SCT-55 (140-0674) Operation Faxback Doc. # 9907 Loading and Playing a Cassette Tape Loading a Cassette Tape 1. Use your finger or a pencil to turn the cassette's hub and take up any tape slack. Note: Avoid touching the tape. Fingerprints attract dirt. 2. Press the appropriate EJECT button (Deck 1 or Deck 2) to open the cassette compartment door. 3. Load the cassette with its open edge down. Since the decks play in either direction, it does not matter which side faces out. 4. Gently close the compartment door. Playing a Cassette Tape 1. Set DOLBY NR to the setting used when the tape was recorded. See "Dolby Noise Reduction." Or, press AUTO NR to use the auto noise reduction system. See "Using the Auto Noise Reduction System." 2. Press CSES to improve the audio on poorly-recorded tapes. See "Using the Computerized Sound Enhancement System." 3. Set REV MODE for one-side, or continuous two-side play. Note: During recording, this setting is the same as one-time auto- reverse. See "Using Repeat Play" for more details about REV MODE. 4. Set the receiver/amplifier's volume to its lowest position. 5. Press > on the appropriate deck to play the side facing you. Press Reverse Play to play the side facing away from you. 6. Adjust the receiver/amplifier's volume, tone, and balance. 7. Press STOP to stop playback. 8. Press EJECT to open the cassette door and remove the cassette. 9. To turn off the cassette deck, press POWER. Only the STANDBY indicator lights. Dolby Noise Reduction (NR) Dolby NR system reduce tape hiss and background noise. When recording, the systems listen for places where you might later hear hiss. The systems record these sections at a higher level, When you play the tape, the systems decrease these section's volume, restoring the music to its original level and reducing the noise level. Dolby B NR reduces background noise by about 10 dB. Dolby C NR reduces background noise by about 20 dB. Setting DOLBY NR for Playback When you play a cassette tape, set DOLBY NR for the system used when the tape was recorded. For prerecorded tapes, use these guidelines to set DOLBY NR: If Dolby NR or is not on the cassette label, set the switch to OUT. If Dolby NR or does appear, but the label does not specify Dolby C NR, set the switch to B. If Dolby C NR is on the label, set the switch to C. Setting DOLBY NR for Recording Set DOLBY NR for the system you want to use. You can play cassette tapes recorded with Dolby B or C NR on players that do not have the same system. However, high-frequency sounds might be too loud - especially in Dolby C NR recording. Recording with the Dolby HX Pro System If the source you are recording has many high-frequency signals, they can reduce the recording quality. During recording, the Dolby HX Pro system automatically adjusts for these signals and improves high-frequency response. This feature is always turned on during recording. You can play a cassette tape recorded with the Dolby HX Pro system on any cassette player. Using the Auto Noise Reduction System If you do not know which noise reduction system was used when a tape was recorded or if a tape was recorded without noise reduction, press AUTO NR to turn on the auto noise reduction system. This uses the Dolby NR system for tapes recorded with Dolby NR and selects a special system for tapes recorded without noise reduction. Using the Computerized Sound Enhancement System During playback, the Computerized Sound Enhancement System (CSES) compensates for poor high-frequency response on inferior recordings. The system can improve sound reproduction by up to about 12 dB at 10 kHz. To use the system, press CSES and start playback. CSES flashes for 3 to 10 seconds while the deck analyzes the tape. Then the indicators light steadily. Then system adjusts for each selections. Using Repeat Play You can load two cassette tapes to play one after the other. Notes: The cassettes you load should have the same Dolby NR type. If they do not, press AUTO NR to turn on the auto noise reduction system. You can start repeat play from either Deck 1 or Deck 2. You can replace the tape in the idle deck during repeat play. When a tape automatically begins playing during repeat play, it always starts from the forward (>) playback side. Be sure to set the tapes properly before starting repeat play. If the deck encounters an unrecorded portion of tape more than 15 seconds long, it fast forwards the tape until it finds another recorded portion, and resumes playback from that point (i.e., blank skip is automatically set). 1. Load a cassette tape in each tape compartment, then close the compartment doors. 2. Set DOLBY NR. 3. Set REV MODE to RELAY/SKIP. 4. Press > or < on Deck 1 or 2. Playback starts. See "Playback Sequence." 5. Adjust the volume, tone, and balance control on your receiver/amplifier for the desired sound. 