PORTABLE MINIDISC RECORDER
MODEL
MD-MT20H
OPERATION MANUAL
MD-MT20H FOR UK(F/R)
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1999.05.26, 15:43
SPECIAL NOTES
NOTE FOR USERS IN THE U.K.
SERVICE INFORMATION
In the unlikely event of your equipment requiring repair, please contact the dealer
or supplier from whom it was purchased. Where this is not possible, please contact
the telephone number listed below. You will then be given details of how to obtain
service.
Please note; all calls will be charged at local rate.
– 0345-125387 –
Certain replacement parts and accessories may be obtained from our main parts
distributor.
WILLOW VALE ELECTRONICS LTD.
MANCHESTER
READING
0161-682-1415
01189-876444
In the unlikely event of this equipment requiring repair during the guarantee period,
you will need to provide proof of the date of purchase to the repairing company.
Please keep your invoice or receipt, which is supplied at the time of purchase.
l Recording and playback of any material
may require consent, which SHARP is
unable to give. Please refer particularly
to  the  provisions  of  the  Copyright Act
1956,  the  Dramatic  and  Musical  Per-
formers  Protection Act  1958,  the  Per-
formers Protection Acts 1963 and 1972
and to any subsequent statutory enact-
ments and orders.
l This equipment complies with the re-
quirements of Directives 89/336/EEC
and 73/23/EEC as amended by 93/68/
EEC.
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CAUTION
Use the Portable Minidisc Recorder only in
accordance  with  the  instructions  given  in
this manual and do not attempt to interfere
with the interlock switch or make any other
adjustment as this may result in exposure
to hazardous radiation.
l The letters in brackets contained in the
model number indicate the colour of the
product only. Operation and specifica-
tions are unaffected.
l US  and  foreign  patents  licensed  from
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpora-
tion.
Warning:
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not
expose  this  appliance  to  dripping  or
splashing.
l The AC adaptor supplied with the MD-
MT20H  must  not  be  used  with  other
equipment.
Warning:
The supplied AC adaptor contains no
user serviceable parts.
Never remove covers unless qualified
to  do  so.  It  contains  dangerous  volt-
ages, always remove mains plug from
the main outlet socket before any ser-
vice operation or when not in use for a
long period.
CAUTION
At full volume, prolonged listening to a per-
sonal stereo may damage the users hear-
ing.
This model complies with the law if used
with the correct earphones (model number
RPHOH0176AFZZ).
If the earphones are damaged in any way,
please  order  using  the  model  number
given above.
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INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing this SHARP product.
For the best performance, read this manual carefully.
It will guide you in operating your SHARP product.
CONTENTS
Page
ACCESSORIES ..................................... 3
PRECAUTIONS ..................................... 4
ABOUT THE RECHARGEABLE
BATTERY ........................................... 5
NAMES OF CONTROLS AND
INDICATORS ................................... 5-6
POWER SOURCE .............................. 7-8
BEFORE RECORDING .................... 9-10
RECORDING USING THE
ANALOGUE CABLE ................... 11-12
RECORDING USING THE
OPTICAL DIGITAL CABLE .............. 13
RECORDING FROM THE
MICROPHONE ............................ 14-15
CONVENIENT RECORDING
FUNCTION .................................. 16-19
ACCESSORIES
l Remote Control Unit x 1
l Earphones x 1
l AC Adaptor (RADPA8039AWZZ) x 1
l Rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride
Battery (AD-T20BT) x 1
l Battery Carrying Case x 1
l Analogue Cable (RCA Lead ) x 1
l Optical Digital Cable x 1
l Carrying Bag x 1
Page
ABOUT TRACK NUMBERS ............... 20
ABOUT THE TOC ................................ 21
PLAYING A MINIDISC .................... 22-23
CONVENIENT PLAYBACK
FUNCTIONS ................................ 24-26
EDITING ......................................... 27-32
USING WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT ... 33
CONVENIENT OPERATION
OF THE UNIT .............................. 34-36
WHAT IS A MINIDISC? ....................... 37
TROUBLESHOOTING ................... 37-38
MINIDISC SYSTEM LIMITATIONS ...... 39
ERROR MESSAGES ........................... 40
MAINTENANCE .................................. 41
SPECIFICATIONS .......................... 41-42
TERMS OF GUARANTEE .... Back cover
Note:
Parts  and  equipment  mentioned  in  this
operation manual other than those detailed
left are not included.
