Recorder Operating Instructions For customers in the USA Many solutions to common problems and service information can be found at www.sony.com/vcrhelp or contact Sony VCR service at 1 (800) VHS- SONY. To register your purchase of this product, visit: www.sony.com/productregistration For all other Sony product questions, please call Sony Customer Information Services Company at 1-800-222-SONY (7669).
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• One blade of the plug is wider than the other for the purpose of safety and will fit into the power outlet only one way. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, contact your Sony dealer. Installing •...
Important Safeguards For your protection, please read these safety instructions completely before operating the appliance, and keep this manual for future reference. Carefully observe all warnings, precautions and instructions on the appliance, or the one described in the operating instructions and adhere to them. Power sources This set should be operated only from the type of power source...
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• Never place the set in a confined space, such as a bookcase, or built-in cabinet, unless proper ventilation is provided. • Do not place the set near or over a radiator or heat register, or where it is exposed to direct sunlight.
Getting Started Step 1 : Unpacking Check that you have received the following items with the VCR: • Remote commander • Size AA (R6) batteries • 75-ohm coaxial cable with F-type connectors Check your model name The instructions in this manual are for the 2 models: SLV-N700 and SLV-N500. Check your model name by looking at the rear panel of your VCR.
Using the remote commander You can use this remote 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...
Now you can use the ?/1, VOL +/–, CH +/–, and TV/VIDEO buttons to control your TV. You can also use the buttons marked with a dot (•) to control a Sony TV. To control the VCR, reset •TV / VIDEO to VIDEO.
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Notes • If you enter a new code number, the code number previously entered will be erased. • If the TV uses a different remote control system from the one programed to work with the VCR, you cannot control your TV with the remote commander. •...
Plug and Play function. • Be sure you make connections firmly. Loose connections may cause picture distortion. • If your TV does not match any of the examples provided, see your nearest Sony dealer or qualified technician. Caution Connections between the VCR’s VHF/UHF connector and the antenna terminals of the TV...
Audio/video (A/V) hookup If your TV has audio/video (A/V) input jacks, you will get a better picture and sound if you hook up your VCR using these connections. For a true “home theater” experience, you should connect the audio outputs of your VCR or TV to your stereo system.
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Hookup 1 (Plug and Play) Antenna hookup Make the following connections if you are using an antenna (if you do not have cable TV). A Use this hookup if you are using: • VHF/UHF antenna (you get channels 2–13 and channels 14 and higher) •...
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Hookup 1 : VCR setup Plug the VCR into the AC outlet. The VCR automatically presets the VCR’s clock and TV channels when the VCR is plugged into the AC outlet. AC power cord to AC outlet The VCR starts presetting the clock and channels.
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Hookup 2 (Plug and Play) You have no cable box, or a cable box with only a few scrambled channels Recommended use Use this hookup if you do not have a cable box. Also use this hookup if your cable system scrambles only a few channels.
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Hookup 2 : VCR setup Plug the VCR into the AC outlet. The VCR automatically presets the VCR’s clock and TV channels when the VCR is plugged into the AC outlet. AC power cord to AC outlet The VCR starts presetting the clock and channels.
Hookup 3 Connecting a cable box with many scrambled channels Recommended use Use this hookup if your cable system scrambles all or most channels. What you can do with this hookup • Record any channel by selecting the channel on the cable box What you cannot do •...
Step 4 : Selecting a language You can change the on-screen display language. Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the “VCR Output CH” to “3CH” or “4CH” in ADVANCED OPTIONS menu (page 52). If both are used, set the “VCR Output CH”...
Step 5 : Setting the clock Using the Auto Clock Set feature Some TV and cable channels transmit time signals with their broadcasts. Your VCR can pick up this time signal to automatically set the clock. The Auto Clock Set feature works only if a channel in your area is broadcasting a time signal.
