VCR VR401BMG VR601BMG Video Cassette Recorder Owner’s Manual
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Introduction 3 Welcome to your VCR owner’s manual. This manual describes the VR401BMG and the VR601BMG. The VR401BMG is a monaural (single sound source) system, while the VR601BMG is a stereo system. Otherwise, the two models are exactly the same. In this manual, the VR601BMG is illustrated. (The VR401BMG has single AUDIO IN/OUT jacks. Otherwise, the VR401BMG looks exactly like the VR601BMG.
Table of Contents Setting Up Your VCR Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Before Using Your VCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Hookups Without a Cable Box/Direct Broadcast System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Before Using Your VCR 5 Putting Batteries in the Remote Control 1 1 2 2 Remove the battery compartment lid on the bottom of the remote control by sliding it in the direction of the arrow. Place two AA batteries inside the battery compartment with their + and – ends aligned as indicated. 3 Replace the battery compartment lid. 3 Recording Prevention Video cassette tapes have record tabs to ensure that recordings are not accidentally erased.
Hookups Without a Cable Box/Direct Broadcast System The basic VCR/TV connection – antenna/cable to VCR to TV – is shown below. If you have a Cable Box or a Direct Broadcast System, please see pages eight-nine. If you have a Stereo TV, please see page 10. After you hook up the VCR, go to page 11 to turn on the VCR. (The VR601BMG is illustrated here. The VR401BMG has single AUDIO IN/OUT jacks.) 1 Disconnect the antenna or cable from your TV.
Hookups Without a Cable Box/Direct Broadcast System (cont’d) 7 3 Connect the RF coaxial cable (supplied) to the OUT Jack on the back of the VCR and to the ANTENNA IN Jack on the TV. (You may use either a snap-on type (supplied) or screw-on type of coaxial cable, whichever you prefer.
Hookups With a Cable Box/Direct Broadcast System There are two ways to connect your Cable Box/DBS to the VCR. With this connection: ● You may view any channel. ● You must select channels at the Cable Box/DBS. Channels cannot be changed at the VCR. ● You may not view a channel other than the one you are recording. ● You may not program channels at the VCR. ● You can only program a timer recording for one channel at a time.
Hookups With a Cable Box/Direct Broadcast System (cont’d) 9 With this connection: ● You may watch one channel while recording another. ● You may not record scrambled channels. 1 VCR AUDIO ANT IN L 2 75 ANT CAB / LE IN OUT IN R VIDEO OUT Cable Box/DBS IN OUT OUT CH3 CH4 RF coaxial cable Cable Signal RF coaxial cable 3 TV’s ANTENNA IN Jack Connections 1 2 Connect a Cable signal to the VCR’s ANT(enna) IN Jack.
Hookups with a Stereo TV 1 VR601BMG AUDIO ANT L antenna or cable to ANT(enna) IN Jack IN IN OUT R VIDEO OUT OUT IN VIDEO (yellow) and AUDIO (red and white) OUT Jacks Audio and Video IN Jacks on TV CH3 CH4 2 Video Cable 3 1 VR401BMG ANT Stereo Audio Cable antenna or cable to ANT(enna) IN Jack IN AUDIO OUT IN VIDEO VIDEO (yellow) and AUDIO (white) OUT Jacks ● Audio and Video cables are not supplied.
Turning on Your VCR 11 Before turning on your VCR, make sure batteries are in the remote control and the VCR and TV are connected correctly. ● You can not program channels if you are using a Cable Box or a Direct Broadcast System. 1 Press the POWER button. The VCR/TV light and the POWER light will appear on the display panel. 2 Turn on the TV. Set it to the same channel as the CH3/CH4 switch on the back of the VCR. The display shown below will appear.
