Sony SLV-ED915TH, SLV-ED815PS, SLV-ED915PS, SLV-ED818ME, SLV-ED616ME User Manual

3-065-581-12 (1)

Video Cassette

Recorder

Operating Instructions

PAL NTSC

SLV-ED915PS/TH/ED818ME/SG

SLV-ED817TH/ED815PS

SLV-ED616ME/MJ/SG/ED515PS

© 2001 Sony Corporation

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not expose the unit to rain or moisture.

To avoid electrical shock, do not open the cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.

The mains lead must only be changed at a qualified service shop.

Precautions

Safety

•This unit operates on 110 – 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz. Check that the unit’s operating voltage is identical with your local power supply.

•If anything falls into the cabinet, unplug the unit and have it checked by qualified personnel before operating it any further.

•The unit is not disconnected from the mains as long as it is connected to the mains, even if the unit itself has been turned off.

•Unplug the unit from the mains if you do not intend to use it for an extended period of time. To disconnect the lead, pull it out by the plug, never by the lead.

Installing

•Allow adequate air circulation to prevent internal heat buildup.

•Do not place the unit on surfaces (rugs, blankets, etc.) or near materials (curtains, draperies) that may block the ventilation slots.

•Do not install the unit near heat sources such as radiators or air ducts, or in a place subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, mechanical vibration or shock.

•Do not install the unit in an inclined position. It is designed to be operated in a horizontal position only.

•Keep the unit and cassettes away from equipment with strong magnets, such as microwave ovens or large loudspeakers.

•Do not place heavy objects on the unit.

•If the unit is brought directly from a cold to a warm location, moisture may condense inside the VCR and cause damage to the video head and tape. When you first install the unit, or when you move it from a cold to a warm location, wait for about four hours before operating the unit.

Caution

Television programmes, films, video tapes and other materials may be copyrighted. Unauthorized recording of such material may be contrary to the provisions of the copyright laws. Also, use of this recorder with cable television transmission may require authorization from the cable television transmitter and/or programme owner.

Compatible colour/TV systems

•This VCR is designed to record and play back using the PAL (B/G, D/K and I), MESECAM (B/G and D/K) and NTSC colour systems. Recording of video sources based on other colour systems cannot be guaranteed.

•NTSC colour signals can only be recorded through the line input.

2 Introduction

Table of contents

		Getting Started
	4	Step 1: Unpacking	Getting
	6	Step 3: Connecting the VCR
	5	Step 2: Setting up the remote commander	Started
	8	Step 4: Tuning your TV to the VCR
	10	Step 5: Selecting a language
	11	Step 6: Presetting channels
	17	Step 7: Setting the clock

Basic Operations

19 Playing a tape

22 Recording TV programmes

25Recording TV programmes using the Easy Timer function

31 Setting the timer manually

Search Operations

33Searching for the beginning of an Easy Timer recorded programme

34Searching for the current position on a tape

35Searching using the Blank Search function

36Searching using the index function

38Searching using the Time Search function

Additional Operations

39Playing/searching at various speeds

40Setting the recording duration time

41Checking/changing/cancelling timer settings

43Recording stereo and bilingual programmes (for SLV-ED915PS/ TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only)

46 Adjusting the picture

48Changing menu options

Editing

49Editing with another VCR

51Basic editing

52Audio dubbing (SLV-ED818ME/ SG and ED616ME/MJ/SG only)

Additional Information

53Troubleshooting

56Specifications

57Index to parts and controls

Back cover

Index

Introduction 3

Getting Started

Step 1

Unpacking

Check that you have received the following items with the VCR:

• Remote commander	• Aerial cable

• R6 (size AA) batteries	• Plug adaptor (For SLV-ED818ME and
	SLV-ED616ME/MJ only)

Checking your model name

The instructions in this manual are for the 10 models: SLV-ED915PS/ TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH, ED815PS, ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS. Check your model name by looking at the rear panel of your VCR. SLV-ED818ME is the model used for illustration purpose. Any difference in operation is clearly indicated in the text, for example,“SLV-ED616ME only.”

4 Getting Started

Step 2

Setting up the remote commander

Inserting the batteries

Insert two R6 (size AA) batteries by matching the + and – on the batteries to the diagram inside the battery compartment.

Insert the negative (–) end first, then push in and down until the positive

(+) end clicks into position.

