Panasonic Digital Video Cassette Recorder AG-DV2500P Operating Instructions

							Model AG-DV250PDigital Video Cassette Recorder
Before operating this product, please read the instructions carefully and save this
manual for future use.
LLT0029-001A
Printed in Thailand
VQT0C54
P
Panasonic Canada Inc.
5770 Ambler Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 2T3   (905) 624-5010
©2003 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.  All rights reserved.
Model AG
-
P
Digital Video Cassette Recorder 
NTSC
EJECTMENU
REWSET
FF PLAY
STOP
REC INH.PA L
AUDIONTSCDVCAM
PAUSE
POWER
REC
A.DUB
CH1 / 3
2 / 4
LINEDVS-VIDEO
OFF9PINWIRELESS
INPUT
REMOTEMICAG-DV2500 
						

							E-2
  1. Read all of these instructions.
  2. Save these instructions for later use.
  3. All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
    4. Unplug this appliance system from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol
cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
    5. Do not use attachments not recommended by the appliance manufacturer as they may cause hazards.
  6. Do not use this appliance near water – for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, or laundry
tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc.
  7. Do not place this appliance on an unstable cart, stand, or table. The appliance
may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the
appliance.
Use only with a cart or stand recommended by the manufacturer, or sold with the
appliance.
Wall or shelf mounting should follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and should
use a mounting kit approved by the manufacturer.
An appliance and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops,
excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the appliance and cart
combination to overturn.
  8.Slots and openings in the cabinet and the back or bottom are provided for
ventilation, and to insure reliable operation of the appliance and to protect it from overheating, these
openings must not be blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the appliance
on a bed, sofa, rug, or other similar surface. This appliance should never be placed near or over a
radiator or heat register. This appliance should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase
unless proper ventilation is provided.
  9. This appliance should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label.
If you are not sure of the type of power supplied to your home, consult your dealer or local power
company. For appliance designed to operate from battery power, refer to the operating instructions.
10. This appliance system is equipped with a 3-wire grounding type plug (a plug having a third (grounding)
pin). This plug will only fit into a grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable
to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat
the safety purpose of the grounding plug.
11. For added protection for this product during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused
for long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the antenna or cable system. This
will prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-line surges.
12. Do not allow anything to rest on the power cord. Do not locate this appliance where the cord will be
abused by persons walking on it.
13. Follow all warnings and instructions marked on the appliance.
14. Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in fire or electric shock.
15. Never push objects of any kind into this appliance through cabinet slots as they may touch dangerous
voltage points or short out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind
on the appliance.
16. Do not attempt to service this appliance yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to
dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
17. Unplug this appliance from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the
following conditions:
a. When the power cord or plug is damaged or frayed.
b.If liquid has been spilled into the appliance.
c. If the appliance has been exposed to rain or water.
d. If the appliance does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only
those controls that are covered by the operating instructions as improper adjustment of other controls
may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the
appliance to normal operation.
e.If the appliance has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.
f.When the appliance exhibits a distinct change in performance – this indicates a need for service.
18. When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts
specified by the manufacturer that have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized
substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other hazards.
19. Upon completion of any service or repairs to this appliance, ask the service technician to perform
routine safety checks to determine that the appliance is in safe operating condition.
S3125A 
						

