MICRO-34 Voice-Activated Microcassette Tape Recorder (140-1061) Operation Faxback Doc. # 33758 CAUTION: When the tape reaches the end, the tape stops but the MICRO-34 continues to run. Slide RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to STOP as soon as the tape reaches the end to release the tape from the tape handling parts. LOADING A MICROCASSETTE TAPE NOTE: We recommend MC-60 microcassette tapes (Cat. No. 44-640) for up to two hours of recording/playback time (at half the normal speed), or MC-90 microcassette tapes (Cat. No. 44-644) for up to three hours of recording/playback time (at half the normal speed). Follow the steps below to load a microcassette tape. 1. Use a pencil to turn the microcassette's hub and remove any tape slack. Avoid touching the tape. 2. Slide FAST-F/EJECT to EJECT to open the cassette compartment door. 3. Insert the microcassette into the door's guides so the microcassette's open edge faces out. NOTE: An arrow on the cassette compartment door indicates the tape travel direction. Be sure the tape's full reel is in the opposite direction from the arrow. 4. Close the cassette compartment door. RECORDING When you use the VAS feature, recording begins when the recorder picks up sound, and stops a few seconds after the sound stops. The VOL/VAS SENS setting determines the sound level that triggers recording. At higher settings, a softer sound starts VAS recording. At lower settings, it takes a louder sound to start VAS recording. Use a low VOL/VAS SENS setting in a high-noise environment such as in a plane or automobile. NOTES: To have VAS work, set VOL/VAS SENS above level 2 when VAS is set to ON. You can monitor the sound level by connecting an optional earphone to the EAR jack. You can also use an earphone to check the microphone's sensitivity. See "Using an Earphone", below. Follow these steps to record: 1. Load a microcassette tape. 2. Set SPEED as follows: To double the tape's recording/playback time, set SPEED to 1.2 cm. This setting allows 120 minutes of total recording/playback time on an MC-60 tape, or 180 minutes on an MC-90 tape. For better sound quality, set SPEED to 2.4 cm. This setting allows 60 minutes of total recording/playback time on an MC-60 tape or 90 minutes on an MC-90 tape. 3. Set VAS as follows: To manually start and stop recording, set VAS to OFF. To use voice-activated recording, set VAS to ON. NOTE: The voice-activation feature saves power and tape if there are long or frequent pauses in the material you are recording. 4. Slide RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to RECORD to begin recording. The OPR/ BATT indicator lights. CAUTION: Do not force RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to RECORD. If you cannot easily slide RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW, check the cassette tape's erase-protection tabs (see "Preventing Accidental Erasure", below). If VAS is set to OFF, recording begins immediately. If VAS is set to ON, recording begins when the recorder picks up sound. NOTE: To pause the recorder, slide PAUSE/LOCK upward. The OPR/BATT indicator turns off. Slide PAUSE/LOCK downward to resume recording. 5. If you set VAS to ON, adjust VOL/VAS SENS to set the sound level that triggers recording. 6. Slide RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to STOP to stop the tape. NOTE: To record on the other side of the tape, unload the microcassette tape, turn it over, and reload it. USING AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE You can use an external microphone to make high-quality recordings. Insert a microphone with a 1/8-inch plug into the MICRO-34's MIC jack. Your local Radio Shack store has a wide selection of suitable microcassette recorder microphones. USING THE INDEX MARKER To mark the beginning of a recorded section, press and hold down CUE INDEX for at least 3 seconds during recording. The OPR/BATT indicator turns off. The MICRO-34 records a signal (index tone) on the tape at the point where you pressed CUE INDEX. During normal playback, you hear a low-pitched tone when the tape reaches the index marker. When you review the tape (see "Using Review", below), a high-pitched tone sounds when the tape reaches the index marker. PLAYING A TAPE 1. Load a microcassette tape. 2. Set SPEED to the speed used when the tape was recorded. 3. Slide RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to PLAY. The OPR/BATT indicator lights. 4. Adjust VOL/VAS SENS to a comfortable listening level. 5. Slide RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to STOP to stop playback. NOTE: To play the other side of the tape, unload the microcassette tape, turn it over, and reload it. USING REVIEW During playback, slide and hold RECORD/STOP/PLAY/REVIEW to REVIEW. You can hear the tape at a faster speed as it rewinds. A high-pitched tone sounds when the tape reaches an index marker (see "Using the Index Marker" above). Release the control when the desired position is reached. The recorder stops rewinding and resumes normal playback. USING FAST FORWARD NOTE: You can fast forward only when the tape is stopped. Slide FAST-F/EJECT to FAST-F. The OPR/BATT indicator lights. To stop the tape, slide FAST-F/EJECT back to the original position. USING LOCK To prevent accidental tape operation, you can disable the tape operation controls. Slide PAUSE/LOCK upward. To restore tape control operation, slide PAUSE/LOCK downward. USING THE TAPE COUNTER You can use the tape counter to note locations of specific sections of tape so you can easily return to them. The tape counter counts from 000 to 999, then resets to 000. Press the reset button to set the counter to 000 at the beginning of a tape. As the tape plays or records, note the counter reading at the position(s) where you want to return. USING AN EARPHONE You can use an optional earphone with a 1/8-inch plug to listen to a tape in privacy. You local Radio Shack store has a wide selection of earphones. Insert the earphone's plug into the recorder's EAR jack. The built in speaker automatically disconnects. LISTENING SAFELY To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone. Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After you begin listening adjust the volume to a comfortable listening level. Do not listen at extremely high volume 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 volume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing. TRAFFIC SAFETY Do not wear an earphone while operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle This can create a traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas. Even though some earphones let you hear outside sounds when listening at normal volume levels, they still can present a traffic hazard. TAPE TIPS STORING MICROCASSETTE TAPES Do not expose microcassette tapes to high temperatures, high humidity, dust or dirt, or motors, transformers, or other sources with strong magnetic fields. PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ERASURE Most microcassette tapes have an erase-protection tab for each side of the tape. To protect your recordings from being accidentally erased or recorded over, use a screwdriver to carefully break off the erase-protection tabs. If you later decide to erase or record over the tape, place a piece of strong tape over the holes. CAUTIONS: You will damage the recorder if you forcibly slide RECORD/STOP/ PLAY/REVIEW when an erase-protection tab is not in place. Removing the erase-protection tabs does not prevent a tape from being erased by a bulk tape eraser. ERASING A MICROCASSETTE TAPE If you no longer want a recording, you can record over it or erase it. To record over a recording, be sure the erase-protection tabs are in place. Then simply record as usual. To quickly erase a tape, use a bulk tape eraser, such as Cat. No. 44-232 (not supplied), which erases both sides of a tape in just a few seconds. (YO/EB 6/17/96)