Harman-Kardon Comprehensive Guide to MP3, Windows Media, and JPEG Playback on DVD Players

MP3, WINDOWS MEDIA® AND JPEG PLAYBACK

MP3, Windows Media and JPEG Playback

The DVD 27 will recognize data from CD-ROM discs recorded in the MP3, Windows Media 8 (WMA) or JPEG formats, including images stored on Kodak Picture CDs. You may also play discs with more than one of the three formats.

The Specific File Types That May be Played on the DVD 27 Are:

•MP3 Files: MP3 is a popular audio compression format that was developed by the Motion Picture Experts Group as part of the MPEG-1 video com- pression format. Depending on the specific MP3 encoder used, file size is greatly reduced so that you store many more songs on one compact disc than in the standard audio CD format. MP3 is also used to download audio files to computers for home use. Note, however, that in order to play an MP3 file on the DVD 27, the disc may not contain any encryp- tion or coding that prevents playback. Always be certain that you have, or have purchased, the proper rights or authorization before creating a CD-ROM with MP3 or any other codec format. Due to varia- tions in the different encoders and variations of the MP3 codec and the different bit rates used to record MP3 discs, the DVD 27 may not be able to play all discs with MP3 files. We cannot guarantee complete compatibility with MP3 discs, even though they may play on a computer. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with the DVD 27. Note, also, that when a multisession disc with both stan- dard CD audio and MP3 (or WMA) content is used, the DVD 27 will only play the CD audio sections of the disc.

•WMA Files: WMA (Windows Media Audio) is an audio compression format developed by the Microsoft® Corporation for use with its Windows Media Player. WMA files may be created with greater compression than MP3 without sacrificing audio quality so that even more songs may be recorded on a disc. Note that there have been a number of versions of Windows Media, and the DVD 27 is compatible only with files that end in the “wma” extension and that were recorded using the Windows Media Series 8 encoding.

•JPEG Files: “JPEG” is the acronym used to identify image files recorded according to specifications established by Joint Photographic Experts Group for compressing still images. Identified by the file exten- sion “jpg” when they are recorded on most comput- ers, JPEG files may be created by a digital still cam- era and then edited and “burned” to a disc in your personal computer, recorded on a CD-ROM disc from film images by a photo processor, or scanned from printed photos into your personal computer and then burned onto a CD-ROM.

Discs containing MP3, WMA or JPEG files are navigated and controlled differently from standard DVDs and CDs. When a disc containing one or more of these types of files is loaded in the DVD 27, the Player Information menu screen will appear (see Figure 10).

Figure 10 (Repeated)

This screen will display a list of the main folders con- tained on the disc The elapsed time will appear in the upper right corner of the screen. It isn’t possible to change the time display, and the Time Search function is not available.

MP3 or WMA Disc Playback

MP3 and WMA discs may contain 200 tracks or even more. To get the best overview about all tracks on the disc and their names and to select them comfortably, use the on-screen display rather than the front-panel display. The front-panel display will only show the num- ber and the elapsed time of the track being played for WMA files.

The supported bit rate for WMA files is between 64k bits and 320k bits. The supported bit rate for MP3 files is between 32k bits and 320k bits.

•To select a folder (if any), press the ▲▼ Navigation Buttons Duntil the desired folder name is high- lighted, then press the Enter Button I.

•To select a track, press the ▲▼ Navigation Buttons Duntil the desired track name is high- lighted. To start play of the track selected on the list, press the Enter Button Ior Play Button

2L.

During MP3/WMA playback, some of the standard CD/DVD playback controls operate in their normal fashion:

•You may skip forward to the next track on the disc by pressing the Skip/Next Button 6O.

•You may skip back to the previous track on the disc by pressing the Skip/Prev Button 5A.

•Press the Pause Button 3Jto momentarily stop playback. Press the Play Button 2Lto resume play. Press the Stop Button 4Nto enter stop mode.

•Press the Search Forward 6w or Search Reverse 5l buttons, for fast search of a track. Press the Play 2v, Pause 3t or Stop Button 4x to end fast play.

•Slow-play is not available during MP3/WMA play- back.

•You may play an MP3 or WMA disc in random mode like a normal CD (see page 29). You may also access the Random function while an MP3 or WMA disc is playing by pressing the Random Button 7.

•The Repeat function may be accessed during play- back of an MP3 or WMA disc by pressing the Repeat Button f on the remote. Repeatedly press the Repeat Button f to scroll through the options of Repeat 1 (repeat one file), Repeat All (repeat all files) or Repeat Folder (repeat all files within the current folder). The next press will turn the repeat function off. Repeat A-B is not available dur- ing MP3/WMA playback.

NOTES ON MP3 AND WMA PLAYBACK

•During playback, the front-panel display and the time indicator on the screen above the list will show the elapsed time of the track being played. Other time display options are not available with MP3/WMA playback.

•The DVD 27 is only compatible with standard MP3- and WMA-encoded discs. Other compressed audio formats used for Internet audio downloads will not play on the DVD 27.

•Due to the differences in various versions of the MP3 and WMA formats, and the many differences between the CD-R machines used to record discs on a computer, it is possible that some discs may not play on the DVD 27 even though they will work on a computer. This is normal and does not indicate a fault with the unit.

•When a multisession disc with both standard CD audio and MP3 or WMA content is in use, the DVD 27 will play only the CD audio sections of the disc. Track numbers will be visible in the display, but the files will not be decoded.

•If a disc containing MP3, WMA and/or JPEG files is created in more than one session, the DVD 27 may not recognize files added during the later sessions, especially if the disc was finalized after the first session.

•When a disc with multiple folders is playing, only tracks from one folder can be displayed and played at a time. Select the desired folder and press the Play Button 2Lor Enter Button Ito start the first track. To see and play tracks from other folders, you must first select the root folder using the ▲▼ Navigation Buttons D, and press the

30 MP3, WINDOWS MEDIA AND JPEG PLAYBACK