Production Tips

TRV-900 manual

Holding the camcorder

For maximum stability, grip the camcorder in your right hand and keep your right elbow pressed against your body. If necessary, support the camcorder with your left hand. With practice, you will be able to operate the controls by touch, without taking your eye off the action

Using a tripod

To prevent any unwanted movement, you can mount the camcorder on a tripod (or any flat surface at a suitable height), and operate it with the wireless controller.  When you are using a tripod, be careful not to leave the viewfinder exposed to bright sunlight or it may melt (the light is concentrated by the viewfinder lens).

Make sure that the fastening screw of the tripod is no longer than _  inch (5.5 mm) or it will damage the camcorder.

Powering your camcorder 

Before operating your camcorder, you will need to use the power adapter to provide power from an AC outlet or charge a battery pack. 

Notes

The power adapter converts current from a household power socket (100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz) to the DC current used by your camcorder.  If the adapter is used next to a TV, it may cause bars to appear on the TV --- move the adapter away from the TV or the antenna cable.

Connecting the camcorder to an AC outlet

Use the power adapter to provide your camcorder with instant power from an AC outlet. Always turn the camcorder off before connecting/removing the power source.

1. Set the POWER switch to OFF.

2. Connect the power adapter to the camcorder’s DC IN terminal.

3. Connect the power cable to the power adapter.

4. Plug the power cable into an AC outlet.

5. Disconnect the power adapter from the camcorder after use. Unplug the power cable from the AC outlet, then disconnect it from the adapter. 

Attaching and charging the battery packs

Always turn the camcorder off and raise the viewfinder before connecting/removing the battery.

1. Set the POWER switch to OFF.

2. Attach the battery to the camcorder. 

a) Rotate the viewfinder upwards.

b) With the triangle on the battery pack pointing downwards, align the edge of the battery pack with the line on the camcorder, press lightly and slide the battery down until it clicks into place.

3. Connect the power adapter to the camcorder.

4. Connect the power cable to the adapter and plug it into an AC outlet.

The battery pack will also charge when the power switch is turned to positions other than OFF.  However, for more efficient charging, set the POWER switch to OFF. 

5. When charging is complete, disconnect the power adapter from the camcorder. Unplug the power cable from the AC outlet, then disconnect it from the adapter.

6. Remove battery pack after use.

a) Rotate the viewfinder upwards.

b) Press and hold the battery release button while you slide the battery up.

Notes

Never connect an unspecified product to the camcorder's DC terminal. Likewise, do not connect the power adapter to an unspecified product.

The Adapter can be used with a power supply between 100 and 240 V AC. For areas where 120 V AC power is not used, you will need a special plug adapter. Contact your nearest Sony Service Center for further information.

Only use videocassettes marked with the Mini DV logo.

Loading and unloading the tape

1. Make sure that you have attached a power source.

2. Slide the OPEN/EJECT switch (on the side of the camcorder) to release the cassette compartment cover.  Wait a few seconds for the cassette compartment to pop open. 

3. Load or unload the cassette.  Insert the cassette gently with the window facing the grip belt and the REC/SAVE tab up.  Remove the cassette by pulling it straight out.

4. close the cassette compartment cover while pushing the round button on the upper left-hand corner of the compartment cover. 

Notes

Do not interfere with the cassette compartment while it is opening or closing automatically.  Load the cassette and be careful not to get your fingers caught in the cassette compartment cover.

Do not leave the cassette in the camcorder after use -- return it to its case and store it in a cool, clean, dry place.

When you turn the camcorder's power on, a cassette icon with a slash through it flashes in the display until you load a cassette.  See the diagram below for loading and unloading cassettes. 

Protecting tapes from accidental erasure

To protect your recording from accidental erasure, slide the tab on the cassette so that it exposes the hole. This switch position is usually labeled SAVE or ERASE OFF.

If you load this cassette and put the camcorder in record pause mode, "THE TAPE IS SET FOR ERASURE PREVENTION" is displayed for approx. 4 seconds and then the        mark flashes in the display.

If you want to record on the cassette again, slide the tab back so the hole is closed. 

