4-1169.fm Page 1 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Cat. No. 14-1169 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
14-1169.fm Page 2 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM FEATURES Your Optimus Micro-41 Micro Recorder with Voice Zoom and VOX is ideal for quick note-taking. Its ultra-small size makes it easy to slip into a pocket or briefcase. You can use it at school, at business conferences, for dictation in the office, or anywhere on the go! You can record manually or set the recorder so sound activates recording.
14-1169.fm Page 3 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM or at normal speed for maximum sound quality. Auto Stop — stops the tape movement when the recorder reaches the end of the tape during recording or playback. Tape Counter with Reset Button — lets you note specific points in a tape for later reference. Quick Record — lets you instantly change from playback to recording. Built-In Microphone and Speaker — let you record and play back notes anywhere.
14-1169.fm Page 4 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Three Power Options — you can power the recorder from standard AC power using an optional AC adapter, two AA batteries (not supplied) or a vehicle’s battery using an optional DC adapter.
14-1169.fm Page 5 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM CONTENTS Preparation ............................................ 7 Connecting Power ........................... 7 Using Batteries ......................... 7 Using AC Power ....................... 9 Using Vehicle Battery Power ... 10 Connecting an Earphone ....... 12 Listening Safely ...................... 13 Traffic Safety ........................... 14 Connecting an External Microphone ..................... 15 Operation ...................................
14-1169.fm Page 6 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Tape Tips ............................................. Storing Cassette Tapes ................. Preventing Accidental Erasure ...... Erasing Tapes ............................... 26 26 26 27 Care ..................................................... 28 Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts ...................... 29 Specifications .....................................
14-1169.fm Page 7 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM PREPARATION CONNECTING POWER Using Batteries You can power your recorder with two AA batteries (not supplied). For the best performance and longest life, we recommend RadioShack alkaline batteries. Warning: Dispose of old batteries promptly; do not bury or burn them. Cautions: • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type. • Never leave dead or weak batteries in the Micro-41.
14-1169.fm Page 8 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM 1. Slide the battery compartment cover in the direction of the arrow. 2. Insert the batteries into the compartment and on top of the attached ribbon, as indicated by the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside. 3. Replace the cover. Notes: • If the RECORD/BATTERY indicator lights dimly or does not light at all during use, replace the batteries.
14-1169.fm Page 9 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM only AC or vehicle battery power, remove the batteries. Using AC Power You can power the Micro-41 from an AC outlet, using an AC adapter (not supplied), available at your local RadioShack store. Cautions: You must use a Class 2 power source that supplies 3V volts DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit the Micro-41's DC 3V jack. The recommended adapter meets these specifications.
14-1169.fm Page 10 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Follow these steps to power the Micro-41 from standard AC power. MIC DC3V Rad ioSn ack 1. Set the AC adapter's voltage switch to 3V. 2. Insert the 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner diameter barrel plug into the AC adapter's cord to read TIP+. Note: Inserting the barrel plug into the Micro-41's DC 3V jack disconnects the internal batteries. 3. Plug the adapter’s other end into a standard AC outlet.
14-1169.fm Page 11 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Cautions: You must use a power source that supplies 3 volts DC and delivers at least 300 mA. Its center tip must be set to positive and its plug must fit the Micro-41's DC 3V jack. The recommended adapter meets these specifications. Using an adapter that does not meet these specifications could damage the Micro-41 or the adapter.
14-1169.fm Page 12 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM 1. Set the DC adapter's voltage switch to 3V. 2. Attach the 3.4 mm outer diameter/1.3 mm inner diameter barrel plug with the tip set to positive (+). 3. Insert the barrel plug into the Micro41's DC 3V jack. This disconnects any internal batteries. 4. Plug the other end of the DC adapter into the vehicle's cigarette-lighter socket. CONNECTING AN EARPHONE You can use an optional mono earphone with a 1/8-inch (3.5mm) plug to listen to a tape privately.
14-1169.fm Page 13 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Insert the earphone's plug into the recorder's EAR jack. The internal speaker automatically disconnects. Earphone Jack Listening Safely To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use an earphone. • Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening. After you begin listening, adjust the volume to a comfortable listening level. • Do not listen at extremely high volume levels.
-1169.fm Page 14 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 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 an earphone while operating a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle. This can create a traffic hazard and could be illegal in some areas.
14-1169.fm Page 15 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM CONNECTING AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE You can use an optional microphone with a 1/ -inch (3.5mm) plug to extend the record8 ing range. Your local RadioShack store carries a wide selection of microphones. Insert the microphone’s plug into the recorder’s MIC jack. The built-in microphone automatically disconnects.
14-1169.fm Page 16 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM OPERATION LOADING A MICROCASSETTE TAPE Note: We recommend MC-60 microcassette tapes for up to 2 hours of recording/ playback time, or MC-90 microcassette tapes for up to 3 hours of recording/playback time. We do not recommend longplaying microcassette tapes such as MC120s because they are extremely thin and can easily tangle in the playback mechanism. Follow these steps to load a microcassette tape. 1.
14-1169.fm Page 17 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM 3. Insert the microcassette into the door's guides with the tape’s open edge facing out and the full reel positioned toward the top of the recorder. 4. Close the door. RECORDING Cautions: • Do not change the tape speed while recording. • Do not force down REC when a cassette erase-protection tab is not in place (see “Preventing Accidental Erasure” on Page 26).
14-1169.fm Page 18 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Voice Activated (VOX) Recording Follow these steps to have the recorder start and stop recording automatically based on sound it detects. 1. Set VOX to ON. 2. Load a tape. 3. Set TAPE SPEED on the side of the recorder as follows: • To double the tape’s recording/playback time, set TAPE SPEED to 1.2. This setting allows 120 minutes of total recording/playback time on an MC-60 tape, or 180 minutes on an MC-90 tape.
