VCD PLAYBACK
VCD Playback
VCD, a video playback format that predates DVD, it is
based on a different compression format than DVD and
uses a recording method that is similar to CD. Although
the DVD has, for the most part, replaced VCD as a for-
mat, the DVD 27 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 DVD 27 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 DVD 27 as you would do
with any other CD or DVD disc. The unit takes a few
seconds to read the disc’s contents; the
VCD Disc
Type Indicator
A
in the front-panel display will light
and the disc will begin playing. However, 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 DVD 27, particularly if the
disc has been created under VCD Version 2.0 with
Playback Control (see “Playback Control”).
When playing VCD discs, most standard DVD/CD play-
back controls are used, including Play, Stop, Pause,
Resume, Track Skip Forward and Reverse, Slow
Forward, Step Forward and Fast Forward. The Reverse
Search and Step Reverse functions are not available
with VCDs.
With VCDs, you have access to information on the disc
playing by pressing the
Info Button
8
on the
remote.
The availability of the Repeat and Random functions
will depend on whether PBC Support has been activat-
ed using the System Setup Submenu (see page 18).
With PBC Support on, Repeat and Random will not be
available. Repeat A-B is always available. Simply press
the
Repeat A-B Button
6
once at the beginning of
the passage to be repeated, again at the end of the
passage, and a third time to cancel Repeat A-B mode.
Discs containing raw MPEG files, without playback
control, are played in a different manner. When such a
disc is loaded, the Player Information menu will appear,
with a list of folders or files, similar to an MP3 disc.
The disc directory is navigated using the
▲▼
Navigation Buttons
D
. Press the
Enter Button
s
to open or close a folder. Select the desired
track, and press the
Play Button
v
or the
Enter
Button
s
to begin play. You will find that the Stop,
Pause, Track Skip Forward and Reverse, Slow Forward
and Reverse, Step Forward and Reverse, and Fast
Forward and Reverse Search functions are all avail-
able, depending on how the disc was encoded.
However, the Status Banner is not available for these
types of VCDs.
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
Q
to see the Status Bar. Note, however, that
when PBC is on, some features may not be available
with that VCD.
The Status Banner will appear the same as for DVDs
(see Figure 13), except that the current and total num-
ber of tracks will be shown, rather than titles, and there
is no chapter display.
If PBC is off, you may select the track number and
change it to skip to another track. You may also begin
play from a specific time marker by selecting the
numeric time display and entering the desired starting
point using the
Numeric Keys
R
. You may also
change the time display from Track Elapsed, to Track
Remaining, to Disc Elapsed, to Disc Remaining, and
back to Track Elapsed, just as with DVDs. The elapsed
time will appear as a graphic temperature bar, with
additional lines added as more of the track or disc is
played.
Zoom Function
The Zoom function is available for VCDs by pressing
the
Zoom Button
u
. Repeatedly pressing this but-
ton will cycle through the possible settings of 1x, 2x
and 3x zoom.
Playback Control
VCD discs made under the Revision 2.0 specification
will usually offer PBC playback control.
The
PBC Indicator
F
in the front display will turn on
automatically with any VCD when the disc is played.
With PBC, you can select titles and navigate the disc
as with DVDs. However, the access to some functions
may be prohibited by PBC playback control; in that
case, the prohibit icon will appear on screen.
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 On-Screen Banner Display.
With PBC, many discs include chapter 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
2
L
will start with the first track (which may
be an intro), then leading to the VCD menu (if any)
automatically.
•
Next
(Skip Forward)
6
O
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
H
that correspond to your desired choice. The desired
selection will begin playing automatically.
• Direct number entry without any VCD menu shown
on-screen has no effect – even when the Status
Banner is on.
The
Disc Menu Button
P
used during DVD play-
back is not used for VCD playback.
Use of functions when PBC is on will vary according to
the disc type. Note that if the disc was created with
Playback Control (PBC) it is not possible to change
track numbers directly.
32 VCD PLAYBACK
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