Automatic Channel Setup Although your VCR may automatically memorize the channels you receive when you turn it on for the first time, this function lets you set up the channels again. 1 2-3 Press the MENU button. SELECT op CHOOSE B → PROGRAM VCR SET UP TUNER SET UP SET CLOCK TO END PUSH EXIT POWER 2 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select TUNER SET UP, then press the F.FWD/B button.
Automatic Channel Setup (cont’d) 13 Adding/Deleting Channels 1 2 2-5 Press the MENU button. Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select TUNER SET UP, then press the F.FWD/B button. 3 POWER Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select ADD/DELETE CH, then press the F.FWD/B button. SELECT op ADD/DELETE B 124 125 1 2 3 → DELETED DELETED DELETED ADDED ADDED TO END PUSH EXIT NOTE: If you have an antenna, channel numbers 2-69 will appear on the ADD/DELETE CH menu.
Automatic Channel Setup (cont’d) Reviewing Memorized Channels 1 Press the MENU button. 2-3 SELECT op CHOOSE B → PROGRAM VCR SET UP TUNER SET UP SET CLOCK TO END PUSH EXIT 2 POWER Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select TUNER SET UP, then press the F.FWD/B button. SELECT op CHOOSE B → AUTO PROGRAMMING ADD/DELETE CH CH MEMORY REVIEW TV STEREO ON 2ND AUDIO VR601BMG only TO END PUSH EXIT 3 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select CH MEMORY REVIEW, then press the F.
Setting the Clock 15 Follow the steps below to set your VCR’s clock. Make sure: ● The VCR is on and the VCR/TV light appears on the display panel. (If it does not, press the VCR/TV button once.) ● You make each entry within 60 seconds of the previous entry. 1 2 Press the MENU button. 4-5 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select SET CLOCK, then press the F.FWD/B button. POWER 3 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select SET CLOCK, then press the F.FWD/B button.
Daylight-Savings Time You may program the VCR so its clock will automatically move forward one hour in April and turn back one hour in October. Daylight-Savings Time is set to ON when you receive your VCR. Turn Daylight-Savings Time ON or OFF by following the steps below. Before you begin: ● Make sure the clock is set. 2-3 1 Press the MENU button.
Language Selection 17 Follow the steps below to change the language of the on-screen displays and menus. 1 2-4 Press the MENU button. SELECT op CHOOSE B → PROGRAM VCR SET UP TUNER SET UP SET CLOCK TO END PUSH EXIT POWER 2 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select VCR SET UP, then press the F.FWD/B button.
Remote Control Buttons POWER Button Press to turn on or off the VCR. Number Buttons Press to select channels at the VCR. Use to set up VCR features (such as the clock). Cable Users ● Enter channel numbers as a two-digit number for the quickest results. For example, to select channel 6, press 0,6. If you only press the Number 6 button, channel 6 will be selected after a brief delay. (There also may be a brief delay when you select channels 10, 11, and 12.
Remote Control Buttons (cont’d) 19 EJECT Button Press to eject the tape. VCR/TV Button Use to select the signal that your TV receives. VCR Position ● Use to watch a tape, to watch a program while recording it, or to watch a TV broadcast using the CHANNEL o/p or Number buttons to change channels at the VCR. If the VCR/TV light appears on the display panel of the VCR, it is in VCR position. TV Position ● Use to watch TV (changing channels at the TV) or to watch one program while recording another.
On-Screen Status Displays A status display will appear when you press the STATUS/EXIT button or certain function buttons. The contents of the status display will vary. To choose the status display mode, follow the steps below. If you select STATUS ON, then select COUNTER ONLY ON: ● Whenever you press the STOP/p button or the PLAY/o button, the status display will appear for five seconds. After five seconds, only the counter will remain on the screen. You must press the STATUS/EXIT button to remove it.
VCR Display Panel 21 VCR Display Panel Information about VCR operations is displayed here. Cassette Compartment Insert a tape here. VR601BMG PLAY PAUSE STOP/EJECT REC/OTR POWER VIDEO L - AUDIO -R POWER POWER VCR/TV CST.IN TIMER MENU CHANNEL VCR/TV POWER Light This light appears when the power is on. VCR/TV Light This light appears when the VCR is in VCR position. This light does not appear when the VCR is in TV position. CST.IN REW F.
