SCT-57 High-Speed Dubbing Stereo Cassette Deck (140-0677) Recording Faxback Doc. # 32622 Recording and Dubbing Using Super Auto BLE XD Most decks have a limited ability to sense the type of tape you are using to record. They use standard bias, level, and equalization settings for all similar tapes (Type I, Type II, and Type IV). Other decks let you further adjust the bias to match the tape using a bias control. However, tapes from different manufacturers, and even different tapes from the same manufacturer, have different characteristics that make the standard settings less than the best. Your SCT-57 has a sophisticated microprocessor that can more precisely match the recording characteristics to the specific tape you use. It records a brief calibration signal onto the tape, then evaluates the recording to determine the exact bias, level, and equalization settings that provide the best possible recording with extended dynamic range. Before you record, follow these steps to use the Super Auto BLE XD system. 1. Load a blank tape, or one you want to record onto, into Deck 2 with the side you want to record on facing you and the full reel to the left. 2. Press BLE XD. BLE flashes for 20 seconds, then XD flashes for 10 seconds while the cassette deck records and plays the calibration signal. Then both indicators light steadily. You do not hear the calibration signal. NOTES: If the cassette deck displays Err, the tape reached the end during calibration or the tape is worn out and should not be used. Press STOP to clear the display, then rewind the tape so there is at least 30 seconds remaining before the end of the tape and try again. To stop the calibration process, press STOP. After the cassette deck determines the proper settings, it rewinds the tape to its original position. NOTES: If you load a new tape in Deck 2, BLE XD turns off and the deck clears the calibration settings. To turn off XD after calibration, pause Deck 2 and press BLE XD. XD turns off, but BLE remains in the display to remind you that the settings are stored. To turn the feature back on, press PAUSE to set Deck 2 to record pause and press BLE XD again. XD turns on, and the memorized settings are restored. Dolby HX Pro does not function when BLE XD is turned on. Recording You can record from any component connected to the receiver/amplifier or dub (copy) cassette tapes. NOTES: Tape quality greatly affects the quality of the recording. Your cassette deck can play Type I, Type II, and Type IV tape. We recommend Radio Shack brand tapes. For the best recordings with any type of tape, use the Super Auto BLE XD feature (see "Using Super Auto BLE XD", above). Before recording or dubbing, be sure the cassettes onto which you want to record or dub have their erase-protection tabs in place. To prevent accidental erasure of a tape, remove the erase-protection tabs. For more information, see "Erase- Protection Tabs", on Faxback Doc. # 32623. To record at the beginning of a cassette, turn the cassette's hub with your finger or a pencil until the dark part of the tape enters the opening in the edge of the cassette. Before dubbing, position both tapes this way to prevent missing recording material at the very beginning of a tape. Recording from Line-In Sources To record from the device connected to the cassette deck's LINE INPUT jacks, follow these steps. 1. Press POWER to turn on the cassette deck. 2. Load a blank tape (or one you want to record over) into Deck 2. Be sure the side you want to record on is facing you and the full reel is on the left. 3. Press > on Deck 2 to set the tape direction and then press STOP. 4. Set DOLBY NR for the noise-reduction system you want to use. See "Dolby Noise Reduction", on Faxback Doc. # 32621. 5. Set REV MODE. See "Loading and Playing a cassette Tape", on Faxback Doc. # 32621. 6. Calibrate the tape, if desired (see "Using Super Auto BLE XD", above) 7. Press RECORD (SYMBOL). The cassette deck enters the record pause mode. 8. Play the loudest part of the selection you want to record. Set REC LEVEL so the LEVEL meter goes to -3 dB most of the time and to 0 dB at peaks. This gives the recording a high signal-to noise ratio with minimum distortion. 9. Start the source you want to record, then press > on Deck 2 to begin recording. 