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SV300 FAQ

Please select from the list of questions below. If you do not see the question(s) you may have, please feel free to call customer service.
2006 Awards Program Update

Registration

Encrypted Content
About the SV300 Player

SV300 Features and Specifications
SECURITY

REGION CODES

NTSC and PAL

PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS

SV300 Installation

SV300 Troubleshooting

VIDEO

AUDIO GENERAL
General Technical Information

Special Information for UK Members

2006 Awards Program Update

Why do I get a "not authorized" message for some screeners?
When a Cinea-enabled disc is made, only players that are registered prior to the creation of the disc are authorized to the play the disc. We will be shipping an enrollment disc for your player within 24 hours. Playing this disc completes the authorization process and will allow you to view all of the screeners for the 2006 Awards Season.


I registered my player last year and now am being asked to register it again, why?
There could be an issue with your unit. Please call our customer service department at 1-818-823-2878 or email us at help@cinea.com. Our staff is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

I have a technical question, where can I get help?
Please call our customer service department at 1-818-823-2878 or email us at help@cinea.com. Our staff is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Why do some discs have a limited play window?
The Cinea system allows Studio and Distributors to control who can watch which screeners as well as the period during which they can be viewed. Decisions in this regards are made by each Studio for each piece of content based upon their business needs.

I have received discs but I do not have a player. How do I get one?
The awards groups we support, including BAFTA, have provided us with their list of voting members. Cinea has attempted to deliver a player to each voting member. If you are a voting member and have not received a player, please call our customer service department at 1-818-823-2878 or email us at help@cinea.com. Our staff is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If you are not a voting member but have received discs, please be aware that Cinea is not authorized to provide or sell you a player.


Registration

Why do I have to register the player?
Registration is the security step that unlocks your player and ensures that only you can view content intended for your use. Once you complete the simple process, you can view any encrypted movie made available to you.


How do I register the player?
There are two ways to register your player.

Before you register your player, please make sure that the player is hooked up and that you can see a picture on your TV. You will also need your member ID (AMPAS, BAFTA, etc.) and the delivery address. You will see a registration screen displayed on your television that contains a 12-digit number that you will be asked to provide. You will then receive a different 12-digit number to enter into the registration screen using the keypad on your DVD remote control. This number unlocks the player and allows you to view encrypted S-VIEW DVDs. The registration process takes only a few minutes.

1. You can register online at https://register.cinea.com

OR

2. Call Cinea customer service.


I have forgotten my member ID number. What do I do?
Call your sponsoring membership group. For example, if you are a member of AMPAS or BAFTA, call your respective membership department(s).


Encrypted Content

How many encrypted S-VIEW DVDs should I expect to receive?
Each studio will make an independent decision as to whether or not they will use encrypted S-VIEW DVDs for their screeners, so the number of encrypted discs you receive will vary.


Will the DVDs be labeled in some way so I know that they are encrypted?
Content owners are responsible for packaging any encrypted content released for use with the SV300. We expect that the discs will be clearly marked to identify them as encrypted.


What happens if I lose or misplace one of my encrypted DVDs?
If you lose or misplace a disc or discover that one has been stolen, you should contact the studio that sent it to you. Encrypted S-VIEW DVDs can only play on authorized SV300 players. Please contact the studios for replacement copies of your screeners.


The player won't play encrypted discs.
If your SV300 is not playing an encrypted disc, please contact Cinea customer service. We will need to confirm that you registered the player with us and that you have received the correct disc.


About the SV300 Player

I have not received my player; what should I do?
If you have any concerns regarding the arrival of your player, please contact our customer service group.


Can I give away or sell my player?
No. One of the terms and conditions for accepting this player is that it remain with the member to whom it was delivered and registered.


What if I don't want to keep the SV300? How do I return it?
Should you decide to return the SV300, please contact Cinea customer service to schedule a pick up at no cost. Please be aware that if you choose to return the SV300, you will not be able to view any encrypted content you receive during the upcoming awards screener season.