Front Panel Remote Sensor Receives a signal from your remote control so you can operate your VCR from a distance. POWER Button Press to turn the VCR power on and off. VIDEO In Jack Connect a cable coming from the video out jack of a camcorder, another VCR, or an audio-visual source (laser disc player, video disc player, etc.) here. Details are on page 32. STOP/EJECT Button Press once to stop the tape. When playback is stopped, press to eject the tape. Press to select an item in the menu.
Rear Panel 23 ANT(enna) IN Jack Connect your antenna or cable here. Details are on pages six-10. AUDIO IN Jacks Connect audio cables coming from the AUDIO OUT Jacks of a camcorder, another VCR, or an audio source here. Details are on page 32. The VR601BMG is shown here. The VR401BMG has only one AUDIO IN jack. AUDIO OUT Jacks Connect audio cables going to the AUDIO IN Jacks of a camcorder, another VCR, or an audio system here. Details are on pages 32 and 38. The VR601BMG is shown here.
Playing 1 2 Read and follow the steps below to play a tape. 1 Turn on the TV and set it to channel 3 or 4, whichever channel the CH3/CH4 switch on the back of the VCR is set to. Turn on the TV. Insert a tape in the VCR. 2 Insert a tape in the VCR. The POWER, VCR/TV and CST. IN lights will appear on the display panel. If the tape’s record tab has been removed, playback will start automatically. 3 POWER If playback does not start automatically, press the PLAY/o button.
Recording 25 1 2 Read and follow the steps below to record a television program. 1 Turn on the TV and set it to channel 3 or 4, whichever channel the CH3/CH4 switch on the back of the VCR is set to. 2 3 Turn on the TV. Insert a tape in the VCR. Insert a tape with its record tab intact in the VCR. If the VCR/TV light appears on the display panel, go to step 4. If the VCR/TV light does not appear, press the VCR/TV button once.
Recording One Channel/Watching Another 1 Press the REC(ord)/OTR button to start a recording of the current channel. (See page 25.) 2 2&5 Press the VCR/TV button to put the VCR in TV position. The VCR/TV light will disappear from the VCR’s display panel. 3 Use the TV remote control to select the channel you want to watch at the TV.
One-Touch Recording 27 The One-Touch Recording (OTR) feature allows you to set an immediate timed recording 30 minutes to eight hours long. Before you begin: ● Set up the channels at the VCR. ● Select a recording speed (SP, SLP) with the SPEED button. ● Put a tape in the VCR. Make sure the tape’s record tab is intact and the tape is long enough to record the program(s). If the end of a tape is reached during an OTR, the VCR will eject the tape and turn itself off. ● Place the VCR in VCR position.
Timer Recording Follow the steps below to program your VCR to record TV programs while you’re away from home. The VCR will turn itself on, record, and turn itself off automatically. Before you begin: ● Set up the channels at the VCR. ● Set the clock. ● Put a tape in the VCR. Make sure the tape’s record tab is intact and the tape is long enough to record the program(s). ● Put the VCR in VCR position. The VCR/TV light will appear on the display panel. If it does not, press the VCR/TV button once.
Timer Recording (cont’d) 29 4 Use the Number buttons (1-8) to select a slot in which to store the timer recording. There are eight slots. Numbers for open slots will flash on the screen. NOTE: If you enter a number for a slot that has already been used to store a timer recording, PREVIOUSLY SET PROGRAM will appear on the screen briefly. Information about the program in that slot will appear on the screen. If this happens, press the STATUS/EXIT button, then select another number.
