Harman Kardon DVD 38 Owner's Manual

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Harman Kardon DVD 38 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 43 page image

43OPERATIONVCD PlaybackVCD, a video-playback format that predates DVD, is based on a differentcompression format than DVD and uses a recording method that issimilar to CD. Although the DVD has, for the most part, replaced VCDas a format, the DVD 38 offers VCD playback so that you may play yourexisting library of VCD discs, or home movies that you have recordedas VCDs on your computer.There are two versions of the VCD format: an early version which issimply called “VCD” and a later version with Playback Control that’scalled “Version 2.0” or “PBC.” The DVD 38 is compatible with bothforms of VCD, although playback will vary according to which versionis used and the specific way in which the disc was created.Even though VCD discs provide video, because the format is based onCD technology, the playback functions for a VCD disc are similar to CD.To play a VCD disc, place it in the DVD 38 as you would do with anyother CD or DVD disc. The unit takes a few seconds to read the disc’scontents; the VCD Disc-Type Indicator in the front-panel display will lightand the disc will begin playing.Keep in mind that the exact level of functionality for any VCD will varywidely and it is ultimately determined by the way the disc was created,not by the DVD 38, particularly if the disc has been created under VCDVersion 2.0 with Playback Control (see “Playback Control”).When playing VCD discs, most standard DVD/CD playback controls areused, including Play, Stop, Pause, Resume, Track Skip Forward andReverse, Slow Forward, Step Forward and Fast Forward. The ReverseSearch and Step Reverse functions are not available with VCDs.You may access information on the disc by pressing the Info Buttonon the remote. The availability of the Repeat and Random functions willdepend on whether PBC Support has been activated using the SYSTEMSETUP submenu. With PBC Support on, Repeat and Random will notbe available.Repeat A-B is always available. Simply press the Repeat A-B Buttononce at the beginning of the passage to be repeated, again at the endof the passage, and a third time to cancel Repeat A-B mode.NOTE: Discs containing raw MPEG files, without playbackcontrol, are not technically Video CDs, and are played ina different manner. When such a disc is loaded, the PlayerInformation menu will appear, with a list of folders or files,similar to an MP3 disc. The disc directory is navigated usingthe Navigation Buttons. Press the Enter Button to expand orcollapse a folder. Select the desired track, and press the PlayButton or the Enter Button to begin play. You will find that theStop, Pause, Track Skip Forward and Reverse, Slow Forwardand Reverse, Step Forward and Reverse, and Fast Forwardand Reverse Search functions are all available, depending onhow the disc was encoded. However, the Status Banner isnot available for these types of VCDs.Status BarWhen playing VCD discs, it is possible to access the disc’s featuresusing the Status Bar. Press the Status Button to view it.The Status Bar will appear the same as for DVDs (see Figure 53),except that the current and total track numbers will be shown, ratherthan the title, and there is no chapter display. If PBC is off, you mayselect the track number and change it to skip to another track. Youmay also use the Time Search function to begin play at a desiredplace. You may change the time display from Track Elapsed, to TrackRemaining, to Disc Elapsed, to Disc Remaining, and back to TrackElapsed, just as with DVDs. The elapsed time will appear as a graphictemperature bar, with additional lines added as more of the track ordisc is played.Figure 53 – VCD Status BarZoomThe Zoom function is available for VCDs by pressing the Zoom Button.Repeatedly pressing this button will cycle through the possible settingsof 1x, 2x and 3x zoom, as indicated on screen. After the enlargementindication disappears from view, you may explore the image using theNavigation Buttons.Playback ControlVCD discs made under the Revision 2.0 specification will usually offerPBC playback control. The PBC Indicator in the front display will turn onautomatically with any VCD when the disc is played. With PBC, you canselect titles and navigate the disc as with DVDs. However, the access tosome functions may be prohibited by PBC playback control; in thatcase, the prohibit icon will appear on screen.When a VCD is made without PBC, the disc can be controlled thesame as an audio CD, but direct track access by entering a numberis not possible without opening the Status Bar. With PBC, many discsinclude chapter selection menus that are similar to those found onDVDs. However, on VCD discs, the disc menu (if any) is accessed andcontrolled differently than on DVDs.• Play will start with the first track (which may be an intro), then proceedto the VCD menu (if any) automatically.• The Next (Skip Forward) command will skip to the VCD menu fromthe intro (Track 1) directly.• Once the menu options appear on the screen, make your selectionby pressing the Numeric Keys that correspond to your desired choice.The desired selection will begin playing automatically.• Direct number entry without any VCD menu shown on-screen has noeffect – even when the Status Bar is on.The Disc Menu Button used during DVD playback is not used for VCDplayback. Use of functions when PBC is on will vary according to thedisc type.