Operational sound recording..

Quick sound recording..

A TAPE RECORDER IS A TOOL FOR EVERYDAY USE.

The activities of a modern employee of state law enforcement agencies or commercial security services are unthinkable without various means of office equipment or electronic equipment: allowing to significantly increase its information content, give it a comfortable and creative character. One of such devices is a micro cassette tape recorder, the technical and functional capabilities of which allow us to consider it as a very effective multi-purpose tool. This easy-to-use and reliable device can become a reliable assistant in various business and operational situations, help save time, money, and sometimes solve problems that, it would seem, have nothing to do with sound recording.
This is not an advertising exaggeration. The wide possibilities of using sound recording equipment are evidenced by many years of experience in the activities of special services.
Since the cost of tape recorders usually depends on their functionality, dimensions, weight, you should choose a model of a sound recording device based on the tasks that the owner wants to solve when using it.
So, what are the capabilities of micro cassette tape recorders?

Notebook.

The dimensions of modern micro cassette tape recorders are really comparable to a pocket notebook, which allows you to have it with you all the time without any inconvenience. Just like in a regular notebook, you can record any information you are interested in on a cassette, including instructions to your secretary about your plans for the future.
For these purposes, the cheapest and simplest devices can be used, which do not have great functional capabilities (Appendix No. 1). Thus, on the simplest tape recorder with a micro cassette MK-90 at a normal speed of 2.4 cm/sec, 1.5 hours of information can be recorded. At a speed of 1.2 cm/sec, the recording time increases to 3 hours.

Secretary-referent.

If you have a microcassette recorder, there is no need to take a secretary or stenographer with you to business negotiations or important operational conversations. The microcassette recorder will perform their duties more fully and accurately. At meetings, seminars, meetings, etc., you will not need to take notes on the speakers' speeches or remember «informational» ones. It is enough to record them on the microcassette recorder you have with you.
Subsequently, the cassette with the recorded information can be given to a secretary-typist, who, having processed the information, will draw up a document of the required form. If you made a recording while on a business trip, the microcassette can be sent for subsequent processing to your company by mail or transmitted over a telephone line at an increased speed for subsequent processing. In the civilized, as they say, world, these forms of recording and transmitting business information are used very actively.
The unconditional advantage of using a microcassette recorder in this way is that, in addition to saving time, you have the opportunity to allow the secretary to process only the information that you consider necessary. To do this, it is enough to first erase the sections of the phonogram that are not intended for outsiders.
If the proposed method of using the microcassette recorder suits you and you plan to use it quite actively, we recommend that you also purchase service equipment for processing phonograms, since it is inconvenient to listen to recorded information on the microcassette recorder itself. The tape recorder is used mainly for recording and, to some extent, for control listening to recorded information. The service device with a foot control panel will allow the secretary typist to use the rollback mode for the length of an incomprehensible phrase, smooth adjustment of the playback speed and a number of other functions that allow faster and better processing of phonograms.

Documenting the conversation (information).

Like any sound recording equipment, a microcassette tape recorder has the ability to document any information presented in audio form — be it an oral conversation, a telephone conversation, a speaker's speech, signal messages, etc. A phonogram is a full-fledged document, only made not on paper, but on a magnetic medium.
In the cases described above, we were talking about recording sound in an obvious or «open» form, when the fact of its implementation was not hidden from the interlocutor. However, in business practice there are situations when for some reason you are not interested in the interlocutor knowing about the documentation of the conversation. In these cases, a small-sized microcassette tape recorder is simply irreplaceable. The dimensions of modern small-sized tape recorders allow them to be secretly placed under clothing, in internal and patch pockets, as well as camouflaged in things, interior items, etc. (Appendix No. 2). For example, the PaNasoNic RN-Z36 and Olympus L-400 tape recorders have dimensions of 53x75x15 mm and 55x75x23 mm, respectively (Appendix No. 1).
To obtain better quality of phonograms when the tape recorder is placed covertly, it is recommended to use the standard remote microphones included in their kit or specially made microphones camouflaged as various products (badge, watch, pen, etc.) (Appendix No. 2). To document telephone information, it is recommended to use remote inductive telephone adapters connected by contact to telephone sets, handsets or telephone cables or contactless devices.

Monitoring of personnel activities.

