If you want to dispose this product, do not mix it with general household waste. There is a separate collection system for used electronic products in accordance with legislation that requires proper treatment, recovery and recycling. Private households in the 25 member states of the EU, in Switzerland and Norway may return their used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar new one). For countries not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities for the correct method of disposal. By doing so you will ensure that your disposed product undergoes the necessary treatment, recovery and recycling and thus prevent potential negative effects on the environment and human health. K058_En

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 3

Operating Environment
Operating environment temperature and humidity: +5 C to +35 C (+41 F to +95 F); less than 85 %RH (cooling vents not blocked) Do not install this unit in a poorly ventilated area, or in locations exposed to high humidity or direct sunlight (or D3-4-2-1-7c_A_En strong artificial light)

VENTILATION CAUTION

When installing this unit, make sure to leave space around the unit for ventilation to improve heat radiation (at least 10 cm at top, 10 cm at rear, and 10 cm at each side).
CAUTION The STANDBY/ON switch on this unit will not completely shut off all power from the AC outlet. Since the power cord serves as the main disconnect device for the unit, you will need to unplug it from the AC outlet to shut down all power. Therefore, make sure the unit has been installed so that the power cord can be easily unplugged from the AC outlet in case of an accident. To avoid fire hazard, the power cord should also be unplugged from the AC outlet when left unused for a long period of time D3-4-2-2-2a_A_En (for example, when on vacation).
Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of the product, and to protect it from overheating. To prevent fire hazard, the openings should never be blocked or covered with items (such as newspapers, table-cloths, curtains) or by operating the D3-4-2-1-7b_A_En equipment on thick carpet or a bed.
This product is for general household purposes. Any failure due to use for other than household purposes (such as long-term use for business purposes in a restaurant or use in a car or ship) and which requires repair will be charged for even during the K041_En warranty period.

POWER-CORD CAUTION

If the AC plug of this unit does not match the AC outlet you want to use, the plug must be removed and appropriate one fitted. Replacement and mounting of an AC plug on the power supply cord of this unit should be performed only by qualified service personnel. If connected to an AC outlet, the cut-off plug can cause severe electrical shock. Make sure it is properly disposed of after removal. The equipment should be disconnected by removing the mains plug from the wall socket when left unused for a long period of time (for example, when D3-4-2-2-1a_A_En on vacation).

Handle the power cord by the plug. Do not pull out the plug by tugging the cord and never touch the power cord when your hands are wet as this could cause a short circuit or electric shock. Do not place the unit, a piece of furniture, etc., on the power cord, or pinch the cord. Never make a knot in the cord or tie it with other cords. The power cords should be routed such that they are not likely to be stepped on. A damaged power cord can cause a fire or give you an electrical shock. Check the power cord once in a while. When you find it damaged, ask your nearest PIONEER authorized service center or your dealer for a replacement. S002_En
Replacement and mounting of an AC plug on the power supply cord of this unit should be performed only by qualified service personnel.
IMPORTANT: THE MOULDED PLUG
This appliance is supplied with a moulded three pin mains plug for your safety and convenience. A 5 amp fuse is fitted in this plug. Should the fuse need to be replaced, please ensure that the replacement fuse has a rating of 5 amps and that it is approved by ASTA or BSI to BS1362. Check for the ASTA mark or the BSI mark on the body of the fuse.
If the plug contains a removable fuse cover, you must ensure that it is refitted when the fuse is replaced. If you lose the fuse cover the plug must not be used until a replacement cover is obtained. A replacement fuse cover can be obtained from your local dealer. If the fitted moulded plug is unsuitable for your socket outlet, then the fuse shall be removed and the plug cut off and disposed of safely. There is a danger of severe electrical shock if the cut off plug is inserted into any 13 amp socket. If a new plug is to be fitted, please observe the wiring code as shown below. If in any doubt, please consult a qualified electrician. WARNING : THIS APPARATUS MUST BE EARTHED. IMPORTANT: The wires in this mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code: Green & Yellow : Earth Blue : Neutral Brown : Live As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows ; The wire which is coloured GREEN-AND-YELLOW must be connected to the terminal in the plug which is marked with the letter E or by the earth symbol or coloured GREEN or GREEN-AND-YELLOW. The wire which is coloured BLUE must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter N or coloured BLACK. The wire which is coloured BROWN must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the letter L or coloured RED. How to replace the fuse: Open the fuse compartment with a screwdriver and replace the fuse.

