Sony TC-M4TR User Manual

3-862-269-13 (1)

Cassette-Corder

Operating Instructions Mode d‘emploi

TCM-4TR

1998 by Sony Corporation

For the customers in the U.S.A. Owner’s Record

The model number is located at the bottom and the serial number is located inside the tape holder. Record the serial number in the space provided below. Refer to whenever you call upon your Sony dealer regarding this product.

Model No. TCM-4TR Serial No.

INFORMATION

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. – Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. – Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to

which the receiver is connected.

– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to

the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

You are cautioned that any changes or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Table of Contents

Welcome!......................................................................4

Getting Started

Preparing a Power Source .........................................6

Dry Batteries.......................................................... 6

House Current .................................................... 11

Operating the Unit

Playing a Tape...........................................................12

Playing a 4-track Tape ....................................... 12

Playing a 2-track Tape ....................................... 16

Adjusting the Playback Speed (DPC Function) ... 17

Recording...................................................................20

Recording Cue Marks .............................................. 26

Recording from Various Sound Sources ............... 28

Recording with an External Microphone........ 28

Recording from Another Equipment...............29

Additional Information

Precautions ................................................................30

Maintenance .............................................................. 32

Troubleshooting........................................................33

Specifications.............................................................36

Location of parts and controls ................................ 38

Index ........................................................................... 40

LIMITED WARRANTY ........................................... 41

Welcome!

Thank you for purchasing the Sony CassetteCorder.

This Cassette-Corder is a product which Sony Corporation developed specially for visually impaired people. You can play back a tape recorded on 4 tracks at 2.4 cm/s.

Some features are:

•You can play back a 4-track tape as well as a normal 2-track tape.

•You can play back and record with two tape speeds (4.8cm/s and 2.4cm/s).

•DPC (Digital Pitch control) allows you to increase or decrease the speed of the playback sound (page 17). If you change the playback tape speed, the pitch will be automatically adjusted.

•The CUE MARKER function locates a specific point on a recording (page 26).

•Built-in flat microphone for clear recording of speaker’s voice.

•When the batteries are running out of power, a beep sounds (page 9).

•The BATT/REC lamps indicate the remaining battery power in two steps. A beep sounds and the i lamp shows when to replace the batteries (page 9).

•Automatic shut-off mechanism at the end of the tape (in the recording/playback mode only).

•Stop-pause-release function —The pause switch is released automatically when the p STOP button is depressed, so that you won’t miss a recording chance (pages 15, 22).

Notes

•Recording can be made with 2 speeds but only on 2 tracks. Note that 4-track recording cannot be made.

•A tape recorded in stereo cannot be played back properly.

•A tape recorded with 2.4cm/s tape speed using this unit cannot be played back on a normal tape recorder.

z Getting Started

Preparing a Power Source

Choose either one of the following power sources: dry batteries (see below) or house current (see page 11).

Dry Batteries

Make sure that nothing is connected to the DC IN 3 V jack.

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1 Open the battery compartment lid. 2 Insert two R6 (size AA) batteries (not

supplied) with correct polarity and close the lid.

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DC IN 3V jack

Notes

•Do not charge a dry battery.

•Do not use a new battery with an old one.

•Do not use different types of batteries.

•When you do not use the unit for a long time, remove the batteries to avoid any damage caused by battery leakage and subsequent corrosion.

•Dry batteries will not be expended when another power source is connected.

To take out the batteries

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To attach the battery compartment lid if it is accidentally detached

Attach it as illustrated.

Continued

Preparing a Power Source (continued)

Battery life (Approximate hours) (EIAJ*)

Sony alkaline Sony LR6(SG) R6P(SR)

Recording (4.8cm/s) 6.5 1.0 Recording (2.4cm/s) 7.0 1.5 Playback (4.8cm/s) 6.5 1.0 Playback (2.4cm/s) 7.0 1.5 * Measured value by the standard of EIAJ (Electronic

Industries Association of Japan)(Using a Sony HFseries cassette tape)

We recommend to use long-life alkaline batteries.

