The model number is located at the rear of the unit and the serial number on the top. Record these numbers in the spaces provided below. Refer to them whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product. Model No. _________________________ Serial No. _________________________...
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If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, contact your Sony dealer. • (SLV-760HF/761HF) Unplug the unit from the wall outlet if you do not intend to use it for an extended period of time.
Table of contents Getting Started Step 1: Unpacking Step 2: Setting up the remote commander Step 3: Hookups 23 Step 4: Setting the clock 29 Presetting channels 33 Setting up VCR Plus+ Basic Operations 36 Playing a tape 38 Recording TV programs 41 Recording TV programs using VCR Plus+ 44 Setting the timer manually...
Getting Started Step 1 Unpacking Check that you have received the following items with the VCR: • Remote commander • Size AA (R6) batteries • Audio/video cable (3-phono to 3-phono) • 75-ohm coaxial cable with F-type connectors Getting Started • AC power cord (SLV-760HF/761HF) (SLV-760HF MJ/760HF PX) •...
Using the remote commander You can use this remote commander to operate this VCR and a Sony TV. Buttons on the remote commander marked with a dot (•) can be used to operate your Sony TV. To operate...
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Now you can use the POWER, VOL +/–, CH +/– and TV/VTR buttons to control your TV. You can also use the buttons marked with a dot (•) to control a Sony TV. To control the VCR, reset TV / VTR to VTR . Code numbers of controllable TVs If more than one code number is listed, try entering them one at a time until you find the one that works with your TV.
• Be sure you make connections firmly. Loose connections may cause picture distortion. • If your TV doesn’t match any of the examples provided, see your nearest Sony dealer or qualified technician. Audio/video (A/V) hookup, then follow one of the hookups below.
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Audio/video (A/V) hookup If your TV has audio/video (A/V) input jacks, you will get a better picture and sound if you hook up your VCR using these connections. In addition, for a true “home theater” experience, you should connect the audio outputs of your VCR or TV to your stereo system.
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A/V hookup: VCR setup After you’ve connected your TV and completed antenna or cable hookup, use the following procedure to set up the VCR. Press MENU and select ADVANCED OPTIONS. MENU TIMER SET / CHECK TUNER PRESET CLOCK SET SET VCR Plus+ CHANNELS ADVANCED OPTIONS SELECT : [ EXECUTE ]...
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 1 Antenna hookup Make the following connections if you’re using an antenna (if you don’t have cable TV). A Use this hookup if you’re using: • VHF/UHF antenna (you get channels 2–13 and channels 14 and higher) •...
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Hookup 1: VCR setup Set the RF UNIT switch to CH 3 or CH 4, whichever channel is not used in your area. If both are used, set the switch to either channel. For details, see page 56. If you made A/V connections (pages 8 and 9), you can skip this step.
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 1: VCR Plus+ channel setup Find the VCR Plus+ Channel Listing in your program guide. For details, see page 33. If the channels in the program guide are different from the channels that you actually use on your TV, set the channels that are different as follows.
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Hookup 2 Hookup 4 Hookup 4 Cable box with many scrambled channels Recommended use Use this hookup if your cable system scrambles all or most channels. What you can do with this hookup • Record any channel by selecting the channel on the cable box What you can’t do •...
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 2: VCR setup Set the RF UNIT switch to CH 3 or CH 4, whichever channel is not used in your area. If both are used, set the switch to either channel. For details, see page 56. If you made A/V connections (pages 8 and 9), you can skip this step.
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Hookup 2: VCR Plus+ channel setup Find the VCR Plus+ Channel Listing in your program guide. For details, see page 33. Enter all the channels you want to record and the cable box output channel (usually 2, 3, or 4). For details, see page 34. 1 Press MENU and select SET VCR Plus+ CHANNELS.
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 3 No cable box, or cable box with only a few scrambled channels Recommended use Use this hookup if you do not have a cable box. Also use this hookup if your cable system scrambles only a few channels. What you can do with this hookup •...
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Hookup 3: VCR setup Set the RF UNIT switch to CH 3 or CH 4, whichever channel is not used in your area. If both are used, set the switch to either channel. For details, see page 56. If you made A/V connections (pages 8 and 9), you can skip this step.
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 3: VCR Plus+ channel setup Find the VCR Plus+ Channel Listing in your program guide. For details, see page 33. If the channels in the program guide are different from the channels that you actually use on your TV, set the channels that are different as follows.
