OLYMPUS Pearlcorder J500, Pearlcorder J300 - Cassette Player Manual

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing an O lympus Pearlcorder. To get the most out of this product, be sure to carefully read these instructions before use.
Make a test recording first to be sure that your recordings will be error-free.

Power Supply

Installing the Batteries

1. Slide open the battery cover in the direction of the arrow.
2. Install two size AAA batteries, observing the correct polarity.
3. Close the battery cover.

As the batteries lose their charge, the REC indicator dims, and the tape speed, sound volume, and sound quality degrade. W hen you notice any of these signs occur, you should replace the batteries.

Battery-Power indicator

(J500 only)

Press the BATTERY CHECK button to get a visual measure of the available battery life. The more battery life you have, the more lights will be lit. W hen there is one (red) light lit only, it is a good time to change the batteries.

Note: Remove the batteries from the unit before leaving it out of service for a long period of time.

Powering the Unit from an AC Outlet

Connect an AC adaptor (sold separately) to the unit. Olympus Model A321 AC adaptor: US and C anada, A322: Europe (except U.K.).

Note: Be sure to purchase only a specified (or equivalent) AC adaptor. Using an AC adaptor of other specifications may cause fire or electric shock.

Loading a Microcasette

1. Press the STOP/EJECT button to open the cassette cover.
2. Load a Microcassette in the illustrated direction.
3. Push the cassette cover lightly to close it.
   • Use an Olympus Microcassette labeled
   • Take up any slack in a tape before loading. ➝ a Remember that slack in tape can lead to damage to the tape.
   • If you have trouble closing the cassette cover, turn the hub of thecassette slightly and load the cassette again. ➝ b
4. Tip for Preserving Important Recordings ➝ c
   • A Microcassette has a protect lug for each side. The REC button cannotbe pressed when a cassette with the right-hand protect lug broken (using a screwdriver or similar object) is loaded. (The left-hand lug is for the opposite side of the tape.)
   • If you want to record on a tape that has a broken lug, cover theopening of the lug with adhesive tape

Recording

This unit has a combined MIC / EAR jack. Recording is disabled when an earphone is plugged into this jack. Before recording, make sure that an earphone is not plugged into the MIC/EAR jack.

Normal Recording

1. Set the MODE switch to OFF.
2. Choose a tape speed with the TAPE SPEED switch.
3. Turn the VOLUME control knob to adjust the MIC. sensitivity. Most recording situations will require having the VO LUME control knob set to MAX (maximum).
4. Press the REC button and the PLAY button at the same time. The REC indicator lights, and recording through the built-in microphone begins.

• Tape speed
  With the TAPE SPEED switch set to 2.4 cm/s (Normal recording)
  An MC -60 (60-minute) tape allows up to 1 hour of recording (30 minutes per side), with the best possible recording quality.
  With the TAPE SPEED switch set to 1.2 cm/s (Longer recording)
  An MC -60 (60-minute) tape allows up to 2 hours of recording (60 minutes per side), and a 90-minute tape allows up to 3 hours of recording (90 minutes per side).

Pause ➝a Slide the PAUSE switch up to PAUSE.
Recording pauses. To resume recording, slide the switch back down.

Stop ➝ b Press the STOP button.
Recording stops. The PAUSE switch is automatically reset.

Other Recording Modes

VCVA (Variable Control Voice Actuator) Recording
Recording starts automatically upon sensing voice and stops automatically when silence lasts 3 to 4 seconds. This feature is suitable for recording conversations interrupted by periods of silence. The volume of voice to be sensed (actuation level) is adjustable. This allows optimal recording to suit specific environments, whether noisy or quiet. (Test recording at a few levels is recommended to ensure accurate recording.)

1. Set the MODE switch to VCVA.
2. Choose the desired tape speed with the TAPE SPEED switch.
3. Turn the VOLUME control knob to adjust the actuation level. When you increase the volume setting, the sensitivity is increased to begin recording even when the source sound is of low volume. When you reduce the volume setting, the sensitivity is lowered to begin recording only when the source sound is of high volume.
4. Press the REC button and the PLAY button at the same time. Recording starts automatically when sound volume reaches the actuation level you have set.
   Note: When VC VA recording has completed, press the STO P button in order to prevent degraded performance and conserve battery life.

