Toshiba RD-X2U Owner's Manual
66
Technical Information
About recording time
The recording time of a typical VCR (Video Cassette
Recorder) is determined by the length of a video tape
and recording speed (SP, LP, etc.). Video tapes with
various recording times are available in the market.
On the other hand, there are two types of DVD-RAM
disc, the single sided 4.7 GB disc and double sided
9.4 GB disc. Basically single sided 4.7 GB as a
recording space of a disc corresponds to the recording
time of a single 120 min tape. The actual recording
time of a DVD-RAM disc can change by the recording
bit rate from 1.4 Mbps (Mega bit per second, in other
words, volume of the information per second) to 9.2
Mbps using a standard compression technology,
MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2). This
corresponds to the recording speed of VCR.
For example, when you pour water into a bucket from
a faucet, the more turn it on to make water flow, the
sooner the buck is filled with water. On the other hand,
the less you turn it on, the more slowly the bucket is
filled. The DVD-RAM is, so to speak, such a bucket,
and the degree you turn the faucet is bit rate, the time
required to fill the bucket with water is the recording
time available for a disc. The higher you set the bit rate
such as 9.2 Mbps (making much more water flow), the
sooner a disc is filled. Consequently, the recording
time becomes shorter (about 1 hour for 4.7 GB DVD-
RAM). The lower you set the bit rate such as 1.4
Mbps, the longer time it takes to fill a disc (about 6
hours for 4.7 GB DVD-RAM when the sound quality is
set to “DD1”).
The recording time of a typical VCR (Video Cassette
Recorder) is determined by the length of a video tape
and recording speed (SP, LP, etc.). Video tapes with
various recording times are available in the market.
On the other hand, there are two types of DVD-RAM
disc, the single sided 4.7 GB disc and double sided
9.4 GB disc. Basically single sided 4.7 GB as a
recording space of a disc corresponds to the recording
time of a single 120 min tape. The actual recording
time of a DVD-RAM disc can change by the recording
bit rate from 1.4 Mbps (Mega bit per second, in other
words, volume of the information per second) to 9.2
Mbps using a standard compression technology,
MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group 2). This
corresponds to the recording speed of VCR.
For example, when you pour water into a bucket from
a faucet, the more turn it on to make water flow, the
sooner the buck is filled with water. On the other hand,
the less you turn it on, the more slowly the bucket is
filled. The DVD-RAM is, so to speak, such a bucket,
and the degree you turn the faucet is bit rate, the time
required to fill the bucket with water is the recording
time available for a disc. The higher you set the bit rate
such as 9.2 Mbps (making much more water flow), the
sooner a disc is filled. Consequently, the recording
time becomes shorter (about 1 hour for 4.7 GB DVD-
RAM). The lower you set the bit rate such as 1.4
Mbps, the longer time it takes to fill a disc (about 6
hours for 4.7 GB DVD-RAM when the sound quality is
set to “DD1”).
About picture quality (SP, LP, Auto, Manual mode)
The higher you set the bite rate, the more the volume
of information for the picture. The lower the bit rate, the
less the volume of picture information.
However a high bit rate does not always mean that the
picture quality is high. The difference between the 1.4
Mbps and 9.2 Mbps is obvious, but when comparing
similar bit rates, the difference may be insignificant.
Generally when you set the bit rate low for longer
recording time, the data volume shortage will result in
a lack of detail information. As a result, the picture
quality is decreased (more noticable with dynamically
moving images). For example, square noises (block
noise) may occur in a scene with fast action or a
scene with light and shadows, such as a water
surface.
This recorder has a two settings, 2 hour recording at
“SP” mode or 4 hour recording at “LP” mode (both
assume a blank 4.7 GB DVD-RAM). It is
recommended to consider the “SP” mode as a
standard mode and use the “LP” mode when you want
to record for long time regardless of the picture quality.
If you want to record for about 3 hours or are uncertain
which one to select, select the “Auto” mode.
The higher you set the bite rate, the more the volume
of information for the picture. The lower the bit rate, the
less the volume of picture information.