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
CAUTIONRISK 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
ATTENTIONRISQUE D’ELECTROCUTION
NE PAS OUVRIR
ATTENTION: POUR EVITER TOUT RISQUE D’ELECTROCUTION
NE PAS OUVRIR LE BOITER.
AUCUNE PIECE INTERIEURE N’EST
A REGLER PAR L’UTILISATEUR.
SE REFERER A UN AGENT QUALIFIE EN CAS DE PROBLEME.
Le symbole de l’éclair à l’intérieur d’un triangle équi-
latéral est destiné à alerter l’utilisateur sur la pré-
sence d’une “tension dangereuse” non isolée dans le
boîtier du produit. Cette tension est suffisante pour
provoquer l’électrocution de personnes.
Le point d’exclamation à l’intérieur d’un triangle équi-
latéral est destiné à alerter l’utilisateur sur la pré-
sence d’opérations d’entretien importantes au sujet
desquelles des renseignements se trouvent dans le
manuel d’instructions.
*Ces symboles ne sont utilisés qu’aux Etats-Unis. 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.
INFORMATIONThis equipment has been tested and found to comply with
the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
●Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
●Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.●Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit differ-
ent from that to which the receiver is connected.
●Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV techni-
cian for help.
CAUTIONCHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS NOT APPROVED BY
PANASONIC COULD VOID USER’S AUTHORITY TO
OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.
WARNING:TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS
APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
This unit should be used with 120 V AC only.
CAUTION:
To prevent electric shocks and fire hazards, DO
NOT use any other power source.
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC
RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOW-
ING TWO CONDITIONS: (1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT
CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND (2) THIS
DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RE-
CEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY
CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.
AVERTISSEMENT:
POUR EVITER LES RISQUES D’INCENDIE
OU D’ELECTROCUTION, NE PAS EXPO-
SER L’APPAREIL A L’HUMIDITE OU A LA
PLUIE.
Ce magnétoscope ne doit être utilisé que sur du
courant alternatif en 120 V.
ATTENTION:
Afin d’éviter tout resque d’incendie ou
d’électrocution, ne pas utiliser d’autres sources
d’alimentation électrique.
Cet appareil numerique de la Classe B est conforme
a la nonne NMB-003 du Canada. The Class B digital apparatus complies with Cana-
dian ICES-003.
WARNING:The battery used in the AG-DV2500P must be re-
placed by a PANASONIC authorized service dealer
only.
AVERTISSEMENT:La pile utilisée dans l’appareil AG-DV2500P doit être
remplacée chez un marchand de services autorisé
par PANASONIC.
L’appareil digital (Classe B) est conforme à l’ICES-003
canadien. 
						

							E-4
Thank you for purchasing our Digital
Video Cassette Recorder AG-DV2500P.
This VTR features dual support for NTSC and
PAL. Certain functions however, are supported
by only one signal system. They are indicated
with (NTSC only) or (PAL only).
●In order to prevent crumpling due to tape
slack, please do not perform important re-
cording within the  first and last 2 - 3 minutes
run of the tape.
●Recorded video (music) is meant for personal
entertainment only and must not be used for
other purposes without the prior consent of
the copyright owner.
●Our company shall not guarantee the con-
tent of any recording effort should this VTR
fail to record normally due to defects, either
of the main unit itself or the video cassette
tape.
MAIN FEATURES
●DV format
High picture and sound quality by digital tech-
nology.
●Compatible mechanisms for standard/mini
DV cassettes
It records on and plays back DV cassettes of the
standard and mini size. (SP mode only)
DVCAM cassettes can be recorded in DV for-
mat.
A tape recorded with the DVCAM format can be
used only for playback for this VTR.
●Equipped with composite and S-VIDEO in-
put & output terminal devices.
●
Equipped with DV IN/OUT terminals. (IEEE1394)
It can exchange digital signals with IEEE1394
compatible devices.
●Dual support for NTSC/PAL
It automatically determines the signal system
when playing back or receiving DV signal input.
It supports composite or Y/C signal input with
the use of a switch.
●Wireless remote control
It can be controlled with the provided wireless
remote controller.
●Support for RS-422A interface
It can be used as a player for an editing system
that uses the RS-422A-compatible editing re-
mote controller AG-A850.
●Recording/playback of time codes
●Audio-dubbing (after-recording) function
Audio dubbing at a sampling frequency of 32kHz
is allowed on CH3 and CH4 (except during DV
input).
●Series recording function
By linking with other DV devices, long-duration
continuous recording is possible.
●Indexed search and blank search function
It can search for indexed signal recorded posi-
tions or unrecorded parts.
●Can be placed in an upright position
With the use of the provided stand, it can be
positioned upright. As this is a DV-format video cassette recorder,
video cassettes with the 
 or  logos can
be used with it.
DVCAM cassettes can be recorded in DV for-
mat. 
						

