Is this suitable for warming up gradually an old reel-to-reel recorder which hasn't been used for over thirty years or would a more powerful model be required?
1503881
3 amps is about 300 watts. If the rating on your recorder is less than that you should be OK. If your unit has tubes the gradual warmup is a good idea. If it is solid state your wasting your time. Make sure the voltage stays below 120 VAC. 110 to 115 should do it. Continued good luck to you.
1503882
The reason for initially applying a reduced voltage to electronic equipment that's been idle for a long time is to give electrolytic capacitors a chance to re-form their electrolytic layer which has likely deteriorated. That reduces the chances that the layer will puncture when full voltage is applied. If it hasn't been run in thirty years that's probably moot, and all electrolytics should be replaced on spec. Also, the effect of reduced voltage on a given piece of gear will vary markedly according to the circuit and power supply design. It's the sort of thing that should be done with as thorough an understanding as possible, not by rote. The reason for initially applying a reduced voltage to electronic equipment that's been idle for a long time is to give electrolytic capacitors a chance to re-form their electrolytic layer which has likely deteriorated. That reduces the chances that the layer will puncture when full voltage is applied. If it hasn't been run in thirty years that's probably moot, and all electrolytics should be replaced on spec. Also, the effect of reduced voltage on a given piece of gear will vary markedly according to the circuit and power supply design. It's the sort of thing that should be done with as... » Read More The reason for initially applying a reduced voltage to electronic equipment that's been idle for a long time is to give electrolytic capacitors a chance to re-form their electrolytic layer which has likely deteriorated. That reduces the chances that the layer will puncture when full voltage is applied. If it hasn't been run in thirty years that's probably moot, and all electrolytics should be replaced on spec. Also, the effect of reduced voltage on a given piece of gear will vary markedly according to the circuit and power supply design. It's the sort of thing that should be done with as thorough an understanding as possible, not by rote. « Show Less
1503883
It has plenty of power for that, but electric motors draw more current when hit with a reduced voltage so I would not use a variac to warm up the recorder or anything else with a motor. Variacs are useful to check out circuits in which voltage is proportional to current like an old radio with electron tubes and transformers, etc.
1503884
This would have plenty of power I would think. I use it to vary a 6 inch fan for my garden and it's a powerful blower
1503885
A reel to reel recorder has complex electronic circuits designed to work with an input voltage of 110 Volts. There is no way of predicting what it will do with lower voltage. It is not just a warming-up you do, like with a heating pad.
1503886
As long as the total amp draw on the reel to reel is less than 3 amps, you're good
934330
Hello, yes you can use it like the old phonograph, I have used mine a lot since receiving it and have only used it to play records and it does that well.
1943569
Hi ChrisI see that others have already given you the specs. I play this recorder nearly every day. I had to train my hands at first to get the low notes and prevent leaking. Now after a couple of months I can play it with ease, but it is a very large instrument and does strain your hands.
199013
I haven't recorded on this machine yet, which I purchased to replace the discontinued model with a built - in tuner. I could not play back DVD- disks recorded on that machine. Some dvd+ disks recorded on that machine seemed to go bad after a lot of use, as well. The lightly used vcr is what failed completely. I liked having the controls on the box, which Toshiba did not have.
775788
i am not sure of specifics but what i record into the recorder sounds as good as the original. the mic pick up is amazing for recording a piano from across the room. i consider piano recording as the holy grail of recording, very hard to get it right but this recorder does a great job!! i have also recorded albums, cassettes and even an old 8-track and they have all sounded very good!!
287860
It is a very good Player and record. But if it gose down it is very hard to get some one to fix it!I like the one that I have but it is a old one and would like to find one of the H.D. model.
2110319
Patrick....this is a pretty basic portable recorder. Materials on previously recorded cassettes can certainly be erased....editing such cassette tapes is possible but tricky because of their small size. Hope this is of some help.
