Panasonic Digital Hd Video Cassette Recorder Ajhd1500p Operating Instructions

							Operating Instructions
 Digital HD Video Cassette Recorder
AJ-P 
						

							– 2 –
IMPORTANT
“Unauthorized recording of copyrighted televi-
sion programs, video tapes and other materials
may infringe the right of copyright owners and
be contrary to copyright laws.”
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
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.
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.
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIP-
MENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
SHOCK HAZARD, REFER MOUNTING OF
THE OPTIONAL BOARD TO AUTHORIZED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
FCC Note:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
To assure continued compliance follow the attached
installation instructions and do not make any
unauthorized modifications.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to
Par t 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed
to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruc-
tion manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference
in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.
CAUTION:
Do not install or place this unit in a bookcase,
built- in cabinet or in another confined space in
order to keep well ventilation condition. Ensure
that curtains and any other materials do not ob-
struct the ventilation condition to prevent risk of
electric shock or fire hazard due to overheating.
THIS APPARATUS MUST BE GROUNDED
To ensure safe operation the three-pin plug must be
inserted only into a standard three-pin power outlet
which is effectively grounded through normal house-
hold wiring.
Extension cords used with the equipment must be
three-core and be correctly wired to provide connec-
tion to the ground. Incorrectly wired extension cords
can be extremely hazardous.
The fact that the equipment operates satisfactorily
does not imply that it is grounded, and the installa-
tion is not necessarily safe. For your safety, if in any
doubt about the effective grounding of the equipment
or power outlet, please consult a qualified electrician.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, REFER CHANGE OF THE SWITCH
SETTING INSIDE THE UNIT TO AUTHO-
RIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
Operating precaution
Operation near any appliance which generates
strong magnetic fields may give rise to noise in
the video and audio signals. If this should be
the case, deal with the situation by, for instance,
moving the source of the magnetic fields away
from the unit before operation.
CAUTION:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
SHOCK HAZARD AND ANNOYING
INTERFERENCE, USE THE RECOM-
MENDED ACCESSORIES ONLY.
WARNING:
TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR SHOCK
HAZARD, KEEP THIS EQUIPMENT AWAY
FROM ALL LIQUIDS-USE AND STORE ONLY
IN LOCATIONS WHICH ARE NOT EXPOSED
TO THE RISK OF DRIPPING OR SPLASHING
LIQUIDS, AND DO NOT PLACE ANY LIQUID
CONTAINERS ON TOP OF THE EQUIPMENT.
1 is the sefety information. 
						

							– 3 –
IC CARD function ..................................................... 53
Variable memory function ......................................... 56
ERROR LOG function .............................................. 58
Setup (default settings) ........................................... 60
Setup menus ............................................................ 61
•SYSTEM menu ..................................................... 65
•USER menu ........................................................... 72
 • BASIC menu ...................................................... 72
 • OPERATION menu ............................................ 76
 • INTERFACE menu ............................................. 80
 • EDIT menu ......................................................... 82
 • TAPE PROTECT menu ...................................... 85
 • TIME CODE menu ............................................. 86
 • VIDEO menu ...................................................... 88
 • AUDIO  menu ...................................................... 94
 • MENU menu ..................................................... 102
Time code/user bit ................................................. 103
Recording internal/external time codes ................. 104
Reproducing the time code/user bit ...................... 105
Superimpose screen ............................................. 106
Audio recording channel and monitor
  output selection .................................................... 107
Rack mounting ...................................................... 108
Video head cleaning .............................................. 109
Condensation ........................................................ 109
Error messages ..................................................... 110
Table of AUTO OFF Error messages .................... 112
RS-232C interface ................................................. 114
Connector signals ................................................. 121
Printed circuit board .............................................. 123
Specifications ........................................................ 124 General and Features ............................................... 4
Controls and their functions ...................................... 6
•Front panel .............................................................. 6
•Connector area ..................................................... 15
Operations using the front panel bottom controls .... 18
Operations using the front panel top controls .......... 21
Connections ............................................................. 24
•Connections when one unit is used ...................... 24
•Connections when 2 units are used
(deck to deck) ........................................................ 25
•Connections with editing controller ....................... 26
Tapes ....................................................................... 27
Switching on the power/inserting the cassette ......... 28
STOP/STAND BY mode .......................................... 29
Recording ................................................................ 30
Playback .................................................................. 31
Jog/shuttle ............................................................... 32
Manual editing ......................................................... 33
Preroll ...................................................................... 34
Automatic editing (deck to deck) ............................. 35
•Switch settings and adjustments ........................... 36
•Selecting the editing mode .................................... 37
•Entering the edit points ......................................... 38
•Checking the edit points ........................................ 39
•Modifying the edit points ....................................... 40
•Preview ................................................................. 41
•Executing automatic editing .................................. 42
•Review .................................................................. 43
Audio split editing .................................................... 44
Expansion mode execution using the MODE/SEL
button ..................................................................... 46
MULTI CUE function ................................................ 47
Contents
Before operating this unit, check that all of its accessories are present and accounted for.
Power cord....1 pc
Options
• AJ-MA75P Rack mounting adapter
• AJ-UC1500 SD input up-converter board
• AJ-VNC150P encoder/decoder board to support DVCPRO HD bank data
• AJ-YAC150P SDTI interface board 
						

