Hitachi VT-MX411AC manual

1 HITACHI Video Deck VT-MX411AC Owner's Manual Your Com plete Guide to Videocassette View ing and Recording Using these q uality features:  Rotary 4-head Record/Play back System  Bilingual on-scr een m enu display selectable in English or Spanis h  Infrared r em ote control  Real time tape c ounter  181 channel capability PLL fr[...]

2 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS .................................................................................................................. 5 PRECAUTIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 8 LOCATION .................................................[...]

3 COUNTER MEMORY ......................................................................................................................... 35 TO EXIT THE COUNTER MEMORY ................................................................................................ 36 TIME SEARCH .....................................................................[...]

4 CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF EL ECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE C OVER (OR BACK) NO USER SER VI CEABLE PARTS INSI DE. REFER S ERVICI NG TO QUALI FI ED SERVICE PERSONNEL. THI S SYMBOL I NDICATES THAT DANGEROUS VOLTAGE CONSTI TUTING A RI SK OF EL ECTRIC SHOCK I S PRESENT WITHI N THI S UNI T. THI S SYMBOL I NDICATES THAT THERE ARE IMPORTANT OPERATING [...]

IMPORT ANT SAFEG UARDS 5 IMPORTA NT SA FEGUARDS 1. Read instructions -All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the appliance is operated. 2. Retain Instructions -The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. 3. Heed Warnings -A ll warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions sho[...]

IMPORT ANT SAFEG UARDS 6 on the mark ing Label. I f you are not sure of the type of power supply to your hom e, consult your appliance dealer or local power company . For products intended to operate from battery power, or other sources, refer to the operating instructions. 11. Grounding or Polarization -This video product is equipped with a polari[...]

IMPORT ANT SAFEG UARDS 7 a. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged. b. I f liquid has been spilled, or obje cts have fallen into the VCR. c. I f the VCR has been exposed to rain or water. d. I f the VCR does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operating instructions[...]

PRECAUTIO NS 8 P R E C A U T I O N S LOCATION For safe operation and satisfactory performance of y our VCR, keep the following in mind when selecting a place for its installati on: l Shield it from direct sunlight and keep it away from sources of intense heat. l Avoid dusty or humid places. l Avoid places with insufficient ventilation for proper he[...]

PRECAUTIO NS 9 Moisture condensation may occur inside the unit when it is moved from a cold place to a warm place, or after heating a cold room or under conditions of high humidity . Do not use the VCR at least for 2 hours until its inside is dry . CAUTION: TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK , MATCH WIDE BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT. FCC WARNING[...]

FEAT URES 10 F E A T U R E S • Rotary 4-head Record/Playback System - Rotary 4-he ads to ensure excelle nt picture quality and special effects playback. • Bilingual on-screen m enu display selectable in English or French • Infrared remote control • Real tim e tape counter- This shows the elapsed recording or play back time in hours, minutes[...]

FEAT URES 11 tape. • Slow Motion- You can view the video program at a slower than normal play back speed. Slow speed can be controlled by pressing F.FWD button (faster) or REW button (slower).[...]

VIDEO CASSET TE 12 V I D E O C A S S E T T E This VCR will operate w ith any cassette that has the VHS m ark. Fo r best results, we recomm end the use of high- quality tapes. Do not use poor quality or dam aged tapes. PRECAUTIO NS • Avoid m oisture, which can condense on the tape if it is m oved from a cold place to a warm place. Before using a t[...]

VIDEO CASSET TE 13 ERASE PREVENTIO N You can prevent accidental erasing of recording by breaking off the tab on the back edge of the cassette. If y ou decide to record on the tape again, cover the hole with plastic tape.[...]

OPERATING CONT ROLS AND FUNCTIONS 14 OPERA TING CONTROLS A ND FUNCTIONS FRONT VI EW illustration REMOTE CONTROL VIEW illustra tion 1. Cassette Compartment 2. REW button- Press to rewind the tape, or to view the picture rapidly in reverse during the play back mode. (Rewind Search) 3. PLAY button- Press to begin play back. 4. F.FW D b ut to n- Press [...]

