Dire situation regarding microcassette tapes

[Bill Parsons]

Hi All,

For those of you who used microcassettes in your small tape recorders, it has been a dire situation to try and purchase 90 minute tapes.

You are going to find it real tough to even find those micro cassettes because the manufacturers have stopped manufacturing them.

I found one place on all the internet where I could obtain 90 minute micro cassettes, and the price is $47.50 for 10 tapes or $4.75 per tape.

Also the 60 minute micro cassette tapes are just about impossible to find even on the internet.

I received the below e-mail from the supplier I found.

‘Micro Cassettes are no longer being made by Maxell, among others, and are now in very short supply.  

‘If you're interested in purchasing these Polaroid MC-60s, at $2.49 each tape ($24.90 per 10-pack), please click here: 

‘There is a limit of only 2 ten-packs per customer. But we are getting a large supply in in mid September so we can backorder the balance if you choose to order more than 2 ten-packs.”

If anybody has any knowledge on better deals on microcasette tapes than the above deals, that information would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

[Mary Ann Payonk]

Hi, Bill!  Thanks for posting that info.  Even with the popularity of audio sync and digital recorders, I think there are still reporters out there (and others) who rely on micro cassette tapes, and they will no doubt be interested in that information.  I'm loving the PMD620 that I got from Marantz.  It produces absolutely amazing sound!  I've decided not to use it to boost the sound to my main computer, but just as a backup.  Hope all is well up your way, Bill.  Looking forward to a beautiful fall!

M.A.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Micros were always far more expensive than the regular-sized cassette tapes.  They are not something you can go pick up at a regular store.  The 90 minutes are not general stock.  60 minutes are easy to find with a decent price ($1.10 each).

 

Micros were intended for short dictation - like attorneys, doctors and professionals.  They were intended for the hand-held recorders.  That's why the 60's are most popular and stocked.  Almost every attorney office (and probably a lot of other offices) use microcasette recorders.  Microcasettes have to be made in order for those recorders and transcribers to be used. 

 

And yes, this is my professional opinion.  After working as a legal assistant for twenty years, I can verify it and back it up that almost all attorneys still use the micro dictaphones and I can verify that most use the hand held recorder.

[Bill Parsons]

Hi Mary Jo,

 

Thanks for great input. 

You are right there may be lots of places listing the 60 minute tapes at $1.10, but when I checked into those listings every place I checked was "out of stock."

But if you find a place with those macrocassettes in stock, please share that place with me, and likewise for the 90 minute tapes.

Best Regards, Bill

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Nextag.

Walmart - online. 

Both say in stock.

[Bill Parsons]

Hi Mary Jo,

Thanks for the good news the microcassettes are in stock at Nextag and at Walmart.

The last time I checked was several months ago, and I thought the tapes were out of stock for good.

I will be checking out the sites and hopefully be buying more tapes at a reasonable price.

Best Regards, Bill

 

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I use cassettes too, for backup.  I got a job on the 18th.  Everything is taped.   My jobs are small, so several days may be on one tape.  Always start Monday on new tape.  The great thing is , I get home, do my organizational stuff, and put the cassettes on their shelf.  It's hard to do that with digital.  If the house catches on fire, my first grabs will be my cat, my purse, and my tapes.

[Bill Parsons]

Hi Emily,

I am not interested in switching to the digital recorders.  I have a very, very unique system.

 

 I use as many as 6 microcassette recorders to record public hearings, and I have a microcassette transcriber. 

I'm also what they call a dinasaur court reporter which means I used paper and am not a CAT reporter.

So I dictate my notes and have my typist type the transcript, and then I proofread my transcript against the 6 cassette tapes.

You wouldn't believe how easy it is for me to pop the recorded cassette tapes in and out of the transcribing machine to check the transcript of the speakers in different parts of the room, i.e. the podium, the chairman's spot or the spots where the other commission members sit.

I am one of the very, very few court reporters in my area that will record big planning and zoning commission hearings.

Maybe myself and one other stenotype court reporter do such jobs in my area.

Thanks for these tips on checking the various suppliers and Amazon for the cassettes.  Last time I checked was about 6 months ago, and at that time there weren't microcassette tapes available, but from what I am being told, the situation seems to have changed.

Bill

 

 

 

 

[Bill Parsons]

Just a follow-up on my system for taping public hearings.  All the tape recorders use electricty and are plugged into a power cord with an on and off switch.

So all the tape recorders are turned on by switching the power cord to "on."

Many years ago I was going to each recorder and turning them on, and someone suggested the power cord.

All my tape recorders use electricity.  I am extremely leary of using battery power.

The system has drawbacks and shortcomings and requires a lot of effort and set-up time and break-down time, but the system works.

Also the system uses auto-reverse tape recorders so that the 90-minute tapes run for three hours straight which is great.  Usually everbody is ready for a recess if I need to change tapes after three hours.

Bill

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Bill, you could try using a court reporter scopist - one who has retired, a STAM.  Dictate your notes, give them to the scopist/reporter.  Let her rewrite, cut and paste her transcript into Word, give it to you.  If you got someone with Premier Power (just an example) and an old writer, you might get someone to do it for the same rate the typist is doing it; and you could get transcripts out a whole lot faster.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Hey, Bill, I just uped my resourcefulness.  This site is for you.  (I'm going to check it out too).

It's voice regnition.  You just said you dictate.  Dictate, let the word recognition do they typing - the scopist can work less.

 

http://www.dragonvoicerecognition.com/

[Bill Parsons]

Hi Mary Jo,

Thanks a million for these ideas on how I can update my skills and incorporate what skills I do have to use some of the lastest technology.

I will be going to the Dragon site and also studying the use of a scopist/reporter.

Maybe those things will really help me.

Best Regards, Bill

 

[Linda]

I have a number of 60 and 90 minute microcassettes I no longer use b/c of having a Diamante now.   I also have a microcassette transcriber w/foot pedal I no longer use for the same reason in great working order.    I am willing to sell these items if anyone is interested.