D3-4-2-1-2-1_B_En

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 4

Contents

01 Before you start
Whats in the box. 6 Putting the batteries in the remote control. 6 Using the remote control. 6 Disc / content format playback compatibility. 7 About the internal hard disk drive. 13 Symbols used in this manual. 14

The Windows Media logo printed on the box indicates that this recorder can playback Windows Media Audio content. WMA is an acronym for Windows Media Audio and refers to an audio compression technology developed by Microsoft Corporation. WMA content can be encoded by using Windows Media Player for Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9 or Windows Media Player 10 series. Microsoft, Windows Media, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 11

DivX video compatibility

DivX VOD content

DivX is a compressed digital video format created by the DivX video codec from DivX, Inc. This recorder can play DivX video files burned on CD-R/-RW/-ROM discs. Keeping the same terminology as DVD-Video, individual DivX video files are called "Titles." When naming files/titles on a CD-R/-RW disc prior to burning, keep in mind that by default they will be played in alphabetical order. Official DivX Certified product. Plays all versions of DivX video (including DivX 6) with standard playback of DivX media files. File extensions:.avi and.divx (these must be used for the recorder to recognize DivX video files). Note that all files with the.avi extension are recognized as MPEG4, but not all of these are necessarily DivX video files and therefore may not be playable on this recorder. File structure: Up to 99 folders or 999 files. DivX, DivX Certified, and associated logos are trademarks of DivX, Inc. and are used under license.
In order to play DivX VOD (video on demand) content on this recorder, you first need to register the recorder with your DivX VOD content provider. You do this by generating a DivX VOD registration code, which you submit to your provider. Some DivX VOD content may only be playable a fixed number of times. When you load a disc containing this type of DivX VOD content, the remaining number of plays is shown on-screen and you then have the option of playing the disc (thereby using up one of the remaining plays), or stopping. If you load a disc that contains expired DivX VOD content (for example, content that has zero remaining plays), the message Rental Expired is displayed. If your DivX VOD content allows an unlimited number of plays, then you may load the disc into your recorder and play the content as often as you like, and no message will be displayed. Important DivX VOD content is protected by a DRM (Digital Rights Management) system. This restricts playback of content to specific, registered devices. If you load a disc that contains DivX VOD content not authorized for this recorder, the message Authorization Error is displayed and the content will not play. Resetting the recorder (as described in Resetting the recorder on page 149) will not cause you to lose your registration code.

While the recorder is switched on (including during EPG download when the display shows EPG), do not unplug from the wall socket or switch the electricity off from the breaker switch. Do not move the recorder immediately after switching it off. If you need to move the recorder, please follow the steps below: 1 After the message POWER OFF is shown in the display, wait at least two minutes. 2 Unplug from the wall socket. 3 Move the recorder. If theres a power failure while the recorder is on there is a chance that some data on the HDD will be lost. The HDD is very delicate. If used improperly or in an unsuitable environment, it is possible that the HDD will fail after a few years of use. Signs of problems include playback unexpectedly freezing and noticeable block noise (mosaic) in the picture. However, sometimes there will be no warning signs of HDD failure. If the HDD fails, no playback of recorded material will be possible. In this case it will be necessary to replace the HDD unit.
Optimizing HDD performance
As you record and edit material on the HDD, the data on the disk becomes fragmented, eventually affecting the recorders performance. Before this happens, the recorder will warn you that it is time to optimize the HDD (which you can do from the Disc Setup menu; see Optimize HDD on page 116).

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 14

Symbols used in this manual
The following icons are provided to help you quickly identify which instructions you need for which kind of disc.

HDD DVD

HDD Any type of DVD disc (recordable or playback only), finalized or not. Commercially produced DVD, finalized Video mode DVD-R/-RW. Video mode DVD-R/-RW (unfinalized) VR mode DVD-R/-RW DVD+R DVD+RW DVD-RAM Audio CD Video CD Super VCD WMA or MP3 files DivX files All of the above

DVD-Video

DVD (Video)
DVD (VR) DVD+R DVD+RW DVD-RAM CD Video CD Super VCD WMA/MP3 DivX ALL

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 15

Connecting up

Chapter 2

Rear panel connections

AV 2 (INPUT 1/DECODER)

AUDIO L PB
ANTENNA (DIGITAL) IN DIGITAL AUDIO OUT IN ANTENNA

PR S-VIDEO VIDEO

OUTPUT

AV 1 (RGB) TV

CONTROL G-LINK

COMPONENT VIDEO OUT

COAXIAL

Colour buttons (RED, GREEN, YELLOW, BLUE) Use when an EPG screen is displayed or when tuned to a data channel of a digital broadcast. The function of each button will be described on-screen, and changes depending on the screen being displayed. TIMER REC (page 38) Hold SHIFT and press to set a timer recording from the GUIDE Plus+ system. A.TV / D.TV Hold SHIFT and press to switch between analog TV antenna input and digital TV antenna input. The A.TV and D.TV indicators on the front panel show which is selected.
(page 78) Press to start reverse or forward scanning. Press again to change the speed. / / (page 79) While paused, press and hold to start slow-motion playback. Press repeatedly to change the playback speed. While paused, press to advance a single frame in either direction.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 28

12 INFO While watching D.TV, press to display the information banner. Press to see additional information for the highlighted item in the EPG. 13 HOME MENU Press to display the Home Menu, from which you can navigate all the functions of the recorder. 14 GUIDE Press to display the EPG screen; press again to exit. 15 RETURN/EXIT Press to go back one level in the on-screen menu or display. Also press to exit the MHEG application. 16 PLAY (page 72) Press to start playback. STOP (page 72) Press to stop playback. 17 CHANNEL +/ (page 60) Press to change the channel of the builtin TV tuner. PREV NEXT Press to skip to the previous or next title/ chapter/track/folder; or to display the previous or next menu page. When GUIDE Plus+ is displayed, use to display the previous/next page. 18 HELP Press for help on how to use the current GUI screen. 19 TV/DVD Press to switch between TV mode, in which you get the picture and sound from the TVs tuner, and DVD mode, in which you get picture and sound from the recorders tuner (or an external input).
20 ONE TOUCH COPY (page 100) Press to start One Touch Copy of the currently playing title to DVD or the HDD. 21 INPUT SELECT (page 68) Press to change the input to use for recording. 22 MENU (page 73) Press to display the disc menu if a DVDVideo, finalized DVD-R/-RW or finalized DVD+R/+RW disc is loaded. When in the GUIDE Plus+ system, use to jump directly to the Menu bar. 23 DISPLAY (page 84) Displays/changes the on-screen information displays. TEXT Hold SHIFT and press to start the MHEG application display, if available, while watching a digital channel (UK only).

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 29

Getting started

Chapter 4

Switching on and setting up
When you switch the recorder on for the first time, you can make several basic settings using the Setup Navigator feature. This takes you through setting the clock, the internal TV tuner and the video output. If youre using the recorder for the first time, we strongly recommend you use the Setup Navigator before starting to use the recorder. 1 Switch on your TV and set the video input to this recorder.

Country/ Region

Austria Belgium

Host channels

Eurosport

Comments

RTL-TVI TMF will be switched Music off in the near future. Factory (TMF) Canal+ Eurosport Sport Italia Analog only TMF will be switched off in the near future. Analog only

France Germany Italy

Netherlands Music Factory (TMF), Eurosport Spain Switzerland UK Tele 5 Eurosport

Analog only

ITV, Eurosport ITV is analog only. Use Eurosport if you are a SKY subscriber and you no longer have an analog terrestrial antenna.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 35

Tune your external receiver to the appropriate host channel and leave the receiver on and the recorder in standby overnight. C If you use both an external receiver and this recorder as sources, follow the instructions above for setting up without an external receiver. Only if this is unsuccessful try the external receiver method.
When downloading EPG data, the recorder may sound as though it is on. This is normal.
Checking the downloaded data the following day
Display the GUIDE Plus+ screen.

