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 You
may have noticed this new acronym popping up on some of our products.
RoHS stands for Restrictions on Hazardous Substances, and it's a
directive that could have a huge impact on the production and disposal
of consumer electronics. First adopted in Europe in 2006 (and later
adopted in California in 2007), RoHS restricts the use of six dangerous
substances in lots of common electronics. According to the official
RoHS compliance Web site (www.rohs.eu),
the RoHS symbol indicates that "new electrical and electronic
equipment put on the market does not contain any of the six banned
substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, poly-brominated
biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), in quantities
exceeding maximum concentration values."
While some military and medical equipment is exempt from RoHS compliance,
the electronics governed by the standard are among the most common
you’ll find in your home, from radios to MP3 players to cell phones
and (increasingly) computers. In practical terms, the standard protects
factory workers at the production level, sharply reducing their
exposure to hazardous substances. The standard also has a profound
impact on the disposal and recycling of electronics, in that disposed
substances will no longer have at least six of the most hazardous
chemicals formerly found in electronics, and recycled electronics
will not expose workers to toxics as they harvest components.
Read
The Official RoHS Directive
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$229.95
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Item #
CWT
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| Perhaps the best anywhere, everything radio/recorder is now at the lowest price ever! It has an MP3 recorder/player with an AM/FM radio onboard. 2GB of internal memory plus up to 4GB of external memory on an optional SD card....more |
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60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
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Lifetime Tech Support
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| NOTICE: The CC Witness has been replaced with the new CC Witness Plus. Our new CC Witness Plus has even more great features. |
MP3 Recorder-Player with Built-In AM/FM Radio at its lowest price ever! The CC Witness is one of the only digital MP3 recorder/player that also has both AM and FM radio on-board. Radio lovers have been waiting a long time for an MP3 recorder and player that meets their needs. You can listen to it using earphones or the built-in external stereo speaker. Either way you will get a rich, full sound from the Witness. Note: We have been unable to find a reliable 16GB SD card that works with the CC Witness. If you have had success with any 16GB SD card with your CC Witness please contact us at customerservice@ccrane.com. The 2GB and 4GB SD cards we carry are compatible. The CC Witness has 2GB of on-board memory and up to 16GB of external memory on an optional SD card. That's enough memory to record your favorite radio programs, your thoughts, lectures and lots of music. You'll have plenty of room to store hundreds of hours of voice recordings, and still have room for more. You can listen to the radio either with earphones or through the built-in speaker. Radio lovers, if you've ever worried about missing your favorite radio show, then the CC Witness should be a welcome solution to your radio recording wishes – and it has a timer! You can preset it to record up to 20 programs in advance. You can also make MP3 recordings of AM/FM radio programs (or anything else you can connect to the line-in) on the fly. You can use the CC Witness to record music from Internet Radio and automatically separate it into individual recordings. You can also use it to record music, meetings, memos, language lessons, or even that memoir you've been thinking about. You can use it for file storage or as an MP3 player to play back your favorite songs or audio book. The maximum number of files or songs is 2000 per memory card. Weight: 3.6 oz. Size: 2.2" W x 4" H x 0.6" D |
- USB 2.0 Interface
- Built-In Calendar
- Voice Recording in MP3 Format (32Kbps - 256Kbps)
- Alarm Clock
- FM Antenna
- Stereo Earbuds
- USB Charger/Connector Cable Included
- Up to 16GB of external memory
- Built in small 3/8" stereo speakers
| - 2GB onboard memory records/stores 500+ songs at 128kpbs or hundreds of hours of talk at 32kbps
- Stereo recording from FM Band or Mic/Line input.
- Mono voice recordings from built-in microphone
- Fully charged battery yields up to 16 hours of playtime. 8 hours of record time.
- Recharges in about 4 hours
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 The mic that is built into the unit is good for memos but you need the optional Voz Stereo Microphone for high quality recordings. Below are two MP3 recordings so you can hear the quality difference for yourself. The interview of Isaiah Hahner and Bob Crane is conducted by the rising star of broadcasting ... Jaeden!
If you purchase the accessory kit, with a charging adapter, or the BoxWave VersaCharger Pro, you can use the CC Witness without ever using a computer. You can listen to and record from the built-in AM/FM radio or you can record from any other source using the line in. It is often more convenient to use a computer, because you can organize your files the way you want and rename them. You can also upgrade the unit's software when it is available if you use it with a computer. When used with a computer, the CC Witness requires a free USB port and is compatible with these operating systems: - Microsoft Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7
- MAC OS version 10.3 - 10.6
- Linux Kernel v2.6.6 and higher
No specific media player/organizer (i.e., iTunes) is required by the CC Witness to interface with a computer. It will show up as a standard external drive when plugged in. Accessorize your CC WitnessWe put together a complete list of CC Witness Accessories carefully selected to maximize your listening experience. Be sure to browse this list and choose the accessories that best fit your listening preferences.
Note: The firmware for the new CC Witness Plus is not compatible with the original CC Witness. |
New Firmware Upgrade Available - December 1, 2011:The new Firmware gives you: - Compatibility (2.43)
Adds compatibility with SD cards C. Crane currently offers - Compatibility fix for new hardware changes (2.4)
Newer models of the CC Witness use a different type of flash memory requiring new firmware. Nothing else has been changed. - Skipping Sound Bug Fix (2.37)
When playing back a recording from the CC Witness, a low "skipping" sound can be heard. this bug has been fixed. - Undeletable Character Files Bug Fix (2.36)
In the "Mic" and "Line" folders there are other folders that are automatically created named ".. $" or "*". Upon attempting to delete these folders using a computer, an error message is displayed. This bug has been fixed. - Memory Full Bug Fix (2.36)
When the RECORD button is pressed, the CC Witness displays "File Index Full" while memory is still remaining. This bug has been fixed. - SD Card Incompatibility Fix (2.36)
Some high capacity memory cards will not function with previous versions of firmware. These include some Patriot, PNY, and other brands. The new firmware version 2.36 addresses this problem. We recommend Sandisk brand SD cards for best compatibility. Please let us know if this firmware does not work with your SD card. - Simple and Complex File Name Setting (2.36)
File names are now simplified by default setting with a shorter name. In the "Settings" menu it is possible to switch to complex file name, which includes more file information. - One Touch Recording (2.32)
By pressing and holding the RECORD button, you can record for 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours by your choice. This is perfect for talk shows or recording a snippet of internet music.
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Kilobits Per Second = (kbps)
1,024 kilobits = 1 Megabit (Mb)
Recording time on 2GB:
32kbps ~ 140 hours
64kbps ~ 70 hours
128kbps ~ 35 hours
256kbps ~ 17.5 hours
An average song length of 4 minutes recorded at 128kbps takes up about 3.75MB of memory. So, a CC Witness with 2GB of memory can store 500+ songs recorded at 128kbps.
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The CC Witness can record in stereo when recording from the FM band, or the Mic/Line Input.
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The CC Witness will playback both MP3 and WMA formats. However, the CC Witness will only record in the MP3 format.
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Yes, the ID3 Tag Support function must be enabled.
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Yes. First set the volume of the radio to a normal listening level. Next, connect the included recording patch cable between the earphone jack of the radio and the MIC/LINE IN of the CC Witness. Navigate to the main MENU screen on the CC Witness, then press record. You can monitor your recording by using the built-in speakers or headphone jack of the CC Witness.
For higher quality recording, use a radios line-output jack instead of the headphone jack and connect to the MIC/LINE IN of the CC Witness. When using a radios line-output, the recording level is fixed and cannot be changed.
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Yes and no. The iTunes program itself will not sync with the CC Witness, but it is still possible to copy iTunes audio files to the CC Witness. The iTunes audio must first be downloaded or converted to MP3 format using iTunes before the CC Witness will accept it. To convert audio to MP3 format in iTunes follow these instructions:
- Open preferences:
- From a PC click the Edit menu and select Preferences.
- From a MAC click iTunes and select Preferences.
- Select the General tab and then select the Importing tab.
- Change Import using to Mp3 Encoder, then select OK
All future downloads will be imported in MP3 format. To convert an existing file to mp3 format simply select the audio file, then select Convert Selection to MP3 from the advanced menu.
After the iTunes audio is in MP3 format you can drag and drop or copy and paste it from the iTunes Music folder to the CC Witness. The iTunes Music folder is found in My Music on a PC and Music on a MAC.
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The CC Witness does a great job of recording music from the popular websites like Pandora, Slacker or Rhapsody. If the time interval between songs is similar then the CC Witness can be set up to create music tracks automatically.
C. Crane encourages you to purchase the music when you like a song. Here are three places to purchase royalty free MP3 music. It is easy to do. The quality is very high at 256KBS or higher. The songs cost about $1.00 each at all three places.
Amazon MP3 (http://www.amazonmp3.com/)
Wal-Mart Music (http://musicdownloads.walmart.com/)
Napster (http://www.napster.com/)
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Each radio band has 10 presets (20 total).
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No. The CC Witness ships with 2 GB of internal memory.
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You can set the sleep timer for 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 or 300 minutes.
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You can set the back light to be illuminated for 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
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Yes. When using a new memory card, format the card inside the unit BEFORE trying to record on the card.
If the memory card has been used in any other device (Digital Camera, MP3 Player, etc) you must first format the card using a computer and then again in the CC Witness BEFORE using the card.
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USB 2.0, the cord used is a male 24 pin to USB type A male. The type A male USB is what the average USB connector looks like.
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The CC Witness shuts off automatically if it remains idle for 3 minutes (by default). You can adjust the amount of time that passes before auto shut-off occurs by configuring the 'Auto Off Time' function in the 'System Settings' menu options.
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With the Lock Switch 'on' (in the UP position) the CC Witness is locked. No settings can be changed while the Lock Switch is on.
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VBR is an abbreviation for Variable Bit Rate. When a file is recorded in VBR the bitrate dynamically changes depending on the complexity and loudness of the music. A simple quiet passage may record at 32 Kbps. A loud complex song will record at 320 Kbps. High quality recordings can be made this way without making an unnecessarily large file.
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Click on the 'My Computer' icon. Look for a removable disk icon, usually displayed as Drive E or F. Double click on the disk icon belonging to the CC Witness. Files from the PC can now be downloaded onto the CC Witness via dragging and dropping, copying and pasting, etc. Likewise, files can be uploaded to the PC from the CC Witness using these same methods.
Note: 2 GB SD Cards can only hold 420 MB on the root directory. To place more than 420 MB on the SD card, simply create a folder on the root directory and place the files inside of that folder.
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The display measures 1.85" diagonally.
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We recommend using a laptop with a cellular PC card or WiFi antenna for mobile internet service. Once connected to the internet, simply transfer your recording to the laptop and email it to the desired location.
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Yes, it has the necessary firmware to do so.
