HOW TO MODIFY AN INEXPENSIVE TAPE RECORDER FOR LONG PLAY/RECORDING

We've all seen those ads in the back of electronics magazines or browsed through the friendly or not so friendly neighborhood
spy shop. Ever wonder how they slow down those cassette tape recorders so they record at slower speeds? Some even record
at six hours per side with a TDK-180 tape. It's done two ways.

The first is mechanical. Depending on the type of recorder, the unit is opened up and the belt is removed from the drive shaft.
The pulley head is removed and cut in half, a looser belt is inserted in replacement for the original and re-inserted so it lays on
the shaft. The pulley head is replaced to hold the belt down. Costs about 25 cents and the so called "Spy Stores" in NYC sell
these modified tape recorders for 10 times the original price! This method is NOT very dependable.

The second way is electronically. This requires a little more skill. The recorder is disassembled, and you'll need to find the
power source. Generally, you would want a schematic. A resistor is placed across a circuit to effectively cut the run time in
half. This will cause the recorder to play and record at half speed. If the recorder normally records for one hour per side it will
now record at two hours per side. By adding additional resistance to the circuit you can control the play/record time Actual
"how to" with certain recorder models in upcoming additions of the Codex.