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Press M/m to select AUTO, then press OK. PLAY Press M/m to select the item you want. Then press < PLAY • For “Clock set CH” Leave the setting to AUTO to have the VCR automatically search for a channel that carries a time signal.
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Notes • The clock cannot be set automatically if you do not receive a channel that carries a time signal in your area. If so, set the clock manually (page 21). • If there are only a few channels in your area that carry time signals, setting the clock automatically may take up to about 20 minutes.
Using Manual Clock Set Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. • Set the “VCR Output CH” to “3CH” or “4CH” in ADVANCED OPTIONS menu (page 52). If both are used, set the “VCR Output CH” to either channel. If your TV is connected to the VCR using A/V connections, set the TV to video input.
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Press M/m to set the month. PLAY Press , to flash the day and press M/m to set the day. PLAY Set the year, hour, and minutes in the same way as the day. The day of the week is set automatically. Press OK or MENU to start the clock.
Step 6 : Presetting channels This VCR is capable of receiving VHF channels 2 to 13, UHF channels 14 to 69 and unscrambled CATV channels 1 to 125. First, we recommend that you preset the receivable channels in your area using automatic presetting methods.
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Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Ant/Cable.” PLAY • To preset cable TV channels: Press PLAY • To preset VHF and UHF channels: Press PLAY Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Auto preset,” then press OK. PLAY All receivable channels are preset in numerical sequence.
Presetting/disabling channels manually Before you start… • Turn on the VCR and the TV. When using a cable box, turn it on. • Set the “VCR Output CH” to “3CH” or “4CH” in ADVANCED OPTIONS menu (page 52). If both are used, set the “VCR Output CH”...
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Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Channel add/erase,” then press OK. PLAY • To preset a channel: Press the number buttons to enter the channel number, then press ENTER. Press PLAY MENU • To disable a channel: • CH Press CH +/–...
Step 7 : Setting up the VCR Plus+ (SLV-N700 only) How the VCR Plus+ system works Whenever you want to record a TV program, all you need to do is look up the “PlusCode” number, a number assigned to each program published in the TV section of most newspapers, cable TV listings, and even TV GUIDE magazine.
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Press MENU. MENU Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Tuner preset,” then press OK. PLAY Setting up the VCR Plus+® system (SLV-N700 only) MENU M/m/</, MAIN MENU Timer set / check Clock set Tuner preset Advanced options Language / Idioma / Langue Select Quit TUNER PRESET...
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Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Guide channel setup,” then press OK. PLAY The upper row shows VCR Plus+ guide channels and the lower row shows TV channels or cable box out put channels. Press </, to select the PLAY channel number that does not match the guide channel.
Basic Operations Playing a tape Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Insert a tape. The VCR turns on and starts playing automatically if you insert a tape with its safety tab removed. Playing a tape Z EJECT CLEAR DISPLAY...
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Press H PLAY. The display window shows the playback PLAY time and playback direction. When the tape reaches the end, it will rewind automatically. Additional tasks Stop play Pause play Resume play after pause Fast-forward the tape Rewind the tape Eject the tape To play a recently watched scene You can immediately rewind and playback the scene you want to watch again.
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To use the time counter Press CLEAR at the point on the tape that you want to find later. The counter in the display window resets to “00:00” or “0:00.” To search for the counter 0:00:00 point automatically, see “To search for the counter 0:00:00 point” on page 50. To display the counter on the TV screen, press DISPLAY.
Recording TV programs Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. To record from a cable box, turn it on. Insert a tape with its safety tab in place. TV/VIDEO COUNTER/ REMAIN DISPLAY ENTER SP/EP CH +/– INPUT SELECT z REC...
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Press CH +/– to select the channel or line input video source you want to • CH record. Press SP/EP to select the tape speed, SP or EP. SP / EP EP (Extended Play) provides recording time three times as long as SP (Standard Play).