OPERATING CONT ROLS AND FUNCTIONS 15 press to determine y our selection and proceed to a next step you want to input. Press to determine setting modes from on screen menu. Status funct ion- Press to display the counter on the current channel number and current time on the TV screen. 17. COUNTER MEMORY button- Press to set counter memory on and off.[...]

PREPARATION F OR USE 16 PREPA RA TION FOR USE CABLE CONNECTIONS For some of the most common ty pes of connections, see the following drawing s. Use only one connection. For any further complex connections, please contact your local dealer or other qualified persons. (You may need additional accessories which are not supplied). 1 Disconnect the ante[...]

PREPARATION F OR USE 17 SETTING A VIDEO CHANNEL If your TV does not have A/V terminals; When the VCR is in the Play back mode or when the VCR/TV button on the remote control is in the VCR position, y our TV will receive the signals from the VCR on either channel 3 or 4. To use the VCR with y our TV, set the selector switch to CH3 or CH4, whichever [...]

PREPARATION F OR USE 18 CONNECTING TO INPUT JACKS When you copy a video tape, or watch a prog ram recorded on an another source, use audio/video input jacks. INPUT SELECT To use the external input jacks, select the AUX position. Press the CHANNEL or button or enter "00" with number button on the remote control so that " AUX" app[...]

PRESET FO R USE 19 PRESET FOR USE Channel memory programming is NOT needed when connected to a cable box. You can program the tuner to scan only the channels y ou receive in your area. See page 32 for channel designations. NOTE: You must use the remote control for this procedure. AUTOMATIC CHANNEL PRESET (Without a Cable Bo x) NOTES: • Follow the[...]

PRESET FO R USE 20 4 Select the VCR mode Press VCR/TV button so that "VCR" appears on the display 5 Select "ENGL ISH" or " FRANCAIS" Select "ENGL ISH" or " FRANCAIS=French" using CH/SET or button. Then, press SELE CT or MENU button. 6 Begin channel preset Press SELECT button once. The tuner scans an[...]

PRESET FO R USE 21 TO DELETE PRESET CHANNEL The channels y ou no longer receive or seldom watch can be delet ed from the memory. (Of course, y ou can add the deleted channel into the memory again.) NOTE: You must use the remote control for this procedure. Make sure... • VCR power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the[...]

PRESET FO R USE 22 5 Enter the desired channel number Press the number buttons or CH or button re peatedly until y our desired c hannel number appears. (Example: CH02) 6 Delete it fr om memory Press ADD/DELETE button so that " DELETE" flashes on the TV screen. • To delete another channel, repeat steps [5] and [ 6]. • I f y ou press AD[...]

PRESET FO R USE 23 2 Select "I NITI AL IZ E" Press CH or button repeatedly to point to " INI TI AL IZ E". Then, press SELE CT button. 3 Select "CHANNEL SET UP" Press CH or button repeatedly to point to " CHANNEL SET UP". Then, press SELE CT button. 4 Select "TV" or " CATV" Press CH or butt[...]

PRESET FO R USE 24 NOTE: You must use the remote control for this procedure. Make sure... • VCR power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH 3 or 4) • Press VCR/TV button on the remote control so that "VCR" appears on the display . 1 Select t[...]

PRESET FO R USE 25 Press CH or button r epeatedly until y our desir ed day appears. ( Example: 1st à 01) 6 Select th e y ear Press CH or button repeatedly until y our desired y ear appears. (Example: 1996) 7 Select the hour Press CH or button repeatedly until y our desired hour appears. (Example: 05) 8 Select the m inute Press CH or button r epeat[...]

PRESET FO R USE 26 NOTES: • When unplugging the AC-cord or if there is a power failure for more than 30 seconds, " --:--" flashes on the display . • I f the display shows an abnormal reading or no reading, unplug the power cord for more than 30 seconds. Then plug it back in. TO CHANGE CLOCK SETTING I f y ou want to change the clock, 1[...]

