OUT

ANTENNA

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

ANTENNA

IN

3

1 Connect the cable from the antenna/
cable TV outlet to the antenna input on
your VCR/satellite receiver/cable box.

2 Use a SCART cable (not supplied) to
connect your decoder to your VCR/
satellite receiver/cable box.

See the manual for your decoder box for
more detailed instructions.

3 Use a SCART cable to connect your
VCR/satellite receiver/cable box to the
AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER) AV connector on
this recorder.

4 Use a SCART cable to connect the
AV1(RGB)-TV AV connector to your TV.

20

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Connecting up

02

Connecting an external
decoder box (2)

If you only have a decoder, connect it to this
recorder and your TV as shown on this

1

page.
Using the setup on this page you can:

• Record scrambled channels received
using the recorder’s built-in TV tuner.

Important

• Do not connect this recorder ‘through’
your VCR, satellite receiver or cable box.
Always connect each component
directly to your TV or AV amplifier/
receiver.

AC IN

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

2

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

Y

P

B

OUTPUT

DIGITAL

CONTROL

OUT

COAXIAL

LR

PR

IN

COMPONENT

G-LINK

VIDEO OUT

3

ANTENNA

IN

TV

1

ANTENNA
IN (RF IN)

IN

OUT

VIDEOAUDIO

S-VIDEO

ANTENNA

ANTENNA

OUT

1 Connect RF antenna cables as shown.

This enables you to watch and record TV
channels.

2 Use a SCART cable (not supplied) to
connect the AV1(RGB)-TV AV connector
to a SCART AV connector on your TV.

This enables you to watch discs.

3 Use another SCART cable to connect
the AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER) AV
connector to a SCART AV connector on
your decoder box.

This enables you to record scrambled TV
channels.

Antenna/cable TV
wall outlet

1

SCART AV

CONNECTOR

Decoder

Note

1 In order to use this setup, you will need to make the following settings from the Initial Setup menu:

• Set the

AV2/L1 In

• From the

CH Setting

setting to

Manual CH Setting

on page 118).

Decoder

from the Initial Setup menu (see

screen, set the

Decoder

AV2/L1 In

on page 119).

setting for the scrambled channels to On (see

Manual

21

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02

Connecting up

Connecting to an AV
amplifier/receiver

To enjoy multichannel surround sound you
need to connect this recorder to an AV
amplifier/receiver using the digital coaxial
output.

In addition to a digital connection, we
recommend also connecting using the
stereo analog connection for compatibility
with all discs and sources.

You’ll probably also want to connect a video
output to your AV amplifier/receiver. Use the
ordinary video output (as shown here), or the
S-video output.

Important

• Noise may be output from your speakers
if the recorder is not set up to work with
your AV amplifier/receiver properly (see

Audio Out

• Do not connect this recorder to your TV
‘through’ your VCR using A/V cables.
Always connect it directly to your TV.

on page 120).

ANTENNA

IN

VIDEO

IN

AUDIO/VIDEO

3

AC IN

TV

IN

AV amp/
receiver

AV 1 (RGB) – TV AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

DIGITAL

CONTROL

OUT

COAXIAL

IN

COMPONENT

G-LINK

VIDEO OUT

4

VIDEO

OUT

Y

B

P

OUTPUT

LR

PR

AUDIO

DIGITAL

VIDEO

S-VIDEO

IN

2

IN

OUT

ANTENNA

ANTENNA

OUT

Antenna/cable TV
wall outlet

1

1

ANTENNA
IN (RF IN)

1 Connect RF antenna cables as shown.

This enables you to watch and record TV
channels.

2 Connect one of the DIGITAL OUT
COAXIAL jack on this recorder to an
coaxial digital input on your AV
amplifier/receiver.

This enables you to listen to multichannel
surround sound.

3 Connect the analog AUDIO OUTPUT
and VIDEO OUTPUT jacks on this recorder
to an analog audio and video input on
your AV amplifier/receiver.

4 Connect the AV amplifier/receiver’s
video output to a video input on your TV.

22

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Connecting up

02

Connecting other AV sources

Connecting a VCR or analog
camcorder

HDD/DVD

 STANDBY/ON

AUDIO/VIDEO

OUTPUT

(Rear panel) (Front panel)

1 2

AUDIO/VIDEO

INPUT

 OPEN/CLOSE

Analog camcorder

VCR

1 Connect a set of audio and video
inputs of your VCR or camcorder to a set
of outputs on this recorder.

This enables you to record from this recorder
to your VCR or camcorder.

