Features

Product Overview: The Sony RDR-GX7 can record video and audio to blank DVDs, using two types of rewritable discs, DVD-RW and DVD+RW, as well as write-once DVD-R discs. The unit has a front panel DV input jack (also referred to as iLINK, firewire or IEEE1394) for one touch dubbing from Mini DV and Digital 8 camcorders. Three line inputs (two on the rear and one on the front) allow you to record from several sources. The built-in TV tuner and VCR Plus+ let you program your recorder to catch your favorite TV shows, just like on a VCR.

Blank Disc Types: This unit can record on three types of blank DVDs. Here are the major differences in the disc types:

• DVD-R: You can record only once on DVD-R discs--they are not erasable or rewritable. You can readily play finalized DVD-R discs on other DVD equipment.
• DVD+RW: You can erase and record over previously recorded material, however, it is more difficult to edit recorded contents without another recorder. DVD+RW discs can be played back on many other DVD players.
• DVD-RW: You can erase and record over previously recorded material. This disc can be formatted in two different recording modes:
  • DVD Video Format (Video Mode): Disc recorded in this mode can be played in many other DVD players, but editing is more difficult.
  • DVD Video Recording Format (VR mode): Discs recorded in this mode won't playback in other DVD players as readily (VR compatible players only). Recorded material can be edited right on the disc without disturbing the original recordings. You can also manually create chapters whenever you like instead of at fixed time intervals as on other discs or DVD-RW in Video mode.

Precision Cinema Progressive: Sony's advanced Precision Cinema Progressive, found in the reference DVD player DVP-NS999ES, ensures excellent 480p recording and playback picture quality by combining these three elements:

• Pixel-by-Pixel I/P Conversion: This method detects changes in film/video-originated material and is accurate down to the pixel level within a field. Traditional progressive video outputs are only able to detect changes down to the field level. Changes occurring within one field where film and video are both found will result in mixed fields resulting in picture artifacts and losses in detail.
• Vertical Edge Compensation: The player concentrates on maintaining edge detail and eliminating the "stair-step" effect that can lower the overall level of detail. An edge represents an extreme change in contrast ratio that can be detected by the DVD players' circuitry. When an edge is detected the line above and below the point where the edge is formed is compared while an pixel is created emphasizing the overall edge. 
• 12 bit 108 MHz Video Digital to Analog Converter: This advanced D/A Converter uses active noise-shaping maintains high bandwidth progressive signals while shifting noise out of the visible bandwidth of the signal.

192 kHz/24-bit Audio Digital-to-Analog Converter: To ensure superior audio quality output, the RDR-GX7 uses a high-quality 192 kHz/24-bit Audio D/A converter. When playing back DVDs, you get a wide 4Hz-44kHz frequency response from 96kHz PCM sources, and 4Hz-22kHz frequency response from 48kHz PCM sources. Note: The audio from the digital outputs is down-converted to 16-bit/48 kHz.

Pre-Processing: The RDR-GX7 uses pre-processing to adjust the incoming signal for optimum quality. The unit's Pre Video Equalizer allows you to increase or decrease contrast, brightness and color to improve the quality of the recording. Sony's Pre-Frame Noise Reduction cleans up the video signal before MPEG Video encoding to minimize wasted bits and increases overall bit efficiency. Finally, the unit's Time Base Corrector compensates for jitter, while minimizing unwanted flicker and vibrations for a stabilized image on-screen.

Recording Speeds: You can select from six variable bit-rate speeds when recording a DVD. The picture quality generally improves as the recording time decreases. The recording speeds and approximate recording times on a 4.7GB blank disc are:

Copy Protection/Copy Control: Pictures with copy protection, including most most commercially-recorded DVDs, cannot be recorded on this DVD recorder. When the recorder receives a copy guard signal while recording, the unit stops and a message appears on your TV screen. Some broadcasts that contain Copy Control signals may have one of three signal types: Copy-Free, Copy-Once, or Copy-Never. The recorder limits the recording according to the copy protection signal. Copy-Free encoded signals can be recorded at any time with any compatible blank disc type. Copy-Never encoded signals can not be recorded on this unit. Copy-Once programs can be recorded on a DVD-RW disc formatted in the VR mode, and can be played only on CPRM-compatible equipment.