PRESET FO R USE 27 5 Exit the Lang uage select Press MENU button to return to TV mode.[...]

ON SCREEN DISPLAY 28 ON SCREEN D ISPLA Y To check the Counter, Clock and Channel number on the TV screen, press SELECT button. Each time y ou press the SELECT button, TV screen will chang e as follows:[...]

PLAYBACK 29 P L A Y B A C K NORMAL PLAYBACK Make sure... • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH 3 or 4) • Press VCR/TV button on the remote control so that "VCR" appears on the display . 1 I nsert a prerecorded tape Counter mode appears at counter 0:00:00 on the [...]

PLAYBACK 30 VERTICAL HOLD CONTROL When the picture begins to vibrate vertically , stabilize the picture by pressing CHANNEL (or CH) or button in the Still mode. NOTES: • When the picture is distorted or rolling ve rtically , adjust the ver tical hold control on y our TV. • Some latest TV's do not have a user adjustable vertical hold. TRACK[...]

PLAYBACK 31 When the end of a tape is reached during recording, play back, or fast-forward, the tape will automatically r ewind to the beginning . After that, the VCR will e ject the tape and turn itself to off. NOTES: • The tape will not auto- rewind during time r recording or I nstant Recording Timer. • When the Counter Memory is activated, t[...]

SPECIAL PLAY BACK 32 SPECIA L PLA Y BA CK Make sure... • VCR power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH 3 or 4) • Press VCR/TV button on the remote control so that "VCR" appears on the display . • You must use the remote control for the f[...]

SPECIAL PLAY BACK 33 NOTES: • Once y ou select the repeat play mode, it st ay s in effect even after you turn off the VCR. • When the Counter Memory is activated, the tape will rewind to 0:00:00 and the VCR will be in the Stop mode. • I f the Rental mode is set [ON], the "RENTAL PL AY " display has priority . TO STOP PLAYBACK Press [...]

SPECIAL PLAY BACK 34 4 Select "RENTAL " to [ON] Press SEL ECT button so that "RENTAL ON" will appear on the TV screen. NOTES: • Once y ou select the rental play mode, it stay s in effect even after you turn off the VCR. • Selecting ON or OFF must be done in the play mode only . TO STOP PLAYBACK Press STOP button. TO EXIT THE[...]

SEARCH 35 SEARCH Make sure... • VCR power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH 3 or 4) • Press VCR/TV button on the remote control so that "VCR" appears on the display . • You must use the remote control for the following procedure. • A[...]

SEARCH 36 TO EXIT THE COUNTER MEMORY When the counter appears on the TV screen, press COUNTER MEMORY button once and then the SELECT button twice so that the " M" and the counter disappears from the TV screen. TIME SEARCH The Time Search function makes it possible to quickly advance the tape to y our desired position from any position by [...]

SEARCH 37 6 After Time Se arch When 0:00 is reached, the VCR will start play back automatically . NOTES: • Time Search can be set up to 9 hours 59 minutes (9:59). • This function will not operate in recording mode. • Procedures must be followed within 30 seconds, from steps [3] to [ 4]. Otherwise the Time Search mode will be canc elled. • P[...]

SEARCH 38 4 Enter y our desired number Press CH or button r epeatedly until the number of programs that y ou wa nt to skip appears. (Example: "03" for 3 programs) 5 Begin I ndex Search Press REW or F.FWD button. The VCR begins rewinding or fast forwarding to the beginning of desired program. Note: Every time an inde x signal is skipped, t[...]

SEARCH 39 Press CH or button repeatedly to point to " SEARCH SELECT" . Then, press SELE CT button. 3 Select "BL ANK SEARCH" Press CH or button repeatedly to point to " BL ANK SEARCH". Then, press SELE CT button. • The VCR begins fast forwarding to the beg inning of the blank part of the tape. 4 After Blank Search The[...]