The ability of a tape recorder to objectively record acoustic information allows it to be used as a fairly effective means of checking personnel and monitoring their work, i.e. to conduct a kind of «verification» activities in relation to employees and their connections.
Often it is enough to give your employee the task of recording his meetings with business partners. Having then familiarized yourself with the recordings of the conversations, you will be able to independently and objectively assess the true nature of his relations with connections, the correctness of his behavior during negotiations, not from the employee's words. If necessary, this will help you make adequate and timely adjustments to the work of the staff.
Such additional functional devices as an acoustic machine, a clock autostart, an autoreverse, recording time registration, a remote control, etc. significantly expand the scope of application of microcassette tape recorders.
AkuStomat is a device that automatically starts a tape recorder when there is an acoustic signal and interrupts recording when there is none. This mode allows for a significant extension of the continuous recording time due to «information compression» of the phonogram or recording only when there is significant information (as is the case with a telephone conversation, radio conversations, etc.).
Hourly autostart is a device that allows for a tape recorder to be turned on at a preset time (the tape recorder can be delayed for up to 24 hours).
Auto-reverse allows recording on both sides of the microcassette without turning it over, thereby doubling the continuous recording time. So, if on a regular microcassette recorder using the MK-90 microcassette the maximum continuous recording time is 1.5 hours, then with auto-reverse it reaches 3 hours.
Recording the recording time — the ability to display the date and time of the start of recording of each fragment of the phonogram on the tape recorder display.
Remote control panel — a device that allows you to covertly control the operation of a tape recorder.
The presence of the listed devices makes it possible to use microcassette recorders in seemingly completely unexpected, but quite useful for commercial activities, qualities. Here are some examples on this account.

Telephone recorders.

Often, security services, in order to prevent leaks from offices of information that is an official secret for them, use equipment that records information transmitted over their telephone lines. Usually, stationary tape recorders specially adapted for work on telephone lines are used for this purpose.
What can be done if there is an urgent need to temporarily equip a foreign telephone with a similar device? This problem can be solved using a microcassette tape recorder connected to the telephone line via a matching device and operating in the acoustomat mode. Information from the telephone line can also be removed and recorded using a contact inductive sensor.

A tape recorder as a «watchman-witness».

It is in this unusual capacity as a security device that a microcassette recorder with an acoustomat can be used. If you want to make sure that no one has entered the room of interest, be it a safe room, an office, a hotel room, an apartment, etc., in your absence, it is enough to secretly place a microcassette recorder with an acoustomat in it, having previously removed or turned off all sources of acoustic noise. Now, if someone enters the room, the acoustomat will work, the tape recorder will turn on and all sounds associated with this penetration will be recorded on tape.

Backup alarm clock.

A microcassette recorder with a self-timer allows you to record automatically even when there is no one to turn it on. And another unusual use for it. If your alarm clock breaks or you absentmindedly forget to take it with you on a business trip — use this same microcassette recorder. At the right time, it will turn on in playback mode and wake you up.
These far from complete possibilities of using a microcassette tape recorder allow us to consider it as a very useful technical means capable of providing you with effective assistance in carrying out any activity. But, like any technical means, this type of sound recording equipment under certain circumstances can become the cause of major inconveniences for you and sometimes very expensive troubles, which is something that you should pay attention to.
A dangerous enemy in the wrong hands.
When conducting negotiations, you should remember that their progress can be documented without your knowledge using sound recording equipment, including a microcassette tape recorder. Subsequently, these materials can be used to the detriment of your interests and even to exert appropriate pressure on you.
As a technical means by which it is determined whether your interlocutor has a tape recorder, we can offer the DM-3 (TRD-800) product, which detects a tape recorder operating in recording mode at a distance of up to 6 meters (Appendix No. 3). In addition, the capabilities of the microcassette recorder allow it to be used as a so-called «bug» or a functionally complete means of eavesdropping. Here are several examples of the possible use of the microcassette recorder in this capacity, which took place in practice:

1. Knowing that you have scheduled a meeting at a certain time, someone visits the room where the meeting will be held the day before and leaves a microcassette recorder with a clock-time autostart in a secluded place. At the right time, the tape recorder will turn on and record the entire meeting. After that, all that remains is to take the equipment away at the right moment and familiarize yourself with the contents of the soundtrack.
2. You and your colleagues are negotiating with a business partner, discussing the possibility of concluding a deal that would be advantageous for your company and the level of the most acceptable conditions. Your partner, who is carrying a microcassette recorder disguised as a natural household object (a paper folder, a book, an attaché case, etc.), asks you several «ticklish» questions about pricing, delivery terms, taxation, etc., and under a plausible pretext leaves the premises for a while, leaving the camouflaged recorder in it. Naturally, you continue to discuss the issues raised with your colleagues, not thinking about the secrecy of the information circulating in the premises, since only the company's employees are in it. Your partner, who returns after a while, completes the negotiations and leaves the company, having agreed on a new meeting and taking with him the recording of the conversations that took place in his absence. It is possible that this recording will cause significant damage to your company.
3. You are working on a business deal in which you act as an intermediary. This situation is characterized by the fact that your partner-competitor is interested in «taking you out of the game» and contacting the «manufacturer» directly. The following combination is carried out for this purpose. A business meeting is scheduled for you (let's say, in a restaurant). The meeting place is chosen so that there is a telephone nearby, and a microcassette recorder can be secretly placed next to it. During the meeting, the partner, under a plausible pretext, asks you to urgently contact the «manufacturer» and clarify some details of the deal. At the same time, he remains sitting at the table and, not suspecting anything bad, you fulfill this request alone and make this call.