About EPG download

EPG data can only be received when the recorder is in standby. (When not using the recorder, therefore, please switch it into standby.) If youre using an external receiver, leave this on when EPG data is downloading. If you cannot receive any of the host channels (see the above table) then you wont be able to use the GUIDE Plus+ system. In this case do not set the postal code (or set Country to Other) in the GUIDE Plus+ setup screen. (When GUIDE Plus+ service starts in your area, set the postal code again.) If digital broadcasts start in your area, please set the EPG Type Select setting in the Initial Setup menu to Digital EPG. Even if you cant use the EPG functions where you live, you can still set VIDEO Plus+ timer recordings and manual recordings see Setting a timer recording on page 66. The front panel display shows EPG when receiving data. If you power on the recorder during an EPG download, the download is canceled. EPG data may be received several times a day. All updates are automatic.
You should see a grid filled with channel logos and TV listings information. Use the / buttons to review the list. If you notice that there are channels missing, or that there are channels in the list that you dont get, go to the Editor screen: Press repeatedly until the Menu bar is highlighted. Press until Editor is highlighted. The main area of the screen now shows a list of channels. Those that are turned ON are displayed in the grid; those that are OFF are hidden. Use the / / / buttons to move down the list and turn channels ON or OFF as necessary. For any channel that you turn ON, the GUIDE Plus+ system will need to know how it is received (the source) and on which program number. The source may be the built-in tuner of this recorder, or an external receiver. The program

If you live in an area not yet covered by the GUIDE Plus+ system you may also have to input a channel number. Follow the on-screen display to do this. 4 Press ENTER to confirm.
4 In the same way, enter the recording start time, followed by the GREEN Action button (Next) to confirm. 5 Enter the recording end time in the same way, followed by the GREEN Action button (Next) to confirm. 6 Use the number buttons to enter a channel number, then press the GREEN Action button (Next) to confirm.
Setting a manual recording

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 48

Alternatively, you can press the YELLOW Action button (Mosaic) and use the / / / buttons to select a channel from the mosaic, followed by ENTER.
Switching a channel on/off
You can choose whether or not to display a channel in the Grid Area by switching the channel on or off in the Editor Area. 1 Select Editor from the Menu bar.

The Info Area

This area is reserved for additional information such as news, weather reports, stock quotes, and so on, and varies by region. (Note that this feature is not available in all countries/regions.)

The Editor Area

The Editor Area is the central location for you to manage your channels. Any changes you make here will affect what is displayed in the Grid Area. The Editor Area is mainly used when setting up the GUIDE Plus+ system to make any manual changes as necessary. You can also use the Editor Area if new channels become available in your area, or if you change from cable to satellite, say, or move house. From the Editor Area you can: Display/hide channels in the grid (switch the channel on/off). Select a channel source (A.TV, D.TV, Ext. Rec. 1, Ext. Rec. 2, etc.). Enter a channel program number.
2 Highlight the left channel tile of the channel you want to switch on or off. 3 Press the RED Action button to switch the channel on or off.
Changing the source and program number
1 Select Editor from the Menu bar.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 49

2 Highlight the right channel tile of the channel you want to make a change to. 3 Press the RED Action button to change the channel source, or the GREEN Action button to enter a program number. Each press of the RED Action button changes the channel source (A.TV, D.TV, Ext. Rec. 1, etc.). To set a program number, use the number buttons to enter a program number then press ENTER. (When set to A.TV or D.TV, make sure that the program number matches the preset number of this recorder for what you want to record).

While the recorder is stopped, you can also use the number buttons on the remote to select the channel. (For channel 24, press 2, 4 then ENTER) If the recorder is stopped, you can also use the CH +/ buttons on the front panel to select the channel number.

SHIFT REC MODE

7 Start recording. If you want to set a recording end time, press the REC button repeatedly. The recording time increases in 30 minute increments, up to a maximum of six hours. The time the recording will end is shown on-screen and in the front panel display. When the recording ends, the recorder automatically switches into standby if no other operation is being performed. To cancel the set recording time, press REC. If you want to pause recording at any time1, press PAUSE. Press again to restart the recording (If recording to the HDD, DVD-RAM or in VR mode, a new chapter is started after recording restarts).
+ 4 Set the picture quality/ recording time. See Setting the picture quality/recording time on page 63 for detailed instructions.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 65

STOP REC
Press to stop recording. If you set the recording time in the previous step, you can still stop the recording anytime by pressing STOP REC. Recording will stop automatically when there is no more space on the HDD/ DVD, or after 12 hours of HDD recording (whichever is sooner). Tip During recording you can turn on/off the SCART loop through function. During recording, press the front panel CH + button to switch to SCART THRU (loop through on), or CH to switch to SCART NORM (loop though off). Loop through is automatically reset to off after recording has finished. Note that you cant switch loop through on if recording from the AV2/(INPUT 1/DECODER) or AV1(RGB)-TV connectors.
Important Pause Live TV only works with the built-in A.TV (analog) tuner. It does not work with the D.TV tuner or the external inputs.

