4-1180.fm Page 1 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Cat. No. 14-1180 OWNER’S MANUAL Please read before using this equipment.
14-1180.fm Page 2 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM FEATURES Your Optimus Micro-32 Microcassette Tape Recorder with Voice Activation and Counter is lightweight, compact, and easy to operate. It’s perfect for recording lectures, interviews, and meetings. The Micro-32 has these features: Voice Activated System — records only when it detects sound so you can save tape and power.
14-1180.fm Page 3 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM CONTENTS Power Sources ..................................................... Installing Batteries .......................................... Using AC Power ............................................. Using Vehicle Battery Power .......................... 4 4 5 7 Operation .............................................................. 9 Loading a Cassette Tape ................................ 9 Recording ...................................................
14-1180.fm Page 4 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM POWER SOURCES You can power the recorder from any of the following sources: • Two AA batteries • AC power (using an AC adapter) • Vehicle battery power (using a DC adapter) INSTALLING BATTERIES You can use two AA batteries (not supplied) to power the recorder. For the best performance, we recommend alkaline batteries, such as RadioShack Cat. No. 23-552. You can also use two AA nickel-cadmium batteries, such as Cat. No.
14-1180.fm Page 5 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Cautions: • Use only fresh batteries of the required size and type. • Remove the batteries if the recorder will not be used for a few weeks or more. Batteries can leak chemicals and damage the recorder. Replace the batteries if the REC/BATT indicator dims or does not light. USING AC POWER You can use an AC adapter, such as Cat. No. 2731654A, to power the recorder from standard AC power.
14-1180.fm Page 6 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Follow these steps to power the recorder from AC power. 1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V. 2. Insert the orange-tipped adapter plug into the adapter’s socket. Line up TIP on the socket with + (positive) on the plug. 3. Insert the adapter’s recorder’s DC 3V jack. barrel plug into the Illustration 4. Insert the adapter’s other plug into a standard AC outlet.
14-1180.fm Page 7 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM USING VEHICLE BATTERY POWER Using a DC adapter, such as Cat. No. 270-1560A, you can power the recorder from your vehicle’s battery. Cautions: • You must use an adapter that supplies 3 volts with the center tip set to positive, delivers the 300 milliamps the recorder draws, and has a plug that correctly fits the recorder’s DC 3V jack. The recommended adapter meets these requirements.
14-1180.fm Page 8 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Follow these steps to power the recorder from your vehicle’s battery. 1. Set the adapter’s voltage switch to 3V. 2. Insert the orange-tipped adapter plug into the adapter’s socket. Line up TIP on the socket with + (positive) on the plug. 3. Insert the adapter’s recorder’s DC 3V jack. barrel plug into the Illustration 4. Insert the adapter’s large plug into the vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
14-1180.fm Page 9 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM OPERATION Caution: The tape stops and the recorder turns off when the tape reaches the end. However, we recommend that you press STOP/EJ as soon as possible after you finish playing or recording a tape. This protects the tape by releasing it from the tape-handling parts. LOADING A CASSETTE TAPE Note: We recommend MC-60 cassette tapes (Cat. No. 44-640) for up to two hours of recording/playback time, or MC-90 cassette tapes (Cat. No.
14-1180.fm Page 10 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM 3. Slide the cassette into the grooves on the inside of the compartment cover, with the side you want to play or record on against the cover and the exposed tape facing outward. Illustration 4. Close the compartment. To unload the tape, press STOP/EJ to stop recording or playback, then press STOP/EJ again to open the cassette compartment so you can remove the tape. RECORDING Cautions: • Do not change the tape speed while recording.
14-1180.fm Page 11 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Normal Recording 1. Set VOX to OFF. Illustration 2. Load the cassette tape. 3. Set TAPE SPEED as follows: Illustration • To 1.2 cm to double the tape’s recording time. • To 2.4 cm for better sound quality. 4. Press REC to begin recording. This also pushes down PLAY.
14-1180.fm Page 12 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM 5. Adjust VOLUME for the microphone sensitivity. • Minimum to mid-range for dictation • Mid-range to maximum for recording conferences 6. Place the recorder as close to the sound source as possible, with nothing between the source and the recorder to block the sound. Illustration 7. Press STOP/EJ to stop recording. Notes: • The built-in automatic level control automatically sets the recording level. • To temporarily stop recording, slide PAUSE to ON.
