GB2122452A - Recording and reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus having a record/ reproduce selector is provided wherein signals which are reproduced from a record medium and which are supplied to head-phone jacks 4, 5; 9, 10 are selectively attenuated and, concurrently, audio electrical signals produced by a microphone 15, 15% are superimposed onto these attenuated signals. An attenuator 2, 7, 14, 14% is coupled between a record/playback transducer 1, 6 and an amplifier 3, 8; and a switch 12, 13 has a first condition to short-circuit the attenuator 2, 7, 14, 14% and a second condition to enable the attenuator 2, 7, 14, 14% to attenuate the signals reproduced by the record/ playback transducer 1, 6 and also to superimpose the audio electrical signals produced by the microphone 15, 15% onto the attenuated signals. In the recording mode, audio electrical signals produced by the microphone 15, 15% are amplified and supplied to the record/ playback transducer 1, 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Recording and reproducing apparatus This invention relates to recording and reproducing apparatus usable with head-phones, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to such apparatus which is portable and relatively small.

In signal reproducing apparatus, such as portable magnetic tape playback devices, head-phones may be provided to enable one or more listeners to listen to a reproduced audio programme. While listening to this programme, if a listener wishes to converse with another individual, he may not readily comprehend what is being said. If the listener does not remove his head-phones, the reproduced audio programme interferes with his comprehension, and there is a tendency forthe listenerto raise his voice when attempting to converse with the other individual.

This problem is worse if two listeners, both listening to reproduced audio programmes via head-phones, attempt to converse with each other. Also, if the listener is listening to musical selections and wishes to sing along therewith, he often will shout in orderto produce speech signals loud enough for him to hear.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatusfor recording and for reproducing signals on and from a record medium,theapparatus com- prising: transducer meansforselectively recording signals on said record medium or reproducing signals from said record medium; amplifier means for selectively amplifying the signals to be recorded on orthe signals reproduced from said record medium; output terminals coupled to said amplifier means for receiving the amplified signals therefrom and, when head-phones are connected thereto, for supplying said amplified signals to said head-phones; microphone means for reproducing audio electrical signals; attenuator means for selectively attenuating the signals reproduced by said transducer means; switch means having a first condition, whereby said transducermeansreproducessignalsfromsaid record medium and said reproduced signals are supplied to said amplifier means without passing through said attenuator means, and a second condition, whereby said reproduced signals are supplied to said amplifer means through said attenuator means and additionally, said audio electrical signals are supplied from said microphone means to said amplifer means; and record/reproduced selector means selectively oper able to inhibit signals said transducer means from being supplied to said amplifier means while, at the same time, supplying amplified signalsfrom said amplifier means to said transducer means for re cording.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying draw ings,throughoutwhich like references refer to like elements, and in which: Figure 1 is a partial block, partial schematic diagram of one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a device in which the embodiment of Figure 1 may be incorporated; Figures 3 and 4 are partial block, partial schematic diagrams of another embodiment ofthe invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a device in which the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 may be incorpo rated.

Referring to Figure 1, audio signals which have previously been recorded on a record medium are capable of being reproduced therefrom and heard by a listener provided with conventional head-phones. For the purpose of the present description, it will be assumed that the record medium is magnetic tape.

However, other conventional recording media may be used with embodiments ofthe invention.

The embodiment of Figure 1 comprises reproducing transducers 1 and 6, amplifiers 3 and 8 and head phone jacks 4, 9 and 5,10. This embodiment is arranged to reproduce stereophonic signalsfrom the magnetic tape, separate channels of the signals being reproduced by the transducers 1 and 6, respectively.

The transducers 1 and 6 may comprise conventional playback heads of known type. The playback head 1 may reproduce the left-channel signals from the magnetic tape, and the playback head 6 may reproduce the right-channel signals therefrom. The play back head 1 is coupled to the amplifier 3 via a circuit to be described in detail below. Likewise, the playback head 6 is coupled to the amplifier 8 via a similar circuit.

