Portable Cassette Recorder Instructions Features The Portable Cassette Recorder is a convenient and reliable solution for recording live audio. It is small enough to fit in a briefcase or purse so you can take it almost anywhere. Functions include: Mic sensitivity switch: allows you to control the sensitivity of the microphone during recording. Tape speed selector: allows you to select normal, slow or fast playback speeds. Automatic Shut off: Automatically shuts off the recorder at the end of the tape when listening or recording. Tape counter: helps you find a specific section on the cassette. VOX/Tone: allows you to set to voice activated mode, which means the unit automatically starts recording when the unit detects a sound and ends when the sound stops. Cue Marker: allows you to mark specific sections while recording. External pop up microphone: Built-in speaker: Record/Battery level indicator: Flashes when recording or lights when the recorder is in use to indicate battery level. Remote Socket: allows a second device to be connected, such as our Talking Multifunctional Portable Radio, to enable radio stations to be recorded. Button layout: Place the player in front of you with the strap at the top left. The function buttons: When feeling from left to right along the top edge you will first feel a slide switch near the strap. This is the PAUSE button. When slid to the left the pause is Off and to the right is On. Continue to feel along the top and you will come to two rows of high protruding buttons. The front row contains a long PLAY button with the smaller RECORD button at its right end. Left to right, on the back row, are the FAST-F/CUE, REWIND/REV and STOP buttons. Behind these raised buttons there is a small recessed CUE MARKER button. At the top of the right edge of the case is the REC/BATT light. This will light up when you are recording, playing back, fast forwarding or rewinding. If this light does not show when carrying out these functions it means the batteries are weak and need replacing. Continuing down the right side are the EARPHONE, MICROPHONE and REMOTE sockets. The Earphone socket allows you to plug in a set of earphones for private listening. The Microphone socket allows a separate microphone to be connected and the Remote socket allows a second device to be connected, such as our Talking Multi Function Portable Radio. Below the sockets is the VOLUME/VOX SENSITIVITY control. On the left edge of the case, below the strap you is the DC 3V socket for a mains power adaptor (not supplied). On the back of the recorder there are three sliding switches. With the back facing you these are, from left to right: VOX /TONE switch. Sliding this switch to the left turns the VOX off and the Tone to low. Sliding the switch to the right turns the VOX on and the Tone to high. MIC SENSITIVITY switch. Slide the switch to the left for Low, the middle position for Medium and to the right for High. TAPE SPEED switch. Slide the switch to the left for Slow, the central position for Normal and to the right for Fast. On the front of the unit you will feel a circular speaker. To the right of this there is the square pop-up microphone. Below the microphone is a slide switch which, when slid to the left, makes the microphone pop up. Pressing the microphone gently down lowers it. At the top right of the front face is a tape counter with its re-set button. Batteries: If the sound becomes distorted or weak or if the BATTERY/RECORD indicator does not light while the recorder is playing, fast-forwarding or rewinding, replace the batteries. The battery compartment is located on the bottom edge of the back of the unit. Press gently and slide the battery compartment cover down and away from the unit. The batteries should be fitted with their positive ends, (with the pip), towards the edge of the case which holds the strap. Put the first battery into the compartment and slide it to the right to allow the second battery to be fitted. Replace the cover. Listening Safely: To protect your hearing when you use an earphone always Set the volume to the lowest setting before operating the recorder. After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable level. Loading a Tape: To open the cassette compartment door locate the small lips on the on each side of the unit and pull the whole front face towards you. Insert a tape into the door's guides with the tape's open edge facing out and the side you want to play/record on facing the compartment's door. Gently press the door closed. Playing a Tape: Set the tape speed to SLOW, NORMAL or FAST. Press PLAY and adjust VOLUME to the desired level. The PAUSE button temporarily stops the tape. Press STOP to stop the tape permanently - this will happen automatically at the end of the tape. Normal Recording: Note: The Automatic Level Control circuit automatically sets the recording level. The VOLUME setting has no effect on recording. 1. Load a blank tape, or one you want to record over, into the tape compartment. 2. Set MIC SENSITIVITY to LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH as required. 3. Ensure PAUSE and VOX are Off. 4. Press RECORD to begin recording. Both PLAY and RECORD lock down. 5. If you wish to place a cue marker on the tape to mark a position for easy location later press CUE for approx 3 secs. 6. For the best quality recording, place the recorder within 5 feet of the sound source. 7. Press STOP to stop recording or let the tape automatically stop when it reaches the end. VOX Recording: 1. Load a tape and set MIC SENSITIVITY as above. 2. Set the VOLUME/VOX SENSITIVITY - the higher the sensitivity the lower the sound required to turn the recorder on; the required level will need to be found by trial and error. 3. Press RECORD. The unit will begin recording when it hears sound and will pause when it ceases. Using Fast-Forward/Cue and Rewind/Rev: To rapidly advance or rewind the tape press FAST-F/CUE or REWIND/REV buttons completely down. The button locks and the tape fast-forwards or rewinds to the end or until you press STOP. If you do this while playing the tape you will hear any cue marker tones which have been recorded. Using the Cassette Recorder with the Cobolt Multi Functional Portable Radio: Timed Programme Recording: * Programme the radio to switch on at the required time using its PROGRAMME function. * Connect one end of the 2.5 mono jack lead to the REMOTE (REM) socket on the back of the radio and then connect the other end to the REMOTE (REM) socket on the Cassette Recorder. * Connect one end of the 3.5 stereo jack lead to the OUT socket on the radio and the other end to the MIC socket on the Cassette recorder. * The following switches on the Cassette recorder need to be positioned correctly: VOX switch: In the OFF (left) position MICROPHONE SENSITIVITY switch: In the MEDIUM (middle) position TAPE SPEED switch: In the NORMAL (middle) position PAUSE switch: To the OFF (middle) position * Once all the above has been carried out press the RECORD button on the Cassette recorder. Note: the play button will also be depressed when the record button I pressed. When the Radio turns on at the programmed time and day, the Cassette Recorder will begin recording. Manual recording from the Radio to the Cassette Recorder: To record a radio program whilst simultaneously listening to it. * Connect one end of the 3.5 stereo jack lead to the OUT socket on the radio, and the other end to the MIC socket on the Cassette recorder. * Ensure the above switches on the cassette recorder are set to the correct positions. * When you hear on the radio the item you would like to record, press the RECORD button on the cassette recorder. * When you wish to stop recording press the STOP button on the cassette recorder. Specifications Tape System: 2 track, monophonic cassette. For use with normal bias tape (Type I) only. Tape Speed (Recording): 1 7/8 ips (4.75 cm/sec) Wow and Flutter: 0.35% (WRMS) Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 50 dB Erase System: Magnet Record System: AC Bias Power Requirements: 2 x AA 1.5v Alkaline batteries (supplied) or 3 Volt DC adaptor (not supplied) Dimensions (HWD): 4 9/16 x 3 2/3 x 1 1/2 inches (121 x 93 x 38mm) Weight (without batteries) 8.125 oz (230g)