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Cassette Machines
Cassette machines come with recorded instructions that explain how to operate the machines. If you need more assistance, you can call the library. A staff member will be able to answer your questions by telephone.
The library cassette machine is a player only and will not record. It is designed to play library cassettes recorded at 15/16 IPS or 1 7/8 IPS and on two or four tracks. It is equipped with a rechargeable battery and an electrical cord.
Controls
Before you begin using your cassette machine, place it on a table in front of you. The handle and piano-type keys should be closest to you.
The top of your cassette player is divided into three sections:
- The speaker occupies the back half of the surface.
- The cassette door and the keys used to play, fast forward, rewind, stop, and eject the cassette are in the front left corner. Counting from the left, these keys are arranged as follows:
a. Stop--marked with an X.
b. Rewind--marked with an arrow pointing left.
c. Play--marked with an O.
d. Fast Forward--marked with an arrow pointing right.
e. Eject--not marked.
3. The control panel is located on the right side of the top surface next to the cassette door. It consists of five controls. Counting from front to back, the controls are:
a. Volume--the slide switch closest to the front of the machine.
b. Tone--the slide switch behind the volume switch.
c. Side Selector--the rocker switch behind the tone switch.
d. Speed Selector--the rocker switch behind the side selector.
e. Variable Speed Control--the slide switch behind the speed selector.
Playing Four-Track Cassettes
Our cassettes will appear to be oddly numbered because of the four track (or four side) system. The first side of the first cassette will be 1. The first side of the next cassette will be 5, then 9, and so on.
Begin with the volume and tone slide switches set in the middle. Press the two rocker switches to the left. The speed selector switch will be set at a speed of 15/16 IPS, and the side selector switch will be on sides one and two. Push the top slide switch all the way to the left.
Next follow these steps:
- Open the cassette door by pushing down the eject key, the key with no markings.
- Insert the cassette with the Braille side up, and close the door.
- Press the play key--marked with an O--to begin playing your cassette. If you do not hear the reader after one minute:
a. Adjust your volume control--the slide switch closest to the front of the machine.
b. Adjust your tone control--the slide switch behind the volume switch.
c. Check your speed selector setting--the rocker switch behind the tone switch. Is it pushed down to the left?
d. Check your side selector setting--the rocker switch behind the tone switch. Is it pushed down to the left?
4. To play side 2:
a. Press the stop key--marked with an X--to stop the cassette. Press the eject key--the key with no markings--and remove the cassette.
b. Turn the cassette over and re-insert it in the machine. Push the cassette door closed, and press the play key--marked with an O.
c. Stop the cassette at the end of side 2, and turn it over again. The Braille side should be up.
5. To play side 3:
a. Locate the side selector switch. It is the rocker switch nearest the front of the control panel. Push down the right side of the switch. This selects sides 3 and 4.
b. Press the play key to hear side 3.
6. To play side 4, turn the cassette over again, and push the play key.
Note: The narrator will provide instructions at the end of each side of the cassette.
To play a new cassette:
Return the side selector switch to the sides 1 and 2 position by pushing the left side down.
Playing Two-Track Cassettes
Some two-track cassettes are recorded at 15/16 IPS. These tapes are played at the same settings as the four-track tapes, except that the first cassette contains only sides 1 and 2. Leave your machine at the same settings, and insert the second cassette to continue with side 3.
You can also play standard two-track cassettes (including your Bible cassettes) on your library machine. To play these cassettes:
- Set the speed selector switch--the rocker switch on the control panel closest to the back of the machine--in the 1 7/8 position by pressing down the right side of the switch.
- Set the side selector switch--the rocker switch closest to the front of the machine--in the sides 1 and 2 position by pressing down the left side of the switch.
Note: If you hear gibberish, check the side selector switch. Be sure that the left side is pressed down.
You can play commercial cassettes on library machines; however, if you play stereo tapes, you will hear only half of the stereo sound.
For more detailed instructions on operating the cassette machine, refer to the instruction cassette which came with the machine.
Headphones
Cassette machines are equipped with headphone jacks. Headphones are not furnished automatically with the machines. If you live under circumstances where you need headphones to listen to your books, you can either buy headphones from local vendors or request the library to send you a set. If you buy your own, you need to select monaural headphones.