What should I do if my player is stolen? Am I liable for any misuse of the player or piracy?
You need to contact Cinea customer service as soon as possible to report that the player has been stolen. We track each individual player and must complete internal operations relevant to the player's theft. Once you have done so, any piracy which occurs using this player will not be associated with you.


How can I replace a lost or stolen player?
You may purchase a replacement player at a reduced cost by contacting customer service. If your player is covered by insurance, you will need to file a claim with your insurance company to be reimbursed.


Can I get more than one player?
Yes, as long as you intend to use each player for your own personal use in order to view encrypted screeners. You may want to have one for your workplace and one for your home, for example. You can purchase additional players, at a discount, by contacting customer service.


The player arrived damaged, who do I call?
If your player is damaged, please contact customer service. If it is determined that a replacement is needed, we will process your order on the same day (when the time zone permits it) or by the next business day.


I'm going to be traveling with my player. Is there anything special I should do?
Please be sure to put a piece of tape over the disc tray door to prevent any jarring of the disc drive while the player is in transit.


SV300 Features and Specifications

What is the distinction between the SV300 and other DVD players?
The SV300 is a fully-featured DVD player just like any high-end DVD player, and plays standard DVD and CD formats. The distinction of the SV300 is its decryption capability that ensures that protected content is viewed only by specified people, and that any unauthorized redistribution can be forensically tracked.


Does my SV300 need any special care?
All disc players, including the SV300, are largely self-contained. Aside from keeping player and discs away from direct sunlight, heat and dust, they require little care. Some dust may eventually collect on the laser pickup which reads the disc. If your player mistracks with several different discs, you may wish to try a CD/DVD cleaner disc with a small brush mounted on the surface. When played, the brush wipes the laser clean. Many cleaner discs include audio and video test programs.


Why do I have to register the player?
Registration is the security step that ensures that only you can view the content intended for you. Once you complete the simple process, you can view any encrypted movie made available to you. Please click here for instructions on how to register your SV300 player.


What other security features does my player have?
Every time an encrypted S-VIEW DVD is played, the SV300 inserts a powerful invisible watermarked stamp with your player's ID number and the time and date of the playback. If the content is copied illegally, Cinea will be able to analyze the copy and identify the player, the time and the date on which the copy was made.


How can I make my player secure if multiple people have access to my office, home theater, etc., and therefore to the player?
If your environment calls for it, you can make your SV300 even more secure by creating a password for your player. Only people who know this Access Code will be able to use your player.


Can I make the SV300 region-free?
Sorry, no. The SV300 is region-specific, in compliance with industry standards. However, all S-VIEW encrypted DVDs you receive are region-free.


Can I change the region code on my player?
No. Region codes cannot be changed by the end user. Any attempts to do so may result in firmware damage which is not covered under warranty.


Is the player compatible with all television formats?
Our player's outputs work equally well with both NTSC and PAL formats. The SV300 can play back NTSC discs to a PAL TV and PAL discs to NTSC, doing the conversion automatically with very high resolution. However, please keep in mind that the players are region-specific and will only play discs from the region in which you live.


Which setting should I choose, PAL or NTSC?
The players were preset to NTSC or PAL at the factory based on the region to which the player was originally shipped and do not need to be changed. However, if you have changed the default setting and experience a rolling picture motion, click here.


What type of outputs does the SV300 have?
Video outputs are:
S-Video, Component, Composite (Analog), HDMI and SCART
SCART cables are not included with U.S. players.
Component cables are not included with European players.
HDMI cables are not included.

Audio outputs are:
Analog; Optical and Coaxial digital audio
Optical and coaxial cables are not included with the player.


How big is the player?
The SV300 is a regular-sized DVD player.
Dimensions (W x H x D): 17" x 4" x 11.5" inches (430 x 82 x 290 mm)
Weight: 11 pounds (5Kg) (about 13 pounds in the shipping box)



SV300 Installation

How do I hook the player up to my television?
The player's video and audio cables are color-coded to work with most TVs and amplifiers. The simplest way to hook-up the player is to use the supplied A/V cables. Connect the player's A/V outputs to the A/V inputs on your TV and then put the TV into Video mode.

If you need additional help setting the player up with your system, please contact customer service. Our representatives will walk you through this process.


What cables should I choose for the best video display?
Component video output offers the best video resolution for digital and some analog displays. As the name suggests, component video separates the video signals into separate components of brightness and color and then sends these through a wire that ends in three separate jacks to the TV. Most top-end TVs have a component video input.


If your TV does not have a component video input, the next highest resolution is S-video in the U.S. and SCART in EU, along with stereo audio outputs. Most recent TVs have an S-video connection. Although the difference between a component video and an S-video image is subtle, the difference between an S-video and a plain (composite) video connection is dramatic.


My TV doesn't have any audio/video inputs, how can I hook up my SV300 DVD player?
DVD players are designed to use direct video inputs. However, you may be able to use an optional "RF Modulator"; the inexpensive RF Modulator converts the A/V signal from the player to an RF signal that the Television can receive, and is available from electronic accessory suppliers.


I cannot hook up the DVD player on my own. What should I do?
If you need further support in hooking up your player, please e-mail Cinea at help@cinea.com. We will provide you with a referral to a company in your area that can assist you.


SV300 Troubleshooting

The player won't play encrypted discs.
If your SV300 is not playing an encrypted disc please contact Cinea customer service. We will need to confirm that you registered the player with us and that you have received the correct disc, which we can do once we look up your account with your permission.


I was changing the video settings on my SV300 and the screen went black.
You may have accidentally selected an incompatible video setting. If you have not touched any other buttons, press the ON/OFF button on the player's front panel to reset the player. After the player finishes starting up, your video settings may be restored.

If powering the player on/off does NOT restore the video settings, you can perform a Manual Reset Procedure

NOTE: Your SV300 player comes from the factory pre-configured to support standard definition displays.

If you are connecting to your TV using an S-Video or Composite cable, your SV300 is already generating the best possible image and we recommend that you do not change any of the video settings on your player.

If you are using the Component, SCART or HDMI/DVI video connection and wish to optimize your video settings please use caution when doing so. Choosing the wrong combination of settings may result in the SV300 generating images which cannot be displayed by your TV; i.e. your screen may go black, picture may roll, etc.


I was changing the settings on my player when all of a sudden the picture started to roll.
Most likely, the player is in an incorrect video mode: the player is set to PAL and connected to an NTSC TV, or vice-versa. From the Set-up Menu, select "A/V settings", then "TV Mode" and change the setting to the alternate format. This should return the picture back to normal.

If it is difficult to see the menus, press the following key sequences on your remote control:

To set NTSC mode:
Press (Setup), press (Right Arrow), press (Down Arrow), press (Right Arrow), press (Enter)

To set PAL mode:
Press (Setup), press (Right Arrow), press (Down Arrow), press (Right Arrow), press (Down Arrow), press (Enter)


My composite video has a green tone to it.
The SCART RGB component mode has been set accidentally. Go to your player setup menu, and select the "A/V Settings" icon; then scroll down to the "Component Output" option, select "480i" (if your player is set to NTSC) or "576i" (if your player is set to PAL), and press "Enter".


I'm trying to set up my component cables but all I see are bright colors or brightly colored stripes.
The cables may be in the wrong jacks either on the player or on the TV. Component cables are color-coded and the green and blue jacks can be particularly hard to see. When all the cables are set correctly, the Cinea splash screen will look purple-blue.


My HDMI was working fine; now it's not.
If you turn off your HDMI TV but leave the SV300 player on, the HDMI video may become disabled when the TV is turned on again. If your HDMI cable connection is fine, try turning the player off and on again from the front panel (not the remote).


I have connected my DVD player to my VCR, why I am having trouble getting a stable clear picture?
The motion picture industry has encoded most DVD and VHS movies with a signal known as Macrovision or copy guard. When a DVD player output signal is connected to a VCR, the VCR will pick up the Macrovision signal and produce an unstable, black and white or faded picture. This is to prevent unauthorized duplication of these movies.