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To watch another TV program while recording Press TV/VIDEO to turn off the VCR indicator in the display window. If your TV is connected to the VCR using A/V connections, set the TV to the TV’s antenna input; if not, skip this step. Select another channel on the TV.
Recording TV programs using the VCR ® Plus+ system Just enter the PlusCode number listed in the TV program guide. The date, time and channel number of that program are set automatically. You can preset up to eight programs together with manual timer settings at one time.
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Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Enter code.” PLAY Press the number buttons to enter the PlusCode number. If you make a mistake, press < and re-enter the correct number. PLAY Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Mode.” PLAY Press </, to select ONCE, MO~FR, or WEEKLY:...
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Press OK to confirm the setting. To enter another setting, repeat steps 1 to 7. PLAY Press MENU to exit the menu. MENU Press ?/1 to turn off the VCR. The TIMER indicator appears in the display window and the VCR stands by for recording.
Setting the timer manually If the VCR Plus+ system is not available in your area, follow the instructions below to set the timer to record programs. You can preset up to eight programs together with the VCR plus+ system at one time. Before you start…...
Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to set/check, PLAY If necessary, press M/m to move the cursor (B) to the row that is to be set. PLAY Set the channel number, start and stop time, date, and tape speed: PLAY Press , to flash each item in turn.
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Daily/weekly recording In step 4 above, press m to select the recording pattern. Each time you press m, the indication changes as shown below. Press M to change the indication in reverse order. MO~FR t SUN’S t MON’S t ... t SAT’S t 1 month later t (dates count down) t the current date To use the VCR after setting the timer To use the VCR before a timer recording begins, just press ?/1.
Locking the VCR (Child Lock) After you have set the timer, you can lock all of the buttons on the VCR so that the settings are not canceled by mistake. To lock the VCR When the VCR is turned on, hold down ?/1 POWER on the VCR until “LOC” appears in the display window.
Additional Operations Playing/searching at various speeds TRACKING +/– Playback options View the picture during fast- forward or rewind Play at high speed Play at twice the normal speed Play in slow motion Play frame by frame To resume normal playback Press H PLAY.
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Tips • Adjust the picture using the TRACKING +/– buttons if: – Streaks appear while playing in slow motion. – The picture shakes during pause. • The VCR turns on and starts playback automatically by pressing H PLAY on the VCR with the VCR power turned off.
Quick Timer Recording After you have started recording, you can have the VCR stop recording automatically after a specified duration. While recording, press z REC. The TIMER indicator appears in the display window. Press z REC repeatedly to set the duration time. Each press advances the time in increments of 30 minutes.
Checking/changing/canceling timer settings Before you start… • Turn on the TV and set it to the video channel. Press ?/1 to turn on the VCR. Press MENU. Checking/changing/canceling timer settings CLEAR MENU M/m/</,...
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Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Timer set/check,” then press OK. • If you want to change a setting, go on to the next step. • If you do not need to change the settings, press MENU, then turn off the VCR to return to recording standby.
Recording stereo and bilingual programs Recording stereo programs When you receive a program broadcast in stereo, press AUDIO MONITOR to display STEREO on the TV screen. You can also select LEFT, RIGHT, or MONO. If there is noise in the stereo program, select MONO. The sound will be recorded in monaural (on both hi-fi and normal audio tracks) but with less noise.
Searching using various functions The VCR automatically marks the tape with an index signal at the point where each recording begins. You can easily find a specific point using various search functions. To search using the index function (Scan and Play) The VCR automatically marks the tape with an index signal at the point where each recording begins.
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To search for the counter 0:00:00 point To mark a point on the tape that you want to find later, reset the tape counter to “0:00:00.” The VCR automatically fast-forwards or rewinds to the 0:00:00 point on the tape counter. Press SEARCH.
Adjusting the picture (tracking) Although the VCR automatically adjusts the tracking when playing a tape, distortion may occur if the recording is in poor condition. In this case, manually adjust the tracking. Press TRACKING +/– on the VCR to display the tracking meter.