14-1180.fm Page 13 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Voice Activated Recording 1. Set the VOX to ON. Illustration 2. Load the cassette tape. 3. Set TAPE SPEED as follows: Illustration • To 1.2 cm to double the tape’s recording time. • To 2.4 cm for better sound quality. 4. Press REC to record. This also pushes down PLAY.
-1180.fm Page 14 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM 5. Adjust VOLUME for the microphone sensitivity until the sound source’s volume level starts the recorder. Illustration Notes: • The built-in automatic level control automatically sets the recording level. • The first few sounds start the recorder but might not be recorded. Say an extra word or two to begin recording. • When the recorder detects silence for 2 to 6 seconds, recording stops temporarily. When the sound resumes, recording continues. 6.
14-1180.fm Page 15 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Recording with an External Microphone 1. Plug an optional external microphone into the MIC jack on top of the recorder. The built-in microphone is automatically disconnected. Note: Your local RadioShack store has a wide selection of microphones, designed especially for microcassette recorders. 2. Follow the steps under “Normal Recording” or “Voice Activated Recording.” Quick Record You can go directly from playback to recording by pressing REC.
14-1180.fm Page 16 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM 3. Press PLAY. 4. Adjust VOLUME to a comfortable listening level. 5. Press STOP/EJ to stop playback. Notes: • To play the other side of the tape, unload it, turn it over, and reload it. • To temporarily stop the tape, slide PAUSE to ON. To resume playback, slide PAUSE downward. USING FAST-F/CUE AND REW/REVIEW Press the switch toward FAST-F/CUE to rapidly move a tape forward, or toward REW/REVIEW to rapidly move a tape backward.
14-1180.fm Page 17 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM If you press and hold the switch toward FAST-F/CUE or REW/REVIEW during recording, the REC button releases. You can hear the tape as it fast-forwards or rewinds. When you release the switch, the recorder begins normal playback. If you press the switch toward FAST-F/CUE or REW/ REVIEW while the tape is stopped, the tape advances or rewinds until you press STOP/EJ.
14-1180.fm Page 18 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM USING AN EARPHONE For private listening, plug an optional earphone with a 1/8-inch plug into the recorder’s EAR jack. This automatically disconnects the recorder’s internal speaker. Illustration Note: Your local RadioShack store has a wide selection of earphones. Listening Safely To protect your hearing, follow these guidelines when you use earphones. • Set the volume to the lowest setting before you begin listening.
14-1180.fm Page 19 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM TAPE HINTS STORING CASSETTE TAPES Do not expose cassette tapes to high temperatures; high humidity; dust or dirt; or motors, transformers, or other sources of strong magnetic fields. PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL ERASURE Most microcassette tapes have an erase-protection tab for each side of the tape. To protect your recordings from being accidentally erased or recorded over, use a screwdriver to carefully break off the erase-protection tabs.
14-1180.fm Page 20 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM ERASING A CASSETTE TAPE If you no longer want a recording, you can record over it or erase it. To record over a cassette tape, be sure the eraseprotection tabs are in place. Then simply record as usual. The recorder records over the previous recording. You might prefer to use a bulk tape eraser, such as Cat. No. 44-233, which erases both sides of a microcassette tape in just a few seconds.
14-1180.fm Page 21 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM MAINTENANCE Your Optimus Micro-32 Microcassette Tape Recorder with Voice Activation and Counter is an example of superior design and craftsmanship. The following suggestions will help you care for your recorder so you can enjoy it for years. • Keep the recorder dry. If it gets wet, wipe it dry immediately. Liquids can contain minerals that can corrode the electronic circuits. • Handle the recorder gently and carefully.
14-1180.fm Page 22 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM Modifying or tampering with the recorder’s internal parts can cause a malfunction and might invalidate your recorder’s warranty. If your recorder is not operating as it should, take it to your local RadioShack store for assistance. CLEANING THE TAPE-HANDLING PARTS Clean the tape-handling parts after every 20 hours of use. With power supplied and the cassette removed, open the cassette compartment door.
14-1180.fm Page 23 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 PM SPECIFICATIONS Tape System ........... 2-Track Monaural Microcassette Tape Speed ....................... 2.4 cm/sec or 1.2 cm/sec Recording Time (Total for Both Sides): MC-60 ..............................60 min @ 2.4 cm/sec 120 min @ 1.2 cm/sec MC-90 ..............................90 min @ 2.4 cm/sec 180 min @ 1.2 cm/sec Wow and Flutter..........Less than 0.3% @ 2.4 cm/sec Erase System .................Permanent Magnet Erasing Record System ................
14-1180.fm Page 24 Thursday, July 1, 1999 4:34 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.
