SONIC SENTRY

If the enclosed reel (or reels) has the above symbol appearing in the right-hand corner of the reel label, the tape has been encoded with our Sonic Sentry signal. The Sonic Sentry is used on tapes where the playing time on Side 1 is shorter than that on Side 2, thereby causing a delay of several minutes before the music begins on Side 1 (to determine the length of the delay, see the side timings on the front page of the enclosed notes or on the tape reel label).

When a tape with the Sonic Sentry is played at normal speed, the Sonic Sentry will be heard as a succession of alternating, very-low-frequency tones. Please note that this sound does not mean that the tape is defective.

The Sonic Sentry enables those who have tape decks that do not cancel all audio when operating at the high fast-forward or rewind speeds to locate easily and accurately the start of the music on Side 1. All decks equipped with a "cue" switch are capable of using the Sonic Sentry.

Here's how it works:

1)  Thread your tape onto the take-up reel and set the volume control at a somewhat higher level than usual.

2)  Run the tape in the fast-forward mode and stop it when you hear the warbling sound of the Sonic Sentry.

3)  Adjust the volume control to its usual position and restart the tape in the play mode. The music will begin in a few seconds.

If the Sonic Sentry does not work on your equipment, the following steps can be taken:

1)  Thread the tape in your machine and set the counter to zero.

2)  Run the tape in play mode and note the figure on the counter as the music begins.

3)  Subtract 5 from this number, write it on a sticker and affix it to the reel. For future playings of this tape, you need only fast-forward to this number and the music will begin. If you would like some of our Quick-Reference stickers for this purpose, please write us.

Should you wish to do so, the Sonic Sentry may be easily erased by carefully following these instructions:

1)  Start the tape in play mode and stop it where the Sonic Sentry begins. Wind back the tape by hand about 15 inches (two seconds of playing time).

2)  If you use your tape deck for playback only, and are not familiar with the recording controls, be sure to consult your instruction manual before proceeding.

3)  Start your machine in the record mode and let the tape run for about 18 seconds, then stop it. Accurate timing is essential to avoid the risk of erasing part of the music.

TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM SATISFACTION FROM YOUR BARCLAY-CROCKER dbx II AND DOLBY B TAPES, WE URGE YOU TO READ THIS ENCLOSURE.

If you suspect that a tape is defective, please see the "Defective Tape" section.

dbx II* TAPES

dbx II encoded tapes must be decoded using the dbx II noise-reduction system. If not decoded properly, the dbx tapes will sound harsh, low-level and compressed. If you have a Dolby noise-reduction system connected between your tape deck and amplifier or preamp (see "Hookup" section), be sure the Dolby is switched to the "out" position when playing dbx tapes. There are no level tones on our dbx tapes because no level calibration is required. Since the signal on dbx tapes is compressed before being expanded in the decoding process, the VU meters on your tape deck may not register as high as when playing non-dbx tapes.

WARNING: A graduated tone is recorded at the beginning of Side 1 of each dbx tape as an indication of volume levels. Since there is no tape hiss in the blank portions of a dbx tape, this tone will warn you if you have set the volume at too high a level. Excessive volume level when the music begins could overload your system and possibly cause damage to your equipment or speakers.

DOLBY B** TAPES

Dolby-B-encoded tapes may be played satisfactorily without decoding (adjust your treble control slightly downward to minimize hiss and brightness), but for optimum sound quality, Dolby decoding is recommended.

Dolby-level tones are recorded on all B-C Dolby tapes at the end of Side 1 and at the start of Side 2. These tones can be used to calibrate a Dolby unit, and for those who do not have a deck with automatic reverse, the Dolby tones are helpful as a reminder that the tape is about to run out. You may occasionally find variations in these tones somewhat greater than the ±2db tolerances specified by Dolby Laboratories. However, these variations will usually not be audible and may be due to any one of the following factors: 1) unavoidable minor differences in the levels among Dolby calibration tapes, 2) differences in the accuracy of units incorporating Dolby noise reduction, 3) differences in the particular batch of duplicating tape used, 4) a combination of these factors.

HOOKUP

dbx and Dolby decoders are placed between your tape deck and amplifier (or preamp). Both a Dolby and dbx unit may be used in the same chain and should be set up as follows for playback: Tape deck output to Dolby input / Dolby output to dbx input / dbx output to amp or preamp input. Calibrate the Dolby unit and set the output volume controls (if the unit has them). The dbx unit requires no calibration, but the volume output ("level match control") should be adjusted so that the volume when playing a dbx tape is approximately the same as when playing either a Dolby or non-Dolby tape, a record, or a cassette. A useful addition to any system is a program-route selector (selector box) which allows you easily to select Dolby or dbx, open reel, cassette, compact disc or phonograph.

ERASURE OF NON-MUSICAL SIGNALS

If the Dolby tones, Sonic Sentry, or the spurious noise at the very end of Side 1 of many B-C tapes should intrude on your listening experience, do not hesitate to erase them by using the record function on your tape deck with the record level turned all the way down. Instructions for erasing the Sonic Sentry are on the reverse side of this enclosure. The graduated warning tone at the beginning of all dbx tapes should not be erased.

MAINTENANCE

Only a properly maintained tape deck will permit you to realize the full potential of your recordings. Tape heads should be cleaned after about ten hours of use and should be demagnetized after about 50 hours of play (more often if you use your tape deck for recording).

Magnetic tape is naturally very durable and will suffer damage only when subjected to extreme negligence or abuse. Do not expose your tapes to excessive heat or humidity and do not place them within two feet of strong magnetic fields such as those in loudspeakers or operating motor-driven electrical devices like air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, etc. Tapes should be stored only when under the normal tension of their designated playing speed, never in a fast-wound condition caused by rewinding or fast-forwarding.

To protect your B-C tape-box covers from dirt and moisture, we suggest you spray the covers with an acrylic spray coating (flat or glossy) available in photography and art supply stores. Simply follow the directions on the can.

Adhesive residue on tape or reels resulting from splices, reversing foils, or peeled labels can be safely cleaned with Kodak Film Cleaner.

DEFECTIVE TAPES

Should you receive what you believe is a defective tape, first make certain that the controls on your noise-reduction units are set correctly (Dolby "out" when playing a dbx tape, and dbx in "bypass" or "out" when playing a non-Dolby or Dolby tape). Make certain that you have properly cleaned and demagnetized your tape heads and that you have threaded the tape correctly. To demonstrate that the difficulty is not caused by your equipment, play another tape whose quality you know is satisfactory. If you are experiencing distortion, make sure the level match control on your dbx unit is set according to the instructions, since too high an output signal might overdrive your receiver/preamp input.

Once you have determined that a tape problem exists, please return only the reel of tape (do NOT return the box or notes) via Special Fourth Class Mail (Book Rate) to: Quality Control, Barclay-Crocker, 313 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie NY 12601. Be sure to include your name and address and a brief description of the defect.

* "dbx" is a registered trademark of dbx Inc.                              9/84

** "Dolby" is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories