Sony Digital 8 Manual

							Customizing Your Camcorder
Customizing Your Camcorder51
Using the  (LCD 
SET) menu
 – LCD B.L./LCD 
COLOR, etc.
You can select the items listed below in the 
LCD SET menu. To select these items, see 
“Changing the menu settings” (p. 41). The default settings are marked with 
G. The 
settings you can adjust vary depending on the 
power mode of your camcorder. 
The screen 
shows the items you can operate at the moment. 
Unavailable items will be grayed out.
LCD BRIGHT
 See page 16 for details.
LCD B.L.
You can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen’s backlight. The recorded picture 
will not be affected by this setting.
bNotes When you connect your camcorder to outside power sources, [BRIGHT] is automatically  selected for the setting.
 When you select [BRIGHT], battery life is reduced by about 10 percent during recording.
LCD COLOR
Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to adjust the color on the LCD screen. The 
recorded picture will not be affected by this setting.
 LCD  SET
  LCD  BR I GHT
  LCD  B. L. 
  LCD  COLOR
[ MENU ]
 : END
G BRT NORMAL  Standard brightness.
BRIGHT   Select to brighten the LCD screen.
Low intensity
High intensity 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder52
Using the  (TAPE 
SET) menu
 – FRAME REC/
INT.REC, etc.
You can select items listed below in the TAPE 
SET menu. To select items, see “Changing the 
menu settings” (p. 41).
The default settings are marked with  G. The 
settings you can adjust vary depending on the  power mode of your camcorder. The screen 
shows the items you can operate at the moment. 
Unavailable items will be grayed out.
 REC MODE
bNotes If you record in the LP mode, a mosaic-like noise may appear or sound may be interrupted 
when you play back the tape on other camcorders or VCRs. 
 For TRV138/338: When you record a tape in the LP mode on your camcorder, recording is carried out in the 
standard 8 mm   system.
 For TRV280: When you mix recordings in the SP mode and in the LP mode on one tape, the playback 
picture may be distorted or the time code may not be written properly between the scenes.
 AUDIO MODE 
For TRV280:
ORC TO SET 
For TRV138/338:
You can automatically adjust the recording condition to get the best possible 
recording. 
When you select [ORC TO SET] in the menu settings, [START/STOP KEY] 
appears. Press REC START/STOP. [ORC] appears on the screen and adjustment 
starts. Your camcorder returns to the standby mode when adjustment is complete. 
It takes about 10 seconds for adjustment.
bNotes Each time you eject a cassette, this setting will be canceled.
 TAPE  SET
  REC  MODE
  AUDIO  MODE 
      REMAIN
  FRAME  REC
   I NT. REC
[ MENU ]
 : END
G SP (  SP  ) Select to record in the SP (Standard Play) mode on a cassette.
LP (  LP ) Select to increase the recording time from that of the SP mode (2 times 
longer for  TRV138/338, 1.5 times longer for  TRV280) (Long 
Play). The use of Sony cassettes is recommended to get the most out 
of your camcorder.
G 12BIT   Select to record in the 12-bit mode (2 stereo sounds).
16BIT ( ) Select to record in the 16-bit mode (1 stereo sound with high quality). 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder
Customizing Your Camcorder53
 When you set [ORC TO SET], a non-recorded section of about 0.1 second appears on the tape. However, note that this non-recorded section disappears from the tape when you 
continue recording from this section.
 To check if you have already set this setting, select [ORC TO SET] in the menu settings.  [ORC ON] is displayed if it is already set.
REMAIN
FRAME REC
For TRV280:
You can record pictures with a stop-motion animated effect by alternately frame 
recording and then moving the subject a little.
bNotes When you use frame recording continuously, the remaining tape time will not be indicated correctly.
 The last scene will be longer than other scenes. G AUTO Select to display the remaining tape bar:
 For about 8 seconds after you turn on your camcorder with the 
cassette inserted, and your camcorder calculates the remaining 
amount of tape.
 For about 8 seconds after   (play) is pressed.
 For about 8 seconds after DISPLAY/BATT INFO is pressed to 
display the screen indicators.
 For the period of tape rewinding, forwarding or picture search.
ON Select to always display the remaining tape indicator.
G OFF Select to record in the standard recording mode.
ON Select to record pictures using the frame recording function.
1Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select [ON], then 
press the dial.
2Press MENU to hide the menu settings. 
 lights up.
3Press REC START/STOP. 
A picture (approximately 6 frames) is recorded, and your 
camcorder enters the standby mode.
4Move the subject and repeat step 3. 
,continued 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder54
INT.REC
For TRV280:
You can achieve excellent recordings of flowers blooming, etc., with this 
function. Connect your camcorder to the wall outlet using the supplied AC 
Adaptor during the operation.
a. [REC TIME]
b. [INTERVAL]
1Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select [SET], then press the dial.
2Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select [INTERVAL], then press the 
dial.
3Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired interval time 
(30 seconds, 1, 5, 10 minutes), then press the dial.
4Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select [REC TIME], then press the 
dial.
5Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select the desired recording time 
(0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 seconds), then press the dial.
6Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select [ RETURN], then press the 
dial.
7Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to select [ON], then press the dial.
8Press MENU to hide the menu settings.  flashes.
9Press REC START/STOP.
The interval recording starts. lights up during interval recording.
To cancel recording, set to [OFF] in the menu settings.
bNote There may be a discrepancy in recording time of up to ± 6 frames from the selected time.
z
Tips  If you adjust the focus manually, you may be able to record clear pictures even if the light 
changes (p. 29). 
 You can silence the beeps during recording (p. 57). 
[b] [b]
[a] [a] [a] 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder
Customizing Your Camcorder55
Using the  (SETUP 
MENU) 
– CLOCK SET/USB STREAM/
LANGUAGE, etc.
You can select items listed below in the SETUP 
MENU. To select items, see “Changing the 
menu settings” (p. 41).
The default settings are marked with G. The 
settings you can adjust vary depending on the 
power mode of your camcorder. 
The screen 
shows the items you can operate at the moment. 
Unavailable items will be grayed out.
 CLOCK SET
You can set the date and time (p. 17).
AUTO DATE
For TRV138/338:
You can automatically record the date once a day for 10 seconds after you start 
recording.
zTip The auto date function automatically displays the date once a day. However, the date may  automatically appear more than once a day if: 
– you set the date and time.
– you eject and insert the tape again.
– you stop recording within 10 seconds.
– you set [AUTO DATE] to [OFF] once and set it back to [ON] in the menu settings.
USB STREAM 
For TRV280:
You can connect a USB cable (supplied) to your camcorder, and view the picture 
displayed on the screen of your camcorder on your computer (USB Streaming). 
For details, refer to “First Step Guide” in the supplied CD-ROM.
LTR SIZE
 SETUP  MENU
  CLOCK  SET
  USB  STREAM 
  LTR  SIZE
      LANGUAGE
  DEMO  MODE
[ MENU ]
 : END
G ON Select to record the date for 10 seconds after recording has started.
OFF Select to cancel the auto date function.
G OFF Select to deactivate the USB Streaming function.
ON Select to activate the USB Streaming function.
G NORMAL Select to display selected menu items in normal size.
2× Select to display selected menu items at twice the normal height.
,continued 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder56
 LANGUAGE
You can select or change the language used for the on-screen display (p. 19). You 
can select from English, Simplified English, Canadian-French, Latin American 
Spanish, Brazilian-Portuguese, Traditional-Chinese, or Korean.
DEMO MODE
When you remove a cassette from your camcorder, and select the CAMERA 
mode, you can view the demonstration in about 10 minutes.
bNote You can view the demonstration only when the NIGHTSHOT PLUS switch is set to OFF.
z
Tips The demonstration will be suspended in situations such as those described below.– When a cassette is inserted.
– When a mode other than CAMERA is selected.
 If [A.SHUT OFF] is set to [5 min] when the camcorder is used on the battery pack, the  power will be turned off after approximately 5 minutes (p. 57).
G
ON Select to see an overview of the functions available such as when you 
are using this camcorder for the first time. 
OFF Select when you do not intend to use the [DEMO MODE]. 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder
Customizing Your Camcorder57
Using the  
(OTHERS) menu
 – WORLD 
TIME/VIDEO EDIT, etc.
You can select items listed below in the 
OTHERS menu. To select items, see “Changing 
the menu settings” (p. 41).
The default settings are marked with  G. The 
settings you can adjust vary depending on the  power mode of your camcorder. The screen 
shows the items you can operate at the moment. 
Unavailable items will be grayed out.
DATA CODE 
For TRV280:
WORLD TIME
You can adjust the time difference when using your camcorder abroad. Set the 
time difference by turning the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial, the clock will be adjusted 
in accordance with the time difference. If you set the time difference to 0, the 
clock returns to the originally set time.
BEEP
A.SHUT OFF
 OTHERS
  WORLD  TIME
  BEEP 
  A. SHUT  OFF
  DISPLAY
  REC  LAMP
[ MENU ]
 : END
G OFF Select not to display date, time and the camera settings data during 
playback.
DATE/TIME Select to display the date and time during playback. (p. 37)
CAM DATA Select to display the camera setting data during playback. (p. 37)
G MELODY Select to play a melody when you start/stop recording, operate your 
camcorder with the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial, or when an unusual 
condition occurs on your camcorder. 
NORMAL Select to sound a beep instead of the melody.
OFF Select to cancel the melody, beep sound, shutter sound and operation 
confirmation beep.
G 5 min Select to activate the Auto shut off. When approximately 5 minutes 
have elapsed while you do not operate your camcorder, the camcorder 
is automatically turned off to prevent the battery from becoming 
consumed.
NEVER Select to deactivate the Auto shut off.
,continued 
						