I don't have any sound.
Analog audio is always enabled, so if you don't have sound, try the following: Check that the red and white cables are in the correct locations; these are usually also color-coded on your TV. Now check the volume, both on the DVD player's remote and the TV's remote, if this is separate. The volume buttons on the DVD remote control are the two bottom right buttons; they have a picture of a + (for louder) and - (for softer) on them. If you have a home theater-type receiver, check that you are tuned to the correct source.


My analog audio is coming through, but it is distorted.
In this case, try turning the sound volume down. Analog output is affected by the player volume control and the level may be set too high for the audio receiver.


My audio isn't coming through. I am using a digital output (either optical or coaxial cable).
Check that your cable is connected correctly; then check the volume, both on the DVD player's remote and the TV's remote, if this is separate. The volume buttons on the remote control are the two bottom right buttons; they have a picture of a + (for louder) and - (for softer) on them. If you have a home theater-type receiver, check that you are tuned to the correct source. Then, go to the Setup menu, select the "A/V Settings" icons, go to the "Audio Settings" menu, and try selecting the "Encoded Digital" option.


My audio is not coming through. I am using an HDMI cable.
HDMI Audio is affected by the player's volume control. It's possible this is set too low for your TV. Try raising the volume on the remote. The volume buttons on the remote control are the two bottom right buttons; they have a picture of a + (for louder) and - (for softer) on them. If you have a home theater-type receiver, check that you are tuned to the correct source.


I get an error message after playing an audio disc.
Open the disc tray and remove the disc from the player. Close the tray and give the player time to recognize the disc has been removed. Reopen the tray and replace the disc. Normal operation should be restored.


I can't eject a disc when the power is "Off".
Power up the machine and allow the SV300 to complete the initialization process. You can now press "Eject". Or, if the player is in "Standby" mode, press the eject button once to wake up the player. Press "Eject" a second time to activate and open the tray.

Finally, if necessary, turn the player off using the front panel power button. Then, hold the "eject" button in while turning the power on. If this fails to eject the disc, call customer service.


General Technical Information

What are Region Codes?
Region codes are a DVD standard that limit the portability of discs across geographical regions or zones, ensuring the industry greater control over the distribution of movies and enabling studios and distributors to retain the exclusivity of content within geographical regions or zones, by preventing playback of certain discs based on geographical territory.

The industry requires that the DVD standard include these codes, because theatrical releases do not debut simultaneously worldwide. A movie may come out on home release in the U.S. (region 1), prior to premiering in European theaters (Europe is region 2). Therefore a pirate could not duplicate the region 1 content and import it to Europe for European region 2 players ahead of the theatrical release.

Each DVD player is given a code for the region in which it's sold. The player will refuse to play discs not coded for its region. Studios determine the regions assigned to the disc.

Discs without region locks will play on any player in any country. There are 8 regions (also called "locales"). You can tell what region code your player will play, by the icon which shows the region number, superimposed on a world globe, stamped on the box and on the player.

    Region Code Numbers By Zone
  1. USA, Canada
  2. Europe, Middle East, Japan, South Africa
  3. S. Korea, Taiwan, HK, ASEAN
  4. Australia, NZ, Latin America
  5. Ex-Soviets, Indian sub-continent, Africa
  6. China


What is the difference between PCM and Dolby Digital?
PCM is 2 channel audio and Dolby Digital is 6 channel surround sound.


What is high-bandwidth digital content protection system (HDCP)?
HDCP is a specification developed by Intel Corporation and others to protect digital entertainment content across the DVI interface. The HDCP specification provides a robust, cost-effective and transparent method for transmitting and receiving digital entertainment content to DVI-compliant digital displays. HDCP is designed to protect the video transmission between a DVI video transmitter and a DVI video receiver. HDCP prevents the transmission of protected content.


What is video resolution?
For TV equipment and broadcasts, resolution is defined by the number of horizontal lines displayed to make up each frame of a video image. The more lines of resolution used to draw each frame of video, the more detailed and sharp the picture will be. Standard TV resolution uses 480 horizontal lines to make up each frame of video. HDTV uses either 720 lines, or 1080 lines to make each video frame.