Using the remote commander

You can use this remote	Remote sensor
commander to operate this
VCR and a Sony TV. Buttons
on the remote commander
marked with a dot (•) can be
used to operate your Sony TV.
If the TV does not have the g
symbol near the remote sensor,
this remote commander will
not operate the TV.

TV/VIDEO

Started Getting

To operate	Set TV/VIDEO to
the VCR	VIDEO and point at the remote sensor on the VCR
a Sony TV	TV and point at the remote sensor on the TV

Notes

•The TV/VIDEO button selects the TV’s input source (either aerial in or line in). The button does not control this VCR.

•With normal use, the batteries should last about three to six months.

•If you do not use the remote commander for an extended period of time, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage.

•Do not use a new battery with an old one.

•Do not use different types of batteries.

Getting Started 5

Step 3

Connecting the VCR

Connect the aerial to your VCR and TV as shown below to watch TV programmes and VCR pictures on your TV. In addition, if your TV has audio/video (A/V) input jacks, we recommend you connect the VCR to your TV using an audio/video cable to get a better picture and sound.

Connecting the aerial

	AERIAL IN
	AERIAL OUT
	Mains lead
to mains	AERIAL IN
	: Signal flow
	Aerial cable (supplied)

1

2

3

Disconnect the aerial cable from your TV

and connect it to AERIAL IN on the rear	AERIAL
	IN
panel of the VCR.
	OUT
Connect AERIAL OUT of the VCR and	AERIAL
the aerial input of your TV using the	IN
supplied aerial cable.	OUT

Connect the mains lead to the mains.

6 Getting Started

Additional connections

To a TV that has audio/video input jacks

This additional connection improves picture and sound quality. Connect the TV as shown on the right.

for SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only

LINE OUT LINE IN

Audio/video cable (not supplied)

for SLV-ED616ME/MJ/SG and ED515PS only

LINE OUT

LINE IN

Started Getting

For SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED818ME/SG, ED817TH and ED815PS only

To a stereo system

You can improve sound quality by connecting a stereo system as shown on the right.

Note

•To play a tape in stereo, you must connect your VCR either to a TV with audio/video input jacks or to a stereo system as shown on above right.

Audio/video cable (not supplied)

LINE OUT AUDIO

LINE IN

Audio cable (not supplied)

Getting Started 7

Step 4

Tuning your TV to the VCR

If you have connected your VCR to the TV using the audio/video cable, skip this step.

?/1 ON/STANDBY

			RF CHANNEL PROGRAM +/–
1	ON/STANDBY		Press ?/1ON/STANDBY to turn on the VCR.
2			Press RF CHANNEL on the VCR.

The factory-preset RF channel flashes in the display window for

RF CHANNEL about three seconds. (RF32 is for SLV-ED818ME/SG and ED616ME/ MJ/SG and RF51 is for SLV-ED915PS/TH, ED817TH/ED815PS and ED515PS)

	Press RF CHANNEL again while the RF channel is flashing.
	The VCR signal is output through this channel to the TV.
	e.g. SLV-ED915PS/TH
		SP
		APC
3	Turn on your TV and select a programme position for the VCR picture.

This channel will now be referred to as the video channel.

Some TVs reserve a programme position, such as “0”, for a VCR. In this case, select the reserved programme position for the VCR picture. Refer to your TV’s instruction manual for details.

8 Getting Started

4

RF CHANNEL

PROGRAM

Press RF CHANNEL.

The TV system indicator appears in the display window.

Press PROGRAM +/– to select the correct TV system.

If your TV system is	Select
B/G	G
I	I
D/K	K

	Selected TV
e.g. SLV-ED915PS/TH	system
SP	APC

Started Getting

5		Tune the TV to the same channel as
		shown in the display window so that	SONY VIDEO CASSETTE
			RECORDER
		the picture on the right appears on the
		TV screen.
		Refer to your TV manual for tuning
		instructions.
		If the picture does not appear clearly,
		see “To obtain a clear picture from the
		VCR” below.
	6	Press RF CHANNEL.
		You have now tuned your TV to the VCR. From now on, whenever
	RF CHANNEL	you want to play a tape, set the TV to the video channel.

To obtain a clear picture from the VCR

If the picture does not appear clearly in step 5 above, first go to step 6 to finish this procedure once. Then start from step 2. After pressing RF CHANNEL twice in step 2 to display the RF channel, press PROGRAM +/– so that another RF channel appears. Then tune the TV to the new RF channel until a clear picture appears.

