System 711  (130-1256)          Hints and Tips         Faxback Doc. # 7631

The Right Tape

Your music system uses only normal bias (ferric) tapes.  Do not use CrO2
(chrome) or other type IV tapes for recording.  You can play pre-recorded
chrome or type IV cassette tapes in your music system, but you might need
to adjust the frequency equalizer for the best response.

To take full advantage of your music system's performance capabilities,
use only high-quality tapes, such as XR Premium Ferric tapes.  Your local
Radio Shack store offers a complete 
selection of blank tapes.

Storing Your Cassettes

Follow these suggestions for storing your cassettes:

Keep them away from excessive dust and dirt.

Do not expose them to moisture or high humidity.

    Keep them away from strong magnetic fields that can be generated by
    other electronic devices (transformers, motors, and so on).

    Store them in protective plastic containers.  Your local Radio Shack
    store offers a complete selection of tape storage containers.

Erasing Tapes

Each time you record on a cassette tape, the previous recording is
automatically erased.

If you want to erase a tape without making a new recording, set the
function selector to TAPE.  Press RECORD.

The deck erases the tape in TAPE TWO as the tape passes the record head.
If you want to quickly erase a tape, you might prefer to use a bulk tape
eraser, available at your local Radio Shack store.  It erases both sides
of an entire tape in a few seconds.

Accidental Erasure Prevention

All cassettes have erase-protection tabs.  When in place, these tabs let
you record on the tape.  Once you remove these tabs, you cannot press
RECORD.  To avoid erasing or recording over Side A (or 1), break off the
Side A (or 1) tab with a screwdriver.  If you wish to protect Side B
(or 2), remove the Side B (or 2) tab.

To record on the tape again, place a piece of strong plastic tape over the
erase-protection tab holes.

Note:  Removal of the erase-protection tab does not prevent a bulk eraser
       from erasing the tape.

Caution:  When using a cassette that has had the erase-protection tabs
          broken off, do not try to force down RECORD.  Doing so might
          damage the recording mechanism.

Tape Tension

Before loading a cassette, take up any slack in the tape by turning the
tape hub with a six-sided pencil.  (Avoid touching the tape.)

Caution:  If you do not remove excess slack, the tape might become tangled
          in the record/playback mechanism.  If you play one particular
          cassette several times, the tape can become tightly wound on
          either hub.  A tape that is tightly wound can become tangled,
          cause tape distortion, and uneven tape movement.  Before playing
          the tape again, fast-forward the entire tape and than completely
          rewind it.

Cleaning the Tape Mechanism

Cleaning and demagnetizing the parts of the cassette deck that come into
contact with the tape prolongs the life of your tape and maintains its
high-quality sound.

For best performance and sound quality, clean all the tape-handling
mechanisms after approximately every 20 hours of use.  You can use a
cleaning kit, denatured alcohol and cleaning swabs or a convenient head-
cleaner cassette.  All these cleaning products are available at your
local Radio Shack store.

Demagnetizing the Tape Head

To prevent unwanted noise, use a tape demagnetizer to remove residual
magnetism.  Tape head demagnetizers are available at your local Radio
Shack store.

Cautions:  Keep the tape demagnetizer away from your cassette tapes.

           Never touch the record head with any kind of metal object.
           This could magnetize or damage the record head.

(br/all-9/30/94)