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They are made this way so that the CC Witness can be placed on your left or right side without the cords getting in the way. The longer cord goes around the back side of your neck to the opposite ear and the shorter cord goes to the ear on the side the Witness is on.
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Not all SD Cards are compatible with the CC Witness. Our current 16 GB SD CARD WILL NOT WORK on the CWT at this time.
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Typically, any device with rechargeable lithium batteries should have the battery replaced after approximately 300-500 charge cycles (or two to three years). If you notice playback on a fully charged battery is significantly less than it used to be (80% of original run time) or the unit becomes excessively hot during a charge cycle, these are good indicators that it is time to replace the battery.
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The safe operating temperature does not refer to the CC Witness so much itself as the lithium rechargeable battery inside. Battery industry professionals state that Lithium rechargeable batteries should not be used or stored in environments that exceed 60°C (140°F). For these reasons the CC Witness should not be stored in a location that can reach high temperatures such as a closed automobile or sunny window ledge. High temperatures can cause the battery to fail.
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Yes, you will want to use a small thin blunt-tipped object such as a paperclip. The reason for this is twofold: First, to make sure that a sharp object is not imbedded into the recessed button. Second, to make sure the battery pack (which is located inside the unit next to the reset button) is not punctured which can cause severe damage to the unit.
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Yes, you can store any type of file in the memory of the CC Witness using a computer. Only MP3 and WMA files will be visible when viewing the CC Witness display. Non audio and other types of files will only be visible when browsing the CC Witness memory files with a computer.
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The CC Witness has a limitation of 2000 files.
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The recording files are displayed as the month, day, year, time, track, source/frequency, and file format. For example, depending on which method you used to record the files would look like:
AM
Jul10'08_01:31PM_#001_0810KHZ.mp3
Jul10'08_01:33PM_#002_0980KHZ.mp3
FM
Jul10'08_01:39PM_#001_090.5MHZ.mp3
Jul10'08_01:41PM_#002_100.3MHZ.mp3
Timer
Jul10'08_01:45PM_#001_Timer.mp3
Jul10'08_01:48PM_#002_Timer.mp3
Built-in Mic
Jul10'08_01:53PM_#001_Mic.mp3
Jul10'08_01:55PM_#002_Mic.mp3
Line-In
Jul10'08_01:59PM_#001_Line.mp3
Jul10'08_02:01PM_#002_Line.mp3
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A wireless mouse can cause this. Try unplugging the wireless mouse and then plug the CC Witness (Plus) into the USB port.
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The CC Witness uses a rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery pack.
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It takes roughly 4 hours to completely charge the internal battery.
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A fully charged battery will give you about 15-16 hours of playtime or 8 hours of record time before you need to recharge it again.
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The BoxWave VersaCharger Pro is a great power source for home, on the road and in a car. The Box Wave does produce a buzzing when listening to live AM radio so if this is your forte' then stick with the AC adapter (included in the CC Witness Accessory Kit). This oversized AC adapter is designed for low noise and good AM listening.
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Yes, if you charge the CC Witness with the AC adapter that comes in the optional accessory kit. Once the CC Witness is connected you will see “Charging” on the display. At this point, press the center button on the Witness to turn it on and you will then be able to use all functions as normal including timers. If you want to use the CC Witness while charging with a computer, it is only possible if you are running Windows XP. When running Windows XP, connect the CC Witness to the USB port on your computer. A small green icon will show up in the system tray of Windows XP. Right click on the green icon and choose “Safely Remove Hardware.” Once you complete this step, the display on the CC Witness will change from “USB Connected” to “Charging.” At this point, you can press the center button on the Witness to turn it on and select from any options on the display. If any timers are set during this time they will also activate for recordings, though you may notice a bit more static on AM while connected to and located near your computer. Please keep in mind the above only works with Windows XP; with any other operating system (that we have tested) it will not work.
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The AM reception is good when tuned to a strong signal. The AM tuner in the CC Witness will not receive distant AM stations like the CCRadio plus. With the display screen off reception is better. It is also possible to record from a better AM radio using the CC Witness input jack.
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Yes, the CC Witness receives FM Stereo.
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The earphones also act as an FM antenna when in use. When listening to the CC Witness via the internal speakers, you can plug the FM antenna wire into the earphone jack. The FM antenna and earphones cannot both be used at the same time.
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The CC Witness is the exclusive of C. Crane for several countries. It is manufactured in South Korea.