							– 4 –
General and Features
This unit is a DVCPRO HD-LP format HD digital video cassette recorder which is designed to
use 1/4-inch wide compact cassette tapes.
It is a studio-use digital VTR which can record, play back and edit HD signals (1080i/720p,
59.94 Hz), and can play back tapes recorded using the existing DVCPRO (25 Mbps/50
Mbps) format.  Use of the HD-SD conversion facility of the format converter (standard feature
of this unit) enables interfacing with existing SD systems and development into HD systems.
This VTR with its high picture quality uses high-efficiency digital compression technology to
reduce by a significant margin the degree of deterioration in the sound and picture quality
which accompanies dubbing.
The unit features a compact 4U size and lightweight design to make it easier to carry around.
It can also be easily installed in a 19-inch rack.
The settings for the unit’s setup are performed interactively while viewing the display tube at
the top front of the unit or the screen menus shown on a TV monitor.  Both assemble and
insert editing facilities are provided as editing functions.
Features
Compact size and light weight
This is a 4U digital VTR.  Using the rack-mounting adapters (optional accessory: AJ-MA75P),
it can also be easily housed in a 19-inch rack.
Up to 92 minutes of recording
Using the DVCPROHD-LP recording system, up to 92 minutes of material can be recorded
on a 1/4 L-size cassette tape.
High picture quality
The unit’s high picture quality is achieved by 4:2:2 HD component signal recording using a
recording rate (100 Mbps) which is 4 times higher than that of the existing DVCPRO format.
1080i/59.94 Hz, 720p/59.94 Hz signal switching
By selecting the menu, each type of signal can be recorded and played back.
SDI interface
The unit comes with an HD serial digital interface as a standard accessory.
Playback compatibility with DVCPRO systems
Besides DVCPROHD-LP recordings, tapes which have been recorded using an existing
system such as DVCPROHD, DVCPRO50 or DVCPRO can be played back on this unit.
Consumer-use DV tapes (SP) can also be played back on this unit.
Digital slow motion/dial jog
Panasonic’s unique digital slow motion technology enables clear playback (of tapes recorded
using the DVCPROHD-LP system) at speeds ranging from -1× to +2×.

Some noise may occur during slow playback (using the external controller) at speeds almost
exactly +2× or -1×.
Search speed
Search speed enables the tape to be played back with color images at a speed of up to 100
times the forward and reverse direction. 
						

