4-1121.fm Page 1 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Cat. No. 14-1121 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
14-1121.fm Page 2 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM FEATURES Your Optimus CTR-115 Voice-Activated Cassette Tape Recorder uses the latest in recording technology to make recording easy and convenient. Recording begins when the CTR-115 detects sound and ends when sound subsides, for hands-free operation. The CTR-115’s microphone is sensitive enough for the board room, a seminar, or a lecture hall. And it’s small enough to fit in your briefcase or purse, so it can go wherever you go.
14-1121.fm Page 3 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Mic Sensitivity Switch — lets you select low, medium, or high microphone sensitivity for recording. Record/Battery Indicator — lights when you are recording. When you are not, it indicates the battery’s condition. Built-In Speaker — lets you listen to your recordings. Automatic Level Control — automatically sets the right recording level; no need to adjust the volume while recording.
14-1121.fm Page 4 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM CONTENTS Preparation ............................................................................ 5 Before You Begin ............................................................... 5 Powering the CTR-115 ...................................................... 5 Installing Batteries ....................................................... 6 Using AC Power .......................................................... 7 Using Vehicle Battery Power ..................
14-1121.fm Page 5 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM PREPARATION BEFORE YOU BEGIN To protect the record/playback head during shipment, a protective sleeve is positioned around the head. Gently pull open the cassette compartment door and remove the sleeve before you use the cassette recorder.
14-1121.fm Page 6 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Installing Batteries You can power the CTR-115 with two AA batteries. We recommend alkaline batteries, such as RadioShack Cat. No. 23-552. Cautions: • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recommended type. • Do not mix old and new batteries or different types of batteries. 1. Press down on the battery compartment cover and slide it off in the direction of the arrow. 2.
14-1121.fm Page 7 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Cautions: • Always remove old or weak batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy electronic parts. • Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn or bury them. Using AC Power To power the CTR-115 from an AC outlet, you need an AC adapter, such as RadioShack Cat. No. 273-1654. Cautions: • The recommended adapter supplies 3 volts DC power and delivers at least 300 milliamps.
14-1121.fm Page 8 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Follow these steps to power the CTR-115 with an AC adapter. 1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V. 2. Insert the adapter’s 2.35 mm outer diameter/0.7 mm inner diameter barrel plug into the adapter’s cord, with the tip set to positive. 3. Insert the barrel plug into the CTR-115’s DC IN 3V jack. 4. Plug the adapter into a standard AC outlet.
14-1121.fm Page 9 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM • Be sure you plug the adapter into the CTR-115 before you plug it into the cigarette-lighter socket, and that you unplug the adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket before you unplug it from the CTR-115. Follow these steps to power the CTR-115 from your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket. 1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3 volts. 2. Insert the adapter’s 2.35 mm outer diameter/0.
14-1121.fm Page 10 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM CONNECTING THE EARPHONE You can use the supplied earphone to listen privately to recorded sound or to monitor recording. You can also connect an external or pillow-type speaker (not supplied) to this jack. Note: Your local RadioShack store sells a wide variety of speakers. Insert the earphone or speaker’s 1/8-inch (3.5-mm) plug into the EAR jack. This automatically disconnects the internal speaker.
14-1121.fm Page 11 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM • Do not increase the volume once you have established a comfortable listening level. 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 could be illegal in some areas.
14-1121.fm Page 12 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM PLAYING A CASSETTE TAPE 1. Gently pull open the cassette compartment door. 2. Use your finger or a pencil to turn the cassette’s hub and take up any slack in the tape. Do not touch the tape. 3. Load a cassette into the door’s guides so the cassette’s open edge is out and the side you want to play faces the compartment’s window, then close the door. 4. Set TAPE SPEED to SLOW, NORMAL, or FAST to suit your listening preference.
14-1121.fm Page 13 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Note: This switch’s setting has no effect when recording (see “Recording” on Page 17). 5. Rotate VOLUME/VOX SENS counterclockwise to its lowest setting. 6. Press PLAY . The tape begins to play. PLAY 7. Adjust VOLUME/VOX SENS to a comfortable listening level.
-1121.fm Page 14 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM 8. Set VOX/TONE to HIGH to emphasize treble sounds, or to LOW to reduce them. With metal/High-Bias tape, use LOW for a more natural sound. LOW OUT HIGH IN VOX/ TONE 9. The CTR-115 automatically stops at the end of the tape. Or, press STOP to stop the tape. STOP Notes: • To momentarily stop play, slide PAUSE to ON. Slide PAUSE to OFF to resume playing.
14-1121.fm Page 15 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM OFF ON PAUSE • To rapidly advance or rewind the tape, press FAST-F/ CUE or REWIND/REV . The button locks down and the tape continues moving until you press STOP. The TAPE SPEED setting affects the fast-forward or rewind speed. FAST-F/CUE REWIND/REV • The CTR-115 does not automatically stop when it reaches the end of the tape during fast-forward or rewind.
