Radio Shack Portable Cassette Recorder User manual

Owner’s Manual
Please read before using this equipment.
Portable Cassette Recorder
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2Features
©2000 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack, Adaptaplug, and RadioShack.com are trademarks used by Tandy Corporation.
ˆ Features
Your RadioShack Portable Cassette Re-
corder is a multi-functional recorder.
Easy to use and reliable, it is ideal for
both personal and business use. Its fea-
tures include:
Three Power Sources — you can pow-
er the recorder from four C batteries (not
supplied), standard AC power (with the
supplied power cord), or vehicle DC
power (with an optional DC adapter).
Full Automatic Stop — protects the
tape and tape handling parts by automat-
ically stopping the tape when it reaches
the end.
Built-In Condenser Microphone —
provides maximum sensitivity, letting
you record sound sources from several
feet away.
MIC Jack — lets you connect an option-
al external microphone to record from
longer distances.
AUX Jack — lets you connect the re-
corder to an external sound source, so
you can record directly from the source.
Record Indicator — lights to confirm
the recorder is recording.
Automatic Level Control (ALC) Circuit
— ensures the proper recording level.
Built-In Carrying Handle — lets you
easily carry the cassette recorder any-
where you go.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or
shock hazard, do not expose this product to rain
or moisture.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
DO NOT OPEN.
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER OR BACK. NO USER-SERVICE-
ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING
TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
This symbol is intended to alert
you to the presence of uninsu-
lated dangerous voltage within
the product’s enclosure that might
be of sufficient magnitude to con-
stitute a risk of electric shock. Do
not open the product’s case.
This symbol is intended to inform
you that important operating and
maintenance instructions are
included in the literature accom-
panying this product.
The graphical symbols with supplemental mark-
ings are located on the bottom of the product.
!
!
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3Preparation
ˆ Preparation
CONNECTING POWER
You can power the recorder from any of
three power sources:
• Standard AC power (with the sup-
plied power cord)
• Internal batteries
• Your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter
socket (with an optional DC adapter)
Note: Connecting the power cord or a
DC adapter disconnects the internal bat-
teries.
Using AC Power
To power the recorder from standard AC
power, plug the supplied power cord into
the AC IN jack on the side of the record-
er. Then plug the other end into a stan-
dard AC outlet.
Warning: The power cord has a polar-
ized plug that is designed to fit into the
recorder’s jack and a standard AC outlet
only one way. If the plug does not easily
fit into the jack and AC outlet, do not
force either plug. Simply turn it over and
try again.
Caution: Always plug the power cord
into the AC IN jack before you plug it into
the AC outlet, and always unplug the
power cord from the AC outlet before
you unplug it from the AC IN jack.
Using Internal Batteries
You can power the recorder from four C
batteries (not supplied). For the best
performance and longest life, we recom-
mend RadioShack alkaline batteries.
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the
required size and recommended
type.
• Do not mix old and new batteries,
different types of batteries (stan-
dard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or
rechargeable batteries of different
capacities.
Follow these steps to install batteries.
1. Press down on the battery compart-
ment cover and slide it off in the
direction of the arrow on the cover.
2. Install the batteries in the compart-
ment as indicated by the polarity
symbols (+ and –) marked inside.
3. Replace the cover.
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4Preparation
When the record indicator becomes dim
during recording or the recorder stops
operating properly, replace the batteries.
Warning: Dispose of old batteries
promptly and properly. Do not burn or
bury them.
Caution: If you do not plan to use the re-
corder with batteries for a month or
more, remove the batteries. Batteries
can leak chemicals that can destroy
electronic parts.
Using Vehicle Battery Power
You can power the recorder from your
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket using a
6V, 300 mA DC adapter and a size B
Adaptaplug™ adapter (neither supplied,
available at your local RadioShack
store).
Cautions:
• You must use a DC adapter that
supplies 6 volts and delivers at least
300 milliamps. Its center tip must be
set to positive, and its plug must cor-
rectly fit the recorder’s DC 6V jack.
Using an adapter that does not meet
these requirements could damage
the recorder or the adapter.
• Always plug the adapter into the
recorder before you plug it into the
cigarette-lighter socket, and always
unplug the adapter from the ciga-
rette-lighter socket before you
unplug it from the recorder.
Follow these steps to use vehicle battery
power.
1. Set the DC adapter’s voltage switch
to 6V.
2. Insert the Adaptaplug adapter into
the adapter’s cord so it reads + TIP.
3. Insert the Adaptaplug’s barrel plug
into the DC 6V jack on the left side of
the recorder.