• You can use standard video or S-video
cables for the video connection.

• Alternatively, you can use the

AV2(INPUT 1/DECODER)

connector for audio/video input and
output with just one SCART cable.

2 Connect a set of audio and video
outputs of your VCR or camcorder to a
set of inputs on this recorder.

This enables you to record tapes from your
VCR or camcorder.

• You can use standard video or S-video
cables for the video connection.

• The front panel connections make
convenient connections for a camcorder
input.

ONE

STOP

TOUCH

CH

+–





REC

COPY

SCART



 REC

AUDIO/VIDEO

AUDIO/VIDEO

OUTPUT

INPUT

Plugging in

After checking all the connections, plug in
the recorder.

1 Use the supplied power cable to
connect this recorder to a power outlet.

23

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03

Controls and displays

Chapter 3

Controls and displays

Front panel

1 83 4 65

 OPEN/CLOSE

 STANDBY/ON

DVR-540H-S

1 STANDBY/ON

Press to switch the recorder on/into standby.

2 Disc tray



OPEN/CLOSE

3

Press to open/close the disc tray.

4 HDD / DVD indicators

Indicator lights blue when the hard disk
(HDD) is selected; orange when the DVD
drive is selected.

5 PAUSE LIVE TV

(page 58)
Press to start recording the current TV
channel, but with playback paused,
effectively pausing the broadcast.

6 HDD/DVD

Press to switch between HDD and DVD for
recording and playback.

7 Front panel display and IR remote
sensor

See

Display

on page 25 for details.

72

HDD/DVD

S-VIDEO VIDEO L AUDIO R

(MONO)

INPUT 2

10



119

REC

COPY

1312 14

ONE

STOP

TOUCH

CH



+–



 REC

8 REC

Press to start recording. Press repeatedly to
set the recording time in 30 minute blocks.

9 Front panel inputs

See

Front panel connections

on page 15 for

more information on these.

10



Press to start or restart playback.

11



Press to stop playback.

12 CH +/–

Use to change channels, skip chapters/
tracks, etc.

13 ONE TOUCH COPY

(page 95)
Press to start One Touch Copy of the
currently playing title to DVD or the HDD.

14 STOP REC

Press to stop recording.

24

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Controls and displays

Display

2 43 5

1

03

L

P

R

8 7

1



Lights during playback; blinks when
playback is paused.

2



Lights when copying.

3



Lights during recording; blinks when
recording is paused.

4

(page 59)
Lights when a timer recording has been
set. (Indicator blinks if the timer has
been set to DVD but there isn’t a
recordable disc loaded, or the timer has
been set to HDD but the HDD is not
recordable.)

NTSC

Lights when the video output signal
format is NTSC.

(page 120)
Indicates which channels of a bilingual
broadcast are recorded.

(page 119)
Lights when the component video output
is set to progressive scan.

VPS / PDC

(page 59)
Lights when receiving a VPS/PDC
broadcast during a VPS/PDC-enabled
timer recording.

6

5 Recording quality indicators

XP

Lights when the recording mode is set to

XP

(best quality).

SP

Lights when the recording mode is set to

SP

(standard play).

LP / SLP

Lights when the recording mode is set to

LP

(long play) or

SLP

(super-long play).

EP / SEP

Lights when the recording mode is set to

EP

(extended play) or

SEP

(super-

extended play).

MN

Lights when the recording mode is set to

MN

(manual recording level) mode.

6 Character display

7R / RW

Lights when a recordable DVD-R or DVD-RW
disc is loaded.

8 PL

(page 82)
Lights when a VR mode disc is loaded
and the recorder is in Play List mode.

2 3

(page 126)
Shows the remote control mode (if
nothing is displayed, the remote control
mode is 1).

(page 56)

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03

Controls and displays

V

Lights when an unfinalized Video mode
disc is loaded.