10. To stop recording, press ( [] ) on Deck 2. Recording Blank Spaces Between Selections Some cassette decks search for the blank spaces between selections so you can quickly locate specific selections. If the original program does not have blank spaces, you can add them when you make a new recording. While the cassette deck is set to record or record pause, press REC MUTE (SYMBOL). The deck records 4 1/2 seconds of silence and pauses. To begin recording again, press PAUSE ( || ) or the appropriate play button ( > or < ). To record a blank space of more than 4 1/2 seconds, press (SYMBOL) again after the cassette deck pauses, or press and hold (SYMBOL) for the desired length of time. To begin recording again, press ||, >, or <. To record a blank space of less than 4 1/2 seconds, press || before 4 1/2 seconds pass. To begin recording again, press ||, >, or <. Copying a Cassette Tape (Dubbing) NOTES: If the original recording has Dolby NR, the copy will also have it, regardless of the position of DOLBY NR. If the original does not have Dolby NR, you cannot add it to the tape you are dubbing. REC LEVEL does not affect the recording level during dubbing. Both decks automatically stop when either tape reaches the end. We recommend you dub onto a tape that is the same length as the original, so the decks stop at the same time. To copy a cassette tape: 1. Press POWER to turn on the cassette deck. 2. Load the cassette tape you want to copy into Deck 1. Be sure the side you want to copy faces you with the full reel to the left. 3. Load a blank tape (or one you want to record over) into Deck 2. Be sure the side you want to record on is facing you and the full reel is to the left. 4. Set REV MODE. See "Playing a Cassette Tape", on Faxback Doc. # 32621. 5. Press > on Deck 1 to set the tape direction, then press STOP. 6. Press > on Deck 2 to set the tape direction, then press STOP. 7. Calibrate the tape, if desired (see "Using Super Auto BLE XD", above). NOTE: Super auto BLE is most effective at normal speed. When you copy tapes using Super Auto BLE without XD, do not record at high speed. 8. To begin dubbing, press the appropriate COPY button: NORMAL to dub at normal playback speed. HI-SPEED to dub at twice the normal speed. The cassette in Deck 1 automatically plays. Both decks automatically stop when either tape reaches the end. To manually stop dubbing, press STOP on either deck; this stops both cassette decks. CD-Deck Synchro Recording If your CD player has a compatible CD Synchro function, you can automatically record your Cds. Connect the CD player's and cassette deck's CD SYNCHRO jacks as described in "Connecting the CD-Deck Synchro Control Cable", on Faxback Doc. # 32620. NOTE: A 4 1/2-second blank space is automatically created between selections. 1. Load a compact disc in the CD player. 2. Load a blank tape (or one you want to record over) into Deck 2. Be sure the side you want to record on is facing you and the full reel is to the left. 3. Press > on Deck 2 to set the tape direction and then press STOP. 4. Set REV MODE and DOLBY NR. 5. Calibrate the tape, if desired (see "Using Super Auto BLE XD", above). 6. Press RECORD. 7. Select the CD player on the receiver/amplifier, then begin play on the CD player. 8. Adjust the recording level. 9. Press the stop buttons on the cassette deck and the CD player. 10. Press CD SYNCHRO RECORD. Recording automatically begins. When the compact disc finishes playing, the CD player stops and the cassette deck pauses. Within 1 minute, change the disc and start play on the CD player to resume recording. If the CD player does not start play within 1 minute, the cassette deck stops. When the CD player changes discs (multi-disc CD players), the cassette deck pauses, then resumes recording when the CD player begins playing the next disc. If the cassette deck reaches the end of the tape and stops while the CD plays, the CD player returns to the start of the current track, then pauses. To resume recording, load another tape and ensure the tape is moving in the desired direction. If it is not, press the play button ( > or < ) on the cassette deck to change the tape direction, then immediately press ( [] ). You can resume recording by pressing CD SYNCHRO RECORD again. (Press the button within 1 minute after the CD player pauses. If more than 1 minute elapses, the CD player stops.) If REV MODE is set to automatically switch to the other side of the tape and the tape reaches the end of the first side while the CD player is playing, the CD player returns to the beginning of the current track and pauses. A 4 1/2-second blank space is automatically created on the reverse side of the tape, then the CD player resumes playback and the deck resumes recording. (BR/EB 4/24/96)