Handling  cassettes

To protect the tape heads, transfer cassettes directly from the tape case to the camcorder -- do not open the tape protect cover or touch the tape itself.

Do not use cassettes where the tape has been damaged or spliced -- they may damage the camcorder.

Do not insert anything into the small holes on the cassette or cover them with cellophane tape.

Handle cassettes with care -- dropping them or exposing them to external shocks may cause internal damage.

Store cassettes in the provided case, first rewinding them to the start of the tape and then storing them upright.

A cassette with metal plated terminals may become dirty with use, affecting information transfer. Therefore, after using a tape about 10 times, be sure to clean the terminals with a cotton swab.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON TAPE FORMATS

You will find explanations on tape formats on pages B-2 and B-3 in your producer’s handbook.  The TRV-900 records in mini-DV, also known as consumer DV.  The professional Sony DV format is DVCAM.  The main difference between mini DV and DVCAM is that while DVCAM records locked audio, mini DV records unlocked audio.  For NLE editing, this is generally not an issue.  Other differences include increased track pitch for DVCAM, which has to do with the speed the tape moves across the heads.  The wider track pitch cuts the recording time on a given length of tape, but also reduces the incidence of dropouts because each frame is recorded over a larger area of tape. 

Contrary to popular belief, there is no difference in actual image quality between mini DV and DVCAM.  Any difference in image quality has to do with the specific camera used in recording, not the format. 

The TRV-900 will accept DVCAM tapes, but will record onto them in the mini DV format. A 32-minute DVCAM tape will record for 50 minutes in mini DV mode.  Similarly, DVCAM cameras will record on mini DV tapes at an extended recording length. 

THE CCD

CCDs (charge coupled devices) convert light that enters the lens of the camera into an electrical signal.  They are light sensitive receptors, kind of like the retina in your eye, that reads the intensity of the light on each of its receptor cells or pixels.  Most consumer camcorders use a single CCD to capture all colors in the visible spectrum, while more professional cameras, such as the Sony TRV-900, uses a prism and dichornic filters to record red, green, and blue color information separately, allowing for better color reproduction. 

FULL MANUAL V. FULL AUTOMATIC RECORDING

The TRV-900 comes equipped with a full range of recording options, from fully automatic to fully manual.  Those of you accustomed to using the consumer 1-chip cameras should be familiar with most of the automatic features.  The available manual features of the TRV-900 allows for greater control and more opportunity for fine adjustment. 

Under normal conditions, the TRV-900 makes various adjustments as it shoots.  However, you can adjust manually the following functions to your preferences:

Functions you can adjust by setting the AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position

Brightness (exposure), shutter speed, white balance, and program AE

Functions you can adjust by setting MENU

Zebra pattern, recording level, deactivating the Steady Shot, gain shift, and AE shift

Functions you can adjust by using other buttons/ switches

ND filter, focus

ADJUSTING EXPOSURE

Adjust the exposure under the following cases:

(a)

*The background is too bright

*Insufficient light: most of the picture is black

(b)

*bright subject and dark background

*To record the darkness faithfully

1) Set AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position while the camcorder is on Standby mode. 

2) Press EXPOSURE.  The exposure indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. 

3) Turn the control dial to adjust the exposure. 

To return to automatic exposure mode

*Set AUTO LOCK selector to AUTO LOCK or press EXPOSURE to turn off the exposure indicator. 

NOTES

*The control dial des not have a stop position

*If you press PROGRAM AE, the exposure comes back to automatic adjustment again. 

*When you adjust the exposure manually, you cannot use the BACK LIGHT function. 

ADJUSTING THE SHUTTER SPEED

1) Set AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position while the camcorder is on Standby mode. 

2) Press SHUTTER SPEED.  The shutter speed indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. 

3) Turn the control dial to select the desired speed.  The available shutter speed ranges from 1/4 to 1/10000.  

When shooting at slow shutter speed

At slow shutter speed, automatic focus may be lost.  Adjust focus manually using a tripod. 