							– 5 –
General and Features
Features
 (continued)
Time codes
This unit comes with a built-in time code generator (TCG)/time code reader (TCR). In
addition to the internal time code, an external time code can also be recorded as the LTC on
the unit’s tape.
Multi-functional interfaces
• Serial digital input and output connector
The unit features a HD component serial interface input/output connector to enable HD
component video signals and 8-channel digital audio signals to be interfaced using just the
one BNC connector.  (SMPTE 292M, BTA S-004)
The unit comes with an HD/SD format converter as a standard accessory so that even SD
component serial signals can be output. (SMPTE 259M-C, 272M, 294M)
• Analog video output connector
Composite signals are output during DVCPRO50- or DVCPRO-compatible playback, DV
playback, DVCAM playback and down-conversion.
• AES/EBU audio input/output connectors
Digital audio input/output connectors for 8 channels are featured as a standard accessory.
• SDTI input/output connector
Use of the SDTI board (optional accessory) enables interfacing with the compressed
component signals still in their original form.  (SMPTE 305M, 321M)
•SD signal up-conversion and recording
Using the input up-converter board (optional accessory), SD component serial signals
(SMPTE 259M-C) can be up-converted and recorded as HD signals.
• 9-pin RS-422A and RS-232C remote control connectors
In addition to the standard 9-pin serial remote (RS-422A) control connector, the unit is
equipped with RS-232C and 50-pin parallel remote control connectors.
The RS-422A facility enables parallel operation if a loop connection has been performed
between the unit and another VTR.
8-channel high-sound-quality digital audio
The 8-channel PCM audio allows for not only independent editing and mixing on all eight
channels. One channel is provided for the analog CUE track.
Menu-driven setup
The setup settings, which are conducted prior to operating the unit are performed while
viewing the setup menus either on the unit’s display or a TV monitor. 
						

							– 6 –
Controls and their functions
Front panel
PULL FOR VARIABLE
ON
AUDIO CH SELECTSHIFT ADJTC  SETSTART TC/CTLRESET
TC INTTCTAPE
UB
STAND BY
EDIT PLAY
REW STOPSERVOREC
FFREC INHIBIT
PLAYEREXT EE
MODEREMOTEPUSH
REV FWDRECORDERLOCAL
CONTROL
CH 1
1ASMBL
PREVIEW
REVIEWAUTO EDITPREROLLTRIMA ININSETOUTA OUT
MULTICUEINSERT
VIDEOCH1/5 CH2/8 CH3/7 CH4/8 CUE TCCH 4
OFF
POWERCH CONDITION ENTER ESCAPE SHIFT
METERFULL/FINE
MONITOR SELECT
LEVEL
HEADPHONES
CH 1/5 CH 2/6 CH 3/7 CH 4/8 CUE
REC
L
R
PB
PULL
OPENPULL
OPEN
CH 5CH 8
2345678
JOGSHTLSLOW
EJECT
M-cassette / ADAPTERDo not insert S-cassette without adaptor
SET UPPROG123MENUSAVE/PROG MENUMENU SET DIAGEXITSTATUSSTATUS1234
= >

						

							– 7 –
Controls and their functions

1POWER switch
2TV system/format displays
This shows the format during playback.
HD:This indicates the DVCPROHD-LP recording and playback modes as well as the
DVCPROHD playback mode.
50M:This indicates the DVCPRO50 playback mode.
25M:This indicates the DVCPRO, DV or DVCAM playback mode.
3 33 3
3VTR status display area
The VTR’s statuses, programmable menus and setup menus appear in this display area.

This indicates the VTR statuses (format, field frequency, video/audio inputs, time code,
etc.) which have been defined by the user on the front sub-panel.

The setup menus which have been defined by the user are displayed on the front sub-
panel.  Settings can be changed using the 5, 6, 7 and 8 buttons.

The setup menus are displayed using the MENU d button.
4 44 4
4Channel condition lamps
One of these lamps lights in accordance with the error rate status. (Green→Amber→Red)
Green:This lights when the error rates for the video and audio playback signals are both
acceptable.
Amber:This lights when the error rate for the video or audio playback signals has
deteriorated.
The playback picture will remain normal even when this lamp lights.
Red:This lights when the video or audio signals are subject to rectification or
interpolation.
5 55 5
5Scroll buttons
These are used for left and right scrolling when the status is displayed in the VTR status
display area.
They are used for up and down scrolling when the programmable menu is displayed in the
VTR status display area.
6 66 6
6ENTER button
Press this to enter the menu items or the settings when the programmable menu is
displayed.
7  7 7  7 
7 ESCAPE button
Press this to ignore or cancel the settings when the programmable menu is displayed.
8 88 8
8 SHIFT button
The values of programmable menu settings can be changed at high speed by pressing the
scroll buttons while holding down the SHIFT button.
9Cassette insertion slot
: :: :
:EJECT button
When this is pressed, the tape is unloaded and several seconds later the cassette is
automatically ejected. When the counter display indicates “CTL”, the display is reset.
;AUTO OFF lamp
This lights when trouble has arisen in the deck’s operation. 
						