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| Input Power: | 3.7v 900mA Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer Battery | | Recharging Time: | ~4 Hours | | Stereo Speakers: | 8Ω 0.6 Watts | | Frequency Coverage: | AM 520 - 1710 kHz (10KHz Steps)
AM 522 - 1629 kHz (9KHz Steps)
FM 87.5 - 108.0 MHz | | AM Antenna: | Internal ferrite | | FM Antenna: | Earphones or FM Antenna wire (plugs into earphone jack) | | S/N Ratio: | AM 35dB
FM 45dB at 1mV 98.1MHz
MP3 85dB up (1KHz Input 0dB) | | Frequency Response: | AM 150Hz - 1.5KHz at 0dB
FM 350Hz30Hz, 3KHz0.25KHz (150Hz~2.5KHz, 60dBuV)
MP3 20 ~ 20KHz
Line/Mic Jack (-3dB) 50Hz - 20KHz | | Sensitivity: | AM 68dBuV at 1KHz
FM 5uVAT S/N=26Db
An FM Signal under 40db is automatically changed into mono | | Data Rate: | Reading rate:3.5Mbps
Writing rate: 2.8Mbps | | Earphone Jack: | 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo 16Ω | | Line/Mic-In Jack: | 1/8" (3.5mm) Mono or Stereo | | Line Out Jack: | 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo | | Presets: | 20 Total (10 AM + 10 FM) | | Lock Switch: | Yes | | Sleep Timer: | 15-300 minutes | | Alarm: | Yes | | Clock: | 12-hour system | | Dimensions: | 2.2" W x 4" H x 0.6" D | | Weight: | 3.6 oz | | Drop Tested: | 30" on concrete floor | | Warranty: | 1 Year parts and labor | | Included Accessories: | 47" USB Cable (24 Pin Male x Type A Male)
41" 3.5mm stereo male x male cable
Lanyard
Manual
Earbuds |
Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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| Communication: | USB 2.0 | | System: | CPU 200MHz
64MB RAM | | OS: | Windows 2000
Windows ME
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
MAC OS10 and above | | Sound Card: | Sound Blaster 16 compatible | | Display: | 640 x 480 or better |
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- Stylish design and sturdy exterior with a wide LCD and half-mirror window to maximize the display.
- Not only receives all available AM and FM radio stations but it can also be programmed to record any broadcast in advance (20 Timer recording in total).
- Various programmed recording modes and setting the time(Specific Date/Week/Weekly)
- MP3/WMA Player
- Good AM/FM Radio Reception
- Voice recording in various recording quality(32Kbps-256kbps/MP3 format)
- External memory expandability (Subject to compatibility)
- File can be copied to SD card or internal memory.
- File dividing - from one file into several others
- Internal Stereo Speaker(0.6W * Stereo)
- Long lasting Li-ion polymer rechargeable battery( 5V 900mA )
- Alarm Play back at Specific setting time & date
- 10 presets available in AM/FM
- USB 2.0 interface that can help easily transfer data to a computer.
- 24-pin USB connection.
- Built-in calendar
- Highly sensitive, built-in microphone and an external microphone can be attached.
- Key lock function to prevent unintentional operation.
- Sleep mode
- Digital volume control (30 steps).
- Equalizer modes (Normal, Classic, Live, POP, Rock, Jazz).
- Playback functions (Normal/Section Repeat/1 Track/All Track/Random).
- Fast forward/rewind (Search at 3 seconds/7 seconds/1 minute/2.5 minutes).
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| AC Adapter: | Input 120V AC, 60Hz 10W
Output 5V DC 0.9A | | Weight: | 2.25 lbs (for complete kit) |
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| Playable Formats: | MP3 or WMA 16-320 kbps | | Recordable Formats: | MP3 32, 64, 96, 128, 192, or 256 kbps | | Memory: | 2 GB Internal Memory, plus SD/MMC Expansion Slot (Subject to compatibility) | | Timers: | 20 Play or Recording Schedules | | Microphone: | Built-in Mono Microphone |
Note: Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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We currently have two different ways that you can review a product that you purchased from us.
We do look at all reviews/testimonials for content and only refuse those with profanity or inappropriate content. All
others usually get approval for posting (good and bad) within 48 hours. If you have a problem with any of our products please contact us
as we are able to resolve most issues.
| Robert B. |
7/16/2012 |
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Wrightstown, NJ
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It works even better than the Pogo products Radio Your Way models that CCrane used to carry. Does so many things with sound, radio, and MP3s, just well enough to be truly useful. Get one while you can at the new low price.
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| Robert B. |
6/8/2012 |
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Goose Creek, SC
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Long ago my slow tape recorder died from rubber fatigue and this is the best replacement there could possibly be.
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| Diana E. |
2/22/2012 |
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Defiance, OH
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Great love it.
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| Raul G. |
2/12/2012 |
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Cypress, TX
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| Jon G. |
1/11/2012 |
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Rochester, NY
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Ouch. I purchased the Witness in order to use the preprogram feature to record FM radio at the lower end of the dial (local college stations). I've got several tuners/radios in the house that can pull in those stations but only the cheapest couple of clock radios can't get those stations. Well, the Witness can't pull in those stations, comparing unfavorably with a cheap clock radio. I don't understand why it was designed as a small portable device with substandard FM reception. The FM Reflect antenna didn’t help, nor did a dipole. CC Crane was gracious about the returned item but you can’t expect this device to pull in college FM radio.
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| Emery N. |
12/19/2011 |
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San Mateo, CA
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I bought 3 of them. The serial number fell off #2 and its old program was very unreliable. But I have not been able to hook it up to the computer for an upgrade. There seems to be a virus in it. File #21 consistently exhibits strange properties; like a character that makes it skip ahead a minute. Had dozens of crashes.
In all of them the center button soon fails; but works with harder presses and repeats. The display glare is terrible on the eyes. The settings have to be changed routinely. The buttons are hard to work precisely. But great, within its limitations, if you can adapt to it.
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| Dan A. |
10/31/2011 |
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Mount Juliet, TN
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Excellent radio reception: ideal for football games and use in Court with the voz microphone!
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| Joseph K I. |
9/22/2011 |
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Sacramento, CA
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Excellent machine.
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| Jerome L. |
8/31/2011 |
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Monrovia, CA
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I take to baseball games and listen to Vin Scully's play by play. I score the games as well so I record the broadcasts so I can go over the scorecards later in case I missed a complicated play. It's also great for pod casts for thos of us who don't like iTunes. The CCWitness lets you drag and drop files like a hard drive and lets you set up your folders anyway you like. If you are meticulous about how you name and organize your files like I am, no other player will give this much freedom to retain your personal naming system. Also, the battery lasts practically forever. Get the car/wall charger and bring this thing with you everywhere. It's a radio, mp3 player, audio recorder... it does it all.