ADJUSTING THE WHITE BALANCE

As you may know, “white” light is actually comprised of a combination of colors from the spectrum.  White light tends toward one end of the spectrum depending on teperature of the source.  Natural sunlight has a blue hue, incandescent light is yellow, and flourescents are green.   White balance adjusts the camera’s white level to the dominant color in the available white light, giving subjects a more natural color.  With one-chip cameras, white balance is automatically adjusted.  You can obtain better results by adjusting the white balance manually when lighting conditions change quickly or when recording outdoors: e.g. neon signs, fireworks.

1) Set AUTO LOCK selector to the center (auto lock release) position while the camcorder is in Standby mode

2) Press WHT BAL.  The white balance indicator appears on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder. 

3) Turn the control dial to select the appropriate white balance mode under the following conditions.  As you turn the dial, the display changes as follows:

 One-push white balance

*Adjusting the white balance according to the light source.  This operation is not available during recording.  Follow the step described on the next page to adjust the settings again. 

Outdoor

*Recording a sunset/ sunrise, just after sunset, just before sunrise, neon signs, or fireworks. 

 Indoor

*Lighting condition changes quickly

*Too bright place such as photography studios

*Under sodium lamps or mercury lamps

If you have selected in step 3

When you set the white balance to one-push white balance mode, the setting is locked and maintained even if lighting conditions change.  You can achieve recording with natural colors without being affected by ambient light. 

1) Shoot a white object such as paper so that it fills up the viewing area. 

2)press the control dial. 

The white balance indicator flashes quickly.  When the white balance has been adjusted and stored in the memory, the indicator stops flashing.  The setting will be maintained for about one hour after the battery is detached. 

TO RETURN TO AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT

Set AUTO LOCK selector to AUTO LOCK or press WHT BAL to turn off the white balance indicator. 

Notes on the indicator on the screen

*The state of the indicator shows as follows:

Slow flashing: white balance is not adjusted

Fast flashing: white balance is being adjusted

Lights up: white balance has been adjusted

*When the indicator remains flashing even if you press the control dial, shoot in automatic white balance mode. 

*When you shoot with studio lighting or video lighting, use to indoor mode. 

*When lighting conditions have changed, readjust the white balance with the control dial while the  camcorder is on Standby mode. 

*When you adjust the exposure and shutter manually, and move from indoors to doutdoors, or vice versa, adjust the white balance again. 

*When you move from indoors to outdoors, or vice versa, or detach the battery for replacement while shooting in automatic white balance mode or set the POWER switch to CAMERA, point the camcorder at a white subject for about 10 seconds before you start recording. 

USING THE ND FILTER

Using the ND (neutral density) filter (corresponds to 16% of the quantity of light), you can record a picture clearly, preventing the picture from going out of focus under bright conditions. 

When ND ON flashes in the display

The ND filter is necessary.  Press ND FILTER so that the ND ON indicator appears. 

When ND OFF flashes in the dispaly

The ND filter is not necessar.  Press ND FILTER so that the ND OFF indicator stops flashing. 

Notes

*The ND filter cuts down glare on reflective surfaces.  Use it when shooting through glass. 

*Using the ND filter helps to cut down exposure without compromising image quality.  In bright conditions, be sure to turn the ND filter on before making other adjustments (exposure, shutter speed), which can reduce picture quality. 

SHOOTING WITH THE ZEBRA PATTERN

You can set the camcorder to display a zebra pattern (diagonal stripes) in the portion of the picture in the display with a subject whose brightness exceeds a certain level.  The portion of the picture where zebra pattern appears is an area of high brightness and overexposure.  It is recommended to use the zebra pattern as a guide for exposure because the video image appearing in the LCD screen or viewfinder is often inconsistant with the actual levels being recorded to tape.  This is especially true with the image displayed on the LCD screen of the camera, since the appearance of LCD display varies according to the brightness of the screen and is also relative to the brightness of the setting. 

1) Press MENU

2)Turn the control dial to select  then press the dial. 

3) Turn the control dial to select ZEBRA, then press the dial. 

4) Turn the control dial to select ON, then press the dial. 

5) Press MENU to erase the menu display. 