Timer Recording (cont’d) 8 Press the Number 1 button to record in SP speed or the Number 2 button to record in SLP speed. (See the chart below.) You cannot use the SPEED button at this time. 11 ONE TIME PROGRAM PROGRAM 1 CHANNEL 10 TIME ON 09:30 PM TIME OFF 11:00 PM REC SPEED SLP SP=1 SLP=2 POWER TO CORRECT PUSH CLEAR TO END PUSH EXIT 9 Press two Number buttons for the month and two Number buttons for the day you want to record the program. For example, for July 10, 2000, press 07, 10.
Timer Recording (cont’d) 31 Checking or Cancelling Timer Recordings 2-4 1 With the VCR on and in VCR position (the VCR/TV light will appear on the display panel), press the MENU button. 2 POWER Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select PROGRAM, then press the F.FWD/B button. 3 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select PROGRAM REVIEW, then press the F.FWD/B button. The timer recording information for the program in the lowest numbered slot will appear on the screen.
Rerecording (Tape Duplication) The instructions on this page show you how to copy tapes. The illustration uses two VR601BMG VCRs. Different VCRs may operate differently. To duplicate a tape, make the connections shown, then follow steps 1-7. 1. Audio cables from AUDIO OUT Jacks of VCR 1 to AUDIO IN Jacks of VCR 2 VCR 1 Playing VCR VCR 2 - Recording VCR AUDIO ANT AUDIO R R VIDEO OUT IN IN OUT IN OUT ANT L IN L IN VIDEO OUT CH3 CH4 OUT 2.
Repeat Play 33 Follow the steps below to make the VCR play a tape over and over. 2-4 1 Press the MENU button. SELECT op CHOOSE B → PROGRAM VCR SET UP TUNER SET UP SET CLOCK POWER TO END PUSH EXIT 2 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select VCR SET UP, then press the F.FWD/B button.
Real-Time Counter Memory Follow the steps below to reset the real-time counter to zero at a tape location you want to refer to later. 1 Play, fast forward, or rewind a tape to the location that you would like to refer to later. Press the STOP/p button to stop the tape. 2 Press the STATUS/EXIT button to see the status display.
Time Search 35 Follow the steps below to program the VCR to search forward or backward on a tape a specific length of time. There must be a tape in the VCR. 1 Press the TIME SEARCH button. TIME SEARCH 0:00 POWER ENTER SEARCH TIME 2 Within 10 seconds, use the Number buttons to enter the desired length of time you want to skip forward or backward. For example, for 1 hour, 25 minutes, press Number buttons 1, 2, 5. Or, for five minutes, press Number buttons 0, 0, 5.
Special Effects Playback Forward and Reverse Searching (SP/LP/SLP) 1 During tape playback, press and release the F.FWD/B button or the REWIND/{ button. A fast forward or reverse picture search will begin. 2 To return to playback, press the PLAY/o button. Super High Speed Searching (LP/SLP) 1 During tape playback, press the F.FWD/B button or the REWIND/{ button, then press again. The VCR will now search in super high speed.
Automatic Operation Features 37 The following playback features will always operate. Automatic Playback When you put a tape in the VCR, the power will come on automatically. If the tape’s record tab is missing, playback will begin. If a timer recording is set, the power will not come on automatically when you insert a tape with the record tab intact. If a timer recording is set and the VCR power is off, the VCR will eject the tape if the record tab is missing.
Multi-Channel Television Sound System (VR601BMG only) Your VCR can play recordings broadcast in Hi-Fi (high fidelity) stereo, which produces a crisp, clear sound from two sources. Your VCR also can play tapes recorded in a second audio (usually, that means your program is recorded in a second language). Of course, your VCR will play tapes recorded in monaural (single-source) sound as well.