Basic Editing: Material recorded on all compatible discs (DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW VR Mode and DVD-RW Video Mode) can have their titles edited. You can enter up to 64 characters for a name of a title, and this title will be displayed in the Title List menu. Titles can be erased one-at-a-time or many at once, or they can be protected from erasure.

Advanced Editing: In addition to basic editing, video recorded on DVD-RW in VR mode can be edited further. Some advanced editing features include:

• Playlist Edit: You can create a playlist on the same disc as the original recordings without disturbing the original recording. By taking advantage of the DVD recorder's Random Access feature, the playlist allows you to play the recorded scenes in any order. Since a playlist doesn't require much disc space, you can create numerous playlists on one disc.
• A-B Erase: You can erase an unwanted portion of an original recording by selecting a starting point (A) and an ending point (B) of the portion you want deleted.
• Creating Chapters Manually: You can manually insert a chapter mark at any point you like.

One-Touch Dubbing: You can transfer the entire contents from a MiniDV or Digital 8 digital video camera to the DVD recorder with the press of a single button. The recorder, through its DV input jack, controls the camcorder from start-to-finish, from playing the DV/Digital 8 tape to stop and rewind. A single i-LINK cable is required for connecting the camcorder and DVD recorder (item #158VMC4415).

Program Edit: This function allows you to select scenes on a DV/Digital 8 tape and save them on recordable DVDs, including non-rewritable DVD-Rs. The recorder controls the camcorder to record the contents of the tape to the disc as programmed. The recorder will remember which scenes you selected and saves this information as a program, allowing you to call up a program anytime for making additional copies of the program to DVD.

Advanced Program Edit: When recording DV/Digital 8 tapes to DVD-RW discs in VR mode, the entire contents of the tape are recorded and automatically divided into chapters. The chapters are displayed as scenes in a list where you can instantly delete or rearrange the scenes at will. The recorder remembers the program, so you can record the same program onto additional discs.

On Screen Display: The recorder uses an on-screen display to guide you through most operations. There are four types of menus used: System Menu, Title List, Tools, and Sub-Menu. It also has a Disc Information display for checking the status of the inserted disc, plus an on-screen keyboard for labeling a title or disc.

TV Tuner: The recorder has a built-in 181-channel TV tuner. Like a VCR records to a VHS cassette, TV shows can be recorded to blank DVDs for time-shifting or archiving. Once the recorder has been connected to the antenna or cable, the Easy Setup guides you through the steps of setting the time, date, and searching for receivable channels.

Recording TV Programs: The RDR-GX7 offers several ways to record TV programs:

• Manual Recording: Record the currently tuned channel until you stop the recorder or the disc is full
• Quick Timer: Record the currently tuned channel in 30-minute increments up to 6 hours.
• Timer Recording: Set the timer for a total of 30 programs up to one month in advance. You set the date, time and channel of the program manually.
• VCR Plus+: Enter the PlusCode number (found in newspaper or TV Guide listings) for each TV program you want to record. The date, time, channel and program duration are automatically set.
• Synchro Record: Set the recorder to automatically record programs from connected equipment that has a timer function, such as a satellite receiver.

TV Virtual Surround: When you connect the unit to a TV or a stereo receiver, TV Virtual Surround (TVS) lets you enjoy surround sound effects by using sound imaging to create virtual rear speakers from two speakers. This can be done using digital (Digital PCM) or analog signals. There are 4 TVS modes (or you can turn TVS off):

• Dynamic: creates one set of virtual rear speakers (effective when left and right speakers are close to each other)
• Wide: creates five sets of virtual rear speakers (effective when left and right speakers are close to each other)
• Night: large sounds, such as explosions, are suppressed, but quieter sounds are unaffected.
• Standard: creates three sets of virtual rear speakers (effective when left and right speakers are separated)

Remote Control: The supplied remote control (RMT-D203A) can control the DVD recorder, as well multiple brands of TVs (basic functions) and A/V receivers (volume only). If you own a Sony DVD player or another recorder, you can change the Command Mode of the recorder to one that doesn't interfere with the other player or recorder.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Sony DVD recorder/player RDR-GX7 remote control
::