Operation, Tape recording – Harman-Kardon AVR 5000 User Manual

Page 31

OPERATION

Operation

can be played with all surround modes, also with
the most effective Logic 7.

: When this indicator lights in con-

junction with the PCM indicator, the CD that is
playing is encoded using the special High
Definition Compatible Digital

process. HDCD

discs use 20-bit encoding and other proprietary
processing to provide the ultimate in CD listen-
ing. Note that HDCD processing is only available
in the Stereo or Surround Off mode.

M P 3

: When the MP3 indicator lights, a compat-

ible MPEG 1/Layer 3 digital signal is being
received. This is the popular audio format used by
many computer programs for recording com-
pressed audio files. When an MP3 bitstream is
present, the sound will automatically be played
in the stereo (surround off) mode. The surround
modes are not available during MP3 playback.

In addition to the Bitstream Indicators, the
AVR5000 features a set of unique channel input
indicators that tell you how many channels of
digital information are being received and if the
digital signal is interrupted.

These indicators are the L/C/R/LS/RS/LFE letters
that are inside the center boxes of the
Speaker/Channel Input Indicators Q in the
front panel Main Information Display Û.
When a standard analog stereo or matrix sur-
round signal is in use, only the “L” and “R” indi-
cators will light, as analog signals have only left
and right channels, respectively, even surround
recordings, carry surround information on the left
and right channels only.

Digital signals, however, may have one to six sep-
arate channels, depending on the program mate-
rial, the method of transmission and the way in
which it was encoded. When a digital signal is
playing, the letters in these indicators will light in
response to the specific signal being received. It
is important to note that although Dolby Digital,
for example, is referred to as a “5.1” system, not
all Dolby Digital DVD or audio tracks selected on
DVD or other Dolby Digital programs are encod-
ed for 5.1. Thus, it is sometimes normal for a
DVD with a Dolby Digital soundtrack to trigger
e.g. only the “L” and “R” indicators.

NOTE: Many DVD discs are recorded with both
“5.1” and “2.0” versions of the same sound-
track, the ”2.0” version often is used with other
languages. When playing a DVD, always be cer-
tain to check the type of material on the disc.
Most discs show this information in the form of a
listing or icon on the back of the disc jacket.
When a disc does offer multiple soundtrack
choices you may have to make some adjustments
to your DVD player (usually with the “Audio

Select” button or in a menu screen on the disc)
to send a full 5.1 feed to the AVR5000 or to
select the appropriate audio track and thus lan-
guage (”2.0” audio tracks can be played with all
surround modes, even with Logic 7, see indicator
”PCM” on page 30). It is also possible for the
type of signal feed to change during the course
of a DVD playback. In some cases the previews
of special material will only be recorded in 2.0
audio, while the main feature is available in 5.1
audio. As long as your DVD player is set for 6-
channel output, the AVR5000 will automatically
sense changes to the bitstream and channel
count and reflect them in these indicators.

The letters used by the Speaker/Channel Input
Indicators Q also flash to indicate when a bit-
stream has been interrupted. This will happen
when a digital input source is selected before the
playback starts, or when a digital source such as
a DVD is put into a Pause mode. The flashing
indicators remind you that the playback has
stopped due to the absence of a digital signal
and not through any fault of the AVR. This is nor-
mal, and the digital playback will resume once
the playback is started again.

Night Mode
A special feature of Dolby Digital is the Night
mode, which enables Dolby Digital input sources
to be played back with full digital intelligibilty
while reducing the maximum peak level and lift-
ing the low levels by

. This prevents

abruptly loud transitions from disturbing others
without reducing the impact of the digital source.
The Night mode is available only when Dolby
Digital mode is selected.

The Night mode may be engaged when a Dolby
Digital DVD is playing by pressing the Night
Button

B on the remote. Next, press the

⁄

buttons

D to select either the middle range or

full compression versions of the Night mode. To
turn the Night mode off, press the

⁄

buttons

D until the message in the lower third of the
video display and the Main Information
Display Y reads D-RANGE OFF. When
the Night mode is active, the Night Mode
Indicator O will also illuminate.

The Night mode may also be selected to always be
on at either level of compression using the options
in the Surround Setup Menu. See page 24 for
information on using the menus to set this option.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:
1. When the digital playback source is stopped,
or in a pause, fast forward or chapter search
mode, the digital audio data will momentarily
stop, and the channel position letters inside the
Speaker/Channel Indicators Q will flash.
This is normal and does not indicate a problem

with either the AVR5000 or the source machine.
The AVR5000 will return to digital playback as
soon as the data is available and when the
machine is in a standard play mode.

2. Although the AVR5000 will decode virtually all
DVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible
that some future digital sources may not be com-
patible with the AVR5000.

3. Note that not all digitally encoded programs
and not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full
5.1-channel audio. Consult the program guide
that accompanies the DVD or laser disc to deter-
mine which type of audio has been recorded on
the disc. The AVR5000 will automatically sense
the type of digital surround encoding used, indi-
cate it in the Bitstream Indicators A and
Channel Input Indicators Q and adjust to
accommodate it.

4. When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,
you normally may not be able to select some of
the analog surround modes such as Dolby Pro
Logic, Dolby 3, Stereo, Hall, Theater, 5CH Stereo
or Logic 7, except with special audio tracks
(see indication ”Dolby Digital” on previous page)
or data format selected (see ”PCM” on previous
page).

5. When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,
it is not possible to make an analog recording
using the Tape

1 or Video 1 or Video 2 or

4W record outputs, if the source is connected
to any digital input of the AVR5000 only. But the
analog two channel signal of that source, the
”Downmix” to Stereo or Dolby Surround, can be
recorded by connecting its analog audio outputs
to the appropriate analog inputs (e.g. DVD) of
the AVR5000, even if the digital input of the
AVR5000 remains selected. Additionally, the digi-
tal signals will be passed through to the Digital
Audio Outputs

Tape Recording

In normal operation, the audio or video source
selected for listening through the AVR5000 is
sent to the record outputs. This means that any
program you are watching or listening to may be
recorded simply by placing machines connected
to the outputs for Tape Outputs

1 or Video 1

or 2 Outputs

4MP in the record mode.

When a digital audio recorder is connected to
any of the Digital Audio Outputs

T, you are

able to record the digital signal using a CD-R,
MiniDisc or other digital recording system.
Note that all digital signals will be passed
through to both, coaxial and optical, digital out-
puts simultanously, no matter which kind of digi-
tal input was selected.

, HDCD

, High Definition Compatible Digital

and Pacific Microsonics

™

are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Pacific Microsonics, Inc., in the United

States and/or other countries. HDCD System manufactured under license from Pacific Microsonics, Inc.