As will be described, the amplifiers 3 and 8 serve to amplify the left-channel and right-channel signals, respectively, reproduced by the playback heads 1 and 6. The output of the amplifier 3 is coupled in common to the head-phone jacks 4 and Sand the outputofthe amplifier 8 is coupled in common to the head-phone jacks9 and 10. In this embodiment, two pairs of head-phones may be used by two listeners for listening to the material which is reproduced by the playback heads 1 and6.Thus,thehead-phonejack4 may be considered to be the left-channel jack and the head-phonejack9 may be considered to bethe right-channel jack.One listener would insert his head-phone connectors into the jacks 4 and 9 so as to receive the left-channel and right-channel signal, respectively. Similarly, the head-phone jack 5 may be considered to be the left-channel jack and the head phone jack 10 may be considered to be the right channel jack. Another listener would insert his head phone connectors into the jacks Sand 10, respectively, so asto receive the left-channel and right-channel signals.

In theembodimentof Figure 1,the signals which are reproduced from the record medium bythe playback heads 1 and 6 are supplied selectively to the amplifiers 3 and 8 by respective attenuators. These attenuators are formed as resistive voltage divider circuits and, more particularly, a left-channel attenuator comprises a resisitor 2, connected in series between the playback The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

head 1 and the amplifier 3, and a resistor 14 connectable in shunt relationship with the input of the amplifier 3. Likewise, the right-channel attenuator comprises a resistor 7 connected in series between the playback head 6 and the amplifier8, and the resistor 14 connectable in shunt relationship with the input of the amplifier 8. Switching circuits 12 and 13 are operable selectively to by-pass the attenuators, or effectively to connect the attenuators in circuit so as to attenuate the signals which are reproduced by the playback heads 1 and 6.

The switching circuit 12 comprises fixed contacts 12a,l2band l2canda movable contact 12d.The contact 1 2a is connected to one end of the resistor 2 and the contact 12b is connected to the opposite end of the resistor 2. The contact 12c is connected to one end of the resistor 14, the other end of which is coupled to a reference potential, such as ground. The movable contact 12day be disposed in a first or a second position. In the first position thereof, the movable contact 12d interconnects the contacts 12a and 12boo asto provide a short-circuit by-pass across the resistor 2.In second position, the movable contact 12dinterconnects contacts 12b and 12c, so asto couple the resistor 14 to the junction defined by the resistor 2 and the input of the amplifier 3. Thus, in its first position, the resistor 14 is not connected either to the resistor2 ortothe amplifier3 and, moreover, the resistor 2 is short-circuited. In the second position of the switching circuit 12, the resisitor 2 is no longer is short-circuited and, additionally, the resistor 14 is connected thereto so as to form a voltage divider. It is appreciated that, when the movable contact 12dips disposed in its second position, the resistors 2 and 14 form a voltage divider circuit having a voltage divider ratio equal to the resistance of the resistor 14 divided bythe sum of the resistances of the resistors 2 and 14.

This voltage divider ratio serves to attenuate the signals which are reproduced from the record medium by the playback head 1. Such attenuated signals are supplied to the amplifier 3.

The switching circuit 13 has a similar construction to thatoftheswitching circuit 12 and comprisesfixed contacts 13a, l3band 13c,anda movable contact 13d.

The contacts 13a and 13b are connected to the opposite ends ofthe resistor 7, and the contact 13tis connected in common with the contact 12cto the resistor 14. The movable contact 13dis capable of being disposed in a first position so as to interconnect the contacts 13a and 13b, and thus short-circuit or by-pass the resistor 7. The movable contact 13dips also capable of being disposed in a second position which interconnects the terminals 13b and 13c, so as to removethe short-circuit or by-pass of the resistor 7 and, moreover, to connect the resistor 14to the junction defined by the resistor 7 and the input of the amplifier8.Thus, when the movable contact 13dips disposed in its first position, the attenuator formed of the voltage-divider resistors 7 and 14 is by-passed, and when the movable contactl3dis disposed in its second position, the resistors 7 and 14 are effectively connected to each other to form the voltage-divider attenuator circuit atthe input of the amplifier 8.