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Hookup 4 Cable box with only a few scrambled channels, using an A/B switch Recommended use By using an A/B switch (not supplied), this hookup allows you to record both scrambled and unscrambled channels conveniently. What you can do with this hookup •...
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 4: VCR setup Set the RF UNIT switch to CH 3 or CH 4, whichever channel is not used in your area. If both are used, set the switch to either channel. For details, see page 56. If you made A/V connections (pages 8 and 9), you can skip this step.
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Preset the cable box output channel (usually 2, 3 or 4). For details, see page 31. 1 Press MENU and select TUNER PRESET. 2 Enter the cable box output channel. 3 Set MANUAL SET to ADD and press EXECUTE. Cable box output channel TUNER PRESET ANTENNA / CABLE •...
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Step 3: Hookups (continued) Hookup 4: VCR Plus+ channel setup Find the VCR Plus+ Channel Listing in your program guide. For details, see page 33. For unscrambled channels, if the channels in the program guide are different from the channels that you actually use on your TV, set the channels that are different as follows.
Step 4 Setting the clock Using the Auto Clock Set feature Some TV and cable channels transmit time signals with their broadcasts. Your VCR can pick up this time signal to automatically set the clock. The Auto Clock Set feature works only if a channel in your area is broadcasting a time signal.
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Setting the clock (continued) Press CURSOR ?// to set FULL AUTO to YES, then press EXECUTE. •CURSOR •EXECUTE To activate the Auto Clock Set function, turn off the VCR. The VCR automatically sets the clock by searching for a channel that carries a time signal and sets your time zone and Daylight Saving Time (if applicable).
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If the clock is not activated Follow steps 1 and 2 in “Using the Auto Clock Set feature.” The AUTO CLOCK SET menu is displayed. Press CURSOR ?// to set FULL AUTO to NO. •CURSOR Press CURSOR >/. to move the cursor (z) to the item you want to set, then change the •CURSOR setting with the CURSOR ?//.
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Setting the clock (continued) • For TIME ZONE Select the time zone of your area, or select AUTO to have the VCR automatically set your time zone. • The options are: AUTO n ATLANTIC n EASTERN n CENTRAL n MOUNTAIN n PACIFIC n ALASKA n HAWAII n AUTO.
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Using Manual Clock Set •MENU Press MENU, then press CURSOR >/. to move the cursor (z) to CLOCK SET and press EXECUTE. •CURSOR •EXECUTE Press CURSOR ?// to select MANUAL and press EXECUTE. •CURSOR •EXECUTE Press CURSOR >/. to set the month. •CURSOR Press CURSOR / to flash the day and press CURSOR >/.
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Setting the clock (continued) Set the year, hour and minutes in the same way as the day. •CURSOR •EXECUTE Press EXECUTE to start the clock. Getting Started...
Presetting channels This VCR is capable of receiving VHF channels 2 to 13, UHF channels 14 to 69 and unscrambled CATV channels 1 to 125. First, we recommend that you preset the receivable channels in your area using automatic presetting. Then, if there are any unwanted channels, disable them manually.
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Presetting channels (continued) • To preset cable TV channels: •CURSOR Press CURSOR ?// to set ANTENNA/CABLE to CABLE. • To preset VHF and UHF channels: •CURSOR Press CURSOR ?// to set ANTENNA/CABLE to ANT. Press CURSOR >/. to select AUTO PRESET, then press EXECUTE.
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Presetting/disabling channels manually •MENU Press MENU and select TUNER PRESET, then press EXECUTE. •EXECUTE • To preset a channel: 1 Press the number buttons to enter the channel number, then press ENTER. 2 Press CURSOR ?// to set MANUAL SET to ADD. •...
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Presetting channels (continued) If the picture is not clear Normally, the Auto Fine Tuning (AFT) function automatically tunes in channels clearly. If, however, the picture of a channel is not clear, you can also use the manual tuning function. •MENU Press MENU and select TUNER PRESET, then press EXECUTE.
Setting up VCR Plus+ How VCR Plus+ works Whenever you want to record a TV program, all you need to do is look up the program’s “PlusCode,” a number assigned to each program that’s published in the TV section of most newspapers, cable TV listings, and even TV GUIDE magazine.
