I am trying to locate a relatively inexpensive audio tape recorder
that will record and when it gets to the end of side one on the tape,
it will then auto-reverse to continue the recording to the end of the
tape.  I have looked in the stores and while some boombox recorders
offer an auto-reverse, play back capability, I have found none that
offer the auto-reverse audio record capability.  This would not need
to be a "music quality" unit because I am only recording talk.  I
don't need a remote mike but I do need it to be able to be plugged in
to the wall.  I will mostly be recording off the radio.  I also need
an auto-shut off when it reaches the end of the recording.  I am not
sure that there is much you will be able to do with this because I
have really tried.  Thanks

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 16 Sep 2002 08:55 PDT

Would you be willing to consider a used boombox? I have an old
Panasonic CD/cassette/radio unit (model now discontinued) that has the
capacity to auto-reverse while recording. It also has a timer so that
you can set it to begin recording while unattended.

By "auto shut-off at the end of the recording," do you mean that the
unit must completely power down? If so, my Panasonic would not meet
that requirement, but it does shut off the recording process, while
staying in standby mode awaiting further instructions.

If a used boombox would be satisfactory, I can hunt around to see
whether one similar to my Panasonic may be for sale online.

---

Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 16 Sep 2002 10:53 PDT

A used one would be just fine if it works well.  I need to be able to
record 120 minute/2 hour programs.  As to shut off at the end of the
tape, I just mean that the recorder does not continue to put pressure
on the tape, it just clicks off.  I think what you describe might be
what I need.  Is the sound ok for voice recording?

---

Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 16 Sep 2002 10:58 PDT

Can you give me the model number of that your old Panasonic.  I would
love the on/off timer feature because the recording I want to do is
while I am away at work.  Do you want to sell yours?

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2002 11:30 PDT

My Panasonic boombox is not for sale (I love it dearly,) but I will
look around online to see whether I can find one just like it. It is a
dandy. Excellent sound quality, much better than you would need for
voice recording. I've made tapes from CDs that sounded better than
some commercial cassette recordings.

If I find any used boomboxes of this type, I'll let you know. In the
meantime, I will also keep an eye out for new boomboxes with the
desired features. I would think that such a thing still exists; it's
just hard to track down the detailed information to verify that the
unit will do what you need it to do.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2002 12:32 PDT

I hope I don't sound insufferably greedy, but if I can possibly find a
Panasonic unit that will meet your needs, I would like to be able to
help you and also claim my fee. If, in a reasonable period of time, I
cannot locate something suitable, I will then post the Panasonic model
number for you, so that you can continue the search on your own.

I'll post here later this evening, regardless of whether or not my
search for a boombox is successful. I don't let go until the thunder
rolls, so I may very well be able to turn something up in the next few
hours.

~pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 17 Sep 2002 13:48 PDT

PinkFrued - THANK YOU!!!! Take all the time you need.  In fact, please
keep my posted email and if you ever see a Panasonic boombox, or one
that you think would work as well -even after my question goes away -
email me and I will pay you a finder's fee of whatever you think is
fair. I could really use several of these but, I will be greatful for
even one.

One more think, when I click on your name - I go to a ratings page but
I cannot figure out how to rate someone.  I would like to be able to
rate you.  At some point, will I be given the chance to do this or -
do I have to go to some specific page to do this?  C

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2002 15:04 PDT

Regarding instructions on how to rate me, it is not possible to rate a
researcher until the researcher has officially answered your question,
which I have not yet done, since I had assumed that an official answer
would require actually locating an available boombox for you to
purchase.

I have the manufacturers' names and model numbers of three units that
should meet your requirements: one boombox (the Panasonic, which I own
and can vouch for) and two cassette decks which have the auto-reverse
recording feature (according to posts on newsgroups, but no personal
verification of the accuracy of the information.) Unfortunately, I
have not been able to find these units for sale online.

If you would like me to post, as an answer to your question, the
information (with makes and model numbers) that I have been able to
obtain so far, I will gladly do so, and at that point you will be able
to assign a rating to my answer.

~pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 17 Sep 2002 16:11 PDT

Thanks - I will just let it perk along until closer to the end of the
30 days.  I will most certainly have a top rating.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2002 16:27 PDT

If I come across a used unit that looks good, I'll let you know. So
far, no luck, but I have emailed a couple of audio enthusiast friends
to see whether they may be able to offer suggestions.