RECORDING 40 R E C O R D I N G Make sure... • VCR power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH 3 or 4) • Press VCR/TV button on the remote control so that "VCR" appears on the display . • I nsert a cassett e with its erase prevent ion tab i[...]

RECORDING 41 4 Stop recording Press STOP button when re cording is comple ted. SKIPPING SOME MATERI ALS DURING RECORDING Press PAUSE button to temporarily stop recording. Press PAUSE or REC button to resume recording. NOTE: To prev ent tape damag e, after f ive minutes, the VCR will automatica lly switch to the Stop mode. You may revie w the time r[...]

RECORDING 42 RECORDING ONE PROGRAM WHILE VI EWING ANOTHER You can record one program while viewing another. To start recording , follow steps [1] to [ 3] under "VI EWING AND RECORDI NG THE SAME PROGRAM". NOTE: When y ou record with a cable converter box, you cannot record one prog ram while viewing another. 4 Select the TV mode Press VCR/[...]

RECORDING 43 Make sure... • VCR Power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH3 or 4) • Press VCR/TV button on the remote control so that "VCR" appears on the display . • I nsert a cassett e tape with its erase prevent ion tab in place. (If n[...]

TIMER RECORDING 44 TIMER RECORDING AUTOMATIC TIMER RECORDING You may set the VCR to start and end a recording while y ou are away . You can set seven programs to record on specific day s, daily or weekly within a 1 y ear period. I n the example below, the timer is being set to rec ord: DATE: 6th May , 1996 SETTI NG TIME: from 7:30PM to 8:30PM CHANN[...]

TIMER RECORDING 45 1 Select the ma in menu Press MENU button. 2 Select "TI MER PROGR AMMI NG" Press CH or button to point to " TIMER PROGRAMMI NG" . Then, press SELE CT button. NOTE: I f y ou have not y et set the clock, "SETTI NG CL OCK" appears. I f so, follow the steps [4] to [10] on pages 14, 15. Then, set the time[...]

TIMER RECORDING 46 For weekly recording: To record a T V program at the same time on the same channel every week. (Example: every Monday on channel 7 at 5:00PM) Press CH or button repeatedly to point to " WEEKLY". Then, press SEL ECT button. Make sure... • I f y ou did not set y our desired digit within 2 seconds after pressing CH or bu[...]

TIMER RECORDING 47 Then, press CH or button to point to AM or PM. (Example: PM) 8 Set the channel number Press CH or button repeatedly until y our desired channel numbe r appears. (Example: 16) 9 Set the tape spe ed Press CH or button repeatedly until y our desired tape spee d appears. (Example: SP) • "AUTO" is available only with Prog [...]

TIMER RECORDING 48 Press STOP/EJECT button on the VCR. NOTE: STOP button on the re mote control will not function in the Automatic Timer Reco rding mode. TO CANCEL OR CHECK THE START/END TIME 1) Repeat steps [1] to [ 2] previous page. 2) Select a program number y ou want to check using CH or button. The details of selected program appears on the TV[...]

TIMER RECORDING 49 Press CH or button repeatedly to point to "VCR SET UP". Then, press SELE CT button. 3 Select "AUTO RETURN" Press CH or button repeatedly to point to "AUTO RETURN". 4 Select "AUTO RETURN" to [AUTO] Press SEL ECT button so that [AUTO] will appear ne xt to "AUTO RETURN". 5 To return [...]

TIMER RECORDING 50 Notes: • Set the tape remainder switch ("~T60", " ~T130" or "T140~") to the tape loaded. See " Setting the Remaining Time" on next page. • Even if SLP mode is selected, just-in time recording cannot compensate for a tape length which may be too short. • A momentary picture break up wi[...]

SE TTIN G THE RE MA IN IN G TIM E 51 SETTING THE REMA INING TIME You can set the remaining tape running time of y our tape. F ollow the steps below to correct the tape remaining indication. Make sure... • VCR power must be turned on. • Turn on the TV and set the TV channel to the same video output channel as located on the back of the VCR. (CH3[...]