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PRECAUTIONS
n Important
l Do not wear your earphones when you
are crossing streets or near traffic.
l Do not use your earphones whilst driv-
ing a motor vehicle, it may create a dan-
gerous  traffic  hazard  and  may  be  ille-
gal. Remember to obey all of the safety
rules in your area.
l Do not play the unit at a high volume.
Hearing  experts  advise  against  ex-
tended listening at high volume levels.
l If you experience ringing in your ears,
reduce the volume or discontinue use.
n Volume setting
Reduce the volume before starting to play.
MiniDiscs, compared to ordinary cassette
tapes, have very little noise. If the volume
is adjusted according to your usual expec-
tations  of  noise,  you  may  damage  your
hearing due to the high volume.
n Concern for others when  listen-
ing to MiniDiscs
If you are enjoying listening to music, the
sound escaping from your earphones may
annoy people around you.
If  you  are  using  the  unit  in  particularly
crowded  places  (such  as  on  trains  or
buses), reduce the volume to avoid annoy-
ing people around you.
n Storing the unit
Avoid  using  or  leaving  the  unit  in  the
following places.
l Places  exposed  to  direct  sunlight  for
many hours (especially in cars with the
doors and windows closed) or near heat-
ers.
(The cabinet may deform, change colour
or the unit may malfunction.)
l Places exposed to water.
l Places exposed to excessive dust.
l Places where temperatures are exces-
sively high or low.
l Places (bathrooms) where the humidity
is extremely high.
l Places with strong magnetic fields such
as TVs or loudspeakers.
l Places exposed to vibration.
l Places where sand can easily enter the
inside of the unit (beaches etc.).
l If the unit is used near radio tuners or
TVs,  noise  and/or  picture  interference
may result. If you experience these prob-
lems, move the unit away from such de-
vices.
n Precautions
To  avoid  accidental  electric  shock  or
other  possible  problems,  observe  the
precautions listed below.
l Do not disassemble or modify the unit.
l Do not drop or subject the unit to shock.
l Do not use the unit near open flames.
l Do not spill liquid on the unit.
l Do  not  use  an  external  power  supply,
other than the 5V DC supplied with this
unit, as it may damage it.
l SHARP is not responsible for damage
due to improper use. Refer all servicing
to a SHARP authorised service centre.
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ABOUT THE RECHARGEABLE BATTERY
l A  rechargeable  nickel-metal  hydride
battery is the only kind that can be used.
Even  if  the  battery  is  not  used,  you
should  charge  it  at  least  once  every
three  months  because  of  the  special
quality of this battery.
l The  rechargeable  battery  can  be
charged approximately 300 times.
l Do not use any battery other than that
specified.  Use  of  other  batteries  may
cause malfunctions.
l When the operating time is reduced to
about half the normal amount of time,
even  after  a  full  charge  is  performed,
replace the battery with a new one.
l When  charging  or  when  using  the  re
chargeable battery, use it within an am-
bient temperature range of 5 C - 35 C
(41 F - 95 F).
l If the rechargeable battery is used in a
cold environment, the operating time will
be reduced.
l Do not disassemble the battery.
Since the rechargeable battery is vulner-
able to damage, please note the following.
l Do not carry the battery in your pocket
or  a  bag  together  with  metal  objects
(keys, coins, jewelry, etc.). The battery
may short out and generate significant
amounts of heat.
l Do not stand or store the battery on a
metal plate.
This may cause the battery to short-circuit,
and it is dangerous.
l Do not short-circuit the terminals as they
will become very hot and will damage
the battery.
l Do not dip the battery in water, do not dis-
pose of it in a fire, and do not take it apart.
l When you want to carry the rechargeable
battery, put it into the accessory case.