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Setting up VCR Plus+ (continued) •MENU Press MENU, then press CURSOR >/. to move the cursor (z) to SET VCR Plus+ CHANNELS and press EXECUTE. •CURSOR •EXECUTE Enter the channel number assigned in the program guide and press ENTER. • If you made Hookup 1 or 3: Enter the •ENTER actual number on your TV (and VCR) and press ENTER.
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Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each channel whose numbers don’t match. •EXECUTE When you have set all channels, press EXECUTE to confirm your channel settings. •MENU When you’ve finished, press MENU to exit. VCR Plus+ CHANNEL LIST PAGE 1 GUIDE GUIDE –...
Basic Operations Playing a tape Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Insert a tape. The VCR turns on and starts playing automatically if you insert a tape with its safety tab removed. Press · PLAY. When the tape reaches the end, it will rewind automatically.
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Additional tasks Press Stop play p STOP Pause play P PAUSE P PAUSE or · PLAY Resume play after pause Search forward Turn the DUAL MODE SHUTTLE (DMS) ring to # during playback Search backward Turn the DMS ring to 3 during playback Fast-forward the tape Turn the DMS ring to ) FF during stop Rewind the tape...
Recording TV programs Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. To record from a cable box, turn it on. Insert a tape with its safety tab in place. INPUT Press INPUT SELECT until a channel number appears in the display SELECT window.
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•CH Press CH +/– to select the channel you want to record. Press TAPE SPEED to select the tape speed, SP or EP. TAPE SPEED EP provides recording time three times as long as SP, however, SP produces better picture quality. Press r REC to start recording.
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Recording TV programs (continued) To save a recording To prevent accidental erasure, break off the safety tab as illustrated. To record on a tape again, cover the tab hole with adhesive tape. Tips • To select a channel, you can use the number buttons on the remote commander. Enter the channel number, then press ENTER.
Recording TV programs using VCR Plus+ Just enter the program’s PlusCode listed in the TV program guide. The date, times and channel number of that program are set automatically. You can preset up to eight programs at a time. Before you start… •...
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Recording programs using VCR Plus+ (continued) Press TAPE SPEED to select SP or EP. TAPE SPEED Press ONCE, DAILY or WEEKLY: ONCE To record Only once DAILY Everyday Monday to Friday Once a week WEEKLY The date, start and stop times, channel number and tape speed appear on the TV screen.
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To use the VCR after setting the timer To use the VCR before a timer recording begins, just press POWER. The “TIMER” indicator turns off and the VCR switches on. Remember to press POWER to reset the VCR in timer recording standby after using the VCR. You can also do the following tasks while the VCR is recording: •...
Setting the timer manually If VCR Plus+ is not available in your area, follow the instructions below to set the timer to record programs. Before you start… • Check that the VCR clock is set to the correct time. • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel.
Set the date, start and stop times, channel number and tape speed: 1 Press CURSOR / to flash each item in turn. •CURSOR 2 Press CURSOR >/. to set each item. To correct a setting, press CURSOR ? to return to that setting and reset. To record the same program every day or the same day every week, press CURSOR .
Additional Operations Playing/searching at various speeds Playback options Play at various speeds Fast-forward/rewind View the picture during fast- forward or rewind Play at twice the normal speed Play at high speed Play in slow motion Play frame by frame Play in reverse Skip a scene Rewind and start play Additional Operations...
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To resume normal playback Press · PLAY. • Adjust the picture using the $/4 TRACKING/STILL ADJUST buttons if: – Streaks appear while playing in slow motion. – Bands appear at the top or bottom while pausing. – The picture shakes while pausing. Notes •...
Recording TV programs using the quick timer After starting recording in the normal way, you can have the VCR stop recording automatically after a specified duration. While recording, press QUICK TIMER once. Press QUICK TIMER repeatedly to set the duration. Each press advances the time in increments of 30 minutes.
Checking/ changing/ cancelling timer settings Before you start… • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. Press POWER to turn on the VCR. Press MENU and select TIMER SET/CHECK: • If you want to change a setting, go on to the next step.
Recording stereo and bilingual programs Recording stereo programs This VCR automatically receives and records stereo programs. When a stereo program is received, the STEREO indicator lights up. If there is noise in the stereo program, set AUTO STEREO in the ADVANCED OPTIONS menu to OFF.