Note

The battery life may shorten depending on the operation of the unit.

When to replace the batteries

When the batteries are running out of power, a beep sounds and the BATT/REC lamps go off and the i lamp flashes. When this happens, replace the batteries with new ones. The BATT/REC lamps change as illustrated.

light

flash

(A beep sounds.)

When batteries are new

When batteries become weak

Replace batteries

Continued

Preparing a Power Source (continued)

Notes

•During recording, you will hear the beep through the earphone. During playback, you will hear the beep through the earphone and the speaker.

•During FF (CUE) or REW (REVIEW), the i lamp may flash with a beep. Only when the tape does not run properly, replace the batteries.

•In some cases when the unit is used with rechargeable batteries, only one BATT/REC lamp will light even though the batteries have been fully charged.

•After the batteries have been used for a while, the BATT/REC lamp(s) may flash with the playback sound when you turn up the volume; however, this does not mean that you need to replace the batteries.

•The unit will play back normally for a while even after i lamp flashes with a beep. However, replace the batteries as soon as you can. If you do not, a loud noise may be emitted by the built-in speaker or subsequent recording will not be done correctly.

•When the tape starts running or at the end of the tape the i lamp may momentarily light with a short beep. If the lamp goes off, you do not need to replace the batteries.

House Current

to the wall outlet

DC IN 3V

AC-E30HG AC power adaptor (not supplied)

Connect the AC power adaptor to DC IN 3V and to the wall outlet. Use the AC-E30HG AC power adaptor (not supplied). Do not use any other AC power adaptor.

Polarity of the plug

Note

Specification for AC-E30HG varies for each area. Check your local voltage and the shape of plug before purchasing.

z Operating the Unit

Playing a Tape

Playing a 4-track Tape

1 Open the cassette compartment lid. 2 Insert a cassette with the side to start

playing facing the lid.

3 Close the cassette compartment lid.

TAPE TRACK

TAPE SPEED

4 Set TAPE SPEED to 2.4 (cm/s) .

( PLAY

5 Set TAPE TRACK to 1-2 or 3-4 and start

playback.

To play the tape from the beginning, follow the procedure below. Make sure that side A is facing the lid. 1 Set TAPE TRACK to 1-2 and press ( PLAY.

Track 1 will be played. At the end of the tape, playback stops automatically.

2 Take out the cassette and reinsert the cassette

with side B facing the lid.

3 Leaving TAPE TRACK at 1-2, press

( PLAY. Track 2 will be played.

4 Take out the cassette and reinsert the cassette

with side A facing the lid.

5 Set TAPE TRACK to 3-4 and press ( PLAY.

Track 3 will be played.

6 Take out the cassette and reinsert the cassette

with side B facing the lid.

7 Leaving TAPE TRACK at 3-4, press

( PLAY. Track 4 will be played.

When the tape comes to an end

Playback stops and the unit turns off automatically (Automatic shut-off mechanism). After fast forward or rewind, press p STOP, as the unit does not automatically enter the stop mode at the end of the tape.

Continued

Playing a Tape (continued)

TAPE SPEED

TAPE TRACK

PAUSE c

EAR jack

VOL

p STOP

Adjust the volume Stop playback/stop

fast forward or rewind

Pause playback

Fast forward** Rewind**

) FF/CUE 0 REW/

REVIEW ( PLAY

Do this

Turn VOL. Press p STOP.

Slide PAUSE c. To release pause playback, release PAUSE c*.

Press ) FF/CUE during stop. Press 0 REW/REVIEW during

stop.

* PAUSE c will be also automatically released when

p STOP is pressed (stop-pause-release function).

**If you leave the unit after the tape has been wound or

rewound, noise will be heard. Be sure to depress p STOP. Otherwise, the batteries will be consumed rapidly.

Search forward during playback

Do this

Press and hold ) FF/CUE and release it at the point you want.

(CUE) Search backward

during playback (REVIEW)

Take out a cassette

Press and hold 0 REW/REVIEW and release it at the point you want.

