Harman-Kardon AVR507 Tape Recording, Output Level Adjustment With Source Signals, Night Mode

Operation

sense changes to the bitstream and channel count and reflect them in these indicators.

Important Note: When a digital surround source (Dolby Digital, DTS) is played, the letters SBL/SBR for the Surround Back channels will appear only when a DTS ES DISCRETE 6.1 source is played. Then this surround mode will be indi- cated in the front display and on-screen display. With all other recordings the icons for the sur- round back speakers may light (when those speakers have been configured) to indicate that a signal will be fed to them (Matrix decoded with NEO:6, LOGIC 7 or 7 CH Stereo), but no letters inside will light as the unit will not receive an input signal for the surround back channels.

The letters used by the Speaker/Channel Input Indicators $ 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 normal, 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 lifting the low levels by 1/4 to 1/3. This prevents abruptly loud transitions from disturbing others without reducing the impact of the digital source. The Night mode is available only when the Dolby Digital mode is selected.

The Night mode may be engaged when a Dolby Digital DVD is playing by pressing the Night Button Bon the remote. Next, press the ⁄/¤ buttons Dto select either the middle range or full compression versions of the Night mode. To turn the Night mode off, press the ⁄/¤ buttons

Duntil the message in the lower third of the video display and the Main Information Display ˜ reads D-RANGE OFF.

The Night mode may also be selected to always be on as soon as the Dolby Digital mode is activated at either level of compression using the options in the DOLBY menu. See page 24 for information on using the menus to set this option.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:

•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 $ will flash. This is nor- mal and does not indicate a problem with either the AVR or the source machine. The AVR will

return to digital playback as soon as the data is available and when the machine is in a standard play mode.

•Although the AVR will decode virtually all DVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible that some future digital sources may not be compatible with the AVR.

•Note that not all digitally encoded programs and not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full

5.1 or 6.1 channel audio. Consult the program guide that accompanies the DVD or laser disc to determine which type of audio has been record- ed on the disc. The AVR will automatically sense the type of digital surround encoding used, indicate it in the Channel Input Indicators $ and adjust to accommodate it.

•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 II, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall, Theater, 5CH/7CH Stereo or Logic 7, except with specific Dolby Digital 2.0 recordings that can be played with the Pro Logic II modes too (see page 31).

•When a digital source is playing, it is possible to make an analog recording using the Tape

or Video 1 or Video 2 or record outputs, even if the source is connected to any digital input of the AVR only, as long as "Surround Off" mode is selected (possible with a PCM source only). But the analog two channel signal, even of a Dolby Digital (not DTS) 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 AVR. Additionally, the digital 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 AVR 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		or Video 1
or 2 Outputs	in the record mode.

When a digital audio recorder is connected to any of the Digital Audio Outputs , 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 outputs simultanously, no matter which kind of digital input was selected.

NOTES:

•The digital outputs are active only when a digital signal is present, and they do not convert an ana- log input to a digital signal, or change the format of the digital signal (e.g. Dolby Digital to PCM or vice versa, but coaxial digital signals are converted

to optical signals and vice versa). In additon, the digital recorder must be compatible with the output signal. For example, the PCM digital output from a CD player may be recorded on a CD-R or MiniDisc, but Dolby Digital or DTS signals may not.

•To make an analog recording from a digital source is possible, but only from a PCM source (not Dolby Digital or DTS) and correctly only with "Surround Off" mode (with any Surround mode only the L/R front signals will be fed to the record outputs).

Output Level Adjustment

With Source Signals

Normal output level adjustment for the

AVR is established using the test tone, as out- lined on page 24. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to adjust the output levels using program material such as a test disc, or a selec- tion you are familiar with. Additionally, the out- put level for the subwoofer and those for the Stereo and VMAx modes can only be adjusted using this procedure. Note that all adjustments made with any input will be effective with all inputs selected, just as it is the case with the adjustment using the test tone.

To adjust the output levels using program materi- al, first select the surround mode for which you want to trim the speakers (see NOTE below), start your program material source and set the reference volume for the front left and front right

channels using the Volume Control î.

Once the reference level has been set, press the Channel Select button CÙ and note that FRONT L LEVEL will appear in the Main Information Display ˜. To change the level, first press the Set button F@, and then use the Selector buttons 7 or the ⁄/ ¤ buttons

Dto raise or lower the level. DO NOT use the volume control, as this will alter the reference setting.

Once the change has been made, press the Set button F@ and then press the Selector but- tons 7 or the ⁄/¤ buttons Dto select the next output channel location that you wish to adjust. To adjust the subwoofer level, press the Selector buttons 7 or the ⁄/¤ buttons D until WOOFER LEVEL appears in the Main Information Display ˜or on-screen display (only available if the subwoofer is turned on).

Press the Set button F@when the name of the desired channel appears in the Main Information Display ˜ and on-screen display, and follow the instructions shown above to adjust the level.

OPERATION 33