SE TTIN G THE RE MA IN IN G TIM E 52 5 To check the remain time Press SEL ECT button until REMAI N appears on TV scr een. Note: • I n the Remain Time Mode c alculating will star t when the cassette tape is inserted and PL AY button is pressed. While calcula ting, the TV scre en shows as illustrated. REMAINING TAPE RUNNING TI ME DISPLAY • Since [...]

COPYING A VIDEO T APE 53 COPYING A VIDEO TA PE Connect the editing (recording ) VCR, source (pla y ing) VCR and y our TV using the following diagram. EXAMP LE: The editing (recording ) VCR is this unit. The source (play ing) VCR is anothe r VCR. 1) I nsert a pre-recorded video cassette into the source (playing ) VCR. 2) I nsert a blank video c asse[...]

CONTROLLING YOUR TV W ITH T HE VCR'S REMOTE 54 CONTROLLING YOUR TV WITH THE V CR'S RE MOTE This Hitachi remote control can be used with y our TV as well as the VCR, as long as y our TV comes with a remote control. This feature comes in handy --y ou won't have to jugg le two remotes. The remote control is compatible with the fifteen m[...]

CONTROLLING YOUR TV W ITH T HE VCR'S REMOTE 55 TV Brands Pre ss TV and This Number Hitachi 1 Zenith 2 Sony 3 Magnavox 4 Sany o 5 Gold Star 1 6 Toshiba 7 Gold Star 2 8 Panasonic 2 9 RCA 0 Panasonic 1 CH (up arrow) Mitsubishi CH (down arrow) JVC 100/ENT Sharp 1 MEMORY Sharp 2 SEL ECT CONTROLLING THE TV Once prog rammed, the VCR' s remote co[...]

CONTROLLING YOUR TV W ITH T HE VCR'S REMOTE 56 chart). NOTE: I f that button combination does not work, or if y our brand is not on the chart, just go through all the button combinations until y ou find the one that work s best. Cable Converters Press CATV an d Thi s Number Jerrold 1 1 Jerrold 2 2 Jerrold 3 3 Hamlin 4 Zenith 5 Scientific Atla [...]

TROUBLESH OOTING GUIDE 57 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE I f y ou have followed the instructions contained in this manual and have difficulty in operating y our VCR, locate the SYMPTOM in the left column below. Check the corresponding POSSI BLE CAUSE and CORRECTI VE ACTI ON columns to remedy the problem. SYMPTOM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION PROBLEM THIN[...]

TROUBLESH OOTING GUIDE 58 OPERAT ED BY THE VCR’S REMOTE CONTROL. PROGRAMMED FOR YOUR TV? ADVANCED OPERATIO NS TO PROGRAM T HE REMOT E T O SIGNALS THAT YOUR TV CAN RECOGNIZE. IS REMOTE CONT ROL SET TO CONT ROL T HE TV. PRESS THE T V DEVICE BUT TO N, THEN PRESS T HE BUT T ON CORRESPONDING T O T HE T V FUNCTION YOU W ANT. MECHANICAL SOUNDS DURING PL[...]

MAINTENANCE 59 M A I N T E N A N C E SERVICING Should y our VCR become inoperative, do not try to correct the problem by y ourself. There are no user-servicable parts inside. Turn off, unplug the power cord, and take the unit to Hitachi Authorized S ervice Center for servicing. CABINET CLEANING • Wipe the front pa nel and other exterior surf aces[...]

TECHNICAL SPECIFICAT IONS 60 TECHNICA L SPECIFICA TIONS Format: VHS Video Signal Sy stem: NTSC color EIA standard Record/Playback Sy stem: Video: 4 heads Tape Speed: 33.35mm/sec (SP), 16.67mm/sec (LP), 11.12mm/sec (SL P) RF I nput: UHF/VHF 75 ohm Tuner: 178 channel tuning ability *(122 cable channels) Ty pe: Auto progra mming frequenc y sy nthesis [...]