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| Donald H. |
6/22/2011 |
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Baltimore, MD
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| Greg K. |
5/23/2011 |
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Santa Clara, CA
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Excellent product. I only wish the battery lasted longer. A five hour charge gets me through an 8 hour night
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| Gary K. |
4/15/2011 |
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Lake Oswego, OR
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This is a superb product well made and easy to use something that I have wanted for years
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| David B. |
4/8/2011 |
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San Rafael, CA
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The user interface is not very good. Reception is weak - many of my AM recordings have static.
It is quite handy to record radio shows and then pop through the commercials. Although a skip forward 30 and 50 seconds button would be nice. With the fast forward you have to guess when to stop.
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| Kenneth W. |
2/17/2011 |
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Mission Viejo, CA
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Compared to the Sansa its really overrated and way too expensive.
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| Brian S. |
1/5/2011 |
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Edmonton, AB
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Delighted
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| Lew M. |
12/28/2010 |
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Saint Louis, MO
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Despite what is advertised, this device does not work with a memory card.
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| Richard A. |
12/27/2010 |
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Richland, WA
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Great for recording AM radio and for setting alarms. Good for recording from a sound board. Not the best MP3 player but OKAY. Soundly built.
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| Phillip P. |
10/4/2010 |
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Dallas, TX
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| James K. |
2/27/2013 |
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Calgary, AB
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I enjoy my ccwitness radio / music player so much. It is extremely easy to use. I did buy a Classic ipod thinking that I would like to view photos and videos on it as well. The apple name was so disappointing - I found it a "Mission Impossible" figuring out how to use itunes - what a horrible piece of software. Now I am back to the cc witness.
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| David Johnston |
1/9/2013 |
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North Little Rock, AR
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I’ve been using a POGO PRY-900M2 (no longer in production) for quite some time. It has served its purpose, and will now be retired. The POGO RYW has been okay, but didn’t have the features that the Witness has. The CC Witness is exactly what I need to record my all night radio show (Coast-To-Coast AM with George Noory). The CC Witness allows me to set the times that the actual talk show is active, and shut off during the commercials. I like the CC Witness Plus, but I don’t require the better stereo sound quality that it offers. The original CC Witness is just what I need. I searched everywhere prior to this purchase because I wanted to compare machines. There simply are not ANY! POGO stopped production some time ago. I am astounded that there is not more of a demand for timed recording radios. Even if there were other radio recorders manufactured, I don’t think they could beat the Witness. It is just surprising that C-to-C AM is phenomenally popular, but most people who want to hear it are asleep! I would think that this type of “VCR for radio” would be in high demand.
Enough rambling about the timed recording feature. As for my review, I have to say that the CC Witness and most likely the CC Witness Plus, are tops. It is no surprise that C Crane hit a home run with this product. The fit and finish is classic C Crane. The attention to detail, as with C Crane products in general, is superb. This machine is worth far more to me than I paid. I simply cannot stay up from 11PM until 5AM every night to hear my favorite program, and I wouldn’t want to anyway, because I can’t stand listening to the same commercials at the top and bottom of every hour. If you also need a top quality MP3 player, in addition to a “VCR for radio”, you NEED the CC Witness Plus. The price is certainly reasonable, considering the unique features that it offers.
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| John P. |
7/12/2012 |
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Reno, NV
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Hi, I wanted to thank you for making such GREAT products! I bought a CC Witness, and it is the most perfect radio for my needs. If I was going to design a perfect radio, I wouldn't have been able to think of all the features that you put in this radio! I could make a list on all the ways I use this radio, but it would take too long. Just thank you so much for such a great product. I tell everyone I know about your website and products!
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| Mark Zimmerman |
6/11/2012 |
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Renton, WA
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I got a CC Witness as a gift a few years ago. It is great and I use it almost every day. It records and plays well. I like to listen to talk radio recordings at 1.3 or 1.5 times normal speed and fast forward through commercials.
The down side is for an electronic device it is simply not durable at all. The first week the head phone jack started working intermittently. C.CRANE was real good, I returned it and they sent me a new unit.
Then in about 8 months the volume control would only go up and not down. C.CRANE was good again, I sent it back and they fixed it.
Last night I was listening to it and it shut off and will not turn back on. I hit reset and it did not work. I tried charging the battery and it got hot. It is now out of warranty so I will have to figure out how to fix it. It may be the battery. If I have C.CRANE fix it I may as well buy a new one.
I loved it and used it a lot but it just seemed to break down way too often.
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| Robert Dionne |
4/18/2012 |
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Longueuil, QC
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I have 2 CC Witness that have recorded and listened to hundreds of hours of music and talk, mainly from the CCrane WiFi radio, and they work wonderfully after you get used to them, without any problem yet. I use a 16 GB Duracell SDHD with the version 2.41 on one recorder, and a 32 GB SanDisk SDHD with the version 2.41 on the other one. Perfect also for nature sound recording.
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| Aurthur C. Gillis |
7/29/2011 |
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Arlington, MA
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I just want to say how great this product is. I ordered this when the product came out about 3 years ago. I go to sleep with it every night. I?m 280lbs and often fall asleep listening to programs I have recorded during the day when I am at work. When I wake up in the morning I find out I have rolled over the radio many times. It truly has taken a beating and keeps working great. It charges so fast and lasts. On a full charge it will last from 10pm to 8am. It is a must for Coast to Coast listeners who can?t stay up all night.