What is video interlacing?
When TVs display video, they display a new video frame at a rate that is faster than your eye can see (from 24 to 60 frames per second, depending on the TV and broadcast). Interlacing refers to whether each of those frames contains all of the lines of video for each frame or every other line. Interlaced signals take every other line from 2 frames of video (each lasting 1/60th of a second), and combine them into one frame lasting 1/30th of a second. In this way, interlacing tricks your eye into thinking it is seeing twice the resolution that is actually being displayed.

In non-interlaced video (referred to as progressive scan video), video frames are displayed every 1/60th of a second containing all of the lines of video information for each frame. The specifications for video resolutions are usually stated by giving the number of horizontal lines, followed by either the letter i, for interlaced video, or p for progressive scan video. Most standard TV broadcasts are 480i (480 lines of interlaced video resolution). Some DVDs and non-HDTV digital TV broadcasts use 480p. The ATSC specification for HDTV broadcasts and equipment requires either 1080i or 720p. While there is some debate as to whether it is better to have more lines that are interlaced (1080i), or fewer lines that are progressively scanned (720p), it is generally accepted that 1080i is the highest quality video format.
Special Information for UK Members
All or most of the DVDs I've tried playing don't work. They either don't play at all or will play for a few seconds and then nothing else happens and the screen appears black.
The player most likely needs a simple reset. Our customer service representative will provide a code that you will need to enter into the player using the keypad on the remote control. Please contact customer service.


The player appears to be working, but I can't seem to get any video or audio on my TV.
Unlike most DVD players in Europe, the SV300's signal cannot be auto-detected by your TV. Instead, you must manually change the channel to the appropriate auxiliary TV channel to use the player.

First make sure that no disc is in the player and the display on the front of the player reads either "No Disc" or "Cinea."

Then, using the remote control that came with your TV, look for a button labeled "AV", "Input", "Source", "Video", "Aux" or a button with a square or circle that has an arrow pointing into it.

Press this button until you either see a picture from the SV300 player or until you return to your normal TV programming channel.

If after cycling through all of the auxiliary channels you still can't find a picture:

Check your connections and make sure they are tight (especially for SCART) and in the correct locations. Make sure the colors match if you're using component. After checking your connections, repeat the process above.

If you still can't get a picture displayed on your TV, and if it's possible with your set up, try other inputs on your TV or try other cables. There's always the chance there's something wrong with one of the inputs on your TV or with the cables you're using. If possible, try hooking up the player to another TV as well.

Do not try connecting your DVD player through your digital cable box or VCR. If your TV only has one SCART input and you want to be able to hook up multiple pieces of equipment, you can purchase a Multi-SCART Switching Unit from an electronics store. This item can be plugged into the SCART input on your TV and will provide extra SCART inputs for you to use.


I get a picture, but it is in black and white.
First, make sure the connections to the DVD player and TV are tight - especially if you're using SCART. Second, try your other auxiliary channels. Sometimes the picture signal will come through on more than one auxiliary channel, but will appear distorted on one of them and clear on the other. Third, if possible, try other cables, inputs, or another TV.


I don't have any audio and I'm using SCART and the picture looks fine.
Make sure the SCART cable is completely and tightly connected to both the DVD player and the TV.
Check the player volume using the + and - buttons on the bottom right hand side of the DVD remote control while the disc is playing.
Check your TV volume.
Check other auxiliary channels.
If possible, try using the analog (red and white) audio cable with another video cable.


I'm trying to play an NTSC disc, so I selected NTSC from the player settings menu and now the screen is rolling.
First, you will need to change the TV mode back to PAL. Click here for instructions to reset your player's TV format.
This menu setting should only be changed according to the type of TV (PAL or NTSC) you are using, not which kind of disc you are playing.
The SV300's outputs works equally well with both NTSC and PAL formats. The SV300 automatically converts NTSC discs to a PAL TV and PAL discs to an NTSC TV. The player does this automatically with very high resolution.
However, please keep in mind that each SV300 is region-specific and will only play discs from the region in which you live.

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