However a high bit rate does not always mean that the
picture quality is high. The difference between the 1.4
Mbps and 9.2 Mbps is obvious, but when comparing
similar bit rates, the difference may be insignificant.
Generally when you set the bit rate low for longer
recording time, the data volume shortage will result in
a lack of detail information. As a result, the picture
quality is decreased (more noticable with dynamically
moving images). For example, square noises (block
noise) may occur in a scene with fast action or a
scene with light and shadows, such as a water
surface.
This recorder has a two settings, 2 hour recording at
“SP” mode or 4 hour recording at “LP” mode (both
assume a blank 4.7 GB DVD-RAM). It is
recommended to consider the “SP” mode as a
standard mode and use the “LP” mode when you want
to record for long time regardless of the picture quality.
If you want to record for about 3 hours or are uncertain
which one to select, select the “Auto” mode.
On a blank 4.7 GB DVD-RAM disc, the “Auto” mode
automatically sets the appropriate bit rate
corresponded to the recording time from about 1 hour
to up to 2 and a half hours so that you can achieve the
best picture quality.
If you are uncertain about the picture mode, select
“Auto” mode. If a part of a DVD-RAM disc has already
been recorded, the “Auto” mode sets the bit rate
suitable for the remaining space on the disc. (The
picture quality is determined referring the remaining
space just before recording. When the remaining
space is scarce in the disc, the picture quality may
decrease than what you set beforehand or the
recording may stop halfway.) When you set the “Auto”
mode to record onto the HDD, the bit rate setting that
permits dubbing the program to a single side of a
DVD-RAM is automatically selected.
When you want to record a music program or
animation with high picture quality, it is recommended
that you select the “Manual” mode. Among the range
from 1.4 Mbps to 9.4 Mbps, you can set your preferred
bit rate by 0.2 Mbps steps manually. (You would not to
set your desired bit rate among the range from 1.4
Mbps to 2.0 Mbps.) If you select more than 6 Mbps,
you can usually record with considerably higher
picture quality. However the higher you set the bit rate,
the shorter the recording time.
automatically sets the appropriate bit rate
corresponded to the recording time from about 1 hour
to up to 2 and a half hours so that you can achieve the
best picture quality.
If you are uncertain about the picture mode, select
“Auto” mode. If a part of a DVD-RAM disc has already
been recorded, the “Auto” mode sets the bit rate
suitable for the remaining space on the disc. (The
picture quality is determined referring the remaining
space just before recording. When the remaining
space is scarce in the disc, the picture quality may
decrease than what you set beforehand or the
recording may stop halfway.) When you set the “Auto”
mode to record onto the HDD, the bit rate setting that
permits dubbing the program to a single side of a
DVD-RAM is automatically selected.
When you want to record a music program or
animation with high picture quality, it is recommended
that you select the “Manual” mode. Among the range
from 1.4 Mbps to 9.4 Mbps, you can set your preferred
bit rate by 0.2 Mbps steps manually. (You would not to
set your desired bit rate among the range from 1.4
Mbps to 2.0 Mbps.) If you select more than 6 Mbps,
you can usually record with considerably higher
picture quality. However the higher you set the bit rate,
the shorter the recording time.
About programmed recording standby state
There is no programmed recording standby state
(timer standby state) with this recorder. In standby
mode or during playback, recording or editing, when a
programmed recording time has come, this recorder
automatically turns on the power, or stops the current
operation, and starts programmed recording.
Even during recording or editing, the recorder will stop
the current operation and starts programmed
recording.
You can set the recorder to turn off after programmed
recording or other operation is completed. (
There is no programmed recording standby state
(timer standby state) with this recorder. In standby
mode or during playback, recording or editing, when a
programmed recording time has come, this recorder
automatically turns on the power, or stops the current
operation, and starts programmed recording.
Even during recording or editing, the recorder will stop
the current operation and starts programmed
recording.
You can set the recorder to turn off after programmed
recording or other operation is completed. (
page
38 and 44)
*RD-X2.Ope(US)p063-082
9/3/02, 11:24 AM
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