4. Insert the adapter’s larger plug into
the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
USING AN EARPHONE
You can use an optional mono earphone
with a 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) mini plug to lis-
ten to a tape privately. Insert the ear-
phone’s
1/8-inch plug into the EAR jack.
DC 6V
DC 6V
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5Operation
Note: Connecting the earphone auto-
matically disconnects the built-in speak-
er.
Listening Safely
To protect your hearing, follow these
guidelines when you use the earphone.
• Set the volume to the lowest setting
before you begin listening. After you
begin listening, adjust the volume to
a comfortable level.
• Do not listen at extremely high vol-
ume levels. Extended high volume
listening can lead to permanent
hearing loss.
• Once you set the volume, do not
increase it. Over time, your ears
adapt to the volume level, so a vol-
ume level that does not cause dis-
comfort might still damage your
hearing.
Traffic Safety
Do not wear an earphone while operat-
ing a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle.
This can create a traffic hazard and can
be illegal in some areas.
Even though some earphones let you
hear some outside sounds when listen-
ing at normal volume levels, they still
can present a traffic hazard.
ˆ Operation
LOADING A CASSETTE
TAPE
1. Take up any slack in the tape by
turning one of the cassette’s hubs
with a pencil.
Caution: If you do not remove the
excess slack, the tape could
become tangled in the record/play-
back mechanism.
2. Press STOP/EJECT to open the cas-
sette compartment door.
3. Load the cassette into the cassette
guides in the door with its open
edge out, the side you want to play
facing up, and its full reel to the left.
4. Close the door.
PLAYING A CASSETTE
TAPE
1. Load the cassette tape.
2. Press PLAY. The cassette plays until
it reaches the end of the side, then it
automatically stops.
Notes:
•Press
PAUSE to temporarily stop
playback. Press PAUSE again to
resume playback.
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6Operation
• To rapidly wind the tape forward
or backward, press STOP/EJECT
then FAST-F or REWIND. Press
STOP/EJECT then PLAY to re-
sume playback.
3. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable lis-
tening level.
4. To stop playback before it automati-
cally stops, press STOP/EJECT.
Press STOP/EJECT again to open
the cassette compartment and
remove the cassette tape.
RECORDING
Notes:
• Before you load a cassette tape for
recording, be sure its erase-
protection tabs are in place (see
“Preventing Accidental Erasure” on
Page 8).
• The recorder’s Automatic Level
Control (ALC) circuit automatically
adjusts the recording level. VOLUME
has no effect on recording.
Using the Built-In Microphone
1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one
you want to record over, into the
cassette compartment.
2. Place the recorder 2 to 3 feet from
the recording source.
3. Press RECORD to begin recording.
Both PLAY and RECORD lock down.
Note: To temporarily stop recording,
press PAUSE. Press PAUSE again to
resume recording.
4. The recorder automatically stops
the tape when it reaches the end of
the current side. To stop recording
sooner, press STOP/EJECT.
Using an External Microphone
You can connect an external micro-
phone (not supplied) with a 1/8-inch plug
to the recorder. Your local RadioShack
store sells a variety of microphones.
Note: Connecting an external micro-
phone automatically disconnects the
built-in microphone.
Follow these steps to record using an
external microphone.
1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one
you want to record over, into the
cassette compartment.
2. Insert the microphone’s plug into the
recorder’s MIC jack.
Note: If the external microphone
has a separate, smaller plug for
remote operation, insert that plug
into the REM jack. Then you can use
the microphone’s remote switch to
stop or start recording.
3. Press RECORD to begin recording.
Both
PLAY and RECORD lock down.
Note: To temporarily stop recording,
press PAUSE. Press PAUSE again to
resume recording.
DC 6V
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7Operation
4. Speak into the external microphone.
5. The recorder automatically stops
the tape when it reaches the end of
the current side. To stop recording
sooner, press STOP/EJECT.
Recording from a Connected
Audio Source
You can record directly from an external
audio source, such as a radio, tape
deck, or CD player. To make the con-
nection, you need a suitable mono patch
cord with a 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) plug (avail-
able at your local RadioShack store).
Note: Before you connect an external
audio source to the recorder, be sure
the source’s volume control is set to its
minimum setting.
Follow these steps to record from an ex-
ternal audio source.
Note: If you previously connected an ex-
ternal microphone, disconnect it.
1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one
you want to record over, into the
cassette compartment.
2. Connect the external source to the
AUX jack using a patch cord with a
1/8-inch plug.
3. Start the external audio source and
set its volume control to a normal lis-
tening level.
4. Press RECORD to begin recording.
Both
PLAY and RECORD lock down.
Note: To temporarily stop recording,
press PAUSE. To resume recording,
press PAUSE again.