As a result of such a combination, your partner-competitor will have a phonogram, by which he will, at a minimum, learn the phone number of the manufacturer. This number can be easily determined by the nature of the sounds produced when the telephone dialer is in operation. If during the telephone conversation there is any other information about the «manufacturer» (for example, the name of the company, its address, the names of employees, etc.), then the information received by the partner will be sufficient to stop working with you as an intermediary.
We have given only a few examples of the use of a microcassette recorder to illustrate its capabilities as an effective means of commercial espionage. Naturally, the question arises: what can be opposed to the hidden use of sound recording equipment against you and eavesdropping systems in general?
The issues of maintaining the secrecy and security of the activities of any structural division are a serious and multifaceted problem, solved from the standpoint of comprehensive security. In this regard, our company, taking into account the high professional knowledge of its employees, a large set of special technical means that allow solving any task, the ability to provide equipment of both domestic and foreign manufacture, relatively low prices (compared to other companies), etc., is ready to help you in solving any problems related to security.

Appendix No. 1.

AD-1. PANASONIC RN-Z36 tape recorder.

Modern miniature microcassette tape recorder in a metal case. Variable sensitivity of the microphone, which can be made remote with a cable. Tape counter. 2 speeds, recording up to 3 hours on an MS-90 cassette. The complete set includes a 220 volt adapter, amplifier, case, headphones. Dimensions 102x65x17 mm. Weight — 108 g.

AD-1-2. OLYMPUS L-400 tape recorder.

Professional microcassette tape recorder with auto reverse and VOX system. Built-in microphone, remote control, tape counter, 2 speeds. The complete set includes a remote control, an adapter for power supply from the network, headphones, an MS-60 microcassette, a case. Dimensions 73x52x20 mm, weight — 90 g.

AD-1-3. Microcassette recorder.

Standard microcassette tape recorder in a plastic case. 2 recording speeds, built-in microphone, VOX system, silent stop at the end of the tape. Dimensions 120x66x26 mm, weight — 155 g.

AD-44. Hidden miniature microphones.

Highly sensitive miniature microphones in a pen, wristwatch, badge, etc. Allow you to record an important conversation in a noisy place. Built-in microphone amplifier. Power supply from a watch battery continuously for several months.

Appendix No. 2.

AD-5. Tape recorder in a bag.

A tape recorder installed in a bag for covert recording of long conversations. Provides high-quality recording even in a noisy place. Concealed control of the tape recorder, silent stop of the cassette. It is possible to install the tape recorder in various models of bags (ladies, sports, men's, etc.).

AD-6. Tape recorder in a book.

A microcassette tape recorder is installed in the book. A highly sensitive microphone and amplifier provide high-quality recording in a room up to 15 square meters. The VOX system turns on the tape recorder from the voice. The recording duration on the MS-90 cassette is up to 3 hours with autoreverse.

AD-7. Tape recorder in an attache case.

A microcassette tape recorder is hidden in the attache case, which has a normal appearance both inside and outside. The microphone in the wall of the briefcase provides high-quality recording. Hidden control, silent stop of the tape recorder. Possible installation of the tape recorder in various models of briefcases.

AD-8. Electronic stethoscope.

A pocket electronic stethoscope with a high-quality amplifier and AGC allows you to listen to conversations through walls, doors and windows. It is possible to connect a tape recorder. The kit includes headphones. Power supply from a 9-volt battery. Dimensions are 88x55x17 mm.

Appendix No. 3.

DN-3. TRD-800 tape recorder and radio emission detector.

The small-sized TRD-800 device is designed to detect operating sound recording devices or search for radio emitting devices. Reception of radiation is indicated by the glow of the LED and silent vibration of the device.
The receiving antenna can be hidden under the operator's clothing. The device is powered by a built-in battery. There is an automatic level control regulator.
Specifications:
Operating frequency range — 1 MHz-1000 GHz.
Power supply — built-in battery.
Dimensions — 22x57x89 mm.
Weight — 170 g.