Spy Tec TAR-22 User Manual

Tiny audio recorder TAR-22

User manual

Version 1.16

Quick guide

To quickly operate TAR-22 recorder, following steps must be done:

1) Insert Zinc Air or alkaline battery according the picture with the positive terminal on
top. After inserting the battery, you must observe one single flash of LED after about
5 seconds, which indicates that the recorder is in stand-by mode (this indicates
completion of start-up cycle). When the battery is partially or fully discharged, the
recorder is not able to complete start-up cycle and this battery can’t be used.

2) To turn on recording mode, press button for a few seconds. Following long flashes
(between 1 to 4) indicates available memory space (4-maximum, 1-minimum) and
recording is started. If LED is enabled during recording, each 2 seconds you should
observe one single flash.

3) To stop recording mode, hold the button for a few seconds. During the time, when this
button is pressed you will observe 3 long LED flashes. After releasing the button,
recorder can continue with start-up cycle (same like when the battery is inserted) and
is ready for next action in about 5 seconds, indicated by one single LED flash.

4) For connecting recorder with PC you need to have record manager downloaded to
your PC. Recorder should be connected to PC only when it is in stand-by mode,
otherwise you will get message „USB device can’t be detected“. Recorder should be
connected to PC even without battery.

Powering TAR-22 via USB during recording

TAR-22 recorder can take a power from USB for recording in case, when it is available. At
any time, when it is recording, you can connect it with USB charger or with PC and it takes
all required power from USB, instead of discharging inserted battery. Battery is used as a
backup, when this power from USB is interrupted. When it’s connected with PC and the
recording is in progress, you will get message „unrecognized USB device“, but at this time
you should ignore it in this step. When using external power for powering TAR-22 you must
ensure continuous recording without any break, which means you can’t use operating button
to stop and start recording again or using any scheduled recording in recorder’s settings.
Voice activated recording for this operation from external power source is still available.

Detailed description

This recorder let‘s you to record any audio or human conversation in high quality and store all
into build-in FLASH memory. The great advantage is in very small size and very long battery
life in recording mode, which allows you to make continuous recording in length of several
days. This recorder is equipped with very high sensitive microphone and wide dynamic range
and is able to record conversation from distance over 30 feet (10 meters). All stored
recordings should be downloaded via USB. All audio processing is done at PC by using
record manager developed for all models of ours audio recorders. This software includes fast
overview of each record and simple editing functions. For protection of stored data is possible
to set password access for all stored recordings. Integrated real time clock should start
recording in any specific period of each day or at any specific date. All recorded data are
stored with time marks, which gives you very good overview in case of long time recording.

Technical data:

Dimensions: 46x9x16mm (1,65x0,35x0,63")
Battery: one single 1,5V Zinc-Air ZA675 or AG13
Battery life in recording mode: 85 hours with Zinc-Air battery
Memory capacity for recording: 848 hours with 5.5kHz sample rate and ADPCM

2 bit compression
Internal memory size: 4GB
Signal to noise ratio: 65dB
Compression methods: 16bit no compression, uLaw logarithmic, 4bit

ADPCM, or 2bit ADPCM
Sample rate: 22kHz, 16kHz, 11.025kHz, 8kHz, 5.5kHz
Bit width: 16bits
Microphone sensitivity: 10 meters (32 feet)
Current consumption in stand-by mode: less than 200uA
Voice activated recording: user selectable
Data transfer to PC: via USB
Scheduled recording: available

Memory capacity in hours for all sample rates and compression methods

Sample rate None ULaw 4bit

ADPCM

5,5kHz 106 212 424 848

8kHz 72 145 291 582
11kHz 53 105 211 422
16kHz 36 72 145 290
22kHz 26 52 - -

2bit

ADPCM