14-1121.fm Page 16 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM USING THE TAPE COUNTER You can use the tape counter to give you an indication of the tape’s position. Before playing a tape, press the tape counter reset button to set the counter to 000. TAPE COUNTER RESET 000 When the recorder plays, the numbers advance to show the amount of tape that has moved past the tape heads since the tape began moving. When the tape rewinds, the numbers decrease.
14-1121.fm Page 17 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM RECORDING Note: For the best performance, use only regular length (60- or 90-minute) cassette tapes. We do not recommend long-playing cassette tapes, such as C-120s, because they are extremely thin and can tangle easily. USING THE BUILT-IN MICROPHONE You can pop up the built-in microphone to direct it to the sound source, or you can connect an external microphone (see “Using an External Microphone” on Page 21).
14-1121.fm Page 18 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM VOX RECORDING When you select VOX recording, the CTR-115 automatically begins recording when it receives a sound signal from a voice or other sound, and automatically stops when the sound stops. For the best recording quality, place the recorder about 1 foot from the sound source. Because the microphone is so sensitive, it will also pick up a voice or group of voices (such as an audience) from several feet away. 1.
14-1121.fm Page 19 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM 4. Set VOX/TONE to IN . LOW OUT HIGH IN VOX/ TONE 5. Set VOLUME/VOX SENS to the desired setting (0–10) to control how loud a sound is required to turn on the recording function. At 10, a soft sound turns on the recorder. At settings closer to 0, it takes a louder sound to start recording. Experiment to find the best setting for VOLUME/VOX SENS in your recording environment.
14-1121.fm Page 20 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM Note: If the audio input is too strong, the indicator lights steadily. 7. To momentarily stop recording even while the sound continues, slide PAUSE to ON. Slide PAUSE to OFF to resume recording. OFF ON PAUSE Caution: Never try to force down RECORD if you have removed the erase protection tab (see “Preventing Accidental Erasure” on Page 23). This can damage the record/ play mechanism. 8. Recording stops when the sound stops.
14-1121.fm Page 21 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM CUE MARKER To mark the beginning of a recording, press CUE MARKER for about 3 seconds during the recording. This records a brief tone on the tape. When you press FAST-F/CUE or REWIND/REV while the tape plays, you hear the tone when the tape reaches the point you marked. USING AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE The CTR-115’s built-in microphone works well in most situations, but you can connect an external microphone (not supplied) with a 1/8-inch (3.
14-1121.fm Page 22 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM RECORDING FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES You can record directly from a tuner, a radio, or a TV that has a 1 /8-inch (3.5-mm) jack. Use a dubbing patch cord such as RadioShack Cat. No. 42-2152 to connect the CTR-115’s MIC jack to the headphone output jack of an external component. Set VOX/TONE to OUT, then proceed with manual recording.
14-1121.fm Page 23 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM TAPE TIPS ERASING A RECORDING If you want to erase an entire cassette or a portion of a recording, insert the supplied erase plug into the MIC jack. Then set VOX/TONE to OUT and record silence over the previous recording. MIC Or, you can quickly erase both sides of a cassette tape using a bulk tape eraser, available at your local RadioShack store. PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ERASURE Cassettes have two erase-protection tabs — one for each side.
14-1121.fm Page 24 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 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 that side’s erase-protection hole. Be sure you cover only the hole originally covered by the erase-protection tab. A Caution: Removing the erase-protection tabs does not prevent a bulk tape eraser from erasing a cassette tape.
14-1121.fm Page 25 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM CARE AND MAINTENANCE To enjoy your CTR-115 for a long time: • Keep the CTR-115 dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. • Use and store the CTR-115 only in normal temperature environments. • Handle the CTR-115 gently and carefully. Don’t drop it. • Keep the CTR-115 away from dust and dirt. • Wipe the CTR-115 with a damp cloth occasionally to keep it looking new.
14-1121.fm Page 26 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM 2. Lift open the cassette compartment door. 3. Press the protection tab sensor, then press RECORD . The tape head assembly moves out. 4. Use a cotton swab dipped in tape head cleaner or denatured alcohol to clean the record/playback head, pinch roller, tape guides, and capstans. Protection Tab Sensor Tape Guides Record/Playback Head Capstans Pinch Roller Cautions: • Never touch the front surface of the record/playback head with any metallic object.
14-1121.fm Page 27 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 PM SPECIFICATIONS Tape System .............................. 2-track, Monophonic Cassette Tape Speed .......................................... 17/8 ips. (4.75 cm/sec.) Wow and Flutter ............................................... 0.25% (WRMS) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Rec/Play) ..................................... 38 dB Erase System ............................................................... Magnet Record System ...........................................
14-1121.fm Page 28 Thursday, July 1, 1999 2:42 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.