It is appreciated that, if the resistances of the resistors 2 and 7 are equal,then the attenuation of the signals which are reproduced by the playback heads 1 and 6when the movable contacts 12dand 13dare both disposed in their second positions, in equal.

Preferably, the movable contacts 12dand 13dare mechanically coupled to an actuator 11, referred to herein as a talk button, such that both movable contacts 12dand 13dare simultaneously movable between theirfirst and second positions. The talk button 11 is manually operable by the user ofthe apparatus. The talk button 11 thus establishes a first condition forthe switching circuits 12 and 13, whereby the movable contacts 12dand 13dare in theirfirst positions, and the talk button 11 also establishes a second condition forthe switching circuits 12 and 13, whereby both the movable contacts 12dand 13dare disposed in their second positions. A spring bias arrangement (notshown) may be used to bias the movable contacts 12dand l3dnormallyto theirfirst positions.When the talk button 11 is operated, that is when the actuator is depressed, the movable contacts 12dand 13dare driven to their second positions.

When the talk button 11 is released, the spring bias force exerted thereon returns the movable contacts 1 2dand 13dto theirfirst positions.

The apparatus of Figure 1 is also provided with a microphone 15 whose output is coupled to the ju nction defined by the contacts 1 2e and 13e and the resistor 14. The microphone 15 is preferablyformed with the apparatus, as will be described below with respectto Figure 2. When an individual speaks into the microphone 15, corresponding audio frequency electrical signals are produced thereby. It is appreciated that, when the switching circuits 12 and 13 are in their first conditions, such audio electrical signals are not utilized. However, when the switching circuits 12 and 13 are in their second conditions, the audio electrical signals produced by the microphone 15 appear across the resistor 14 and are coupled,via the movable contacts 12dand 13d,to the inputs of the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively.

In operation, a pair of head-phones may be connected bythe listener across the head-phone jacks 4 and 9. If desired, another pair of head-phones may be connected by another user between the head-phone jacks 5 and 10. Thus, one of both listeners may listen to the material which is reproduced from the record medium bythe playback heads 1 and 6. Typically, such reproduced material may be music. For best hearing of this material, the switching circuits 12 and 13 are in theirfirst conditions, whereby the movable contacts 12dand 13dare disposed in theirfirst positions. Consequently, the resistors 2 and 7 are by-passed such thatthe signals reproduced from the record medium bythe playback heads 1 and 6 are supplied to the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively. More particularly, the signals reproduced by the playback head 1 are supplied therefrom to the contact 12a, then through the movable contact 12a, then through the movable contact 1 2do the contact 12b and thence to the input of the amplifier 3. Likewise, the signals reproduced by the playback head 6 are supplied to the contact 13a and then through the contact 13dto the contact 13b and thence to the amplifier 8. These unattenuated signals are amplified bythe respective amplifier 3 or 8, and supplied to the head-phone jacks 4and 5, and 9 and 10, whereby head-phones connected thereto reproduce audible materialforthe listener.

If a conversation isto be carried on bythe listener with another individual while the switching circuits 12 and 13 are in their first conditions, as discussed above, the reproduced audible signals will interfere with such a conversation. To overcome this interference, the listener will have a tendency to shout in orderto continue with his conversation. If two listeners attemptthe converse with each other, this tendency is increased because both will shout. This disadvantage is overcome if thetalk button 11 is operated so asto change overthe switching circuits 12 and 13 to their second conditions. In the second condition, the movable contact 12dis disposed in its second position and, similarly, the movable contact 13dis disposed in its second position.In the second positions thereof, the resistor 14 is connected in voltage-dividing relationship with each ofthe resistors 2 and 7.

