COMPUTE II ISSUE 2 / JUNE/JULY 1980

Twenty Important Cassette Recording Guidelines

Reprinted by permission of Synertek Systems Corp. © 1979 Synertek Systems Corp.

1. Use high quality tape (Maxell UD or equivalent).
2. Use shortest tapes possible. You can shorten tapes to several minutes in length if you enjoy splicing.
3. Use shielded cable between your computer and the cassette recorder.
4. Keep heads and pinch rollers clean.
5. Keep heads aligned for tape interchangability.
6. Avoid recording too close to beginning of tape.
7. Make sure cassette is properly seated in recorder.
8. If you have trouble with a cassette try another. You can have a bad spot on tape or a warped cassette.
9. Highest setting of tone control is usually best.
10. A dirty recorder volume control can cause tape dropouts.
11. Make sure cassette connection plugs make good contact.
12. Rewind cassettes before removing them from recorder.
13. Store cassettes in dust-proof containers.
14. Avoid exposing cassettes to heat or magnetic fields.
15. Before recording, wind cassette to one end and fully rewind.
16. Cassette recorders will give you problems once in a while (They don't like certain cassettes, etc.). If one gives you problems most of the time replace it.
17. Make sure that MIKE plug is connected before recording. On most recorder the TAPE light will glow while recording.
18. You may have to record with the EAR plug out for some tape recorders.
19. Always use AC adapter with recorder for best results.
20. When a tone control is available, adjust it to the highest possible setting (maximum treble).