4-1112.fm Page 1 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Cat. No. 14-1112 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
14-1112.fm Page 2 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM FEATURES Your Optimus CTR-107 Portable Cassette Tape Recorder has a lightweight, portable design that makes it perfect for recording lectures, interviews, business meetings, and speeches. The recorder’s voice activation feature lets you set the recorder to automatically record only when it picks up sound.
14-1112.fm Page 3 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Tape Counter — helps you quickly locate a specific section on the tape. Automatic Level Control (ALC) Circuit — automatically adjusts to the proper recording level. Auto Stop — automatically stops the recorder when the tape reaches the end during playback or recording. Pause Control — lets you edit as you record.
14-1112.fm Page 4 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM CONTENTS Preparation ........................................................... 5 Connecting Power ........................................... 5 Using Internal Batteries ............................ 5 Using AC Power ....................................... 8 Using Vehicle Battery Power .................. 10 Using the Earphone ...................................... 12 Listening Safely ...................................... 12 Traffic Safety ..................
14-1112.fm Page 5 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM PREPARATION CONNECTING POWER You can power the CTR-107 from any of three power sources: • Internal batteries • Standard AC power (with an optional AC adapter) • Your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket (with an optional DC adapter) Note: Connecting an adapter disconnects internal batteries. Using Internal Batteries You can power the CTR-107 from four AA batteries (not supplied).
14-1112.fm Page 6 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Follow these steps to install batteries: 1. Press down on the battery compartment cover and slide it off in the direction of the arrows. 2. Install the batteries as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked outside the compartment. Cautions: • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and type.
14-1112.fm Page 7 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM • Never leave dead, old or weak batteries in the CTR-107. Batteries can leak chemicals and corrode or damage electronic circuits. 3. Replace the cover. Notes: • If you plan not to use the CTR-107 for a week or more, or you plan to use an AC or DC adapter, remove the batteries to protect the CTR-107 from possible battery leakage.
14-1112.fm Page 8 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Important: Your recorder is capable of using rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. At the end of the batteries’ life, they must be recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste management authorities for information on recycling or disposal programs in your area.
14-1112.fm Page 9 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM • Always plug the AC adapter into the CTR-107 before you plug it into the AC outlet, and unplug the AC adapter from the AC outlet before you unplug its barrel plug from the CTR-107. Follow these steps to connect the CTR-107 to AC power. 1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 6V. 2. Insert the adapter’s 5.5 mm outer diameter/2.1 mm inner diameter barrel plug into the adapter’s cord so it reads –TIP. 3.
14-1112.fm Page 10 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Using Vehicle Battery Power You can power the CTR-107 from your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket using a DC adapter (not supplied), such as Cat. No. 273-1802. Cautions: • The recommended DC adapter supplies 6 volts and delivers at least 300 milliamps. Its center tip is set to negative, and its plug correctly fits the CTR-107’s DC 6V jack. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the CTR-107 or the adapter.
14-1112.fm Page 11 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Follow these steps to connect the CTR-107 to vehicle battery power. 1. Set the DC adapter’s voltage switch to 6V. 2. Insert the adapter’s barrel plug into the CTR107’s DC 6V jack. 3. Plug the adapter’s larger plug into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
14-1112.fm Page 12 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM USING THE EARPHONE To listen in privacy, insert the supplied earphone’s 1/8inch plug into the EAR jack. Note: Connecting the earphone automatically disconnects the built-in speaker. 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 volume levels.
14-1112.fm Page 13 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM • 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 the earphone while operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle. This can create a traffic hazard and is illegal in some areas.
-1112.fm Page 14 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM OPERATION LOADING A CASSETTE TAPE Note: Metal tapes are not recommended for use with this cassette player. 1. Take up any slack in the tape by turning one of the cassette’s hubs with a pencil. Do not touch the tape. Caution: If you do not remove the excess slack, the tape might become tangled in the record/ playback mechanism.
14-1112.fm Page 15 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 2. Press STOP/EJECT to open the cassette compartment door. 3. Load the cassette with its open edge out, the side you want to play facing up, and its full reel to the left. 4. Close the door.
14-1112.fm Page 16 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 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. Note: Press PAUSE to temporarily stop playback. Press PAUSE again to resume playback.
14-1112.fm Page 17 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 3. Adjust VOLUME as desired. 4. Press STOP/EJECT to completely stop playback before it automatically stops. Press STOP/EJECT again to open the cassette compartment and remove the cassette tape.