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| Dave Currier |
6/23/2011 |
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North Hampton, NH
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Finally, a company that advertises what they actually sell, and not some dream product. My first experience with your company was the SWPocket that i bought for my wife after a power failure. It performs better than a larger, more expensive radio that i have had for years. The CC Witness follows in its footsteps; it performs well, and outdoes the description in the catalog. Since I am more of a radio fan than the idiot box, it is in use most of the time. Your employees were friendly, helpful, and seemed to enjoy their work. C Crane is now my sole source provider for my radio needs.
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| Patricia Paegelow |
1/31/2011 |
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Eureka, CA
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I am still waiting for the Witness to come out with an armband holder for exercising...Its just not quite as cool when you put it in a Ziploc and stick it in your sport bra!
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| Stephen |
5/26/2010 |
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Denver, CO
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I want to express my great pleasure in your products. In particular I want to say a few Positive comments on two items I purchased from CRANE. The first item I purchased from Crane was the (FM TRANSMITTER) FOR USE WITH A COMPUTER AND OR OTHER AUDIO DEVICES. I find that this works very well in sending an audio signal over FM to play and or record to a device having an FM TUNER. The second item I purchased was the CC WITNESS. What can I say!! It is an amazing digital devise. And I especially like the fact that it uses SD cards as well as the built in memory. The quality is OUTSTANDING!!. I have used the editing features of this device, and I can make perfect recordings from the built in AM/FM TUNER. I can even edit out the annoying commercials and dead talk from the radio with complete accuracy. Recently I have found another valuable use for this CC Witness. I am legally Blind, and I listen to audio books on CD and Cassette. I teamed up the FM TRANSMITTER with the CC Witness to take the audio output of the recorded book, and using the FM Transmitter sent the signal directly to the built in tuner of the CC Witness. This makes a perfect recording when adjusted at the FM Transmitter level control. The CC Witness does not have a variable input control, so this makes a great substitute. I am quite pleased with the results in using the CC Witness.
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| Don K. |
1/3/2010 |
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Elyria, OH
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I asked for and received a CC Witness for Christmas and I have to say that I am VERY pleased with the product. It does everything that I've been waiting for a product to do: AM/FM MP3 with recording capabilities. I've recorded dozens of hours of AM radio and played it back with no problem. I've downloaded about 20 hours of music to the SD card as well as several hours of old time radio plays and played them back with no loss of clarity. After reading through the brochure I was able to easily navigate the menus and controls and now it is almost intuitive. The product is solidly built, not flimsy like some MP3 players I've experienced. Overall you have a winning product! Who ever designed it I would like to put in for a raise!
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| Brian L. |
11/23/2009 |
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Mississauga, ON
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Overview:
I have owned the CC Witness for a couple weeks now and love it! Does exactly what it is advertised to do. I find the reception excellent for such a small radio and scheduling a recording is a snap. The head phones sound great when listening to my Music/MP3’s. The Detailed File Naming Format makes the scheduled files or even the Voice Memos I can give myself using the built in Microphone, easy to find. The speakers are pretty good for such a tiny device and I can put Audio Books on it in MP3 format unlike my iTouch where I have to convert the file/files first with Third Party Software. The construction is solid, and the finish seems very rugged unlike the shiny back of my iTouch that needs a case just to not get finger prints on it let alone a scratch. Also no need for ITunes to put my Music on it in MP3 format and no conversion process of the MP3’s like in ITunes. I can also use the device as a hard drive to transfer files from one location to another, though it is kind of slow, see tests below. SD Card Tests Test:
As a reference, I transferred a 700 MB file to the Internal 2 GB Memory file to test the memory speed; it took 6 Minuets to transfer. Also as a reference, I formatted the Internal 2 GB of Memory in Windows XP, and the same file took 6 minuets to transfer. I re-formatted the card using the radio, just in case. Also as a reference, I have a Corsair USB Flash Memory stick and it takes 2 minutes to transfer the same file. Formatted a 4 GB Duracell HCSD Class 4 Card in the Witness, and the 700 MB file took 6 Minuets to transfer. Formatted a faster card, an 8 GB LBD HCSD Class 6 Card in the CC Witness, and the 700 MB file took 6 Minuets to transfer Formatted at Low Level, the same card as above, a 4 GB Duracell HCSD Class 4 Card in my Cannon Camera and the 700 MB file took 4 minuets to transfer, a savings of two minuets. Formatted at Low Level, the same card as above, an 8 GB LBD HCSD Class 6 Card in my Cannon Camera and the
700 MB file took 4 minuets to transfer, a savings of two minuets. Obviously the faster card made no difference. Conclusion of SD Card Testing The manual says to format SD cards in the radio, but obviously there is something wrong with the formatting in the firmware, or at least something wrong for the 2 Cards/Brands I own, and a firmware upgrade is needed. Also one would think the faster Class 6 SD Memory would speed up the transfer time and it does not. Clock:
It would be nice to see the time when listening to AM or FM radio live on air when the lock switch is not on, the only way I can see the time when listening live is to lock the radio and press a button. Am I missing something? Final Thoughts:
I can highly recommend the CC Witness as it does exactly what I need it to do. I can find no other product with the quality, portability and features of the CC Witness.