2246060
I just didn't hear enough about the technology to know how well it would work (as you can see, no one besides you responded)--so my husband and I are still stuck in analog-ville. We bought two new cassette recorders at Best Buy (which still carries full-size cassette recorders) and use one for recording and one for transcribing. Clunky and time-consuming but it works. One day we'll switch over...but not quite yet!
92699
You cant record a tape slowed down, but it does slow playback enough for what you need, imo. It's also good for learning guitar licks, but the pitch will also drop, of course.
60223
That's exactly what I bought the recorder for. It works like a charm, just remember to place it where it won't be picking up unwanted noise.
932271
This recorder DOES NOT HAVE A TUNER making it more complicated to record. I was able to record direct from Over the Air with a TV with a digital tuner! If you do not have digital in included in your set, you would need a digital converter box that has both IN and OUT video/audio inouts. This recorder DOES have an HDMI input. This recorder DOES alow you to schedule recording, but you MUST know the times and CHANGE THE INPUT so the signal will go to the recorder. A bit complicated. It really is alot like when we recorded to our VCR's. BTW, be sure to get DVD+R or DVD-R to record. MOST cable stations are not recordable due to copyright protection. Good luck! This recorder DOES NOT HAVE A TUNER making it more complicated to record. I was able to record direct from Over the Air with a TV with a digital tuner! If you do not have digital in included in your set, you would need a digital converter box that has both IN and OUT video/audio inouts. This recorder DOES have an HDMI input. This recorder DOES alow you to schedule recording, but you MUST know the times and CHANGE THE INPUT so the signal will go to the recorder. A bit complicated. It really is alot like when we recorded to our VCR's. BTW, be sure to get DVD+R or DVD-R to record. MOST cable... » Read More This recorder DOES NOT HAVE A TUNER making it more complicated to record. I was able to record direct from Over the Air with a TV with a digital tuner! If you do not have digital in included in your set, you would need a digital converter box that has both IN and OUT video/audio inouts. This recorder DOES have an HDMI input. This recorder DOES alow you to schedule recording, but you MUST know the times and CHANGE THE INPUT so the signal will go to the recorder. A bit complicated. It really is alot like when we recorded to our VCR's. BTW, be sure to get DVD+R or DVD-R to record. MOST cable stations are not recordable due to copyright protection. Good luck! « Show Less
680503
I wouldn't know about this model being old and obsolete. I purchased one for my son to do his homework on and for that it works great. It's also powerful enough for him to use his graphic programs.
1781761
Sure, but you need a tuner for the input. Any cable box or digital antennae will provide a "signal out" to plug into the recorder. The unit does NOT have it's own tuner.
1131103
Rhis was a gift to my very young granddaughter. No one has tried this as she has a small recorder that she uses.
1241622
If you want to record lectures try the Sony TCM200DV which uses tapes. I used it for one of my lectures and found that using the tapes and storing them without needing to download into a computer was a breeze. All my friends who used the digital recorders had problems but this recorder helped me pass. If you buy the 90 min. tapes the machine can double the time. Sensitivity is excellent. It runs about $35 and there is even a more expensive $45 older model. I just labeled the tapes and if there was a lecture I wanted to hear again it was no problem. I know you are keen on the digital but to me, recording and then downloading into a computer was a drag. Aside from that if there is a problem with the computer your recordings are gone. I know this didn't answer your question but it might help.
1395353
Why would you bother? Impedance changes, XLR versus mini line level changes, more possibilities for bad mechanical connection. Consider borrowing a digital recorder with XLR input, if the microphone is important for the application. If this is your only available recorder (and it's a good one), then prepare to deal with noise or dropouts.
1910062
This is a phenomenal digital recorder. I took it for a consulting job in Africa and recorded 35 hours of music and voice interviews. Excellent quality recordings. Often the recording was hand held. No noticeable extraneous sound from holding the unit. If I misunderstood the question, please clarify further. I'd be happy to help.