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Features
Overview:
The Sony DVDirect VRD-MC5 allows you to record video
from a camcorder
and digital photos from a camera or memory card to DVD without requiring a PC.
It is capable of creating DVDs in Standard Definition and High Definition (AVCHD
format). The
VRD-MC5
features audio/video inputs on one side for direct connection of a camcorder,
VCR, or DVR. On the other side, the VRD-MC5 is equipped with memory card slots for directly recording
digital images
onto DVD. The unit's 2.5" color LCD screen makes it easy to
preview video or digital pictures. Note: This unit is strictly for
burning DVDs, and does not have any outputs to other devices.
2.5" Color LCD: The
VRD-MC5 features a 2.5" color LCD screen for displaying menu options
and for previewing photos or video that have been recorded on a camcorder or photos
stored on an inserted memory card. You can view up to 6 digital pictures at a
time.
Compatible DVD Discs: The
recorder supports the following 12 cm (5") blank DVD discs to create Video DVD,
Photo DVD, and AVCHD Discs:
- DVD+R
- DVD+R Dual Layer* (Video DVD only)
- DVD+RW
- DVD+RW High Speed
- DVD-R
- DVD-RW
*DVD+R DL can only be used when connecting to the DV
In, Video In, or S-Video In connector.
Note: 8 cm (3-1/2") DVD discs, DVD-R DL, CD-R,
and CD-RW discs are not compatible.
Compatible Memory Cards: The unit has slots for the
following memory cards:
- Memory Stick
- Memory Stick
- Memory Stick (MagicGate/High-speed data transfer
compatible)¹
- Memory Stick Duo
- Memory Stick Duo (MagicGate/High-speed data transfer
compatible)¹
- MagicGate Memory Stick¹
- MagicGate Memory Stick Duo¹
- Memory Stick PRO¹
- Memory Stick PRO Duo¹ (up to 8 GB)
- SD Memory Cards
- SD Memory Cards (up to 2 GB)
- SDHC Memory Cards (up to 8 GB)
- xD Picture Cards
- CompactFlash Cards²
Audio/Video Recording
Inputs: The VRD-MC5 features the following A/V inputs on the left hand side
of the unit.
- USB:
Type-A USB connector for connection of your HDD
or DVD camcorder.
- Analog Stereo:
Left and Right audio RCA connectors
for connection of a video camera or VCR.
- Composite Video:
Composite RCA video connector for
connection to a video device such as a video camera or VCR.
- S-Video:
S-video connector for connection of a video
camera or Super VHS player.
- DV:
4-pin iLink connector for connection of a
digital video camera.
Note: No cables are supplied with
this unit.
AVCHD Dubbing: You can record HD video,
recorded on a Sony High Definition Handycam (HDD/Memory Stick), onto a DVD by
connecting it via USB cable. The AVCHD video stays in its native 1080i
resolution during the transfer. The AVCHD format disc that is created can only
be played on an AVCHD-compatible device, such as a Blu-ray disc player or Sony
PlayStation 3 console.
Disc Capacity: The DVDirect recorder is
cable of recording up to 2,000 digital pictures in JPEG format or up to 12 hours
of video in MPEG-2 format onto a DVD-video disc.
Recording Quality:
The Sony VRD-MC5 features five record quality settings to use when creating a
video DVD. This setting only applies to Full Recording and Normal Video
Recording modes.
- High Quality (HQ):
Single layer (1 hour), Dual layer (2 hours)
- High/Standard
Quality (HSP): Single layer (1.5
hours), Dual layer (3 hours)
- Standard Quality
(SP): Single layer (2 hours), Dual
layer (4 hours)
- Low Quality (LP):
Single layer (3 hours), Dual layer (6
hours)
- Standard/Low
Quality (SLP): Single layer (6 hours), Dual
layer (12 hours)
Types of Recording:
The Sony VRD-MC5 features seven types of
recordings for creating video and photo DVDs.
- One Touch Dubbing:
This mode allows you to record video from an HDD or Memory Stick (MS)
camcorder onto a disc by simply pressing the "Disc Burn" or "DVD Burn" button on the camera or Handycam Station.
- Full Dubbing: This mode allows you to record video onto a DVD from a
digital video camera connected to the DVDirect with a single tough of the
Record button. The entire video content of the source will be recorded. The
VRD-MC5 controls the camera during the entire process and completes creating
of the video DVD. The completed DVD is automatically finalized, allowing
immediate playback on DVD players.
- Incremental Dubbing: This mode allows you to record the content of an HDD
or MS
camcorder connected via a USB cable onto a disc. Using this mode, you can
record only the newly taken contents of a camera whose previous contents
have already been recorded onto a disc.