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| David K Jones |
11/4/2009 |
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Kingsland, TX
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Hi C. Crane, I love my CC Witness I record up to 6.5 hours a day. I download it into my computer and then take it with me in my mp3 player. My work is dusty so I set it up to record while I am at work. I plug in the AC power pack so I can get that many hours on in a day. Play back is clear and clean sound. Setting up is the trick, find a place in the house where you get good reception and turn off ceiling fans and florescent lights to get clear AM signals (no hums) same with FM but not as much. I like my CC Witness and have been doing this for over a year.
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| James |
10/31/2009 |
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, HI
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Hello, I ordered and received a CC Witness. I love the witness so much that I created a yahoo group for other folks to learn more and share information on the wonderful little radio/recorder/MP3 player. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Recordable_radios/ Thanks,
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| Andre Cassano |
8/21/2009 |
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Toronto, ON
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Hello I received and am playing with the CC Witness and I am very satisfied and happy with the product, this is the best audio device I own and fills every need I have, the only thing that would be better would be if it did video, wow what a great gadget thanks for the good work in designing the product. Thanks,
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| A. F. |
8/11/2009 |
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Bend, OR
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The CC Witness is the best "MP3 Player" I've ever owned. My favorite feature is how the CC Witness gives you so much control over listening to MP3's. I enjoy listening to audio books and long radio shows (Coast-to-Coast AM!). In the past, on my other MP3 players, if I mistakenly hit the track skip button, I'd lose my place in the book. Then the "fast-forwarding" feature would take forever (not so fast!) while I would have to hold down the fast forward button. This used to take me 5 minutes just to fast forward through a 3 hour MP3. Not so with the CC Witness! Not only can you place up to 4 book marks inside an MP3 so you can locate where you last were, but you can also fast-forward up to 160x!!! With out having to hold down any button!! You can literally fast-forward through a long MP3 in a matter of seconds on the CC Witness. Another bonus feature: you can split the MP3 file at any position you want! This is a great feature that can't found on other MP3 players, let alone on computers! I haven't even mentioned the ability to schedule recordings of radios, the long battery life, etc. If you enjoy listening to music, radio, and audio books, this is by far the best MP3 in the market.
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| Mary Bordi |
8/10/2009 |
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La Honda, CA
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I recently ordered a CC Witness. I've been wanting for an mp3 recorder for a long time. I already have an iPod and I've often wished it was also a radio... So when I saw the Witness it just seemed like the right thing to try. The packing was really nice--it was the first thing I noticed. I am a Mac person and I know Apple always packs their items attractively. Not that packing always makes for a great product, of course. The instruction manual was great! No frustration with finding out what I needed to know and the quick start was just enough to get me going fast. My first "project" was a timed recording of a program on an AM station and it worked without a hitch. I could go on and on but I guess the last big thing I noticed was it was NOT made in China! Thanks for a great product!
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| M. C. |
8/8/2009 |
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Australia,
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Thank you for the Witness. I sat in a concert hall in Australia's national capital (Canberra) last night watching a superb performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra while recording in my trousers pocket a live broadcast of a concert by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra several hundreds of miles away, starring violinist Pinchas Zukerman and his cellist wife Amanda Forsyth who were visiting from Canada. I listened to that concert on my Witness while breakfasting today. Two great concerts and the sound of each was great. The recording is superb. Does life get any better?
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| G. W. |
6/17/2009 |
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Sapulpa, OK
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I love my CC Witness! The reception is great, but I have learned to stay away from computers listening to AM radio. The record quality is great; the microphone can decently pick up voices 3 feet away. I use it every day. Something that I was worried about were the earphone, as you did not have information on the quality, glad to report they are fantastic! Comfortable and great sound quality. The Witness is also light, great for travel. Overall I give it 5/5 stars.
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| R. C. |
2/26/2009 |
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Scottsdale, AZ
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I bought a CC Witness and I absolutely love this radio/recorder. I have been looking for a radio recorder for sometime and the only other one I found was I believe a Grundig that was discontinued. I searched Amazon.com and there were good reviews of the CC Witness so I bought it. Now I can set the timer and record my favorite stations when I can't listen. Thank you again for selling a great product.
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| Dan M. |
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Cherry Hill, NJ
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Hello. I love recording and listening to AM talk radio. I had a big old component style cassette recorder with a timer switch (which are very hard to find anymore), a big old tuner/receiver and a big old Kenwood audio timer. I recently bought the CC Witness radio, MP3 player/recorder. This thing is the greatest invention since the sliced bread, the flush toilet and canned beer!!! It completely eliminates all of those old components I used to need to record all of my favorite talk shows and it plug's right in to the AUX jack in my car radio.
Thank you C Crane....the CC Witness is exactly what I've been waiting for!
Sincerely,
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| Andrea |
10/8/2008 |
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Shingle Springs, CA
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No question, just praise, re: the CC Witness. This is a dynamite product!!!! I had earlier tried the POGO, and returned that item in frustration. The CC Witness is head, shoulders, and ankles above that product, and many others I have tried, in ease of setup and ongoing use, reliability, recording delivery, connectivity, and overall "user-friendliness". Congratulations to your product developer and manager, and company, for this product. And you can quote me on that!