Moreover, the short-circuit or by-passing of the resistors 2 and 7, which occurs when the movable contacts 12dand 13dare in theirfirst positions is now removed. Thus, the left channel signals reproduced by the playback head 1 areattenuated by the resistive voltage dividerformed ofthe resistors 2 and 14, and these attenuated signals are supplied to the amplifier 3. Likewise, the right-channel signals reproduced by the playback head 6 are attenuated bythe resistive voltage divider circuitformed ofthe resistors7 and 14, and these attenuated signals aresupplied to the amplifier 8. Accordingly, the head-phones are supplied with attenuated signals so asto produce audible signals of lowervolume.Moreover, if the conversation between the listenerand the other individual, or between the two listeners, is carried on by speaking into the microphone 15, it is appreciated that, when the switching circuits 12 and 13 are in their second conditions, the audio electrical signals produced by the microphone 15 are superimposed onto the attenuated left-channel and right-channel signalsappliedto the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively. Consequently, the head-phones reproduce speech signals having a sufficient volume to be readily understood. The material, such as music, which is reproduced from the record medium bythe playback heads 1 and 6, is perceived as background music and does not interfere with the conversation.Hence, the listener now readily perceives his own voice signals, which are detected via his head-phones, as well as the voice signals produced by the other individual.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a single record medium, such as a single magnetic tape, having pre-recorded material thereon, such as music, may be listened to simultaneously by two listeners.

The sound intensityofthis pre-recorded material is attenuated, by operating the talk button 11 so as to change overthe switching circuits 12 and 13 from their first conditions to their second conditions, and a conversation now may be carried on between such listeners merely by speaking into the microphone 15.

Of course, this apparatus may be used by only a single listener, enabling him to carry on a conversation with another individual without removing his head phones, whi le permitting him to perceivethatcon- versation readily and without undesired interference duets the reproduced material.

Another advantageous use of this apparatus enablesa listenerto attenuate background music such that he may sing along with that music and easily hear his own voice.

The attenuating ratio ofthe reproduced signals is determined by the voltage divider ratio ofthe resistors 2,7 and 14. Preferably, the voltage divider ratio in the left-channel is equal to that of the right-channel.

However, different ratios may be used, if desired.

Also, the resistor 14 may be adjustable so as to enable the listener to increase or decrease the attenuating ratio as he may select.

A perspective view of one example of apparatus with which the embodiment shown in Figure 1 may be utilized is illustrated in Figure 2. This example illustrates a small, portable magnetic tape reproduc ing device. Such a device may be carried by an individual for "personal" use or may be provided in a vehicle, such as a car or aircraft. Typically, this device comprises a housing 16 which contains a suitable tape transport mechanism (not shown), as well as the electrical circuitry of Figure 1. The housing 16 is provided with the head-phone jacks 4 and 9, the talk button 11 and the microphone 15. It is seen that, in this example, the microphone 15forms partofthe apparatus. If desired, additional head-phone jacks 5 and 10 may also be provided.As mentioned above, one pair of head-phones may be connected, by conventional head-phone plug connectors, across the head-phone jacks 4 and 9.

To facilitate conventional operation of the tape reproducing apparatus, the housing 16 is also pro videdwith afast4orward push-button 17, rewind push-button 18, play push-button 19 and stop push button 20. The push-buttons 17 and 20 are of conventional construction and enable an operator to carry outfast4orward, rewind, play and stop opera tions.

It is appreciated that, if head-phones are connected across the jacks 4 and 9, and if the play push-button 19 is operated, the previously recorded material on the magnetic tape is reproduced and listened to bythe listener via the head-phones. To carry on a conversa tion, the listener operates the talk button 11, which has the effect discussed with reference to Figure 1.

The microphone 15 is used to pick up speech signals of both the listener and the indiviual with whom he is conversing. As discussed above, these speech sig nals are superimpsed onto the attenuated signals which are reproduced from the magnetic tape, and these superimposed signals are supplied to the head-phones.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the device of Figure 5, it is seen that this embodiment is similarto that described above with respectto Figure 1, but the device of Figure 5 functions as a recording and/or reproducing device.