To  avoid  damaging  the  battery  and
shortening its service life, please note
the following.
l Do not drop or subject the battery to shock.
l Do not insert objects (metal etc.) into the
battery compartment of this product or
into the rechargeable battery. Do not get
the terminals dirty. If the rechargeable
terminals  are  dirty,  the  operating  time
may be shortened or it may not be pos-
sible to charge the battery.
l After the rechargeable battery is charged
or used, it will get slightly warm. This is
normal.
NAMES OF CONTROLS AND INDICATORS
1
2
3
n Remote control unit
  1. Earphones Socket
  2. Fast Reverse/Recording Level Down/
Name Select Button
  3. Hold Switch
  4. Play/Pause Button
  5. Fast  Forward/Recording  Level  Up/
Name Select Button
  6. Stop/Power Off Button
  7. Volume Up/Cursor Button
  8. Bass/Delete/Track Mark Button
  9. Volume Down/Cursor Button
4
5
6
7
8
9
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n Main unit
  1. Monaural Long-Play Mode Indicator
  2. Record Indicator
  3. Level Meter
  4. Fast Play Indicator
  5. Repeat Indicator
  6. TOC Indicator
  7. Battery Indicator
  8. Random Indicator
  9. Track Number Indicator
10. Character/Time Information Indicator
11. Synchro Recording Indicator
12. Disc Mode Indicator
13. Disc Name Indicator
14. Track Name Indicator
15. Remaining Recording Time Indicator
16. Total Track Number Indicator
17. Edit/Auto Mark/Time Mark Button
18. Mode Button
19. Display/Character Select Button
20. Bass/Delete Button
21. Enter/Fast Play/Synchro Button
22. Volume Up/Cursor Button
23. Volume Down/Cursor/Charge Button
24. Record/Track Mark Button
25. Fast Reverse/Recording Level Down/
Name Select Button
26. Stop/Power Off Button
27. Play/Pause Button
28. Fast  Forward/Recording  Level  Up/
Name Select Button
29. Open Lever
30. Remote Control/Earphones Socket
31. Optical/Line Input Socket
32. Microphone Input Socket
33. Hold Switch
34. 5V DC Input Socket
35. Battery Cover
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15  16
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
29
22
23
30
31
32
33
34
35
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POWER SOURCE
This unit can be used with the following power sources: a rechargeable battery, an AC adaptor,
commercially available alkaline batteries, and a separately available car adaptor (AD-CA20X).
1
n Rechargeable battery power
When the rechargeable battery is used for the
first time or when you want to use it after a
long period of disuse, be sure to charge it fully.
1 Open the battery cover.
l Slide the battery cover as far as it will
go to the outside and then lift to open it.
If the battery cover is lifted without be-
ing slid all the way out, it may break.
2 Insert the rechargeable battery accord-
ing to the polarity marked on the bottom
of the unit.
3 Close the battery cover.
4 Plug the AC adaptor into the AC socket,
and then insert the plug on the AC adap-
tor lead into the DC IN 5V socket.
5 Press  the  CHARGE  (VOLUME  down)
button of the main unit to begin charg-
ing.
l “ 
 ” will appear, and the battery
Notes:
l After charging has been completed, the
AC adaptor may be left connected.
(For example, when charging at night)
l The battery will not be charged when the
power to the main unit is turned on.
l Do not force open the battery cover too wide.
l Do not use a rechargeable battery or an
AC adaptor other than those specified
on page 3 (ACCESSORIES).
l The charging time will vary, depending
on the condition of the battery.
l When the battery is charged for the first
time or is charged after not being used
for a long period, the operating time may
be shorter than normal. The battery life
will recover with normal use i.e. charg-
ing and discharging.
l To avoid shortening the service life of the
battery  only  recharge  the  battery  after
in has been completely discharged.
will begin charging.
l After about 4 hours have passed,
 ” will go out.
“ 
This indicates that the battery charg-
ing is about 90% complete.
l To charge the battery fully, continue
charging for about 2 more hours.
(In this case, you do not need to press
the  CHARGE  button.  Even  if  the
 ”
CHARGE button is pressed, “ 
will not appear.)
2
3
4
5
To the DC IN 5V socket
AC 230-240V,
50/60 Hz
Insert securely, all the way in.
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