14-1169.fm Page 19 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM • For better sound quality, set TAPE SPEED to 2.4. This setting allows 60 minutes of total recording/playback time on an MC-60 tape, or 90 minutes on an MC-90 tape. 4. Press REC to begin recording. Both REC and PLAY lock down, and the RECORD/BATTERY indicator (to the right of the tape counter) lights. Notes: • The VOL/MIC SENS setting determines the sound level that activates the VOX circuit and starts recording.
14-1169.fm Page 20 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM 5. Recording stops when the tape reaches the end of the cassette. To stop it sooner, press STOP/EJECT. Manual Recording 1. Set VOX to OFF. 2. Load a tape. 3. Set TAPE SPEED to 1.2 to double the recording time, or to 2.4 for better sound quality. 4. Press REC (PLAY also locks down). Recording starts, the built in automatic level control sets the recording level, and RECORD/BATTERY lights. 5.
14-1169.fm Page 21 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Quick Record During playback, you can press REC to begin recording without pressing STOP/EJECT first. Using Voice Zoom To record a speaker’s voice in a noisy environment, set VOICE ZOOM to ON. Voice Zoom uses special filter circuits to enhance and separate voices from background sounds resulting in greater voice clarity during playback. Note: The setting of VOICE ZOOM affects the sound only during recording.
14-1169.fm Page 22 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM about 30% faster than normal speed, set TAPE SPEED to FAST PLAY. 4. Adjust VOL/MIC SENS to a comfortable listening level. 5. Press STOP/EJECT to stop playback.
14-1169.fm Page 23 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Rewinding/Fast-Forwarding Slide REW/REVIEW FAST-F/CUE to REW/REVIEW to rapidly rewind a tape, or to FAST-F/ CUE to fast-forward a tape. Caution: To protect the tape-handling parts, press STOP/EJECT or slide REW/REVIEW FAST-F/CUE to the center when the tape reaches the end. To hear the tape play as it fast-forwards or rewinds, slide REW/REVIEW FAST-F/CUE to REW/REVIEW or FAST-F/CUE during playback, When you release the switch, normal playback resumes.
14-1169.fm Page 24 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM QUICK REVIEW During recording, slide REW/REVIEW FASTF/CUE to REW/REVIEW to hear a portion of what you have just recorded without first pressing STOP/EJECT then PLAY. Press REC to resume recording. USING THE TAPE COUNTER You can use the tape counter to note different locations on your tape during recording or playback. RECORD Before playing or recording a tape, rewind the tape completely and press the counter reset button to set the counter to 000.
14-1169.fm Page 25 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM USING INDEX MARKER Follow these steps to use INDEX MARKER to add a special tone to a tape so you can quickly find that point using the review controls. 1. To mark the beginning of a recorded section, press and hold down INDEX MARKER, on the back of the recorder, for at least 3 seconds during recording. RECORD/BATTERY turns off while the Micro-41 records an index marker tone on the tape starting at the moment you press INDEX MARKER.
14-1169.fm Page 26 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM TAPE TIPS STORING CASSETTE TAPES Do not expose microcassette tapes to high temperatures, high humidity, dust or dirt, or motors, transformers, or other sources of strong magnetic fields. PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ERASURE Microcassette tapes have two eraseprotection tabs — one for each side. When a tab is in place, you can record on that side.
14-1169.fm Page 27 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM If you later decide to record on a tape side after you have removed the erase-protection tab, place a piece of strong plastic tape over that 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 eraser from erasing a microcassette tape. ERASING TAPES To record over a microcassette tape, simply record as usual.
14-1169.fm Page 28 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM CARE To enjoy your Your Optimus Micro-41 Micro Recorder for a long time: • Keep the recorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. • Handle the recorder gently and carefully. Don’t drop it. • Use and store the recorder only in normal temperature environments. • Keep the recorder away from dust and dirt. • Wipe the recorder with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new.
14-1169.fm Page 29 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM CLEANING THE TAPEHANDLING 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 performance of the Micro-41. After every 20 hours of tape player operation, follow these steps to clean the tape-handling parts or use a RadioShack microcassette deck cleaning kit. 1. Remove the batteries and disconnect any other power source. 2.
14-1169.fm Page 30 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM 3. Use a cotton swab dipped in tape head cleaning solution or denatured alcohol to gently clean the record/playback head, pinch roller, capstan and tape guides. Tape Guides Pinch Roller Record/Playback Head Capstan 4. Press STOP/EJECT to release the tape-handling parts. Then close the cassette compartment cover and reconnect power.
14-1169.fm Page 31 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM SPECIFICATIONS Tape Type ........................... Microcassette Tracks ........ 2 Tracks, 1 Channel Monaural Drive System ..................... Capstan Drive Tape Speed ...... 2.4 cm/sec. (15/16 ips) and 1.2 cm/sec. (15/32 ips) Recording Time (with MC-60 Microcassette): 2.4 cm/sec. .................. 30 min. per side 1.2 cm/sec. .................. 60 min. per side Max. Output ................................ 270 mW Frequency Response .........
14-1169.fm Page 32 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM Typical Cassette Recording Time (with Alkaline Batteries) .............. 18 Hours Weight (with batteries) ... 7.0 oz (198.45 g) Specifications are typical; individual units might vary. Specifications are subject to change and improvement without notice.
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14-1169.fm Page 35 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 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.
14-1169.fm Page 36 Monday, April 26, 1999 4:03 PM (Continued) New or reconditioned parts and products may be used in the performance of warranty service. Repaired or replaced parts and products are warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period. You will be charged for repair or replacement of the product made after the expiration of the warranty period.