This dual capability is provided by a record/reproduce selector switching arrangement compdsing switches SW1, SW2, SW'2, SW3 and SW'3. Also, bias oscillators 27 and 29 are connected tothetransducers 1 and 6, respectively, for supplying typical ac bias signals thereto.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4the transduc- ers 1 and 6 are constructed as conventional record/ playback heads and are arranged to record signals on as well as reproduce signalsfrom the record medium.

In the absence of an ac bias signal supplied thereto, each head 1 and 6 serves to reproduce signals from the record medium.

The bias oscillators 27 and 29 are connected in common through the switch SW, to a suitable source of operating potential + B. When the switch SW1 is closed, the operating potential supplied to the oscillators 27 and 29 energizes the oscillators 27 and 29 to applythe ac bias signal generated thereby to the heads 1 and 6, respectively. When the switch SW1 is opened, the oscillators are not energized, and the ac signal is not generated and, thus, not supplied to the heads 1 and 6.

The head 1 is selectively coupled to the input of the amplifier3 via the switch So'3, and the head 6 is selectively coupled to the input of the amplifier 8 via the switch SW3. Thus, when the switches 8W'3 and SW3 are both closed, the left-channel and rightchannel signals reproduced from the record medium bythe heads 1 and 6 can be supplied to the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively. When the switches SW'3 and SW3 are opened, any signals that may be reproduced bythe heads 1 and 6 are inhibited from being supplied to the amplifiers 3 and 8.

The output ofthe amplifier3 is selectively coupled to the head 6 via the switch SW2. When the switches 8W'2 and SW2 are both closed, the amplified signals produced by the amplifiers 3 and 8 are supplied to the heads 1 and 6, respectively. However, when the switches SW'2 and SW2 are opened, the amplified signals are inhibited from being supplied to the heads 1 and 6.

In the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, stereophonic left-channel and right-channel signals are reproduced from the record medum bythe heads 1 and 6.

Also, the device of Figure 5 is selectively operable to record left-channel and right-channel stereophonic signals bythe heads 1 and 6. To effect such stereophonic signal recording, separate microphones 15' and 15 are provided forthe left-channel and right-channel signals, respectively. The microphone 15' is coupled to the contact 1 2c of the switching circuit 12. Similarly, the microphone 15 is coupled to the contact 13c of the switching circuit 13.

To maintain independence ofthe left-channel and right-channel signals during recording and reproduc tion, separate resistors 14' and 14 are connected between ground and each ofthe contacts 12cand 13c, respectively.

Referring to Figure Sit is seen that separate microphones 15' and 15 form part of the illustrated recordingireproducing device. Moreover, in addition to the talk button 11, described above with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1, a record push-button actuator 21 is also provided. The record push-button actuator 21 is illustrated as an L-shaped member having a leg 21 Sa which overlies the talk button 11 such thatwhen the record push-button actuator 21 is depressed,the leg 21 a depressesthetalk button 11.

However, the operator may manually depress the talk button 11 without concurrently depressing the record push-button actuator 21.

In operation the switches SW1, SW2, SW'2, SW3 SW'3 are normally in their respective conditions illustrated in Figure 3. That is, if the record pushbutton actuator 21 is not depressed, the apparatus operates as a signal reproducing device, in which the switch SW1 is opened to inhibit ac bias signals from being supplied to the heads 1 and 6; the switches SW'3 and 8W3 are closed to enable signals reproduced by the heads 1 and 6to be coupled to the amplifiers 3 and 8; and the switches 8W'2 and SW2 areopenedtopreventamplifiedsignalsfrom being supplied to the heads 1 and 6.Now, ifthetalk button 11 is not operated, the movable contacts 12dand 13d are disposed in theirfirst positions, as illustrated in Figure 3, so as to short-circuitthe resistors 2 and 7, respectively. Hence, left-channel and right-channel signals which are reproduced from the record medium bythe heads 1 and 6 are supplied via the switches 8W'3 and SW3, through the movable con tactsl2dand 13dto the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively. If head-phones are connected across the head-phone jacks 4 and 9, audible signals corresponding to the reproduced material are heard.As in the previously described embodiment, two sets of head-phone jacks are provided so as to enable two pairsofhead-phonesto be connected, wherebytwo listeners may listen to the pre-recorded material.