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How sound is recorded on a video tape The VCR records sound onto two separate tracks. Hi-fi audio is recorded onto the main track along with the picture. Monaural sound is recorded onto the normal audio track along the edge of the tape. Stereo Monaural sound Normal audio track...
Adjusting the picture Adjusting the tracking Although the VCR automatically adjusts the tracking when playing a tape (the AUTO TRACKING indicator flashes in the display window, then lights steadily), distortion may occur if the tape was recorded in poor condition. If so, manually adjust the tracking.
Changing menu options Press MENU and select ADVANCED OPTIONS. Press CURSOR >/. to select the option to change, then press CURSOR ?// to change the setting. Press EXECUTE to return to the original screen. Menu choices Initial settings are indicated in bold print. Menu option Set this option to AUTO ANT SEL...
Hooking up to a VCR or stereo system How to hook up to record on this VCR This VCR (Recorder) : Signal flow Notes • Make sure you connect the plugs to jacks of the same color. • If the other VCR is a monaural type, leave the red plugs unconnected. •...
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Operation (when recording on this VCR) Before you start editing • Turn on your TV and set it to the video channel. • Press INPUT SELECT to display “L2” in the display window. • Press TAPE SPEED on the remote commander to select the tape speed, SP or EP.
Additional Information General setup information Setting the RF unit When connecting the VCR to the TV using only an antenna cable, you must set the RF UNIT switch on the rear of the VCR so that the TV can receive the correct signal from the VCR.
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Attaching the external antenna connector When using a 300-ohm twin lead cable for VHF/UHF antenna, use the EAC-32 antenna connector (not supplied) to connect the antenna to the VCR. Loosen the screws on the antenna connector. Wind the twin leads around the screws on the antenna connector. Retighten the screws.
Sony T-25CL video head cleaning cassette. If this cleaning cassette is not available in your area, have the heads cleaned at your nearest Sony service facility (a standard service charge will be required). Do not use a commercially available wet- type cleaning cassette, as it may damage the video heads.
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Symptom A TV program does not appear on the TV screen. TV reception is poor. The tape starts playing as soon as it is inserted. The tape ejects when you press r REC. Nothing happens when you press r REC. No sound is recorded on the normal audio track.
Specifications System Format VHS NTSC standard Video recording system Rotary head helical scanning FM system Video heads Double azimuth four heads Video signal NTSC color, EIA standards Tape speed SP: 33.35 mm/s (1 inches/s) EP: 11.11 mm/s ( inches/s) LP: 16.67 mm/s ( inches/s), playback only Maximum recording/playback time...
Index to parts and controls Refer to the pages indicated in parentheses ( ) for details. Front panel 1 POWER switch/indicator 2 Tape compartment 3 6 EJECT button (37) 4 · PLAY button (36) 5 p STOP button (37, 39) 6 r REC button (39, 55) 7 DUAL MODE SHUTTLE ring (37, 8 P PAUSE button (37, 55)
Index to parts and controls (continued) Display window AUTOTRACKING TIMER 1 TIMER indicator (45) 2 AUTO TRACKING indicator (52) 3 Tape speed indicator (39) 4 APC indicator (52) 5 STEREO indicator (50) 6 SAP indicator (50) Rear panel 1 AC IN connector 2 LINE OUT AUDIO L/R/VIDEO jacks (8) 3 LINE-1 IN AUDIO L/R/VIDEO...
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Remote commander 1 6 EJECT button (37) 2 Menu operation buttons (53) MENU button CURSOR >/./?// buttons EXECUTE button 3 COUNTER RESET button (37) 4 Channel number buttons and ENTER button (31, 34, 41) 5 SKIP button (46) 6 TRACKING buttons (52) $/4 NORMAL SLOW (STILL ADJUST) buttons AUTO/MANUAL button...
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Index to parts and controls (continued) Remote commander (continued) Additional Information !£ TV / VTR remote control switch (5, !¢ POWER switch !∞ TIMER CLEAR button (41, 49) !§ TV/VTR button (39) !¶ AUDIO MONITOR button (50) !• VCR Plus+ buttons (41) VCR Plus+ button ONCE button DAILY button...
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2 Set the TV to the channel you want to watch. If you have any questions about this product, you may call: Sony Customer Information Center 1-800-222-SONY (7669) or write to: Sony Customer Information Center Sony Drive, Mail Drop #T1-11, Park Ridge, NJ 07656...