Harman Kardon DVD 21 Owner's Manual

Also see for DVD 21: Service manual

Harman Kardon DVD 21 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 30 page image

30 VCD PLAYBACKVCD PlaybackVCD PlaybackVCD is a format that predates DVD which isbased on a different compression format thanDVD and a recording method that is similar toCD. Although the DVD has, for the most part,replaced VCD as a format, the DVD 21 offersVCD playback so that you may play your existinglibrary of VCD discs.There are two versions of the VCD format: anearly version which is simply called ”VCD” and alater version with Playback Control which iscalled ”Version 2.0” or ”PBC”. The DVD 21 iscompatible with both forms of VCD, althoughplayback will vary according to which version isused and the specific way in which the disc wascreated.Even though VCD discs provide video, becausethe format is based on CD technology, the play-back functions for a VCD disc are similar to CD.To play a VCD disc, place it in the DVD player asyou would do with any other CD or DVD disc.The unit takes a few seconds to read the disc’scontents, the VCD Disc Type and the red PBCindicators in the front panel display will light andthe disc will begin playing. However, keep inmind that the exact level of functionality for anyVCD will vary widely and it is ultimatelydetermined by the way the disc was created, notby the DVD player, particulary if the disc has beencreated under VCD Version 2.0 with PlaybackControl (see right side of that page).When playing VCD discs, most standard DVD/CDplayback controls are used, including Play, Stop,Pause, Resume, Track Skip Forward and Reverse,Slow Forward, Step Forward and Fast Forward orReverse Search. The functions Slow Reverse, StepReverse are not available with VCDs.Note that also with VCDs you have the sameaccess to detailed informations on the discplaying or on current player setting as with DVDsby pressing the INFO button on the remote onceor twice during playback. See chapter"Information Menus" on page 23.Using the Status Bar for VCD PlaybackWhen playing VCD discs it is possible to accessthe disc’s features using the on screen Status Baras shown for CD playback on page 25. Press theSTATUS button on the remote to see the StatusBar. Note, however, that when the PBC is on,some features may be not available with thatVCD.Use of functions when the PBC is on will varyaccording to the disc type. With some VCD discsyou may select the Bookmark feature, withothers not. Note that when red PBC indicatorlights up in the front display it is not possible tochange track numbers directly.Depending on the disc’s functionality, some VCDdiscs allow the time display to be changed, evenwhen the Playback Control (PBC) is on, asdescribed for CD on page 26 .Playback ControlVCD discs made under the Revision 2.0specifi-cation will usually offer PBC playbackcontrol.Note that the PBC indicator in the front displaywill turn on automatically with any VCD, whenthe disc is played.PBC can be turned off/on in play mode by press-ing the TITLE button on the remote control. WhenPBC is turned on, the disc will be played from thebeginning, when PBC is turned off the disc willcontinue playing and the following message willappear on the screen:With PBC you can select Titles and navigate thedisc as with DVD’s. But the access to somefunctions may be prohibited by the PBC playbackcontrol, in that case the prohibit icon will appearon screen.When the PBC is turned off, the disc can be con-trolled like a normal CD. But direct track accessby entering a number is not possible withoutopening the Status Bar on the screen.VCD discs made with PBC often include chapterselection menus that are similar to those foundon DVD’s. However, on VCD discs the disc menu(if VCD was created with any menu) is accessedand controlled differently than on DVD’s. PLAY will start with the first track (which maybe an intro), then leading to the VCD menu(if any) automatically. NEXT (Skip Forward) will skip to the VCDmenu from the intro (track 1) directly. Once the menu options appear on the screen,make your selection by pressing the NumericButton that corresponds to your desiredchoice. The desired selection will begin playingautomatically. Direct number entry without any VCD menushown on screen has no effect, also when theStatus Bar is on. When PBC is on MENU will have the samefunction as with DVDs, making the playerreturn to the latest disc menu. When PBC isoff, pressing MENU will turn the PBC on andthe disc will be played from the beginning.SVCD PlaybackSVCDs can be played and controled in the sameway as described with VCDs above.When they are loaded the VCD indicator will turnon in the front panel too, but when the INFObutton is pressed the Disc Information Menu willread SVCD for DISC TYPE. Due to the differences in various versions ofthe SVCD format, and the many differencesbetween the CD-R machines used to recordSVCD discs on a computer, it is possible thatsome SVCD discs may not play on the DVD 21even though they will work on a computer.This is normal and does not indicate a faultwith the unit.TRACK TIMEI ITRACK MARK T-ELAPSED V1 OFF 00:00:17 0I IBOOKMARK V-MODE