VersaCorder 1/4 Speed Cassette Tape Player/Recorder

Yes. You can only use the internal microphone with the voice activation feature.

No, you can listen while recording using the line in or regular patch cord, but not when recording using the phone patch cord. If you record using the phone patch cord, you must stop the recording before you can listen to it.

Yes, if you have the VersaCorder phone patch cord.

No, the VersaCorder requires a diaphragm microphone or a powered microphone.

Yes. You will need two parts:

1. A phone jack splitter that splits your single phone jack into two phone jacks, and
2. a patch cord with a male phone connector at one end and a male 2.5mm mono plug at the other end. Plug the phone jack splitter into the phone line. Plug your phone into one of the jacks and the patch cord in the other jack. Then plug the 2.5mm mono plug end of the patch cord into the "Beep" jack on the front of the VersaCorder.

Regular speed is 1.875 inches per second.

.469 inches per second, which is standard for quarter-speed tape players and recorders.

Your 1/4 speed tape recordings can only be played back on the VersaCorder or the Panasonic Quarter Speed Cassette Player. Your 1/4 speed tape recordings cannot be played back on a regular cassette player.

The VersaCorder uses an AC adapter, not a power cord. It uses a 6 Volt AC adapter (the same one that the 909 and 818 Sangean World Band radios run on) that is 400 mA and center tip negative.

Yes, you can run it off 4 "C" batteries. It also has a pull-out handle that makes it easy to carry around.

Yes, you can program up to six timed recordings. This is also very useful for automatically cutting commercials from your recording. For instance, you can set one timer setting to end at the beginning of the commercial break at the top of the hour. Then set another timer setting to begin at the end of the commercial break.

Yes. You can program the timer function to record every day, any individual day, every weekday, or weekends.

Yes, the VersaCorder records in stereo at quarter or normal speed. If you are recording music, we recommend recording at normal speed. You can play back normal speed recordings on any tape player.

We recommend high-quality 110 minute cassettes to prevent the tapes from stretching and breaking. You can use longer tapes to get more record time, but the reliability may diminish. Since the longer tapes are thinner, they may wind around the tape mechanism and create a problem.

You need a different patch cord than the one supplied with the VersaCorder. You need a 2 RCA male plug x 1/8" male stereo plug patchcord.

The red light blinks when the VersaCorder is recording.

The green light is only found on models prior to about 2002. The green light blinks when a timer setting has been interrupted on the VersaCorder. If you stop the VersaCorder before a timed setting has been completed, the green light will blink. If you program a timed setting but don't actually use it, the green light will start blinking when the recording should have started. If the green light starts blinking, you have two options to solve the problem: you can unplug the VersaCorder and take the batteries out, letting the power drain down, or you can program a short timed setting and let it run to completion.

No, the buttons stay down when the recording is finished. The buttons pop up only when the cassette tape reaches the end of one side.

No. You would need to disconnect the radio patch cord from the "LINE IN" jack before you can record using the phone patch cord.

The following steps are based on the advertising schedule of Coast to Coast AM.

1.  Program timer one to come on six minutes after the hour. For instance, if the show starts at midnight, set the "1 ON" timer for 12:06. Then set the "1 OFF" timer to go off 30 minutes after the hour (12:30).
2.  Next program the "2 ON" timer for 34 minutes after the hour (12:34). Then set the "2 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the hour (12:58).
3.  Next program the "3 ON" timer for 6 minutes after the second hour (1:06). Then set the "3 OFF" timer to go off at 30 minutes after the second hour (1:30).
4.  Next program the "4 ON" timer for 34 minutes after the second hour (1:34). Then set the"4 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the second hour (1:58).
5.  Next program the "5 ON" timer for 6 minutes after the third hour (2:06). Then set the "5 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the third hour (2:58).
6.  Next program the "6 ON" timer for 6 minutes after the fourth hour (3:06). Then set the "6 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the fourth hour (3:58).

While you can use rechargeable batteries in the VersaCorder, we do not recommend it.  Rechargeable batteries make the motor run slower than it should - which could affect recording and playback.

No.

1. Make sure that the timer switch is in the off position
2. Make sure that the voice activation switch is off.
3. Make sure that the red tip of the patch cord is connected to the "LINE IN" jack, and the green and black tips are not connected. On the other end of the patch cord, the red tip should be connected to the headphone jack or line out jack of the audio device

One of the programmed time settings has been interrupted before it has a chance to finish and turn OFF. This causes the internal timer to remain in the ON state and unable to turn off.
This can be cured in one of two ways:

• Set the timer with new ON/OFF times to turn the internal timer switch off. For example; the current time is 1:15pm, set a new ON time to start recording at 1:16pm and OFF at 1:17pm. When this Timer event is over, the internal timer switch will turn OFF and the recorder will be ready to go.
• Another option is to unplug the AC Adapter and remove the batteries if installed. Let the VersaCorder sit for 5 minutes or more and it will reset when the batteries or power is restored

If the recording is running on the batteries and they are low, you will notice that FF and REW will slow down. This is an indication that the batteries need to be replaced. If plugging in the DC Wall Adapter cures the above symptoms, battery replacement will be necessary. It is recommended that you plug in the DC Wall Adapter while changing batteries to retain clock and memory settings. If the batteries are removed and the DC Wall Adapter is not plugged in, all clock and memory settings will be erased within 3 minutes.