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| G. B. |
10/1/2008 |
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Denver, CO
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I'm very happy with the quality of FM recordings. I find the timer to be intuitive and comparatively easy to set. And I'm very glad it works satisfactorily with the Linux operating system using the 2.6.18 kernel. I've been recording radio broadcasts with if for a minimum of two hours virtually everyday, and sometimes for as much as 6 hours a day, recording both AM and FM stations. I have had no trouble transferring the recordings back and forth between my computer and the unit. No special or expensive proprietary software tools are required. I generally edit the raw recordings using the open source "Audacity" sound editor. I find both the AM and FM reception to be quite good when using earphones and walking with it around the park. Therefore, I use it as much as a pocket radio as I do an mp3 player. While I have other high quality mp3 players and recorders, this is the one I presently use the most. It's the only recorder that can record both AM and FM radio and be easily controlled with its integral timer. I also notice that the unit's internal clock is accurate over extended periods of time (weeks). All in all it's a dandy little unit.
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| D. R. |
10/1/2008 |
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Potomac, MD
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Received my Witness today and would like to tell you I am very impressed. I am a professional journalist, and use four Radio Your Way LX units in my daily work. The Witness has addressed many of the software and ergonomic issues of the LX. However, I would like to suggest that you change the design to accommodate a user replaceable battery! There is just no excuse for not having this capability -- NOBODY wants to have to send units back to the supplier for battery replacement -- or to worry when their battery will lose capacity.
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| W. F. |
9/28/2008 |
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Palm Harbor, FL
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I am the proud owner of two video IPods. I thought they were the best to be found. I was so, so wrong! The CC Witness is BY FAR THE MOST SUPERIOR DEVICE on the market today! I knew your products were superior, because I own the CCRadio and the CCRadio SW. I have not found ONE SINGLE THING wrong with my witness! Absolute perfection! Thank you very much for your Great Customer Service and the Superior Quality of your products! I will buy all my new audio products (should I need them) from your company and no one else. Many Thanks!
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| H. Y. |
9/26/2008 |
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Walnut Creek, CA
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I give the Witness an "A"; nearly all I was looking for in a workout aid. To be an "A+" I suggest:
- Put a hole in the cover for the Mic jack
- Make the cover more transparent (or the print more visable) for older eyes
- Make an armband so it can be worn while running/exercising, etc. The lanyard doesn't cut it. Make sure it fits a larger male arm.
That's it. Thanks for a great product.
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| S. B. |
9/15/2008 |
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West Roxbury, MA
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Hi R & D
I have had the Radio Your Way which I purchased from your company a few years ago. Decided to upgrade to this basically newer version of the same concept. Some comments on the CC witness compared to the Radio Your Way.
- The first thing that jumps out at anyone who had the Radio Your Way is the manual. The directions that came with the Radio Your Way were horrible. You literally had to spend hours trying to figure out how to program and work the radio. The CC Witness manual is fantastic and easy to follow. What a difference.
- Volume and sound quality. The volume and sound on the speaker of the CC Witness is light years better than the one on the Radio Your Way. I can now use this to listen to as a regular radio and not just to record and just use headphones to hear the recordings as I had to do with the Radio Your Way. What an improvement on the sound and volume on the built in speaker! Great job.
- Stations come in clearer with the CC Witness. Much clearer.
- The Interface of the unit. The CC Witness is so much more user friendly than the Radio Your Way. You guys did a great job improving the design of this unit.
I am very impressed with the CC Witness and look forward to years of use. I record a four hour show every overnight to listen to during the day. Very handy and now much more enjoyable.
Thanks,
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| D. T. |
8/21/2008 |
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Nashville, TN
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I know, the first comment was not all positive...nothing out there is perfect. That said, the recording quality is fabulous! As I said before, if you piggyback the DT-200VX with the Witness you have some serious sound files. Kudos on the ergonomics as well... especially with something this small. Okay....now finish up on the Mini radio and put a dock on there for the Witness. Nice job!
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| D. T. |
8/19/2008 |
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Nashville, TN
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...just a word about the Witness...so far....radio not great....forget it anyway...we have all the other good ones we bought from you for input to the Witness. Try not to be such Geeks....get the software to speak human speak.....lines of copy never look good....make the recorded times....times.......forget all the running stuff...just say this is this long and you have this much left.....good! With all of that, I like the Witness.....expecting it not to be that good anyway...hell, I bought it!...best thing is to input the great DT-200VX....that is a radio....again...forget saying the Witness has a good radio....natta
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| P. T. |
8/18/2008 |
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Edmonds, WA
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Hello: Just wanted to e-mail some info. I received the CC Witness about a week ago and OMG, love, love it!!! Now I know I will never miss another Coast to Coast show by falling asleep. This is my first "electronic" mp3 type player/recorder and it's great so far. Love the fact that I can rename the titles on a computer after it records!! Looking forward to finding new ways to use it.
Comments: I purchased the extra kit with the charger, cover, and cradle, as I don't have a home computer. Was a little disappointed that the CC Witness with the cover on does not fit into the cradle. Noticed that on Page 7 of the instructions about the SD card note "See Page 11", it's actually on page 12.
My first purchase with you was the DT-200VX - loved it as I was able to pick up extra stations, and it had a clip. Any chance the CC Witness could be produced with a clip and a cover could be produced with a slit so the clip can slide through. I also picture different colored covers that have the "writing" on it so you know where the buttons are!!
I see online that a new feature is already added - do older versions get upgrades at any time?
Thanks again for bringing this product. Everyone is amazed when I tell them I'm programming my radio to record. - just like a VCR recording - I need to find the time to listen!!!
Thank you!!!
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Copyright © 2013 by
C. Crane Company, Inc.
1001 Main Street
Fortuna, CA 95540
(800) 522-8863
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