Remote control

STANDBY/ON



1 11

2

TOP MENU

DISC

NAVIGATOR

3 14

4

CM

BACK

PAUSE RETURN

5 15

6

STOP REC

TIMER REC

7

8

REC MODE

AUDIO

9

SHIFT CLEAR

10

HOME MENU INFOPAUSE LIVE TV

CHANNEL

ENTER

CHANNEL

PREV NEXT

//

SUBTITLE

HDD/DVD

GUIDE

+

–

PLAYREC STOP

HELP

ONE TOUCH COPY

ANGLE

PLAY MODE

OPEN

OPEN

CM

SKIP

TV/DVD

INPUT SELECT

MENU

DISPLAY

1 STANDBY/ON

Press to switch the recorder on/into standby.

2 PAUSE LIVE TV

(page 58)
Press to start recording the current TV
channel, but with playback paused,
effectively pausing the broadcast.

3 DISC NAVIGATOR
MENU

(page 68)

(page 72, 81)

/ TOP

Press to display the Disc Navigator screen,
or the top menu if a DVD-Video or finalized

12
13

DVD-R/RW (Video) disc is loaded.

4

///

and ENTER

Used to navigate all on-screen displays.
Press

ENTER

to select the currently

highlighted option.

CM BACK (commercial back)

16

17

Press repeatedly to skip progressively
backward through the audio or video
playing.

CM SKIP (commercial skip)

Press repeatedly to skip progressively

18

19

20

21

22

forward through the audio or video
playing.

CHANNEL +/–

(page 55)
Press to change the channel of the built­in TV tuner.

5 PAUSE

Press to pause playback or recording.

6 Recording controls



REC

(page 57)

Press to start recording. Press
repeatedly to set the recording time in
blocks of 30 mins.

When the red action button is visible in a
GUIDE Plus+® screen, use for One­Button-Record.

STOP REC

Press to stop recording.

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Controls and displays

03

7 GUIDE Plus+® Action buttons

When in the GUIDE Plus+® system,
these buttons act as the Red, Green,
Yellow and Blue Action buttons (the
functions of these buttons change
according to the GUIDE Plus+® Area.
(page 37)

TIMER REC (page 37)
Hold SHIFT and press to set a timer
recording from the GUIDE Plus+®
system.

8   (page 73)

Press to start reverse or forward
scanning. Press again to change the
speed.

/ / (page 74)
While paused, press and hold to start
slow-motion playback. Press repeatedly
to change the playback speed.

While paused, press to advance a single
frame in either direction.

When GUIDE Plus+® is displayed, use
to display the previous/next day.

9 Number buttons, CLEAR

Use the number buttons for track/
chapter/title selection; channel
selection, and so on. The same buttons
can also be used to enter names for
titles, discs and so on.

Use CLEAR to clear an entry and start
again.

REC MODE (page 56)
Hold SHIFT and press repeatedly to
change the recording mode (picture
quality).

AUDIO (page 55, 78)
Hold SHIFT and press to change the
audio language or channel. (When the
recorder is stopped, press to change the
tuner audio.)

SUBTITLE (page 77)
Hold SHIFT and press to display/change
the subtitles included in multilingual
DVD-Video discs.

ANGLE (page 79)
Hold SHIFT and press to switch camera
angles on discs with multi-angle scenes.

PLAY MODE (page 74)
Hold SHIFT and press to change the play
mode (search, repeat, program play,
etc.)

10 SHIFT

Use to access functions on the remote
printed in green.

11 HDD/DVD (page 57)
Press to select the hard disk (HDD) or DVD
for recording and playback.

12 INFO

Press to see additional information for the
highlighted item in GUIDE Plus+®.

13 HOME MENU

Press to display the Home Menu, from
which you can navigate all the functions of
the recorder.

14 GUIDE

Press to display the GUIDE Plus+® screen;
press again to exit.

15 RETURN

Press to go back one level in the on-screen
menu or display.

16  PLAY (page 67)

Press to start playback.
 STOP (page 67)

Press to stop playback.

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03

Controls and displays

17





Press to skip to the previous or next title/
chapter/track/folder; or to display the
previous or next menu page.

When GUIDE Plus+® is displayed, use to
display the previous/next page.

18 HELP

Press for help on how to use the current
GUI screen.

TV/DVD

Press to switch between ‘TV mode’, in
which you get the picture and sound
from the TV’s tuner, and ‘DVD mode’, in
which you get picture and sound from
the recorder’s tuner (or an external
input).

19 ONE TOUCH COPY

Press to start One Touch Copy of the
currently playing title to DVD or the HDD.