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Precautions .................................................... 6
Daily maintenance and regular inspection ..... 7
Precautions on the use of cleaning tape ........ 8
Cassette tape ................................................. 8
Condensation ................................................. 9
NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS PARTS
Front panel ................................................... 10
Rear panel .................................................... 14
Wireless remote controller ........................... 16
ON-SCREEN DISPLAY
Regarding on-screen display ........................ 18
Status display ............................................... 19
Event display ................................................ 21
Alarm display ................................................ 22
PREPARATION
Provided wireless remote controller ............. 24
Power........................................................... 26
Selecting the NTSC/PAL signal system ....... 28
Loading/ejecting cassettes ........................... 29
Setting/displaying date and time .................. 30
RECORDING
Connection and setting ................................ 33
Setting time codes ........................................ 35
Recording method ........................................ 37
Series recording function ............................. 38
Audio dubbing .............................................. 39
PLAYBACK
Connection/setting ....................................... 41
Basic playback method ................................ 43
Special playback function ............................. 44
Locate function ............................................. 46
Selecting playback audio output ................... 47EDIT
Using the unit in an editing system .............. 48
MENU SCREEN
Structure of the menu ................................... 51
Setting the menu .......................................... 52
Contents of the menus ................................. 54
OTHERS
Placing the unit in an upright position .......... 61
Warning display ............................................ 62
Troubleshooting ............................................ 64
Checking the hour meter .............................. 65
Specification ................................................. 66
Supplement .................................................. 67 
						

							E-6
INTRODUCTION
Precautions
 Place of storage and use
Please avoid storing or using this VTR in the fol-
lowing places:
●Extremely hot or cold places beyond the al-
lowable temperature for operation (5˚C – 35˚C).
●Humid or dry places beyond the allowable
humidity range for operation (30% –80% RH).
●Dusty or sandy places.
●Places exposed to oil, smoke or steam, such
as the kitchen vicinity.
●Intensely vibrating or unstable places.
●Places prone to condensation.
●Places that generate strong magnetic fields,
e.g., transformer or motor.
●Places near devices that generate electric
waves, e.g., transceiver or mobile phone.
●Places that generate radiation, X-rays or cor-
rosive gases.
 Handling the unit
●Please do not place heavy objects on the VTR,
like a monitor or TV.
●Please do not insert foreign objects into the
cassette slot.
●Mind your finger when loading the cassette.
   Please be careful not to get your fingers
clamped when loading the cassette to prevent
injury.
●Place this VTR out of reach of young children.
As injury may result from fingers getting
clamped when loading the cassette, please
keep this VTR out of reach of young children.
●Please do not block the ventilation openings.
●Avoid violent shocks to the unit. Do not drop
the unit.
●Please remove the cassette tape from the
cassette slot when transporting the unit.
●Please remove the AC adapter to save en-
ergy when the unit is not in use.
 Maintaining the unit (Please turn off the
power before performing maintenance
work.)
Please wipe the unit with a soft cloth. Do not wipe
it with thinner or benzene lest the surface melts
or becomes dull. For stubborn stains, wipe first
with a water-diluted neutral detergent and then
wipe dry.
Please use the provided AC adapter to
connect the VTR to a power source.
Use the supplied mains cable. Using a
different type or damaged cable may
cause fire or electric shock.
Note
Before turning on the power, be sure to re-
move the guard sheet. (Otherwise, a warning
display will be shown. In this case, turn the
power off and then on again.) 
						

							E-7
Daily maintenance and regular inspection
This unit uses consumables or components that will wear off. If a worn-out or deteriorated component
continues to be used, it may cause the unit to break down. To prevent this, please perform daily mainte-
nance using the head-cleaning tape. With the head-cleaning tape alone, however, the entire tape-winding
mechanism cannot be completely cleaned.
Please perform regular maintenance of the components as shown below.