							– 8 –
Controls and their functions

< > >
>STOP button
When this is pressed, the tape stops traveling, and if the TAPE/EE selector switch is at
TAPE, still pictures can be monitored.
The drum continues to rotate even in the stop mode, and the tape remains in close contact
with the drum.
If the stop mode continues for more than a certain period of time, the unit automatically
switches to the standby OFF mode in order to protect the tape.
The stop mode is established immediately after a cassette has been inserted into the unit.
? ?? ?
?FF button*
2)
The tape is fast forwarded when this is pressed.
@ @@ @
@REW button*
2)
The tape is rewound when this is pressed.
A AA A
AEDIT button
For manual editing, press both this button and the PLAY button together during playback.
When the button is pressed in the stop mode, the input mode signals selected by the
ASMBL or INSERT button can be monitored in the EE mode.
The original picture and sound are restored when the STOP button is pressed.
When the button is pressed during playback, search*
1), fast forward or rewind, the input
signals of the mode selected by the ASMBL or INSERT button can be monitored in the EE
mode for as long as the button is held down.
B BB B
BSERVO lamp
This lights when the drum servo and capstan servo have locked.
C CC C
CREC INHIBIT lamp
In the following situations, this lamp lights up to indicate that recording and editing cannot
be performed.
(Related setup menu items No.022, No.023, No.113, No.114, No.117 and No.118)
1. When 1 (ON) has been selected as the setup menu item No.113 (REC INH) setting
2. When the cassette has been set to the accidental erasure prevention mode
3. When “MANUAL” has been selected as the setup menu item No.022 (PB FORMAT)
setting, “HD_SP/50M/25M/50Mp/DV/DVCAM” has been selected as the No.023
(FORMAT SEL) setting, and “ON” has been selected as the No.118 (SP MODE INH)
setting, and the tape has been inserted
4. When “AUTO” has been selected as the setup menu item No.022 (PB FORMAT) setting, and
“ON” has been selected as the No.118 (SP MODE INH) setting, and a DVCPRO, DVPRO50,
DVCPRO50P, DVCPROHD (but not the LP format), DV or DVCAM tape has been inserted
5. When ON has been selected as the setup menu No.117 (M CASSTT INH) and the M
cassette tape has been inserted
*
1)No guarantees are given for the audio playback sound in the search mode.
*2)The FF/REW speed can be selected on the setup menu No. 102 (FF. REW MAX), and it is
set to the same speed. 
						

							– 9 –
Controls and their functions

D DD D
DSTAND BY button
When this is pressed, the same tension as in the regular stop mode is applied to the tape,
and while the head drum continues to rotate, the button’s lamp lights to indicate that the
standby ON mode is established.
In the standby OFF mode, the half-loading mode is established.
When this button is pressed in the stop mode, the standby OFF mode is established, the
half-loading mode is established. The lamp in the button now goes off. When the unit
remains in the stop mode for longer than a predetermined period, the standby OFF mode
is automatically established in order to protect the tape.
When this button or the STOP button is pressed in the standby OFF mode, the standby
ON mode is established.
When a button other than the STOP button is pressed, the mode corresponding to the
button pressed is established.
On-screen settings are available for the transfer time to the standby OFF mode.
E EE E
EPLAYER/RECORDER buttons
These buttons are operated when editing operations are conducted using the unit as the
recorder and a VTR equipped with an RS-422A serial interface remote control connector
(9 pins). Neither button functions when the unit is used on its own.
PLAYER button:When this button is pressed, its lamp lights, and the player connected
to the unit can be operated by remote control. The unit’s editing and
tape transport buttons now control the player’s functions.
RECORDER button:When this button is pressed, its lamp lights, and the editing and tape
transport buttons control the recorder’s (= the unit’s) functions.
Both lamps light, and the recorder functions as the master unit for Parallel Run operations
if the PLAYER or RECORDER button is pressed while “ENA” has been selected for setup
menu No. 200 (PARA RUN). [However, external control can no longer be exercised from
the REMOTE connector (9-pin) when this setting has been made.]
F FF F
FTC/CTL switch
By pressing this switch, what appears on the counter display is changed between TC and
CTL.
When TC is selected, either the TC or UB value is displayed depending on the position
selected by the TC/UB switch.
G GG G
GTC/UB switch
This selector switch determines whether the value of TC or UB appears on the counter
display when the TC/CTL switch has been set to TC.
H HH H
HINT/EXT switch
INT:For using the built-in time code generator.
EXT:For using the external time code, which is input from the time code input connector
or from the video signal.  This selection is set using setup menu item No.507 [EXT
TC SL (HD)]or No.516 [EXT TC SL (SD)].
I II I
ITAPE/EE switch