If the talk button 11 is operated, the movable contacts 12dand 13dare changed overto their second positions so as to remove the short-circuit by-passes of the resistors 2 and 7. The resistor is now connected in voltage divider relationship with a resistor 14'; and the resistor 7 is now connected in voltage divider relationship with the resistor 14. Thus, the left-channel and right-channel signals are attenuated, in accordance with the voltage divider ratio established by these respective voltage divider circuits. The attenuated signals are supplied to the amplifiers 3 and 8, and the listener now hears attenuated audio signals. A conversation may now be carried on by speaking into the microphones 15 and 15'.The audio electrical signals produced by the microphones 15 and 15' are supplied to the amplifiers 3 and 8 by movable contacts 12dand 13d, respectively, so asto be superimposed onto the attenuated left-channel and right-channel signals. It is appreciated that this operation is substantially identical to that described above with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1.

In addition to carrying on a conversation while listening to attenuated, background material, the user ofthe apparatus illustrated in Figures 3to 5 may record his own voice signals. this recording mode of operation is established by depressing the record push-button actuator 21, so that the switches SW1, SW2, SW'2, SW3 and 8W'3 are disposed in the conditions illustrated in Figure 4. More particularly, the switch SW1 is closed so as to supply energizing potential to the oscillators 27 and 29. Consequently, the ac bias signals generated by the oscillators 27 and 29 are applied to the heads 1 and 6, thereby conditioning the heads 1 and 6to function as recording heads. Also, the switches 8W'3 and SW3 are opened so asto inhibit any signals that may be supplied to the heads 1 and 6, or any signals that may be reproduced bythe heads 1 and 6, from being applied to the inputs of the amplifiers 3 and 8.

Furthermore, the switches SW'2 and 8W2 are closed so as to connect the outputs of the amplifiers 3 and 8 to the heads 1 and 6, respectively. It should also be appreciated that, when the record push-button actuator 21 is depressed, the talk button 11 likewise is operated. Consequently, the movable contacts 1 2d and 1 3dare disposed in their second positions so as to connect the microphones 15' and 15 therethrough to the inputs of the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively.

Now, if speech signals are supplied into the microphones 15' and 15, the audio electrical signals produced bythemicrophones 15'and 15 are supplied via the movable contacts 1 2dand 1 3dto the inputs of the amplifiers 3 and 8, respectively. Such audio electrical signals are amplified and then supplied from the amplifiers 3 and 8through the switches 8W'2 and SW2 to the heads 1 and 6, respectively. The heads 1 and 6are also supplied with ac bias signals, and serve to record the audio electrical signals on the record medium.

In addition to recording these signals, the amplified audio electrical signals are supplied to the headphone jacks, wherebythe listener may listen to his speech signals as they are recorded.

Various modifications are of course possible. For example, the invention is equally applicable to single-channel recording/reproducing devices. For example, in the Figure 1 embodiment, a single reproducing head may be provided, and either the left-channel or right-channel circuitry may be omitted. Similarly, in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4, either the left-channel or the right-channel circuitry may be omitted, if desired. As another example, the switching circuits 12 and 13 may comprise other elements to effect the selective attenuation of reproduced signals as well as the selective coupling of the microphone to the amplifiers. It should also be appreciated that additional stages of amplification and filtering may be provided in each channel, although in the interest of simplification, such additional circuitry is not shown.

Attention isdrawntoourcopending patent application no. 8019907 (serial no. 2 054 321 ) on which the present application is divided and which relates to similar subject matter.