							Customizing Your Camcorder58
bNote When you connect your camcorder to the wall outlet, [A.SHUT OFF] is automatically set to [NEVER].
DISPLAY
REC LAMP
VIDEO EDIT 
For TRV280:
You can select up to 20 scenes (programs) and record them in the desired order to 
another recording device such as VCR (p. 67).
 
G LCD Select to show the displays such as the time code on the LCD screen 
and in the viewfinder.
V-OUT/LCD Select to show the displays such as the time code on the TV screen, 
LCD screen, and in the viewfinder.
G ON Select to turn on the camera recording lamp on the front of your 
camcorder during recording.
OFF Select this setting in the following recording situations. The camera 
recording lamp will not light up during recording.
 When you do not want the subject to be nervous about being 
recorded.
 When you are recording close to the subject.
 When the subject reflects the recording lamp. 
						

							Dubbing/Editing
Dubbing/Editing59
Dubbing/Editing
Connecting to a VCR
You can create a copy of the picture recorded 
on your camcorder on other recording 
devices (p. 61).
For  TRV280, you can also record the 
picture from a VCR to a tape on your 
camcorder (p. 66).
Connect your camcorder to a VCR as shown 
in the following illustration.
For TRV138/338:
A/V connecting cable (supplied)Signal flow VCRs
A/V OUT jack
YellowBlack
,continued 
						

							Dubbing/Editing60
For TRV280:
bNotes
 Use the A/V connecting cable to connect your  camcorder to other devices. Before connecting, 
make sure the [DISPLAY] setting in the   
(OTHERS) menu is set to [LCD] (the default 
setting) (p. 58). 
 For TRV138/338: When you are connecting your camcorder to a stereo 
device, connect the audio plug of the A/V 
connecting cable to the left (white) jack on the VCR.
 For TRV280: When you are connecting your camcorder to a 
monaural device, connect the yellow plug of the 
A/V connecting cable to the video jack, and the red 
(right channel) or the white (left channel) plug to the 
audio jack on the VCR. 
To use an i.LINK cable for connection
For TRV280:
Use an i.LINK cable (optional) to connect your 
camcorder to other device via the DV Interface. 
The video and sound signals are transmitted 
digitally, producing high quality pictures. Note  that you cannot record the picture and sound 
separately. For details, see page 97.
A/V connecting cable (supplied)i.LINK cable (optional)
 DV Interface
Signal flow i.LINK jack
Connecting with an i.LINK cable
VCRs
A/V OUT jack
YellowRed
White