Notes

* A zebra pattern appears at more than 100 IRE. 

* Even though you see the zebra pattern on the LCD screen or in the viewfinder, the zebra pattern is not recorded. 

RELEASING THE STEADY SHOT FUNCTION

When the Steady Shot is working, the camcorder compensates somewhat for camera-shake. 

You can release the Steady Shot function when you do not need to use it.  The  indicator appears in the display.

1) Press MENU to display the menu

2) Turn the control dial to select then press the dial. 

3) Turn the control dial to select STEADYSHOT, then press the dial.

4) Turn the dontrol dial to select OFF/ON, then press the dial. 

5) Press MENU to erase the menu display. 

Notes

* The steadyshot function will not correct excessive camera-shake.  A true steadyshot system which will compensate for lots of movement costs thousands of dollars.  Do not use steadyshot in the place of a tripod. 

* If you use a tele conversion lens or a wide-angle lens, the steadyshot function may not work. 

ADJUSTING AE SHIFT

1) Press MENU to display the menu. 

2) Turn the contro dial to select then press the dial. 

3) Turn the control dial to select AE SHIFT, then press the dial. 

4) Turn the control dial to adjust brightness, then press the dial. 

     Darker picture <----> Brighter picture

5) Press MENU to erase the menu display. 

To deactivate AE shift

Set the bar indicator at the center in step 4, then press the control dial. 

When you adjust AE shift

The -4 to +4 indicator is displayed in the display.  The number varies corresponding to the AE shift level. 

ADJUSTING GAIN SHIFT

What is gain shift?

When shooting in bright conditions, the gain shift function automatically adjusts the automatic exposure control’s gain value to -3db as much as possible.  This helps you shoot pictures with less noise in a bright condition.  In dark conditions, the unit operates as usual. 

When you adjust gain shift

The GS indicator appears in the display.

1) Press MENU to display the menu. 

2) Turn the control dial to select, then press the dial. 

3) Turn the control dial to select GAIN SHIFT, then press the dial. 

4) Turn the control dial to select -3db, then press the dial. 

5) Press MENU to erase the menu display. 

To deactive gain shift

Select 0db in step 4, then press the control dial. 

ADJUSTING RECORDING LEVEL

You can adjust the recording sound level.  Use headphones to monitor the sound when you adjust. 

1) Press MENU

2) Turn the control dial to select then press the dial. 

3) Go through the following selections: MIC LEVEL--->MANUAL--->LEVEL SET

4) Turn the control dial to adjust the microphone level, so that the peak indicator in the lower-right corner does not light up.  It is recommended to use headphones to monitor the sound when making the adjustment. 

5) Press MENU to erase the menu display. 

TO ADJUST THE MICROPHONE LEVEL AUTOMATICALLY

Select AUTO instead of MANUAL in step 4, then press the control dial. 

Notes

*The sound level setting is retained as long as the power is on and for about five minutes after removing the battery. 

*Sound level indicator appears at the lower right ond the LCD screen or viewfinder. 

*You cannot adjust the recording level of the sound if input is through the AUDIO/VIDEO jack. 

NOTES ON EXTERNAL MIC USAGE WITH THE TRV-900

The TRV-900 has has an external microphone input located near the lens.  This input accepts  mini (1/8”) plugs.  However, this input is notoriously fragile, and gets worn out easily with repeated usage.  This is because the weight of the cord and repeated insertion and removal stresses the jack.  In order to counteract this, BCM offers Beachtek adapters which are affixed firmly to the bottom of the camera, or XLR-to-mini adaptors which are velcroed to the strap of the camera.  Both of these microphone accessories are meant to decrease the amount of stress on the mini mic input. 

In addition to the Beachtek and the XLR-to-mini adaptor, BCM also has intelligent hotshoe devices which can be mounted on top of the camera.  These devices have a XLR input, which are less fragile than the mini input.  Whenever possible, BCM recommends that you use the intelligent hotshoe for external mics, because it bypasses the mini input altogether.  Be sure to request this device when reserving your camera. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The TRV-900 manual is available for reference upon request.  Just ask a BCM staff member to access it.