TAPE:For outputting the signals played back from the tape.
EE:For outputting the input signals selected by the setup menus No. 600 (VIDEO IN
SEL) and No. 700 (AUDIO IN SEL).

TAPE:For outputting the simultaneous playback signals.
EE:For outputting the input signals selected by the setup menus No. 600 (VIDEO IN
SEL) and No. 700 (AUDIO IN SEL).
* The SETUP menu No. 302 (CONFI EDIT) setting is required. 
						

							– 10 –
Controls and their functions

J JJ J
JREMOTE/LOCAL switch
This switch is set when the unit is to be controlled from an external source using the
REMOTE connector, RS-232C connector or parallel connector.
REMOTE:Set to this position when controlling the unit by a device connected using the
9-pin REMOTE connector or RS-232C/parallel connector.
LOCAL:Set to this position when controlling the unit using the controls on its own
operation panel.
K KK K
KREMOTE lamp
This lights when the REMOTE/LOCAL switch has been set to the REMOTE position.
L LL L
LSearch button
This button is pressed to establish the search mode.
When the search dial is set to the shuttle mode and turned to a particular position, and this
button is pressed, playback commences at the speed set by the search dial.
M MM M
MJOG/SHTL/SLOW lamps
These indicate the present status of the search dial and SHTL/SLOW switch.
JOG:This lights when the unit is in the JOG mode.
SHTL:This lights when the unit is in the SHTL mode.
SLOW:This lights when the unit is in the SLOW mode.
N NN N
NSHTL/SLOW switch
This selector switch is set when the search dial is used for SHTL or SLOW applications.
O OO O
OREV/STILL/FWD lamps
One of these lamps lights depending on the operation of the search dial.
REV:This lights when the dial is turned counterclockwise and the tape travels in the
REV direction provided that the lamp in the search button has lighted.
STILL:This lights in the JOG mode while the dial is kept stationary, and the tape stops
traveling provided that the lamp in the search button has lighted.
It lights in the SHTL mode provided that the dial is at the STILL position.
FWD:This lights when the dial is turned clockwise, and the tape travels in the FWD
direction provided that the lamp in the search button has lighted.
P PP P
PSearch dial
This is used to search for the edit points.
Each time it is pressed, the mode is alternately set to shuttle or jog, and one of the JOG,
SHTL and SLOW lamps lights. When the power has been turned on, the dial will not
function until it has first returned to the STILL position.
Shuttle mode:When the dial is turned and stopped at a particular position while the
SHTL/SLOW switch is at SHTL, the tape can be played back at the speed
corresponding to the dial’s rotary angle position. A still picture appears at
the dial’s center position.
Slow  mode:When the dial is turned all the way counterclockwise with the SHTL/SLOW
switch at SLOW, the tape speed is set to –4.9× normal speed, when it is
set to the center position, a still picture is produced, and when it is turned
all the way clockwise, the tape speed is set to +4.9× normal speed. The
speed for SLOW can be set using setup menu No. 308 (VAR FWD MAX)
and No. 309 (VAR REV MAX).
Jog mode:In this mode, the dial has no click-stop positions, and the tape is played
back in accordance with the speed at which the dial is turned within the
speed range which has been set using setup menu item No.310 (JOG
FWD MAX) and No.311 (JOG REV MAX).