Tech: Cassette recorder problem

Subject: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Cool Beans
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 12:12 PM

Before I go kicking and screaming into the 21st Century and buy a portable CD recorder...
I have this Sony portable cassette recorder. It sounds good but the Record button keeps popping out while I'm trying to record. Is there a quick fix?

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Cool Beans
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 12:14 PM

Oops, sorry. It's a Panasonic, if that helps.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 12:54 PM

"Loosen" your cassette tape....

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 01:07 PM

Duct Tape

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 01:25 PM

Have you opened what parts of the case that can be opened and carefully cleaned out dust or grit off all of the parts you can reach so there is no interference with any buttons?

Is this happening with a used cassette that you perhaps taped over the little notch to record again and the tape is slipping? Have you looked at the action of the machine itself, comparing it with another machine, to see if any parts appear to be sticking when you push the record button? (Have you cleaned the heads lately? A good thing to do whether or not it has to do with the record button).

What kind and length tape are you using? If it is more than a 90 minute tape (45 minutes per side) it may be the tape is too long and too thin and isn't moving through properly, causing hesitation. This will cause the machine to react the to resistance by turning it self off (just as when you reach the end of the tape).

Do you push just record, or play and record? Has it been so long since you've used this that maybe you need a refresher? Get out the instruction book and read the troubleshooting bit in the back again.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 01:28 PM

This happened to me and I was trying to record on a tape which had its little "don't record over this" tabs punched out.

Also, check any spring or latch which holds the cassette in place, if it is off or broken then the machine can sense the tape is not locked into position and won't work.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: number 6
Date: 12 Jan 06 - 04:07 PM

I think it's time to go out and buy a cd/dvd player.

sIx

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 07:39 AM

Get a Mini Disc - Small , Portable , and reasonable recording quality !

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Grab
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 08:48 AM

Best option these days is to get an MP3 player. Most of them do recording as well, either from a built-in mic or from a line-in connector, but check before you buy. AFAIK iPods don't, but most others do (especially the smaller Flash ones).

I've just got an iRiver T30. The built-in mic is a little muffled, but it's not bad, and line-in just records whatever you give it. The best part about it though is that the recording (and playback) is utterly noise-free - no static at all! I thoroughly recommend it.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 10:22 AM

The cassette tapes may be old technology, but they're durable and the quality can be excellent. Don't give up on it if you don't want to. But you might want to start hoarding tapes. They're making less and less of it every year, going down by huge factors. An engineer friend was telling me about this, how the supply went from whatever it was to about 10% the next year, and then down to 10% of that the following year. It's becoming scarce.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 13 Jan 06 - 11:39 AM

I have an Iriver fp750 flash player, it has a builtin mic (but can be switched to line-in recording with a stereo input mic. The quality is excellent. And since there are no moving parts (there is low-signal to noise) as some people have with the minidisc players - having to put the mic away from the recorder.

and you can easily record from tape or lp to the Iriver using the line in.

Subject: RE: Tech: Cassette recorder problem
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 14 Jan 06 - 08:09 AM

I have a minidisc recorder, which I love, and I can certainly second Leadfingers' suggestion. But - can anyone tell me how minidiscs compare to MP3 players? Do MP3's have the same editing capabilities (splitting tracks, combining them, re-arranging the order after deletions etc)? My minidisc gives crystal sound clarity as well, but I'm mainly interested in the editing possibilities MP3 offers, both from live mic and line input. (I presume you can connect an external condenser mic to an MP3??)

And: Is it true that minidiscs are on the way out, or is this just foul rumour perpetrated by shops who only sell MP3's? I'd be glad of any opinions or info anyone has comparing these two recorders.