We have received a considerable amount of mail on the subject of cassette recorders for use with the BBC Micro. To help members make their own decisions about which tape recorder is most suitable for their own circumstances, we have looked at four machines.

1. Boots CR325 (23.95)
2. Dixons PRINZ TR15 (17.99)
3. WHSmiths CCR800 (29.95)
4. Ferguson 3T07 (28.50)

When deciding which machines to look at, we attempted to choose those with sufficient distributors to enable easy purchase for members throughout the country. These machines were all suggested as suitable for use with the BBC Micro.

All the tape recorders are of a similar shape and overall design, being flat and oblong with six control buttons at the front. The average size is about 14 inches long, 6 inches wide and 2 inches high. They all have a flip up 1id on top, into which the cassette is inserted.

Other common factors include automatic stop/turn off when reaching the end of a cassette during playback or record, but not during fast forward or rewind. The machines can obviously be used in the normal way without the computer, and as such include a built-in microphone and volume control.

All tests on the tape recorders were made using the standard 'Welcome' cassette, supplied by the BBC. Most cassette recorders are capable of recording and playback at two different levels, through different sockets and leads. The DIN input/output socket is just over 1cm in diameter and has usually three or five pins. The jack sockets are 3.5mm in size and will be in a pair on the recorder, one for input, one for output. These two are accompanied, on the machines reviewed here, by a third and smaller (2.5mm) socket. This provides motor control from the computer.

The overall appearance of this machine is very good. It has a tape counter which is easily read, and sliding volume and tone controls, all easily accessible on the top. The controls incorporate a single button for stop/eject and also include a pause button, which can be very useful when wusing it with the computer.

Both DIN and 3.5mm jack sockets are available for record/playback, these are located at the front of the machine, below the control buttons. Positioned here they seemed a little in the way, most machines having them to the side.

Performance: The machine recorded and played back without problem, through both DIN and jack sockets.

This machine is slightly slimmer than the Boots but gives a less pleasing, plastic appearance. (It is important to remember that this machine is considerably cheaper than all the others.) The TR15 has no tape counter, an omission which could prove inconvenient on many occasions. There is no tone control and the volume control is located on the left side, along with the input/output sockets. In such a position it is hard to tell which way increases and which way decreases the volume. Only 3.5mm input/output sockets are provided, not a DIN.

Performance: The recorder worked well for playback of the 'Welcome' casstte, but proved to be unreliable for saving programs. The problem would appear to be associated with the auto-record level.

Unfortunately while using our demonstration model, the "record protection" feature malfunctioned. This is a small lever which only allows recordings to be made on cassettes which have the rear tabs in place. This lever jammed on the TR15 resulting in accidental over-recording of the Welcome cassette with test data!

PRINZ TR30: As a postscript to this review, Dixons have informed us that they will shortly be selling a new recorder, the TR30. It is understood that this machine, which will sell for 21.99 will be more compatible with the BBC micro.

This recorder is sold by Smiths to accompany, dare I say it, their range of Sinclair computers. This tape recorder is very slim and has an impressive appearance. A tape counter is provided and is easily read, being located on the top of the machine.

The volume control is located on the left side of the machine, and is not accompanied by any tone controls. The CCR89Q features a 'computer mode' switch, which is recommended for use when saving from the computer. This fixes the automatic recording level control to an 'optimum' level.

This machine also offers another very useful and unusual feature; the ability to 'cue' and 'review'. This means that if the rewind button is pressed while the play button is locked, the tape will quickly rewind, without resetting the play button, i.e. as soon as the rewind button is released, play immediately continues again. The same applies to the fast-forward control. This really is very handy and allows very quick location of, say, the start of a certain program. Unfortunately the machine does not also offer a pause button.

Both DIN and 3.5 mm jack sockets are provided, being located on the left side of the machine.

Performance: When using the DIN socket, the machine recorded and replayed very well with no problems at all. Using the jack socket for recording was slightly less reliable.

This is the machine which is recommended and sold by Acorn to accompany the BBC micro. The appearance of this machine is good. It is slightly larger than the others reviewed, and so it is surprising that the tape counter, located on the top, is so small as to be hard to read. The controls have a very positive feel, and include a pause control but not the cue/review feature of the Smiths recorder. Volume and tone controls are of the sliding type, being located on the front face of the machine, where their settings are easily read or adjusted.

The standard DIN and 3.5mm jacks are located on the left side.

Performance: The recorder worked well and without fault. Loading and saving of cassettes through both DIN and jack sockets was without problem. However it should be noted that we have received considerable mail from 3T07 owners who have had recording troubles. In past magazines we have published a number of fixes for this condition (eg. see BEEBUG vol. 1 no. 4 p.29 and BEEBUG vol. l no. 9 p.26).

Availability: It is pertinent to mention with this article that we have received letters from unhappy members who were still waiting for delivery of their cassette recorders, ordered through Vector, after very lengthy periods of time. Vector were waiting for delivery themselves and were apparently advising customers that it might be in their best interest to cancel their order and request a refund. Vector are no longer supplying it as they are now selling a Data Cassette Recorder. This is a machine which is designed specifically for use with computers and consequently cannot be put to any other use. Unfortunately Vector were out of stock of this item when we were collecting machines for review.

The Boots recorder offers good reliability at a reasonable price. The Smiths and Ferguson recorders are both somewhat more expensive, and for the extra money you get a more solid and better finished machine, and in the case of the Smiths', a very useful cue-review facility. In view of problems which members have had with the Ferguson, we rate the Boots and the WHSmiths as the best buys for their respective prices.