PAUSE LIVE TV

1 Start recording the current TV channel. Recording continues with playback paused. Note that it may take up to 10 seconds for recording to start.
2 Press to start playback. You can also use the scan buttons ( / ), pause ( PAUSE) and stop ( STOP)all without affecting the recording.

Basic playback

This section shows you how to use your recorder for playback of discs (DVD, CD, etc.), and for playback of video from the HDD. Important Throughout this manual, the term DVD means any kind of playable or recordable DVD. If a function is specific to a particular kind of DVD disc, it is specified. Some DVD-Video, DVD+R and DVD+RW discs dont allow certain playback controls to operate at certain points in the disc. This is not a malfunction.
1 Select the HDD or DVD for playback. If playing video from the HDD, skip to step 3 below. Select DVD for any kind of disc playback.
2 Load a disc. Load a disc with the label side facing up, using the disc tray guide to align the disc (if youre loading a double-sided DVD-Video disc, load it with the side you want to play face down). If you want to play a DTS audio CD, please first read the note on page 75.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 73

Playing DVD discs
The table below shows the basic playback controls for DVD-Video, and recordable DVD discs.
Start playback. If youre playing a DVD-Video or Video CD, a disc menu may appear when you start playback. Use the / / / buttons and ENTER to navigate DVD disc menus, and the number buttons and ENTER for Video CD menus. When playing video from the HDD, playback will automatically stop after the end of a title is reached. There may be a slight pause when playback switches from the first to the second layer of a dual-layer disc. See the following sections for more details on playing specific kinds of discs.
Press to start playback. If RESUME is displayed onscreen, playback starts from the place last stopped. Press to stop playback. You can resume playback from the same point by pressing PLAY. (Press STOP again to cancel the resume function.) Pauses playback, or restarts playback when paused. Press to start scanning. Press repeatedly to increase the scanning speed.

Press to stop playback.

5 When youve finished using the recorder, eject the disc and switch the recorder back into standby.

For more information about these options, see Editing accuracy on page 88. 4 Select the command you want: Divide Divide a chapter into two or more parts: Use the playback controls ( , , , , etc.) to find the point at which you want to divide the chapter, then press ENTER.
Chapter Edit (DVD VR mode Play List)
6 Select Yes to confirm or No to cancel.
Divided titles cannot be combined. OK? Yes No
19:00 Mon 29/11 Pr 2 SP Rec. time Chapters 1h00m 5

0.00.00

Chapter Edit

DVD (VR) DVD-RAM HDD

Play Exit Divide Erase/Move Combine
When editing a VR mode DVD or video on the HDD you can edit individual chapters within a title, with commands for erasing, combining and dividing. 1 Highlight the title that contains the chapters you want to edit.
You can keep dividing the chapter as many times as you wish (up to 999 chapters per DVD-R/-RW/-RAM disc or 99 chapters per HDD title). Erase1/Move2 Erase or move chapters: Select the chapter you want to erase/move and press ENTER. Select whether you want to erase or move the chapter. Move command only: Select the destination for the chapter, and press ENTER.
Chapter Edit (DVD VR mode Play List) 19:00 Mon 29/11 Pr 2 SP Erase 1h00m Rec. time Move 0h01m Chapter Cancel
2 Select Edit > Chapter Edit from the command menu panel.
Exit Divide Erase/Move Combine
Note 1 When editing VR mode Original content, it may not be possible to erase chapters less than five seconds long. 2 VR mode Play List only.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 94

Combine1 Combine two adjacent chapters into one: Highlight the bar divider between two adjacent chapters and press ENTER.
Chapter Edit (DVD VR mode Play List) 19:00 Mon 29/11 Pr 2 SP Rec. time 1h00m

