VCD PLAYBACK
VCD, a format that predates DVD, is based on a different compression for- mat than DVD and a recording method that is similar to CD. Although the DVD has, for the most part, replaced VCD as a format, the DVD280 offers VCD playback so that you may play your existing library of VCD discs.
There are two versions of the VCD format: an early version which is simply called “VCD” and a later version with Playback Control which is called “Version 2.0” or “PBC”. The DVD280 is compatible with both forms of VCD, although playback will vary according to which version is used and the specific way in which the disc was created.
Even though VCD discs provide video, because the format is based on CD technology, the playback functions for a VCD disc are similar to CD. To play a VCD disc, place it in the DVD280 as you would do with any other CD or DVD disc. The unit takes a few sec- onds to read the disc’s contents. The disc type “VCD” will appear only in the Player Menu, which may be accessed by pressing the Setup
Button . The PBC Indicator L will light only if the disc has playback control. Otherwise, there will be no indication on the front panel of the disc type. In addition, the Info Button
6has no effect when a VCD is playing, as there is no access to the Information Menus. The only avail- able information will appear in the Player Menu.
Keep in mind that the exact level of functionality for any VCD will vary widely and it is ultimately determined by the way the disc was created, not by the DVD280, particularly if the disc has been created under VCD Version 2.0 with Playback Control (see “Playback Control”).
When playing VCD discs, most stan- dard DVD/CD playback controls are used, including Play, Stop, Pause, Resume, Track Skip Forward and Reverse, Slow Forward, Step Forward and Fast Forward or Reverse Search. The functions Slow Reverse and Step Reverse are not available with VCDs.
You may select the track number and change it to skip to another track. You may also change the time display by selecting from disc elapsed time, track elapsed time, disc remaining
time or track remaining time. You may also begin play from a specific time marker by selecting the numeric time display and entering the desired start- ing point using the Numeric Keys s.
You may repeat a track, disc or
Using the Status Bar for VCD Playback
When playing VCD discs, it is possible to access the disc’s features using the Status Bar. Press the Status
Button to see the Status Bar. Note, however, that when the PBC is on, some features may be not avail- able with that VCD (see Figure 94).
Figure 94
Use of functions when the PBC is on will vary according to the disc type. Note that if the disc was created with Playback Control (PBC) [see below] it is not possible to change track numbers directly.
Depending on the disc’s functionality, some VCD discs allow the time dis- play to be changed, even with PBC.
Playback Control
VCD discs made under the Revision
2.0specification will usually offer PBC playback control.
The PBC Indicator N in the front dis- play will turn on automatically with any VCD, when the disc is played.
PBC can be turned off or on from the Setup Menu (see page 24). With PBC, you can select titles and navigate the disc as with DVDs. However, the access to some functions may be prohibited by the PBC playback con- trol; in that case, the prohibit icon will appear
When the VCD is made without PBC, the disc can be controlled the same as an audio CD, but direct track access by entering a number is not possible without opening the Status Bar. However, you may select a track using the Player Menu, as with any other disc.
With PBC, many discs include chap- ter selection menus that are similar to those found on DVDs. However, on VCD discs the disc menu (if any) is accessed and controlled differently than on DVDs.
•Play will start with the first track (which may be an intro), then lead- ing to the VCD menu (if any) auto- matically.
•NEXT (Skip Forward) will skip to the VCD menu from the intro (Track 1) directly.
•Once the menu options appear on the screen, make your selection by pressing the Numeric Keys I that correspond to your desired choice. The desired selection will begin playing automatically.
•Direct number entry without any VCD menu shown
•When PBC is on, the Disc Menu
Button will have the same func- tion as with DVDs, making the player return to the latest disc menu. When PBC is off, pressing the Disc Menu
Button will turn the PBC on and the disc will be played from the beginning.
SVCD Playback
SVCDs can be played and controlled in the same way as described with VCDs above.
When SVCDs are loaded, the VCD Disc Type will appear in the Player Menu.
•Due to the differences in various versions of the SVCD format, and the many differences between the
Zoom Function
The Zoom function is available for VCDs by pressing the Zoom Button v. Repeatedly pressing this button will cycle through the possible set- tings of 1x, 2x and 4x zoom.
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