Multi-Channel Television Sound System (VR601BMG only) (cont’d) 39 1 2-3 Press the MENU button. SELECT op CHOOSE B → PROGRAM VCR SET UP TUNER SET UP SET CLOCK TO END PUSH EXIT 2 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select TUNER SET UP, then press the F.FWD/B button. SELECT op CHOOSE B → AUTO PROGRAMMING ADD/DELETE CH CH MEMORY REVIEW TV STEREO ON 2ND AUDIO TO END PUSH EXIT 3 Press the PLAY/o button or the STOP/p button to select TV STEREO or 2ND AUDIO. Then, press the F.FWD/B button.
Hi-Fi Stereo Sound System (VR601BMG only) Multi-Channel Television Sound system broadcasts are automatically recorded in Hi-Fi stereo sound. To play in Hi-Fi stereo the tapes recorded in Hi-Fi stereo, however, you’ll need to follow steps 1-5. 2-3 1 Press the MENU button.
Blue Background 41 If you want the TV screen to be solid blue when a weak signal is received, set BLUE BACKGROUND to ON. The screen will be blue and the sound will be muted. Or, if you want to receive the weak signal, set BLUE BACKGROUND to OFF. When you select a channel that is receiving a weak signal, you will see and hear the static in the TV programming. The channel number will not appear on the screen when you select a weak channel. To set BLUE BACKGROUND to ON or OFF, follow these steps.
Helpful Hints If you are having problems with your product, check this list of problems and possible solutions before requesting service. You may be able to solve the problem yourself. If you need to call a customer service representative, please know the model number and serial number of your product before you call. This information is displayed on the back of the product. Also, please take a moment to identify the problem you are having, and be prepared to explain this to the representative.
Helpful Hints (cont’d) 43 Tape cannot be inserted. • Insert the tape, window side up, with the record tab facing you. • Make sure a tape isn’t already in the VCR by pressing the STOP/EJECT button on the VCR. • Gently push on the center of the tape when putting it in the VCR. Never force the tape into the VCR. • If a timer recording is programmed and the VCR power is off, you can not insert a tape without a record tab. Tape cannot be removed.
Glossary AUDIO IN/OUT Jacks: jacks located on the front and back of the VCR which are used to record audio from another source (IN) or to send audio to another system (OUT). The VR401BMG has a single AUDIO IN jack on the front and back of the VCR. It has a single AUDIO OUT jack on the back of the VCR. The VR601BMG has Right and Left AUDIO IN jacks on the front and back of the VCR. It has Right and Left AUDIO OUT jacks on the back of the VCR.
Specifications 45 Video Heads Four heads - Hi-Fi (VR601BMG) Four heads (VR401BMG) Video Signal EIA standards; NTSC color Antenna VHF/UHF – 75 ohm external antenna terminal VHF Output Signal Channel 03 or 04 (switchable) 75 ohms unbalanced Power Requirement 120V AC; 60Hz Power Consumption 14W (VR601BMG) 12W (VR401BMG) Operating Temperature 41°F (5°C) to 104°F (40°C) Relative Humidity 10% to 80% Weight 5.5 lbs. (2.5 kg.) (VR601BMG) 5.3 lbs. (2.4 kg.
Limited Warranty In an effort to provide the best possible coverage for this product, the warranty has been updated and improved for you, the customer. Please refer to the new warranty sheet that is included in the product carton. All the warranty details are available in this separate piece of literature.
Index 47 ac power cord.................................23 accessories .......................................48 ant(enna) in jack ...................6-10, 23 audio in/out jacks .................10, 22, 23, 32, 38, 44 automatic playback .......................................37 rewind, eject, off........................37 batteries ..............................................5 blue background..............................41 cassette compartment...................21 ch3/ch4 switch ........................
SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES The following items are supplied with your VCR; they are provided to help you use or set up your VCR. PO WE R 1 VC 2 4 R/T V EJE 3 5 7 CT 6 8 9 0 SPE CH ED AN NE L ME NU TIM STA E SEA TUS RE RC /EX WIN H IT D ME MO CLE RY AR RE C/O TR /PL SLO AY W /ST F.