Claims (1)

1. Apparatus for recording and for reproducing signals on and from a record medium, the apparatus comprising: transducer means for selectively recording signals on said record medium reproducing signals from said record medium; amplifier means for selectively amplifying the signals to be recorded on orthesignals reproduced from said record medium; output terminals coupled to said amplifier means for receiving the amplified signals therefrom and, when head-phones are connected thereto, for supplying said amplified signals to said head-phones.

microphone means for reproducing audio electrical signals; attenuator means for selectively attenuating the signals reproduced by said transducer means; switch means having a first condition, whereby said transducer means reproduces signals from said record medium and said reproduced signals are supplied to said amplifier means without passing through said attenuator means, and a second condition, whereby said reproduced signals are supplied to said amplifier means through said attenuator means and additionally, said audio electrical signals are supplied from said microphone means to said amplifier means; and record/reproduce selector means selectively operable to inhibit signals from said transducer means from being supplied to said amplifier means while, at the same time, supplying amplified signals from said amplifier means to said transducer means for recording.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said record/reproduce selector means comprises a first switching arrangement having a first state for connecting said transducer means to the input of said amplifier means and a second state for disconnecting saidtransducermeansfromsaid input of said amplifier means, and a second switching arrangement having a first state for disconnecting the output of said amplifier means from said transducer means and a second state for connecting said output of said amplifier means to said transducer means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising an actuator selectively operable to dispose said switch means in said first condition and concurrently dispose said first and second switching arrangements in said first state, orto dispose said switch means in said second condition and concurrently dispose said first and second switching arrangements in said second state.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3wherein said transducer means comprises a pair of record/playback heads, each operative to record signals on and reproduce signalsfrom said recording medium; said amplifier means comprises a pair of amplifiers, each operative selectively to amplify the signals recorded and reproduced by a respective one of said record/ playback heads; and output terminals comprising a pair of head-phone connection means, each headphone connection means being coupled to a respective one of said amplifiers; said attenuator means comprises a pair of attenuators, each operative selectivelyto attenuatethesignals reproduce by a respective one of said record/playback heads; said switch means comprises a pair of switches, each having a first condition in which the signals reproduced by a respective one of said record/playback heads are supplied to respective ones of said amplifiers without passing through a respectiveone of said attenuators, and a second condition in which the signals reproduced by said respective record/ playback head are supplied through said respective attenuator to said respective amplifier and additionally said audio electrical signals are supplied from said microphone means to said respective amplifier; said first switching arrangement comprises a pair of first switching elements, each selectively supplying the signals reproduced from a respective one of said record/playback heads to a respective one of said amplifiers; and said second switching arrangement comprises a pair of second switching elements, each selectively supplying the audio electrical signals amplified by a respective one of said amplifiers to a respective one of said record/playback heads for recording on said record medium.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said microphone means comprises a pair of microphones, each producing audio electrical signals and selectively coupled to a respective one of said amplifiers.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each of said switches comprises a movable contact connected to by-pass a respective one of said attenuators when said switch is in saidfirstconditionscasto supply the signals reproduced by a respective one of said record/playback heads directly to a respective one of said amplifiers, and connected to said respective attenuator and also to a respective one of said microphones when said switch is in said second condition so as to supplythe signals reproduced by said respective record/playback head to said respective amplifierthrough said respective attenuator and also to supply the audio electrical signals produced by said respective microphone to said respective amplifier.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 2 August 1983

1. Portable, self-contained apparatus for recording and for reproducing signals on and from a record medium, the apparatus comprising: transducer means for selectively recording signals on said record medium or reproducing signals from said record medium; amplifier means for selectively amplifying the signals to be recorded on orthesignals reproduced from said record medium; output terminals coupled to said amplifier means for receiving the amplified signals therefrom and, when head-phones are connected thereto, for supplying said amplified signals to said head-phones; microphone means for producing audio electrical signals; attenuator means for selectively attenuating the signals reproduced by said transducer means; switch means having a first condition, whereby said transducer means reproduces signals from said record medium and said reproduced signals are supplied to said amplifier means without passing through said attenuator means, and a second condition, whereby said reproduced signals are supplied to said amplifier means through said attenuator means and additionally, said audio electrical signals are supplied from said microphone means to said amplifier means; and record/reproduce selector means selectively oper able to inhibit signals from said transducer means from being suppliedto said amplifier meanswhile, at the same time, supplying amplified signals from said ampliflermeansto said transducer meansforre- cording.