To set another RF channel number on the VCR, select a channel number that does not receive a broadcast signal in your area and is clear of interference from other channels.

If you cannot obtain a clear picture after performing this procedure, we recommend you connect the VCR and TV using the audio/video cable (see “To a TV that has audio/video input jacks” on page 7). If the same symptom persists, consult your nearest Sony dealer.

Note

•If you set the wrong TV system, you may have no sound or sound may be distorted (noisy sound).

Getting Started 9

Step 5

Selecting a

?/1

language

You can change the on-screen display language from English to Arabic.

Before you start…

•Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel.

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

0

MENU

OK

M/m

1 • ]/1

Press ?/1 (on/standby) to turn on the VCR.

2 MENU

PLAY

OK

3

PLAY

OK

Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to LANGUAGE and press OK.

LANGUAGE /

• ENGLISH

SELECT	: [ ]
END	: [ OK ]

Press M/m to select the desired language,	LANGUAGE /
then press OK.	ENGLISH
	•

[] : [ OK ] :

10 Getting Started

Step 6

Presetting channels

First, we recommend that you preset the receivable channels in your area using the One Touch Tuning function or AUTO PRESET in the TUNER PRESET menu. Then, if some channels cannot be preset automatically, set them manually. If there are any unwanted channels among the preset ones, you can disable the channels.

Presetting all receivable		PROGRAM +/–
channels using the One
Touch Tuning function
	ONE TOUCH
	TUNING
ONE TOUCH	Press and hold ONE TOUCH TUNING on the VCR for more than
TUNING	three seconds.
	The VCR starts presetting the channels.
	SP	APC

Started Getting

The WAIT indicator goes off when all receivable channels are preset.

To check if the channels are preset correctly

Set the TV to the video channel and press PROGRAM +/– on the VCR. If the TV screen changes to a different programme each time you press PROGRAM +/–, the channels are preset correctly.

If the sound is distorted or noisy, the VCR is set to a TV system different from your area’s system. Select the correct TV system and preset channels using the TUNER PRESET menu as shown on the next page.

Tip

•To stop the One Touch Tuning function, press ONE TOUCH TUNING or p STOP on the VCR during the setting.

continued

Getting Started 11

PROG 1

PROG 1

Step 6: Presetting channels (continued)

Presetting all receivable channels automatically

Before you start…
• Turn on the VCR and the TV.
• Set the TV to the video channel.	MENU

OK

M/m/</,

1 MENU

PLAY

OK

Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to TUNER PRESET and press OK.

TUNER PRESET		PROG 1
SYSTEM		• B / G D / K	I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		1
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

2

PLAY

OK

Press M/m/</, to move the cursor (B) to SYSTEM, then select B/G, D/K or I, whichever is applicable in your area. If SYSTEM is set to the wrong position, the sound will be distorted or noisy.

TUNER PRESET

SYSTEM		• B / G D / K	I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		1
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

3

PLAY

OK

Press M/m/</, to move the cursor (B) to NORMAL/CATV, then select NORM.

To preset CATV channels, select CATV.

TUNER PRESET

SYSTEM		• B / G D / K I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM			CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		1
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

12 Getting Started

4

PLAY

OK

Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to AUTO PRESET, then press OK.

All receivable channels are preset in numerical sequence. When no more receivable channels can be found, presetting stops and the picture from the lowest numbered channel is displayed on the TV screen.

TUNER PRESET	PROG 1
SYSTEM	• B / G D / K	I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET	1
AFT	• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING

PLEASE WAIT

Note

•Picture might disappear for a few seconds during One Touch Tuning and auto presetting functions. This is for tuning procedure, and not a malfunction.

continued

Getting Started

Started Getting

13

PROG10

PROG10

Step 6: Presetting channels (continued)

Presetting channels manually

PROG +/–

Before you start…

• Turn on the VCR and the TV.

• Set the TV to the video channel.	MENU
	OK
	M/m/</,

1 MENU

PLAY

OK

Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to TUNER PRESET and press OK.

TUNER PRESET		PROG10
SYSTEM		• B / G D / K	I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		21
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

2

PLAY

OK

Press M/m/</, to move the cursor (B) to NORMAL/CATV, then select NORM.

To preset CATV channels, select CATV.

TUNER PRESET

SYSTEM		• B / G D / K I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM			CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		21
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

3

PLAY

OK

Press >/.to move the cursor (B) to CHANNEL SET.