14-1112.fm Page 18 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Using Fast-Forward/Rewind While the tape is stopped, press REVIEW/REWIND or CUE/FAST-F to rapidly wind the tape backward or forward. Press STOP/EJECT, then PLAY again to resume playback. If you press and hold down REVIEW/REWIND or CUE/ FAST-F while the tape is playing, you can hear the tape as it moves at a faster speed. This makes it easy to locate a specific part of a recording (such as the space between tracks).
14-1112.fm Page 19 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Using the Tape Counter You can use the tape counter to help you find specific locations on the tape. At the beginning of a tape, press the reset button to reset the tape counter to 000. Then note the counter’s reading at the beginnng of each selection. To return to a selection, fast-forward or rewind the tape until the counter shows the noted reading.
14-1112.fm Page 20 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 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 25). • The recorder’s Automatic Level Control (ALC) circuit automatically adjusts the recording level. VOLUME has no effect on recording. 1. Load a blank cassette tape, or one you want to record over, into the cassette compartment. 2. Set VOICE ACTIVATION to the desired sensitivity.
14-1112.fm Page 21 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM OUT — immediately begins recording when you press RECORD (unless PAUSE is pressed down). 3. Press RECORD to begin recording. Both PLAY and RECORD lock down. As the recorder records, the RECORD/BATT indicator flashes. Notes: • If VOICE ACTIVATION is set to HIGH or LOW, recording begins when the recorder detects an audible signal. If the sound stops or becomes inaudible for about 5 seconds, the recorder automatically stops.
14-1112.fm Page 22 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 4. Press STOP/EJECT to stop recording before it automatically stops at the end of the tape side. Using an External Microphone You can connect an external microphone (not supplied) with a 1/8-inch plug to the CTR-107. The proper microphone to use with this recorder is Cat. No. 333014. Its microphone plug correctly fits the CTR107’s MIC jack. Note: Connecting an external microphone automatically disconnects the built-in microphone. 1.
14-1112.fm Page 23 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Notes: • If the external microphone has a separate, smaller plug for remote operation, insert that plug into the REMOTE jack, then use the microphone’s switch to turn on and off the recorder. If VOICE ACTIVATION is not set to OUT, recording only starts when the switch is on and the recorder receives an audible signal. • You can monitor the recording with the supplied earphone. Otherwise, do not use the earphone during recording.
14-1112.fm Page 24 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM TAPE TIPS Recommended Tapes Tape quality greatly affects the quality of the recording. We recommend extended-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. Erasing a Cassette Tape To record over a cassette tape, simply record as usual. The cassette deck records over the previous recording.
14-1112.fm Page 25 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM If you need to erase an entire cassette, you might prefer using a bulk tape eraser, available at your local RadioShack store. 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 protect a recording from being accidentally recorded over or erased, use a screwdriver to remove one or both of the cassette tape’s erase-protection tabs.
14-1112.fm Page 26 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM If you later decide to record on a tape side after you have removed its erase-protection tab, place a piece of strong plastic tape over the 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 tape eraser from erasing a cassette tape.
14-1112.fm Page 27 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 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.
14-1112.fm Page 28 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM MAINTENANCE Your Optimus CTR-107 Portable Cassette Tape Recorder is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your CTR-107 so you can enjoy it for years. • Keep the CTR-107 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids can contain minerals that corrode electronic circuits. • Use and store the CTR-107 only in normal temperature environments.
14-1112.fm Page 29 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Modifying or tampering with the CTR-107’s internal components can cause a malfunction and might invalidate your CTR-107’s warranty. If your CTR-107 is not performing as it should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance.
14-1112.fm Page 30 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 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 cassette player’s performance. To help keep the cassette player working at its best, clean the cassette player’s tape-handling parts after every 20 hours of use. 1. Remove the batteries and disconnect any other power source. 2. Open the cassette compartment cover.
14-1112.fm Page 31 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 3. Use a pencil eraser to press down on the erase protection tab sensor in the cassette compartment. Then press RECORD to expose the tapehandling parts.
14-1112.fm Page 32 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM 4. Use a swab dipped in alcohol to gently clean the capstan, pinch roller, tape guides, and tape and erase heads. 5. When you finish cleaning, press STOP/EJECT and close the compartment cover. Then reconnect power. You can also use a cassette deck cleaning kit, available from your local RadioShack store.
14-1112.fm Page 33 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM SPECIFICATIONS CASSETTE PLAYER Tape System ..................................2-Track Monaural Tape Speed ...................................................17/8 in/s Wow and Flutter (WRMS) ...............................0.35% Signal-to-Noise Ratio ...................................... 35 dB Recording System ........................................ AC Bias Erase System .................................................Magnet GENERAL Power Requirements ......
14-1112.
14-1112.
14-1112.fm Page 36 Thursday, July 1, 1999 1:05 PM Limited Ninety-Day Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers. In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product and the RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store.