Changing menu options Press MENU. Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to “Advanced options,” then press OK. Press M/m to move the cursor (B) to the option to change. Press </, to change the setting. Press MENU to exit the menu. Menu choices Initial settings are indicated in bold print.
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Setting the RF Output channel When connecting the VCR to the TV using only the antenna cable, you must set the “VCR Output CH” in the ADVANCED OPTIONS menu so that the TV can receive the correct signal from the VCR.
Editing with another VCR How to connect to record on this VCR This VCR (Recorder) LINE-2 IN : Signal flow Notes • Make sure you connect the plugs to jacks of the same color. • If the other VCR is a monaural type and connected to this VCR’s LINE-2 IN jacks, connect the audio plug to the AUDIO L (white) jack.
Operation (when recording on this VCR) Before you start editing • Turn on the VCR and the TV and set it to the video channel. • Press INPUT SELECT or CHANNEL +/– to display “L1” or “L2” in the display window. •...
Additional Information Antenna information Attaching the external antenna connector When using a 300-ohm twin lead cable for a VHF/UHF antenna, use an antenna connector (not supplied) to connect the antenna to the VCR. Loosen the screws on the antenna connector. Wind the twin leads around the screws on the antenna connector.
Troubleshooting If you have any questions or problems not covered below, please consult your nearest Sony dealer. Symptom The ?/1 switch does not function. The power is turned on but the VCR does not operate. The clock has stopped and “--:--”...
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Symptom The timer does not operate. A tape cannot be inserted. The remote commander does not function. The tracking meter does not appear on the screen. You cannot control other TVs. The VCR needs to be cleaned. Symptoms caused by contaminated video heads •...
75-ohm coaxial cable with F-type connectors (1) Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. ® NERGY is a U.S. registered mark. As an NERGY ® Partner, Sony Corporation has determined that this product meets the guidelines for energy efficiency. NERGY ® Specifications...
Index to parts and controls Refer to the pages indicated in parentheses ( ) for details. Front panel SLV-N700 SLV-N500 A ?/1 POWER switch (38) (40) B Remote sensor (7) C Tape compartment D A EJECT button (31) E m REW (rewind) button (31) (43) F H PLAY button* (31) G M FF (fast-forward) button (31) (43) H z REC (record) button (34) (45) (55)
Display window A Tape indicator (34) B TIMER indicator (38) (40) C Hi-Fi indicator (48) D Time counter/clock/line/channel indicator (32) (34) (55) E VCR indicator (35) Index to parts and controls continued...
Rear panel SLV-N700 SLV-N500 A AC power cord (10) (13) (15) B LINE OUT AUDIO R/AUDIO L/VIDEO jacks (11) C LINE IN 1 AUDIO R/AUDIO L/VIDEO jacks (54) Index to parts and controls D RF IN (FROM ANT.) connector (12) (14) (16) E RF OUT (TO TV) connector (12) (14) (16)
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Remote commander A •TV / VIDEO switch (7) B Z EJECT button (31) C TV/VIDEO button (8) (35) D CLEAR button (32) (47) E DISPLAY button (34) F SP (Standard Play)/EP (Extended Play) button (34) G INPUT SELECT button (35) (55) H z REC (record) button (34) (45) I y SLOW button (43) J MENU button (17) (39) (46) (52)
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Index to parts and controls L ?/1 (power) switch (8) (38) (40) M COUNTER/REMAIN button (34) N AUDIO MONITOR button* O VCR Plus+ button* (36) P Number buttons* (35) (37) Q ENTER button (35) R CH (channel) +/– buttons* S VOL (volume) +/– buttons (8) T SEARCH button (49) U REPLAY button (31) V ×2 button (43)
VCR indicator in the display window turns off. 2 Set the TV to the channel you want to watch. Sony Corporation Printed in China Hookup 2 To play a tape 1 If you made A/V connections, set the TV to video input.