20 INPUT SELECT

Press to change the input to use for
recording.

21 MENU

Press to display the disc menu if a DVD­Video, finalized DVD-R/-RW or finalized
DVD+R/+RW disc is loaded.

When in the GUIDE Plus+® system, use to
jump directly to the Menu bar.

22 DISPLAY

(page 68)

(page 79)
Displays/changes the on-screen
information displays.

(page 95)

(page 63)

28

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Getting started

Chapter 4

Getting started

04

Switching on and setting up

When you switch the recorder on for the first
time, you can make several basic settings
using the Setup Navigator feature. This takes
you through setting the clock, the internal TV
tuner and the video output.

If you’re using the recorder for the first time,
we strongly recommend you use the Setup
Navigator before starting to use the
recorder.

1 Switch on your TV and set the video
input to this recorder.

STANDBY/ON



2 Switch on the recorder.

When you switch on for the first time, your
TV should display the Setup Navigator
screen (If the Setup Navigator doesn’t
appear, you can also access it from the
Initial Setup menu; see page 116).

• If this recorder is connected to a
compatible TV using a fully-wired 21-pin
SCART cable, the recorder will take a few
seconds to download country, TV screen
size and language information. (Check
the manual that came with your TV for
compatibility information.)

ENTER

3 Choose a language (then
press ENTER).

Initial Setup

Basic

Basic

Tuner

Video In/O ut

Audio In

Audio O ut

Language

Reco rding

Playback

ENTER

4 Start the Setup Navigator.

Language

Clock Setting

Input Line System

Pow er Save

Help

Setup N avigator

Setup N avigator

Setting

Complete this setup before you

Line System

start using your recorder.

r Save

Start

Start

Cancel

Navigator

Navigator

Please use the Initial Setup if you
want to make more detailed settings.

• If you don’t want to use the Setup
Navigator, press
then press



to select

ENTER

to exit the Setup

Cancel

,

Navigator.

ENTER

5 Select the Auto Channel
Setting (‘Auto Scan’ or ‘Download from

TV’), or ‘Do not set’.

Setting

Auto Channel Setting

Line System

r Save

English

Auto Scan

Download from TV

Navigator

Do not Set

Navigator

29

En

04

Getting started

• Select

Do not set

if you want to skip
channel setup (because they have
already been set up, for example).

• You can only use the

TV

feature if this recorder is connected

Download from

to your TV using a fully-wired 21-pin
SCART cable via the

AV1(RGB)-TV

connector, and if your TV supports this
function (check your TV’s instruction
manual for more details).

ENTER

• Select your country.

Setting

Setting

Country Selection

Line System

Line System

r Save

r Save

Country

UK

• Auto-tuning channels

The

Auto Scan

option automatically scans

and sets the channel presets.

Tun ing

32/99

Cancel

• Downloading channels from your TV

Use the

Download from TV

option to
download all the channels that your TV is
tuned to.

Downloading Pr 5

32/99

Cancel

ENTER

6 Select ‘Auto’ for automatic
time setting, or ‘Manual’ to set the clock

manually.

Setting

Clock Setting

Line System

Auto

r Save

Auto

Manual

• Auto clock setting

Some TV channels broadcast time
signals together with the program. This
recorder can use these signals to set the
clock automatically.

Set ‘Clock Set CH‘ to the channel
preset number that broadcasts a time
signal, then move the cursor down to
‘Start’ and press ENTER.

Setting

Auto Clock Setting

Line System

Date

r Save

Time

Navigator

Navigator

Clock Set CH

–– / –– / ––––

–– : ––

Pr 1

Start

The recorder takes a short while to set
the time. After you see that it’s set, select

Next

to proceed.

Setting

Auto Clock Setting

Line System

Date

Time

Clock Set CH

SUN 01 / 01 / 2006

11 : 20

Pr 1

Start

Next

r Save

Navigator

Navigator

If the time could not be set
automatically, press

RETURN

to go back

to the previous screen and select

Manual

.

• Manual clock setting

If no stations in your area are
broadcasting time signals, you can set
the clock manually.

Use the

/

buttons to set your

time zone.

You can set this by selecting a city or a
time relative to GMT.

Setting

Manual Clock Setting

Line System

Time Zone

r Save

Navigator

Summer Time

Navigator

Off

England
London

1/2

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