Have you considered the possibility of using a dual-cassette unit that
can roll over from recording on deck one to deck two (but without
recording on the reverse side of either tape?) This would result in
two separate tapes, but you would be able to get quite a bit of
recording time, and a single tape could be dubbed from the two.

Another thing that you might consider: you can record audio material
on VHS cassettes, by using the audio-in jacks that many VCRs have.
Then, using audio out, you could dub this onto audio cassettes at a
time when you are able to be present while recording.

~pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Question by schmooz-ga on 17 Sep 2002 17:19 PDT

Tech-ie answer.  I will probably just keep looking for an auto-record
unit rather than to do all that other stuff.  When you feel you don't
want to keep this around any more, post the model numbers you found
and I will be glad for whatever you provide.  However, there are lots
of days to go so, waiting to see if anything turns up, would be my
first choice but, I will leave it to you.  I posted my email on a
earlier post clarification.  I really appreciate your help, C

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2002 21:44 PDT

I have found a Panasonic boombox that I think will interest you. This
is not the same model that I have, so I cannot vouch for it
personally, but I did find a citation on the Web which says that it
has auto reverse recording capability and a timer.

The only problem may be the price. Refurbished units run around $100.
This is a nice price for this item, since it has a multi-disc CD
changer, a powerful amplifier, an equalizer, and a boatload of other
goodies, but for your purposes the other goodies are not really
necessary.

Does this interest you? I've found several sources for this product,
so availability should not be a problem.

Let me know if this would meet your needs. I have also compiled a list
of ten cassette decks with auto reverse record capability (they are
older decks that may be available used; I have not looked for them
yet, since I was concentrating on the Panasonic boombox hunt.) These
are component-style record/playback decks which do not have their own
amplifiers or speakers, so I would think they would be less desirable
for your purposes than a boombox.

According to an audio enthusiast friend, the auto reverse record
feature is no longer available on most modern decks, because the
recording heads go out of alignment too easily, impairing the audio
quality. This sounds like hokum to me; I have been playing my
Panasonic for fifteen years, and it sounds great. Of course, I may
have a tin ear compared to these hi-fi audio people.

If you're willing to consider spending $100, I hope I've found just
the boombox for you. If not, back to the hunt. ;-)

~pinkfreud

Carolyn,

Below is all the info I've found, rolled into one rather disjointed
answer.

Here is a list of several devices which have the auto-reverse record
feature. The only one of these that I can personally vouch for is the
first one listed, the Panasonic RX-DS30, which I have owned since the
'80s. I recommend it highly, but could not find a used unit for sale
on the Web.

Panasonic RX-DS30 (I own this CD/cassette/radio boombox, as mentioned
earlier. It is great! I hope you can find one at auction some day.)

The units listed below are cassette decks (this means that they record
and play tapes, but have no amplifier and no speakers) which are
capable of auto-reverse recording:

Marantz PMD-500 

Denon DRW-840 

JVC TD-W354

TEAC AD-600 

Technics RS-TR575, Technics RS-TR515

Nakamichi RX-202 (cassette deck that physically removes cassette and
turns it over!)

Sony TC-WR690, Sony TC-WE805S, Sony TC-WE475, Sony TC-WE675, Sony
MHC-RX66

I am certain that there are many other units that might meet your
needs. The problem, when looking for units that can record in
auto-reverse mode, is that the feature is often not prominently
advertised, so it's difficult to tell whether a given machine has this
feature or not. My Panasonic did not include the fact that it has
auto-reverse recording capability in its list of features on the box.
It just said "auto-reverse," which often means playback only. I
discovered that it could reverse while recording when I was making a
long tape, and when it reached the end of the A side, the machine made
a clunking noise and continued to record on the B side of the tape. I
later discovered that this feature can be selected or deselected with
a slide-switch on the front of the machine.