Regular inspection (maintenance)
The tasks of maintenance involved are similar to that of replacing the engine oil or tire of a car.
Depending on the number of usage hours, please clean, inspect or replace the components as follows:
—:Inspection:Cleaning, inspection and
adjustment
:Cleaning and inspection;
Replacement if necessary
:Replacement —:Inspection
:Cleaning, inspection and
adjustment
:Cleaning and inspection;
Replacement if necessary
:Replacement
Maintenance necessity and fre-
quency depends on the environ-
ment and usage. The above infor-
mation serves only as a guide.
Usage Time:You can check the drum usage time via the hour meter display.
For details, please refer to page 65, “Checking the hour meter”.
Maintenance consultation:For details on the maintenance plan and fee, please consult with your
nearest PANASONIC-authorized service agent.

Head cleaning
●Recording or playing back with a stained head
will result in block noise or disrupted sound.
Please perform regular head cleaning to main-
tain superior image and sound quality.
●For information on how to use the head cleaning
tape and the relevant precautions, please refer
to page 8, “Precautions on the use of cleaning
tape”.●If dust adheres on the head, “HEAD CLEANING
REQUIRED!” will be displayed on the monitor
when this unit plays a tape.
Block noise
HEAD CLEANING REQUIRED!
           Number of hours 500H 1000H 1500H 2000H 4000H
Drum assembly (including head)
Head cleaner
Tape guide, roller
Reel disk, tension bands —— 
						

							E-8
 INTRODUCTION
Precautions on the use of cleaning tape
Please use cleaning tape produced by PANASONIC.
Please follow the instructions below when using the
cleaning tape.
1.The tape will run for 10 seconds in the PLAY
mode. (Thereafter, it stops automatically and
enters the STOP mode.)
•After loading the cleaning tape, press the PLAY
button.
2.For a single cleaning session, use it up to 3
times.
3.Please refer to the following table as a guide for
cleaning.
Operating environmentLow temperature Room temperatureof the unit5˚C to 10˚C 10˚C to 35˚C
Guide for using1 to 2 times every 1 to 2 times every
cleaning tape5 hours 20 to 30 hours
Memo:
1. Under low humidity conditions, (10% RH to 30%
RH), please perform head cleaning at intervals
of half of the following stated periods.
2.If DVM83 is used immediately after cleaning, the
VTR warning (“HEAD CLEANING
REQUIRED!”) may disappear only after the tape
has run for some time.
3.Please use the cleaning tape at room tempera-
ture (10˚C to 35˚C).
4.Instructions for using the cleaning tape are stated
inside its case. The contents may be slightly dif-
ferent from those stated here.
Please follow the instructions in this manual.
Cassette tape
This unit can record onto and playback standard
DV and mini DV cassette tapes (for SP mode only).
Please use the following PANASONIC cassettes
with the 
 or the  logos.
 Erasure prevention
DV cassettes have a safety slide at the back to
prevent accidental erasure.
●To prevent accidental erasure of important
records, push the slide to the “SAVE” position.
●To record, push the slide to the “REC” posi-
tion. ●
Mini DV cassettesAY-DVM63
AY-DVM33 ●Standard DV cassettesAY-DV276
AY-DV186
AY-DV124
Memo
●DVCAM cassettes can be recorded in DV for-
mat.
Tapes recorded in DVCAM format can be
played (SP Mode).
●DVM83 cassettes(Mini DV 83min tape) can-
not be used with this unit.
Precautions on the use of tape
●Reverse sides of videotapes cannot be used.
●Please store the tape only after it has been fully rewound, so as to avoid damaging the tape.
●Please store the cassette in places low in humidity, well-ventilated and fungus-proof.
●When a cassette is used repeatedly, noise may increase due to e.g., dropout, etc. hence affecting its
performance. Please do not use dirty or damaged tapes as they will shorten the life span of the
rotation head.
REC
SAVE
Slide 
						

