When and why did tape recorders acquire a “remote” input?
This entirely-typical-of-the-era (other than mysteriously missing its EAR socket) tape recorder from 1984 was the "standard" type of tape deck for home computer data storage in the UK.
They could be battery powered, had a large mono speaker and tinny inbuilt microphone, carry handle, and a volume control on the side along with sockets for earphone output, microphone input and "remote" input, where an external device could stop or start the tape.
When did this particular form factor and feature set evolve, and what did people use them for before their heyday as a home computer peripheral?
cassette-tape
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
add a comment |
This entirely-typical-of-the-era (other than mysteriously missing its EAR socket) tape recorder from 1984 was the "standard" type of tape deck for home computer data storage in the UK.
They could be battery powered, had a large mono speaker and tinny inbuilt microphone, carry handle, and a volume control on the side along with sockets for earphone output, microphone input and "remote" input, where an external device could stop or start the tape.
When did this particular form factor and feature set evolve, and what did people use them for before their heyday as a home computer peripheral?
cassette-tape
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
1
They made terrible boom boxes and were too big to be usable as a walkman. I'm guessing maybe field recording, and there were external microphones with on/off switches?
– hexwab
7 hours ago
add a comment |
This entirely-typical-of-the-era (other than mysteriously missing its EAR socket) tape recorder from 1984 was the "standard" type of tape deck for home computer data storage in the UK.
They could be battery powered, had a large mono speaker and tinny inbuilt microphone, carry handle, and a volume control on the side along with sockets for earphone output, microphone input and "remote" input, where an external device could stop or start the tape.
When did this particular form factor and feature set evolve, and what did people use them for before their heyday as a home computer peripheral?
cassette-tape
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
This entirely-typical-of-the-era (other than mysteriously missing its EAR socket) tape recorder from 1984 was the "standard" type of tape deck for home computer data storage in the UK.
They could be battery powered, had a large mono speaker and tinny inbuilt microphone, carry handle, and a volume control on the side along with sockets for earphone output, microphone input and "remote" input, where an external device could stop or start the tape.
When did this particular form factor and feature set evolve, and what did people use them for before their heyday as a home computer peripheral?
cassette-tape
cassette-tape
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
asked 7 hours ago
hexwabhexwab
1684
1684
1
They made terrible boom boxes and were too big to be usable as a walkman. I'm guessing maybe field recording, and there were external microphones with on/off switches?
– hexwab
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1
They made terrible boom boxes and were too big to be usable as a walkman. I'm guessing maybe field recording, and there were external microphones with on/off switches?
– hexwab
7 hours ago
1
1
They made terrible boom boxes and were too big to be usable as a walkman. I'm guessing maybe field recording, and there were external microphones with on/off switches?
– hexwab
7 hours ago
They made terrible boom boxes and were too big to be usable as a walkman. I'm guessing maybe field recording, and there were external microphones with on/off switches?
– hexwab
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
My father had one bought in Singapore in the 1970s. Their appeal was that they were portable recording devices. A microphone with a long lead would plug into the mic and rem sockets. The microphone would have a switch on the side which could be used to pause the recording or playback of the tape.
Journalists, academics etc would put the recorder in a bag and use the mic to start and stop the recording.
Before this, the main home recording technology was reel to reel tape machines, which were very heavy and large because of the size of the reels.
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
1
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "648"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fretrocomputing.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f8819%2fwhen-and-why-did-tape-recorders-acquire-a-remote-input%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
My father had one bought in Singapore in the 1970s. Their appeal was that they were portable recording devices. A microphone with a long lead would plug into the mic and rem sockets. The microphone would have a switch on the side which could be used to pause the recording or playback of the tape.
Journalists, academics etc would put the recorder in a bag and use the mic to start and stop the recording.
Before this, the main home recording technology was reel to reel tape machines, which were very heavy and large because of the size of the reels.
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
1
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
add a comment |
My father had one bought in Singapore in the 1970s. Their appeal was that they were portable recording devices. A microphone with a long lead would plug into the mic and rem sockets. The microphone would have a switch on the side which could be used to pause the recording or playback of the tape.
Journalists, academics etc would put the recorder in a bag and use the mic to start and stop the recording.
Before this, the main home recording technology was reel to reel tape machines, which were very heavy and large because of the size of the reels.
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
1
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
add a comment |
My father had one bought in Singapore in the 1970s. Their appeal was that they were portable recording devices. A microphone with a long lead would plug into the mic and rem sockets. The microphone would have a switch on the side which could be used to pause the recording or playback of the tape.
Journalists, academics etc would put the recorder in a bag and use the mic to start and stop the recording.
Before this, the main home recording technology was reel to reel tape machines, which were very heavy and large because of the size of the reels.
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
My father had one bought in Singapore in the 1970s. Their appeal was that they were portable recording devices. A microphone with a long lead would plug into the mic and rem sockets. The microphone would have a switch on the side which could be used to pause the recording or playback of the tape.
Journalists, academics etc would put the recorder in a bag and use the mic to start and stop the recording.
Before this, the main home recording technology was reel to reel tape machines, which were very heavy and large because of the size of the reels.
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
answered 7 hours ago
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
32715
32715
1
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
add a comment |
1
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
1
1
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
The remote input was actually used most by such microphones. Home computers nearly never relied on them to control the tape, but rather printed "Start tape, then press any key"
– tofro
7 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I think that how they used the remote input depended on the company making the computer. Sharp used it on their PocketComputer series. Even had two remote ports on some versions.
– UncleBod
3 hours ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
I agree with this answer. A schoolfriend of mine had one of the original Phillips portable cassette recorders; this would have been in the late 1960s. As I recall, the microphone had a stop-start switch.
– another-dave
49 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
@UncleBod but even software for those machines with motor control outputs — which also includes at least the Acorns and the MSX — couldn't assume the user was using the proper tape player and cable.
– Tommy
37 mins ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Retrocomputing Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fretrocomputing.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f8819%2fwhen-and-why-did-tape-recorders-acquire-a-remote-input%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
They made terrible boom boxes and were too big to be usable as a walkman. I'm guessing maybe field recording, and there were external microphones with on/off switches?
– hexwab
7 hours ago