- Consolidation Dubbing: This mode allows you to
record the contents of multiple 8-cm discs from a DVD camcorder onto a
single 12-cm disc.
- Playlist Dubbing: This mode allows you to record
videos within a playlist created on your HDD or MS camcorder. If you select
videos beforehand and create a playlist on the camcorder, you can record
these videos on DVD easily.
- Scenes Selection Dubbing: This mode allows you to
record videos selected by viewing thumbnails or by the shooting date.
- Manual Dubbing: This mode allows you to
create a video DVD using the Record button on the DVDirect unit and the
play, pause and stop buttons on the device connected to the DVDirect. You
can record from any video device with a video output connector.
- Full Photo Dubbing:
This method allows you to select at
once all of the photos (taken with a digital camera) stored on a memory card
or all the photos on the hard disk of an HDD camcorder or an 8-cm DVD in a
camcorder and record them onto
a DVD with one touch of a button. You can record up to 2,000 photos.
- Photo Select
Recording: This method allows you to
select only the photos (taken with a digital camera) that you want to record
from a memory card and record them onto a disc. You can select them by
viewing thumbnails or by the shooting date.
Types of Photo DVDs:
The following types of photo DVD can be created with the DVDirect.
- Photo Backup:
This mode allows you to store photos (JPEG
files) taken with a digital camera or HDD camcorder on a DVD disc. You can
view the photo backup DVD created with the DVDirect in the display window or
view it using the DVD drive of a computer.
- Photo Slideshow:
This mode allows you to view the
recorded photos as a slideshow. The DVDirect creates a new chapter every 10
photos. You can play the slideshow DVD with commercial DVD players and even
include background music using a single MP3 file recorded onto a memory
card.
USB Speed: In
addition to real-time recording, when recording from an HDD, Memory Stick or DVD camcorder
connected via a USB cable, the length of time required for recording depends on
the Record Mode setting used to shoot the video and the number of scenes the
video contains. The chart below provides a general estimate of time required to
record a 1-hour video containing one scene on a disc.
| Recording HD (High
Definition) Video |
| Recording Mode |
HDD/MS Camcorder |
| XP Mode |
approx. 40 minutes |
| HQ Mode |
approx. 20 minutes |
| SP Mode |
approx. 15 minutes |
| LP Mode |
approx. 10 minutes |
| Recording SD (Standard Definition) Video |
| Recording Mode |
HDD/MS Camcorder |
DVD Camcorder |
| HQ Mode |
approx. 20 minutes |
approx. 40 minutes |
| SP Mode |
approx. 15 minutes |
approx. 30 minutes |
| LP Mode |
approx. 10 minutes |
approx. 20 minutes |
Auto Stop Timer: You
can select a preset time used to stop recording automatically when creating a
video DVD. You can choose from off, 30min, 60min, 90min, 2hr, 3hr, 4hr, 6hr, or
8hr. This setting only applies to Full Recording and normal Video Recording
modes.
Navigation Display: The DVDirect
automatically detects inserted memory cards and discs and input signals from
connected devices. It then displays a message prompting the next necessary
operation, so preparations for recording can be made without complicated button
operations.
Aspect Ratio: The
Sony VRD-MC5 can record in either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio to match your
recorded source and playback display.
Dolby Digital Compatible:
The VRD-MC5 can record Dolby Digital 2-channel or 5.1 channels surround from
Dolby Digital supported camcorders.
Titles And Chapters:
When you create a video DVD with the DVDirect, titles and chapters are created
as follows.
- Manual Dubbing or DV
Recording: Titles are created between
the points where you start and stop a recording on the DVDirect. Chapters
are created according to the Auto Chaptering setting (off or every 5, 10, or
15 minutes).
- HDD or DVD USB
Recording: Titles are created at
points in the video where the date recorded, REC mode (HQ, SP, LP), or
aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:) are changed. Chapters are created for each scene
taken with the HDD or DVD camcorder (scenes are created each time recording
is started and then stopped).
- AVCHD Recording: Only one title is
created. Chapters are created for each scene (when recording is started and
stopped) in the title.
DVD Menus: The
DVDirect will record a DVD menu at the beginning of disc recorded. The DVD menu
is displayed each time a DVD is inserted into a DVD player and serves as a title
page or table of contents for the video DVD. You can create DVDs that display
thumbnail images of titles in their menu screen. You can select from four
different menu styles (1-4) when creating video DVDs. Note: A DVD menu is
not created during AVCHD recording.
Color System: The
Sony DVDirect supports both NTSC and PAL color systems. You can select which one
to use in the unit's menu.
Multi-Language Display:
The DVD recorder features 10 different language displays to choose from,
including English, French and Spanish.