							E-9
Head drum
Videotape
 Condensation
●When this unit is moved from a cold to a warm
place abruptly, the vapor in the warm air will come
into contact with the head drum or the tape
guides. When chilled, the vapor turns into drop-
lets of water. This state is known as condensa-
tion. When condensation occurs, the videotape
will adhere to the head drum or the tape guides
and will be damaged.
●Condensation occurs on this unit in the following
circumstances:
•It is moved abruptly from a cold place to a warm
place.
•It is used in a room immediately after the heater
has been turned on, or when cold breeze from
an air-conditioner blows onto it.
•It is used at a place of high humidity.●When condensation occurs, the monitor displays
the following warning:
When a cassette tape is loaded, please do not
transport e.g., from an external cold place to a
warm room thereby subjecting the unit to dras-
tic temperature changes.
After moving the unit, please do not use it until
the innards are stabilized.To remedy, leave the unit with the power ON and
wait until the WARNING indicator disappears.
●Prevention of condensation
When transporting the AG-DV2500P from a cold
to a warmer place abruptly, first take out the cas-
sette. Then place the AG-DV2500P in a plastic
bag and seal it before transporting the unit.
Leave the AG-DV2500P in the sealed plastic bag
until the unit has the same temperature as the
surroundings. This will prevent condensation.
CONDENSATION ON DRUM
For recording and storing videotapes in the best conditionObserve the following instructions for the best recording and storage of videotapes.
●Take care of the conditions of handling videotapes.
It is recommended that you record and store videotapes in the environment below.
Storage
Recording Short period Long period
(Up to 10 years) (Over 10 years)
Temperature 17°C to 25°C 15°C to 23°C 15°C to 19°C
Humidity 30% to 70% 40% to 55% 25% to 35%
Hourly temperature change Less than 10°C – –
Hourly humidity change Less than 10% – –
●Do not leave the videotapes neglected for a long period.
If videotapes are left wound for a long period of time, it may result in distortion of the tape. Also it may
cause tape-to-tape adhesion (known as blocking). It is recommended that videotapes be unspooled and
rewound once a year for refreshing.
●When tapes are not in use, store them in cases and on end.
Storage cases protect videotapes from humidity, dust and ultraviolet. Keep tapes in cases and do not
store them lying flat. When housed in a horizontal position, pressure from other tapes can cause distor-
tions and deformations of the tape edges. 
						

							E-10
EJECT
MENU
REWSET
FF PLAY
STOP
REC INH.PA L
AUDIONTSCDVCAMPAUSE
POWER
RECA.DUB
CH1 / 3
2 / 4LINE
DVS-VIDEO
OFF
9PINWIRELESS
INPUTREMOTEMIC
AG-DV2500
2
43 1
1[POWER] Power button/LED
●Press this button to turn on the power and op-
erate the unit. (Power ON)
Press this button again to turn off the power.
(Power OFF)
●The POWER LED lights up as follows.
Power ON : the LED lights up green
Power OFF : the LED lights up red
VTR error : the LED blinks in red
Memo
● When the DC IN MODE item of the SYS-
TEM menu is set to “POWER ON” and power
is supplied to the 
1 DC IN terminal located
at the rear panel, the unit goes into the
POWER ON state even if this button is not
pressed.
● Even when the power has been turned off
with this button, a small amount of electric-
ity will still be channeled into the unit.
Therefore, if the unit is not going to be used
for a long period of time, please remove the
AC adapter to reduce energy consumption.
2Cassette slot
●Load a cassette into or unload it from the slot.
Please insert a standard DV or a mini DV cas-
sette. (☞ Page 29)
●When the unit is in the POWER OFF state
and if a cassette is loaded, it goes into the
ON state.
3[A. DUB] Audio dubbing button/LED
●Press this button for audio dubbing (after-re-
cording).
For audio dubbing, set the AUDIO MODE item
of the AUDIO/VIDEO menu to “32K”.
Sound produced by the 
6 MIC terminal or
the 
9 AUDIO IN terminal at the rear panel
(☞ Page 15) is recorded on CH3 and CH4
channels.
●During audio dubbing, the A. DUB LED lights
up red.
●If the INPUT switch is set at “DV”, audio dub-
bing is not possible.
(☞ Page 39, “Audio dubbing”)
4[INPUT] Input video signal selection
switch
●Select the video signal input with this switch.
S-VIDEO : YC separate video signals from the
  S-VIDEO IN terminal
LINE : Composite video signals from the
  LINE IN terminal
DV: DV signals from the DV IN/OUT
  terminal (IEEE1394)
Note
During recording, manipulating this switch will
not bring about any effect.
NAMES AND FUNCTIONS OF VARIOUS PARTS– Front panel –