Here's an odd piece of equipment: the Reel-Talk RT-101 is an unusual
item that might suit your needs very nicely, but it is no longer
manufactured, and I could not find a used unit for you. I found some
(outdated) information on this interesting device, which was
specifically designed to tape lengthy radio talk shows:

"Is Art Bell keeping you up at night?  Do you miss your favorite talk
radio shows while at work?  Don't lose sleep and don't quit your job. 
Instead buy the Reel-Talk RT-101 AM/FM talk show recorder.  This 
AM/FM radio features a special built-in longplay mono cassette
recorder (non-reversing).  It uses standard cassette tapes, but
records and plays them at one quarter speed (.0469 inches per second).
 You can therefore record up to 3 hours on each side of a 90 minute
cassette tape (or 2 hours on a C-60).  Once you have programmed the
unit, it automatically turns on to record a program and turns off. If
you record the same show every day, the timer will operate every 24
hours so you won't need to reprogram the unit.   Other refinements
include: digital readout, digital clock, 4 inch speaker, bass boost,
auto stop tape mechanism and built-in condenser mic.  The tower design
6.25x12x6.25 inches (160x300x160 mm) fits anywhere.  The unit operates
from 110 VAC 50-60 Hz or six D cells. Three AA cells are required for
memory backup."

Geocrawler Archives: 3-Hour Radio Recorder
http://www.geocrawler.com/archives/3/519/2000/3/100/3495216/

My best lead in locating a suitable cassette recorder that is actually
available online came from the post below:

"aiwa xrm-150 - Recently I purchased an AIWA XR-M150 table top radio.
This radio has two important features, an auto-reverse record cassette
and a timer. It will come on and record a radio show on both sides of
a cassette. Another radio that does this is the Panasonic SC-PM11."

Radio Info: Some Comments on Radio Hardware
http://members.tripod.com/~chinesecookery/radio-info/hardware.html

I could not find an  AIWA XR-M150 for sale, but the Panasonic SC-PM11
can be bought for around $100 (refurbished.) If you decide to go with
this one, the best place I know to buy refurbs is J&R, linked below. I
have ordered numerous items from this site, and have been very pleased
with the service and the quality of the merchandise. The Panasonic
SC-PM11 is also available from Amazon (both new and used) and at Ebay.
I have included those links, too, for price comparison purposes.

J&R Music & Computer World:  Panasonic SC-PM11 (Refurbished) 
http://www.jandr.com/JRProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=&pcount=&Product_Id=1498862

Amazon:  Panasonic SC-PM11
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005BICY/qid=1032543690/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-8249525-1348051?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

Ebay: Panasonic SC-PM11
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1380974267

My Google search strategy consisted of various combinations of
"cassette," "auto reverse," "record," and "boombox." Ferreting out the
information involved jumping from link to link after the initial
Googling, so I can't tell you exactly what paths of investigation led
to which bits of data. I learned about some of the cassette decks
through email correspondence with a friend who owns an audio equipment
store.

If anything I've said is unclear, or if any of the links do not
function, please request clarification. Thanks for being so
cooperative and informative during my search. It has been a pleasure
to conduct this hunt, and I hope what I've found is of use to you.

Best wishes,
pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 20 Sep 2002 11:20 PDT

Regarding your question about how to leave a question open after it
has been answered...
 
Once a question has been officially answered, the only way to have it
remain open is to formally reject the answer as unsatisfactory. If
Google Answers grants a refund, you can then choose to have your
question reposted.

A much better way to get further information is to ask for
clarification from the researcher who answered your question. If a
researcher is aware that your need has not been met, he or she can
redirect efforts to assist you. Most GA researchers are dedicated,
hardworking individuals who are more than willing to do some
additional searching in response to clarification requests. Sometimes
even the best of us give answers that do not quite meet our customers'
needs; usually this is because we have misunderstood some aspect of
the question.

~pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 20 Sep 2002 14:55 PDT

Thank you very much for the kind words and the five stars!

In case you ever run into a Panasonic RX-DS30 at a garage sale or flea
market, it would helpful for you to know what one looks like. Here is
a photo of mine:

http://fototime.com/7F28C79A5F000F7/orig.jpg

The frog was added later, and does not come with the boombox. ;-)

~pinkfreud

PinkFreud on question ID #65546.  This researcher is fabulous and I
feel he went out of his way to give very helpful information and then,
he even left the question open so that another researcher could pick
it up if he or she had more to add.  I know that your researchers are
probably paid for answered questions so I felt that this was very nice
of him.  I finally posted that I was more than satisfied and asked him
to mark my question “answered. He was great!

Note to other researchers:

Although I've been trying to help here, I have no special claim on
this question, and I welcome anyone else's input. If the question is
answered by another researcher, I will absolutely not feel as if my
toes have been stepped on. ;-)

~Pink