Insert Editing ➝ a Press the REC button during playback.
If you press the REC button during playback, recording will start at that point. This is useful for editing previously recorded passages. However, this function will overwrite your existing recordings.
Recording with an External Microphone ➝ b Plug an external microphone (not supplied) into the MIC/EAR jack.
Sound can be recorded with greater clarity. The built-in microphone is disabled. Recorded sound cannot be heard from the speaker while a microphone is plugged into this jack.

Play

This unit has a combined MIC / EAR jack. Playback is disabled when an external microphone is plugged into this jack. Before playback, make sure that an external microphone is not plugged into the MIC/EAR jack.

Normal Playback

1. Set the MODE switch to OFF.
2. Set the TAPE SPEED switch to the same speed as that used when recording.
   Note: If playback is set to a different speed than when the information was recorded, playback may sound too fast or too slow. If this occurs, try switching the tape speed.
3. Press the PLAY button to start playback.
4. Turn the VOLUME control knob to adjust the sound volume.

Pause ➝ a Slide the PAUSE switch up to PAUSE.
Playback pauses. To resume playback, slide the switch back down.

Stop ➝ b Press the STOP button.
Playback stops. The PAUSE switch is automatically reset.

Fast Forward ➝ d Slide the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch to FF/CUE while the tape is stopped.
The tape will be fast-forwarded.

Rewind ➝ d Slide the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch to REV/REW while the tape is stopped.
The tape will be rewound.

Other Play Modes

Fast Playback ➝ c Set the MODE switch to F.PLAY during playback.
Playback will continue at a speed about 25% faster than normal.

Cue ➝ e Slide the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch to FF/CUE during playback.
The tape can be fast-forwarded with sound. It returns to normal playback when you release the switch.

Review ➝ e Slide the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch to REV/REW during playback.
The tape can be rewound with sound. It returns to normal playback when you release the switch.

Quick Review ➝ f Slide the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch to REV/REW during recording.
The REC button is reset, and the tape can be rewound with sound.
It returns to normal playback when you release the switch.

Playback with an Earphone ➝ g Plug an earphone (sold separately) into the MIC/EAR jack.
Recorded sound is output from the earphone, but not from the speaker while the earphone is plugged in the MIC / EAR jack.

Note: Before playing back recorded sound with the earphone, make sure that the VO LUME control knob is not set to MAX.

Tape Counter ➝ h
Before starting recording or playback, press the RESET button to reset the tape counter to 000. This will make the task of locating a recording or starting point for playback easier.

Easy Message Locator Index Signal

(J500 only)

Press the IN DEX (index signal) button where you want a point on the tape marked while recording. The REC indicator becomes brighter, and an index signal is recorded. When you slide the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch to REV/ REW during playback, a beep will sound where the recorded index signal is encountered. Playback will start when you release the Rewind/Fast-Forward switch.

Note: Index signals will not be heard while cueing.

Automatic Shut off

When the end of tape is reached during playback or recording, both the PLAY and REC buttons will return to their stop positions automatically. This feature is not activated durning rewinding or fast-forwarding.

Maintenance

Body

Wipe the surface of the unit's body with a soft, dry cloth or a soft cloth moistened with a diluted neutral detergent solution. N EVER use thinner, benzine, or alcohol-based cleaning agents, as these chemicals can damage the finish.

REC/PLAY head

Clean the head and capstan periodically to prevent degradation of sound quality, noise, and other inconveniences. W ipe with a cotton swab dipped in a commercial cleaning fluid or use an MC -C 2 or XV cleaning tape (sold separately).

Care in Handling

• Do NOT leave the unit or Microcassettes in hot places (like a closedcar), in direct sunlight, in damp places, or near sources of strong electromagnetism.
• Magnetic cards (such as an ATM card) placed near the speaker orearphone can cause recorded data to be corrupted.
• Do NOT leave the unit unattended while recording, playing, paused, fast-forwarding, or rewinding.

Troubleshooting

Accessories

OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO., LTD.
San-Ei Building, 22–2, Nishi Shinjuku 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Tel. 03-3340-2211

OLYMPUS AMERICA INC.
Two C orporate C enter Drive, Melville, N Y 11747-3157, U.S.A.
Tel. 631-844-5000/ 1-800-622-6372

OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO. (EUROPA) GMBH (Premises/Goods delivery) Wendenstraße 14–18, 20097 Hamburg, Germany. Tel. 0 40-23 77 30, (Letters) Postfach 10 49 08, 20034 Hamburg, Germany

OLYMPUS OPTICAL CO. (U.K.) LTD.
2–8 Honduras Street, London EC1Y 0TX, United Kingdom.
Tel. 0171-253-2772