5. The recorder automatically stops
the tape when it reaches the end of
the current side. To stop recording
sooner, press STOP/EJECT. Then
stop the audio source.
Note: During recording, the speaker is
muted. If you want to monitor the record-
ing, connect an earphone (not supplied)
(see “Using an Earphone” on Page 4).
TAPE TIPS
Recommended Tapes
Tape quality greatly affects the quality of
the recording. We recommend extend-
ed-range or low noise Type 1 regular
length (60- or 90-minute) normal-bias
cassette tapes. We do not recommend
long-play cassette tapes such as C-
120s because they are thin and can
easily tangle.
Restoring Tape Tension and
Sound Quality
After you play a cassette tape several
times, the tape might become tightly
wound on the reels. This can cause
playback sound quality to deteriorate.
To restore the sound quality, fast-
forward the tape from the beginning to
the end of one side, then completely re-
wind it. Then loosen the tape reels by
gently tapping each edge of the cassette
on a flat surface.
DC 6V
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8Care and Maintenance
Caution: Be careful not to damage the
cassette when tapping it. Do not touch
the exposed tape or allow any sharp ob-
jects near the cassette.
Erasing Tapes
To record over a cassette tape, simply
record as usual. The cassette deck
records over the previous recording.
You can quickly erase both sides of a
cassette tape using a RadioShack bulk
tape eraser.
Note: If you use metal or high-bias type
tape, the recorded sound might not be
erased properly.
Preventing Accidental Erasure
Cassette tapes have two erase-
protection tabs — one for each side.
When a tab is in place, you can record
on that side.
To prevent accidental erasure of a tape
recording, use a screwdriver to remove
one or both of the cassette tape’s erase-
protection tabs. This prevents RECORD
from being pressed.
If you later decide to record on a tape
side after you have removed the erase-
protection tab, place a piece of strong
plastic tape over that side’s erase-
protection hole. Be sure you cover only
the hole originally covered by the erase-
protection tab.
Caution: Removing the erase-protection
tabs does not prevent a bulk eraser from
erasing a cassette tape.
ˆ Care and Maintenance
Your RadioShack Portable Cassette Recorder is an example of superior design and
craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your recorder so you
can enjoy it for years.
Keep the recorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids
might contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits.
Use and store the recorder only in normal temperature environments.
Temperature extremes can shorten the life of electronic devices, dam-
age batteries, and distort or melt plastic parts.
Keep the recorder away from dust and dirt, which can cause premature
wear of parts.
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9Care and Maintenance
CLEANING THE TAPE-HANDLING PARTS
Dirt, dust, or particles of the tape's coating can accumulate on the tape heads and
other parts that the tape touches. This can greatly reduce the performance of the cas-
sette recorder. After every 20 hours of cassette recorder operation, follow these steps
to clean the tape-handling parts or use a RadioShack cassette deck cleaning kit.
1. Remove the batteries and disconnect any other power source.
2. Open the cassette compartment door and press PLAY to expose the tape-
handling parts.
3. Use a cotton swab dipped in denatured alcohol or tape head cleaning solution to
clean the tape guides, record/play head, pinch roller, and capstan.
4. When you finish cleaning, press STOP/EJECT and close the cassette compart-
ment door. Then reconnect power.
Handle the recorder gently and carefully. Dropping it can damage circuit
boards and cases and can cause the recorder to work improperly.
Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type.
Batteries can leak chemicals that damage your recorder’s electronic
parts.
Wipe the recorder with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new.
Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or strong detergents to
clean the recorder.
Modifying or tampering with the recorder’s internal components can cause a mal-
function and might invalidate its warranty. If your recorder is not performing as it
should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
Tape Guides
Capstan
Pinch
Roller
Record/Play Head
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10 Specifications
ˆ Specifications
CASSETTE PLAYER
Track System ................................................................................................. 2-Track Monaural
Tape Speed ................................................................................................................ 4.75 cm/s
Recording System ......................................................................................................... AC Bias
Frequency Response (@ ±6 dB) ...................................................................... 125 Hz–6.3 kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio ....................................................................................................... 35 dB
Wow and Flutter (WRMS) ............................................................................................ < 0.25%
GENERAL
Power Requirements ................................................................................... AC 120V, 60 Hz, or
Four C Batteries, or
DC 6V with Optional Adapter
Dimensions (HWD) ........................................................................................ 95/8×51/2×17/8in
(246 ×141 ×47 mm)
Weight (without batteries) ........................................................................................... 1 lb 12 oz
(790 g)
Included Accessory ........................................................................................... AC Power Cord
Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and
improvement without notice.
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