Set Genre

Use this command to assign a genre to a title.
1 Highlight the title you want to assign a genre to.
5 Select Exit to get back to the main Disc Navigator screen.
2 Select Edit > Set Genre from the command menu panel.
Disc Navigator (HDD) 4 Titles 9 Recent first 8 All Genres 7 HDD SP Remain 30h30m 19:00 19:00 MON 29/11 Mon 29/11 22:00 22:00 THU 2/12 Thu 2/12 20:00 20:00 FRI 3/12 Fri 3/12 10Titles 23:00 MON 7:00PM 11/29 FRI 3/12 Play 23:00 Fri 3/2ch nameSP 11/29Mon 7:00PM Pr TitleSP
Erase 2h00m(1.0G) 2h00m(1.0G) Set Thumbnail Erase Section Edit Divide
Select a genre for the title.
Disc Navigator (HDD) Titles 9 Recent first 8 All Genres 7 HDD SP Remain 30h30m 10Titles 23:00 MON 7:00PM 11/29 FRI 3/12 Play 23:00 Fri 7:00PM SP name 11/29Mon 3/12 Pr 4 2ch SP Title
20:00 FRI 3/12 Entertaiment Edit Chapter 20:00 Fri 3/12 Pr 9 SPNews
No Category Erase 2h00m(1.0G) 2h00m(1.0G) Set Thumbnail Drama Erase Section Edit Divide Sport 2h00m(1.0G) Multi-Mode Set Genre Comedy
22:00 THU 2/12 Genre Name Lock 22:00 Thu 2/12 Pr 7 SP
19:00 MON 29/11 19:00 Mon 29/11 Pr 2 SP 1h00m(1.0G)

Use this command to rename one of the ten user-definable genres (Free 1 to Free 5).
1 Select Genre Name from the command menu panel.
Disc Navigator (HDD) 4 Titles 9 Recent first 8 All Genres 7 HDD SP Remain 30h30m 10Titles 23:00 MON 7:00PM 11/29 FRI 3/12 Play 23:00 Fri 7:00PM SP 11/29Mon 3/12 Pr 4 2ch SP
22:00 THU 2/12 22:00 Thu 2/12 Pr 7 SP
Chapter Edit 2h00m(1.0G) Multi-Mode Move Genre Combine Name Cancel Cancel 1h00m(1.0G)
2h00m(1.0G) Genre Name 22:00 THU 2/12 22:00 Thu 2/12 Pr 7 SP
Multi-Mode Multi-Mode 0G)
3 Select another title to combine with the first. This title will be appended to the first title selected. The screen below shows title 3 selected to be appended to title 1:
Disc Navigator (DVD) 4 Titles 2 Play List 3 23:00 FRI 3/12 23:00 Fri 7:00PM SP 11/29Mon 3/12 Pr 4 2ch 10Titles
2 Select one of the userdefinable genre names.
Disc Navigator (HDD) 4 Titles 9 Recent first 10Titles 23:00 MON 7:00PM 11/29 FRI 3/12 Play 23:00 Fri 7:00PM SP SP 11/29Mon 3/12 Pr 4 2ch Free 1
Erase 2 Free 2h00m(1.0G) 2h00m(1.0G) Free Edit 3 Free 5
2h00m(1.0G) 20:00 FRI 3/12 20:00 Fri 3/12 Pr 9 SP 2h00m(1.0G) 22:00 THU 2/12 22:00 Thu 2/12 Pr 7 SP 1h00m(1.0G) 4
20:00 FRI 3/12 Free 4 20:00 Fri 3/12 Pr 9 SP 2h00m(1.0G) Multi-Mode
8 All Genres 7 HDD SP Remain 30h30m
Cancel Genre Name 22:00 THU 2/12 22:00 Thu 2/12 Pr 7 SP Cancel 1h00m(1.0G)

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 97

Input a name for the genre. The name can be up to 12 characters long. For information on remote control key short cuts, see Using the remote key shortcuts to input a name on page 90.
Input Genre Name Free 1 CAPS small
1 Select Multi-Mode from the command menu panel.
Disc Navigator (HDD) 4 Titles 9 Recent first 8 22:00 22:00 THU 2/12 Thu 2/12 20:00 20:00 FRI 3/12 Fri 3/12 23:00 MON 7:00PM 11/29 FRI 3/12 Play 23:00 Fri 3/12 SP 11/29Mon 7:00PM Pr 4 2ch
Erase 2h00m(1.0G) 2h00m(1.0G)
2h00m(1.0G) Genre Name Pr 7 SP
All Genres 7 HDD SP Remain 30h30m 19:00 19:00 MON 29/11 Mon 29/11

Multi-Mode 1h00m(1.0G)

$% = > _ & { _ } ~ | /2 /4 `
2 Select titles from the title list. Selected titles are marked with a.

