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NEC VC-P600 Operating Instructions

Japanese manual for the NEC VC-P600, a rebadged version of the Sony SL-F1. This manual is heavily based on the original SL-F1 manual with some updated graphics and text. Click photos for full size

This cover is redesigned from the original and shows the nice-looking P6 deck.

A more detailed table of contents, and a basic introduction to the machine as well as how to attach the strap and the recording time for different tape lengths.

This page outlines the different ways you can power the VC-P600, including from a DC power supply, with a battery, attached to the tuner/timer module, or plugged into a car accessory socket. All of these components seem to have been available through NEC (although they were all produced by Sony), and I wonder if they also got their own boxes, manuals, stickers, and color variations...

This page shows the basic for setting up for recording from a camera, attaching the camera and any other accessories like a microphone, turning the unit on, inserting the cassette, and then recording using the button on the camera. The graphics on these pages have all been redone to show the rebadged Hitachi camera. I wonder why NEC ended up using that camera instead of one of the Sonys, and I'm a little surprised Sony seems to have redone the graphics and printed these manuals for NEC with another company's camera.

This page shows how the deck can be hooked up for home use. The deck has a built-in RF output that can be plugged in directly, or the separate A/V cable can be plugged in for composite connections. Again, these were all produced by Sony but could be ordered through NEC's dealers and sales channels.

These pages show how to use the TT-600 tuner-timer module to hook the deck up to a TV and antennae as well as set up a recording using the tuner and timer.

How to set a recording, about the dew sensor, and write-protecting (and un-write-protecting) tapes.

Trick-play options - double-speed playback, pause, frame-by-frame, slow motion, and reverse playback.

Using the counter and tracking controls.

Suggestions for recording from tape recorders or microphones.

Using the remote, how to hook up the deck to another video recorder as well as a PCM recorder. I don't think NEC ever sold an OEM'ed Sony PCM box.

Specifics about the buttons, jacks, and ports around the machine.

Some information about the beta cassette and tape path as well as the specifications of the machine.

These two pages are new versus the original Sony manual, although one is really just a textured filler page to keep the page count even. The left page has information about after-sales service and the warranty on the left and using the deck while travelling abroad on the right - it mentions that the tuner/timer should not be used overseas because it will not be electrically compatible with the local power or television standard, for example.

The rear cover with some troubleshooting steps.