6. To stop repeat play before it automatically stops, press STOP any time during playback. Playback Sequence The cassette deck repeats the following sequence 8 times (up to 32 sides). Where playback starts in the sequence depends on which play button you press first: I. Side A, Deck 1 II. Side B, Deck 1 III. Side A, Deck 2 IV. Side B, Deck 2 When you press > on Deck 1, playback starts at I. When you press < on Deck 1, playback starts at II. When you press > on Deck 2, playback starts at III. When you press < on Deck 2, playback starts at IV. Using Headphones For private listening, or to monitor as you record, you can connect low- impedance headphones with a 1/4-inch phone plug to your cassette deck. To connect headphones, insert the plug into the cassette deck's PHONES jack. Listening Safety To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines, especially when you use headphones. Do not listen at extremely high volume levels. Extended high-volume listening can lead to permanent hearing loss. Set the volume to its lowest level before you begin listening. After you put on the headphones, adjust the volume to a comfortable listening level. Do not increase the volume once you establish a comfortable listening level. Over time, your ears adapt to the volume level, so a volume level that does not cause discomfort might still damage your hearing. Demo Mode The cassette deck has a demonstration mode that alternately turns on all indicators and meters. To turn on the demonstration mode, press TIME/ COUNT and RESET on Deck 2 at the same time. To cancel the mode, press RESET on Deck 2. Recording and Dubbing 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. Before recording or dubbing, be sure the cassette 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." 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. 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 to 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." 5. Set REV MODE. See "Loading and Playing a Cassette Tape." 6. Press RECORD. The cassette deck enters the record pause mode. 7. Play the loudest part of the selection you want to record. If you are using Dolby NR, adjust REC LEVEL so the LEVEL meter goes to 0 dB most of the time. Momentary levels of up to +3 dB at peaks do not hurt the recording. When you record without Dolby NR, set REC LEVEL so the LEVEL meter goes to -3 dB most of the time and to 0 dB occasionally at peaks. This gives the recording a high signal-to-noise ratio with minimum distortion. 8. To begin recording, press > on Deck 2. 9. To stop recording, press STOP on Deck 2. Recording Blank Spaces Between Selections Some cassette decks search for the blank spaces between selections so you can quickly locate 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 pause, press REC MUTE. The cassette deck records 4 1/2 seconds of silence and pauses. To begin recording again, press PAUSE (||). To record a blank space of more than 4 1/2 seconds, press REC MUTE again after the cassette deck pauses, or press and hold REC MUTE for the desired length of time. To begin recording again, press PAUSE (||). To record a blank space of less than 4 1/2 seconds, press PAUSE (||) before the 4 1/2 seconds have passed. To begin recording again, press PAUSE (||). Copying a Cassette Tape (Dubbing) Notes: If the original recording has Dolby B NR or Dolby C 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. Each deck automatically stops when the tape reaches the end. We recommend you dub onto a tape that is the same length as the original, so the deck 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. Press > on Deck 2 to set the tape direction and then press STOP. 5. 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. 6. Each deck automatically stops when the tape reaches the end. To manually stop dubbing, press STOP on either desk; 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." Notes: If your CD player has a program function, program selections before beginning this operation. 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. Press RECORD. 6. Begin play on the CD player. 7. Adjust the recording level. 8. Press the stop buttons on the cassette deck and the CD player. 9. 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 (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 playback (> or <) button on the cassette deck to change the tape direction, then immediately press STOP. 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 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 play- back and the deck resumes recording. 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 rewind it. Then loosen the tape reels by gently tapping each side of the cassette's outer shell on a flat surface. Note: Be careful not to damage the cassette when tapping it. Do not touch the exposed tape or allow any sharp object near the cassette. Erasing a Cassette Tape If you are no longer want a recording, you can record over it or erase it. To record over a cassette tape, simply record as usual. The cassette deck records over the previous recording. To erase a cassette tape, set REC LEVEL to 0 and press RECORD. Then press > or < to begin recording. To erase the entire cassette tape, let the tape record to the end. You can quickly erase both sides of a cassette tape using a bulk tape eraser, available at your local Radio Shack store. Erase-Protection Tabs Most cassette tapes have two erase-protection tabs - one for each side of the tape. When a tab is in place, you can erase or record on that tape side. To protect your recordings from being accidentally erased or recorded over, carefully break off the erase-protection tabs, using a screwdriver or similar tool. If you later decide to erase or record over the tape, you can place a piece of tape over the holes. Note: When covering the holes, cover only the place that was originally protected by the plastic tab. (LB/all-03/01/95)