Harman Kardon DVD 48 Owners Manual - Page 45

OPERATION VCD Playback VCD, a video-playback format that predates DVD, is based on a different compression format than DVD and uses a recording method that is similar to CD. Although the DVD has, for the most part, replaced VCD as a format, the DVD 48 offers VCD playback so that you may play your existing library of VCD discs, or home movies that you have recorded as VCDs on your computer. There are two versions of the VCD format: an early version which is simply called "VCD" and a later version with Playback Control that's called "Version 2.0" or "PBC." The DVD 48 is compatible with both forms of VCD, although playback will vary according to which version is used and the specific way in which the disc was created. Even though VCD discs provide video, because the format is based on CD technology, the playback functions for a VCD disc are similar to CD. To play a VCD disc, place it in the DVD 48 as you would do with any other CD or DVD disc. The unit takes a few seconds to read the disc's contents; the VCD Disc-Type Indicator in the front-panel display will light and the disc will begin playing. Keep in mind that the exact level of functionality for any VCD will vary widely and it is ultimately determined by the way the disc was created, not by the DVD 48, particularly if the disc has been created under VCD Version 2.0 with Playback Control (see "Playback Control"). When playing VCD discs, most standard DVD/CD playback controls are used, including Play, Stop, Pause, Resume, Track Skip Forward and Reverse, Slow Forward, Step Forward and Fast Forward. The Reverse Search and Step Reverse functions are not available with VCDs. The availability of the Repeat and Random functions will depend on whether PBC Support has been activated using the DISC SETUP menu. With PBC Support on, Repeat and Random will not be available. In addition, the PBC ON message will appear in the front-panel display rather than the current track number and elapsed time. Press the Disc Menu Button to display the current PBC setting. Each additional press of the Disc Menu Button will toggle between the settings of PBC On and PBC Off. Repeat A-B is always available. Simply press the Repeat A-B Button once at the beginning of the passage to be repeated, again at the end of the passage, and a third time to cancel Repeat A-B mode. NOTE: Discs containing raw MPEG files, without playback control, are not technically Video CDs, and are played in a different manner. When such a disc is loaded, the media player screen will appear, with a list of folders or files, similar to an MP3 disc. The disc directory is navigated using the Navigation Buttons. Press the Enter Button to expand or collapse a folder. Select the desired track, and press the Play Button or the Enter Button to begin play. You will find that the Stop, Pause, Track Skip Forward and Reverse, Slow Forward and Reverse, Step Forward and Reverse, Fast Forward and Reverse Search, Repeat and Random functions are all available, depending on how the disc was encoded. However, the Status Display is not available for these types of discs. Status Display When playing VCD discs, it is possible to access the disc's features using the Status Display. Press the Status Button to view it. The Status Display will appear the same as for CDs (see Figure 48), except that the VCD disc type will be displayed. You may select the track number and change it to skip to another track. The Time Search function is not available. You may change the time display from Track Elapsed, to Track Remaining, to Total Elapsed, to Total Remaining, and back to Track Elapsed, just as with CDs. Figure 48 (repeated) - CD Status Display Zoom The Zoom function is available for VCDs by pressing the Zoom Button. Repeatedly pressing this button will cycle through the possible settings of 1-1/2x, 2x and 3x zoom, as indicated on screen. You may explore the image using the Navigation Buttons. Playback Control VCD discs made under the Revision 2.0 specification will usually offer PBC playback control. PBC may be turned on or off using the DISC SETUP menu. In addition, with a VCD loaded each press of the Disc Menu Button will toggle the PBC setting on or off. With PBC, you can select titles and navigate the disc as with DVDs. However, the access to some functions may be prohibited by PBC playback control; in that case, the prohibit icon will appear on screen. When a VCD is made without PBC, the disc can be controlled in the same way as an audio CD, but direct track access by entering a number is not possible without opening the Status Display. With PBC, many discs include chapter selection menus that are similar to those found on DVDs. However, on VCD discs, the disc menu (if any) is accessed and controlled differently than on DVDs. • Play will start with the first track (which may be an intro), then proceed to the VCD menu (if any) automatically. • Press the Play Button to begin play of the first selection. • The Next (Skip Forward) command will skip to the VCD menu from the intro (Track 1) directly. The Next Button always skips to the next menu page, not to the next track. Press the Return Button to return to the main menu while a track is playing. • Once the menu options appear on the screen, press the Numeric Keys that correspond to your desired choice, and then the Enter Button. The desired selection will begin playing automatically. • Direct number entry without any VCD menu shown on-screen has no effect - except when the Status Display is on. • The Disc Menu Button used during DVD playback is not used for VCD playback; press the Return Button to view the disc's main menu. Use of functions when PBC is on will vary according to how the disc was authored. 45