Finalize settings

DVD-R DVD-RW DVD+R DVD+RW
2 Select Finalize > Undo Finalize then Start.
Note 1 Once initialized for VR mode recording it is not possible to re-initialize the disc for Video mode recording. Also, once recorded in Video mode, the disc cannot be re-initialized for VR mode recording.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 116

Optimize HDD

Initialize HDD

As you record, erase and edit recordings, the HDD file system gradually becomes fragmented. Periodically, the HDD will need optimizing to clean up all the fragmented files. When the HDD needs optimizing the recorder will automatically display a message recommending optimization. Important Optimizing the HDD can take as long as eight hours. During optimization, playback and recording are not possible. Canceling optimization mid-way does not undo the optimization already done, so the HDD will be partly optimized.
When your DVD recorder is working without a problem this option is not visible in the Disc Setup menu. However, if the HDD file system becomes corrupted for some reason, you can initialize the HDD to fix the problem. Note that initializing the HDD will erase all the data on it.

2 Start.

Disc Setup Basic Initialize Finalize Initialize HDD Optimize HDD
Select Initialize HDD then

Initialize

Disc Setup Basic Initialize Finalize Optimize HDD

Select Optimize HDD then

Start Optimization
A progress bar indicates how long there is left to go.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 117

The Video Adjust menu

Chapter 14

Using the Video Adjust menu you can set up the picture quality for the built-in tuner and external inputs, for disc playback, and for recording. There are six presets available: Tuner suitable for general TV broadcasts VCR suitable for video cassettes DTV/LDP suitable for digital broadcasts and Laserdiscs Memory1 user preset 1 Memory2 user preset 2 Memory3 user preset 3 You can press DISPLAY to see the individual settings for the current preset (Tuner, VCR or DTV/LDP).
Setting the picture quality for TV and external inputs
Picture Creation lets you choose a set of picture quality settings for the built-in TV tuner and for each external input. There are several preset settings that suit various sources, or you can create up to three of your own sets.

Creating your own set

There are three user presets in which you can save your own set of picture quality settings. 1 Follow Choosing a preset above and select one of the user presets (Memory 1, 2 or 3).

Choosing a preset

1 With the recorder stopped, press to display the Home Menu.

On-screen displays and recorder displays
The table below shows a list of error messages that you may encounter when using the recorder and an explanation of their meaning.
Message Initializing disc. Please wait a moment. Incompatible region number. Cannot record any more titles. No more space for le management data. This disc cannot be recorded. Undo the nalization. Cannot play this disc. This disc cannot be recorded. Cannot read the CPRM information. Could not record the information to the disc. Cannot edit. Could not initialize disc. Could not complete nalization successfully. Could not undo nalization successfully. Could not successfully unlock the disc. Explanation/Action When you load a blank DVD-RW or DVD+RW disc, the recorder automatically initializes it. The disc loaded has an incompatible region number for the recorder and so will not play. The disc control data limit has been reached, or the maximum number of chapters and/or titles has been reached. Erase titles/chapters or combine chapters. The disc was nalized on a non-Pioneer DVD recorder. Undo the nalization in order to recording/editing. The disc may be dirty or damaged. Take out the disc, clean it and retry. If the error persists, use a new disc. If the error appears even with a new disc, please consult a Pioneer Service Center.

DVR540HXS_WV_EN.book 144

Message Incompatible or unreadable disc.
Explanation/Action The disc loaded is a playback-only disc type. This display may also appear if the disc is dirty or damaged. The video source is copy-once protected. Use a VR mode DVD-R/-RW disc with CPRM for recording.
Cannot record to a disc that is not CPRM compatible. Cannot record this content using Video mode recording. This video cannot be recorded to DVD+R/+RW. This content is copy protected. Incorrect CPRM information.
The video source is copy-protected and cannot be recorded. The recorder could not read the CPRM information. The recorder may be damaged please consult a Pioneer Service Center. During recording, the power was cut. This display appears when the power is restored. The recorder was unable to repair the disc after a power cut. The contents of the recording will be lost. The internal temperature of the recorder has exceeded the operating limit. If this message reappears, please contact a Pioneer authorized service center. The HDD should be optimized (basically, HDD housekeeping) to maintain playback and recording performance. The HDD is in more urgent need of optimization in order to maintain performance. If this message appears repeatedly after optimizing the HDD it is likely that there is not enough free space on the HDD for optimization to complete properly. Please erase some titles from the HDD and optimize again. The TV system (PAL, NTSC, etc.) of the current channel is different from the TV system settings of this recorder.