TUNER PRESET

SYSTEM		• B / G D / K I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM			CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		21
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

14 Getting Started

PROG14

4 PROG

Press PROG +/– to select the programme position.

Selected programme position

TUNER PRESET		PROG14
SYSTEM		• B / G D / K	I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		21
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

5

PLAY

OK

Press , repeatedly until the channel you want is displayed.

Pressing < goes back to the previous channels.

The channels are scanned in the following order:

TUNER PRESET

SYSTEM		• B / G D / K I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM			CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		35
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

Channel coverage	System B/G	System D/K	System I
VHF	E2–E12	R1–R12	SA4–SA13
UHF	E21–E69	R21–R69	B21–B69
CATV (TV distribution)	S1–S41, S01–S05	–	S1–S41, S01–S05

Started Getting

If you know the number of the channel you want, press the programme number buttons. For example, for channel 5, first press “0” and then press “5.”

6

PLAY

OK

If the TV sound is distorted or noisy, press M/m/</, to move the cursor (B) to SYSTEM, then select B/G, D/K or

I whichever is applicable in your area.

TUNER PRESET		PROG14
SYSTEM		• B / G D / K	I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		35
AFT		• ON	OFF
FINE TUNING
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]

7

8

To allocate another channel to another programme position, repeat steps 4 and 5.

Press OK.

PLAY

OK

continued

Getting Started 15

Step 6: Presetting channels (continued)

Disabling unwanted programme positions

After presetting channels, you can disable unused programme positions. The disabled positions will be skipped later when you press the PROG +/– buttons.

1 In step 5 on page 15, press programme number button “0” twice to display the number “0” beside CHANNEL SET.

2 Press OK.

If the picture is not clear

Normally, the Auto Fine Tuning (AFT) function automatically tunes in channels clearly. If, however, the picture is not clear, you may also use the manual tuning function.

1 Press PROG +/– to select the programme number for which you cannot obtain a clear picture.

2

3

Press MENU, then select TUNER PRESET and press OK.

Select FINE TUNING.

The fine tuning meter appears.

TUNER PRESET			PROG14		Selected programme position
SYSTEM		• B / G D / K I
NORMAL / CATV • NORM				CATV
AUTO PRESET
CHANNEL SET		35
AFT		• ON		OFF
FINE TUNING		– – – –		– – – –
SET	: [	]

4 Press </, to get a clearer picture, then press OK.

Note that the AFT (Auto Fine Tuning) setting switches to OFF.

Note

•The menu disappears automatically if you do not proceed for more than a few minutes.

16 Getting Started

Step 7

Setting the clock

You must set the time and date on the VCR to be able to use the timer recording features properly.

Before you start…

•Turn on the VCR and the TV.

•Set the TV to the video channel.

MENU

OK

M/m/</,

Started Getting

1 MENU

PLAY

OK

Press MENU, then press M/m to move the cursor (B) to CLOCK SET and press OK.

CLOCK SET
1 . 1 . 2 0 0 1		MON	0 : 0 0
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]
END	: [ OK ]

2

PLAY

OK

Press M/m to set the date.

The day of the week is set automatically.

CLOCK SET
2 5 . 1 . 2 0 0 1		THU 0 : 0 0
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]
END	: [ OK ]

3

PLAY

OK

Press , to select the month and set the month using M/m.

CLOCK SET
2 5 . 1 2 . 2 0 0 1		TUE 0 : 0 0
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]
END	: [ OK ]

continued

Getting Started 17

Step 7: Setting the clock (continued)

4

PLAY

OK

Set the year, hour and minute in sequence, using , to select the item to be set, and M/m to select the digits.

CLOCK SET
2 5 . 1 2 . 2 0 0 1		TUE 1 5 : 3 0
SELECT	: [	]
SET	: [	]
END	: [ OK ]

5	Press OK to start the clock.

PLAY

OK

Tip

•To change the digits when setting, press < to return to the item to be changed, and select the digits using M/m.

Note

•The menu disappears automatically if you do not proceed for more than a few minutes.

18 Getting Started

Basic Operations

Playing a tape

EJECT

CLEAR

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

0

DISPLAY

X PAUSE

H PLAY

M FF

H PLAY

M FF x STOP

m REW

m REW

COLOR	A EJECT	X PAUSE x STOP
SYSTEM
1	Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel.
2	Insert a tape.
	The VCR turns on and starts playing
	automatically if you insert a tape with its
	safety tab removed.

continued

Basic Operations

Operations Basic

19