Press p STOP and open the cassette compartment lid by hand.

To listen through the earphones

Connect the supplied earphones to the EAR jack.

Continued

Playing a Tape (continued)

Playing a 2-track Tape

1 Proceed with steps 1 to 3 on page 12. 2 Set TAPE SPEED to 2.4 (cm/s) or 4.8 (cm/s) to

match the tape speed used for recording.

3 Set TAPE TRACK to 1-2. 4 Press ( PLAY.

Other operations are the same as those of playing a 4-track tape described on pages 14 and 15.

Note

If the recording is made in stereo, only the L channel is heard.

Adjusting the Playback Speed (DPC Function)

The DPC (Digital Pitch Control) function allows you to increase or decrease the playback speed. When playing back a tape with 2.4cm/s tape speed such as a 4-track tape, the playback speed will be adjusted from approximately +100% to 0%. When playing back a tape with 4.8cm/s tape speed, the playback speed will be adjusted from approximately +100% to –50%. If you change the playback tape speed, the pitch will be automatically adjusted.

Continued

Adjusting the Playback Speed (DPC Function) (continued)

DPC

Adjust DPC as follows:

To play back Set DPC to

faster (2.4 cm/s tape) FAST

(4.8 cm/s tape) FAST at normal speed Center slower (2.4 cm/s tape ) Not available

(4.8 cm/s tape) SLOW

Notes

•When playing back a tape with 2.4cm/s tape speed, the playback speed will be normal even if you set DPC to SLOW.

•Even though you use DPC, you cannot acquire the same pitch as the original. The tone will be somewhat different from the original.

•When the power of the batteries is weak, the DPC may make noise if you turn it fast. In that case turn it slowly or change the batteries.

•When DPC is turned or the volume is adjusted during playback, BATT/REC lamps may flicker.

Recording

You can record the sound easily with the built-in microphone. Use a normal (TYPE I) tape. Make sure that nothing is connected to the MIC jack.

1 Open the cassette compartment lid. 2 Take out any slack in the tape and insert the

cassette with the side to start recording facing the lid.

3 Close the cassette compartment lid.

Flat mic

REC lamp

TAPE SPEED

MIC jack

r REC

PAUSE c

p STOP

4 Set TAPE SPEED to the desired tape speed.

4.8 (cm/s) for optimum sound (recommended for normal use): A 60-minute recording can be made using both sides of a C-60 cassette.

2.4 (cm/s) for longer recording time: A 120minute recording can be made using both sides of a C-60 cassette.

5 Press r REC.

Recording starts. Place the unit on a hard surface such as a desk with the cassette holder side up so that the flat microphone can record effectively. While the tape runs, the REC lamp lights and flashes depending on the strength of the sound. Recording level is fixed.

Continued

Recording (continued)

When the tape comes to an end

Recording stops and the unit turns off automatically (Automatic shut-off mechanism).

Note

2-track recording only is possible. Setting of the TAPE TRACK selector does not affect the recording. You cannot record on 4 tracks.

To Press or slide

Stop recording p STOP Pause recording PAUSE c

To release pause recording, release PAUSE c*.

Take out a cassette Press p STOP and open the cassette

compartment lid by hand.

* PAUSE c will be also automatically released when

p STOP is pressed (stop-pause-release function)

Note

Do not use a CrO2 (TYPE II) or metal (TYPE IV) tape, otherwise the sound may be distorted when you play back the tape, or the previous recording may not be erased completely.

To prevent a tape from being accidentally recorded over

Break out and remove the cassette tabs. To reuse the tape for recording, cover the tab hole with adhesive tape.

Side A

Tab for side A

Continued

Recording (continued)

EAR jack

r REC

0 REW/

REVIEW

TAPE COUNTER

To use tape counter

Before recording, press the counter reset button to set the TAPE COUNTER to 000. It is useful to search the beginning of the recording.

To monitor the sound while recording

Connect the supplied earphone firmly to the EAR jack. The sound of monitoring can be adjusted by VOL but the recording level is fixed.

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