On previously recorded audio cassette tapes the erase protect tab on the bottom of the tape may be pulled. This tab protects the audio data on the cassette from being erased or recorded over. If this tab is broken, you will be unable to record on this tape. The record button is locked and will not press down, please try another cassette.

Please read the instructions on LINE IN on page 9 & 19 of the Instruction Manual before recording. Your low-level audio source must be plugged into the LINE IN jack on the side of the VersaCorder before recording from an external audio device. If nothing is plugged into the LINE IN jack, the internal microphone on the VersaCorder is activated and will record audio from your room.

If audio is distorted on playback try setting the audio coming from your receiver at a lower level. Distorted audio can also be caused by an old or used up tape.

If your recorder does not record at the right time be sure the AM and PM and DAY are correct. Also make sure you have set a different ON and OFF Time. If you are recording a four hour talk show that starts at 11:00 PM on Monday be sure to change the OFF time DAY to Tuesday.

The VersaCorder has a programmable 6 event timer available which you can precisely customize to stop recording during commercials. For instance, if your show starts at 10:00 pm and you know it consistently runs commercials during the first 6 minutes of each half hour, you can start the VersaCorder at 10:06 and off again at 10:30 for the next round of commercials. You would then make it start at 10:36 and off again at 11:00. This will allow you to record a four hour show by eliminating commercials.

The following steps are based on the advertising schedule of Coast to Coast AM.

1. Program timer one to come on six minutes after the hour. For instance, if the show starts at midnight, set the "1 ON" timer for 12:06. Then set the "1 OFF" timer to go off 30 minutes after the hour (12:30).
2. Next program the "2 ON" timer for 34 minutes after the hour (12:34). Then set the "2 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the hour (12:58).
3. Next program the "3 ON" timer for 6 minutes after the second hour (1:06). Then set the "3 OFF" timer to go off at 30 minutes after the second hour (1:30).
4. Next program the "4 ON" timer for 34 minutes after the second hour (1:34). Then set the"4 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the second hour (1:58).
5. Next program the "5 ON" timer for 6 minutes after the third hour (2:06). Then set the "5 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the third hour (2:58).
6. Next program the "6 ON" timer for 6 minutes after the fourth hour (3:06). Then set the "6 OFF" timer to go off at 58 minutes after the fourth hour (3:58).

Try using an external microphone. The microphone in the VersaCorder is very sensitive and it will pick up all noise that is close to the unit.

The hiss is the bias on the tape, and it can be heard because the audio source is too low. Increase the volume on the audio source. If the playback audio is distorted, the audio source volume is turned up too high. If the playback audio is low or not present, turn the volume up. Also, make sure that the VersaCorder is connected properly.

It is possible that the "BEEP" switch is not on. Make sure the "BEEP" switch on the bottom of the VersaCorder is switched to "ON." On some telephones, the VersaCorder will beep if it is powered with batteries but not if powered by AC. In this case, the VersaCorder phone patch cord is grounded through your phone incorrectly, but this is very rare.

The VersaCorder is a dual speed recorder. Along with recording at normal speed, it can also record at quarter speed. This feature lets you record four times the length of any regular cassette tape. It also has a timer, telephone recording capability, and many other useful features that most recorders don't have.

Always use high bias cassette tapes, regularly clean the tape heads with a high quality tape cleaner, and make sure the input audio is set to the proper record level (not too low or too high). It is a good idea to make test recordings to become familiar with the VersaCorder and explore what makes the best recording.

The supplied patch cord allows you to connect the VersaCorder to the CCRadio plus for use with the timer activation switch. If your radio does not have a timer, then you only need to use one of the three prongs.

You can plug a stepdown (DC voltage converter) into your vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle. The stepdown must be 6 V, center tip negative, 2.1 mm tip. We have a stepdown that works very well.

1. Connect the patch cord to the VersaCorder. The red tip on one end of the patch cord should be connected to the VersaCorder's "LINE IN" jack, which is also red, on the VersaCorder.
2. Connect the patch cord to your radio. The other end of the patch cord also has a red tip, and that should be plugged into the headphone jack or "LINE OUT" jack of your radio or audio device. If you are recording through a headphone jack, make sure to adjust the volume.
3. Set the speed to quarter speed if you are recording talk radio, or normal speed if you are recording music. Make sure that "VOICE ACTIVATED" is switched off.
4. Make sure your radio or audio device is turned on and then press play and record to start the recording.
5. If you are using the timer, make sure that the "TIMER" is switched on and the "REC" and "PLAY" buttons are pressed. The VersaCorder will start recording when your program is set to start, but make sure that your radio or audio device is turned on ahead of time.

It is possible that the sensitivity is set too low or the Voice Activated switch is not on. The VersaCorder has three levels of sensitivity for Voice Activated recording. Number ""1"" level is the most sensitive so it should be used if you are having trouble recording voices that in are in the same room as the VersaCorder. Number ""3"" level is the least sensitive so it should be used if you are recording people who are right next to the VersaCorder.