I use a TCM- 16 tape recoreder, is this device an accurate reproduction of my singing voice?

Question

http://www.officedirectinc.com/TCM-16.htm

Answer 1

No. It neither has the frequency or tape speed to do that and those little "D" size cassettes are OK for voice recording for speech, but are lousy for recording music. You would need a tape recorder that uses 1/2 inch music quality tape and that runs at least at a speed of 7"s per second and really at 15" per sec. The "C" size recorders only run at 3 1/2" per second and can be used for recording music (ala all the commercial music tapes out there) BUT they don't even come close to recording true accurate reproduction of your or any ones else's voices. We are some what spoiled today what with "C" size tapes and CD music, so few of us have ever even heard "GOOD" music. How well I remember the days of good vinyl on a good record player with a good needle, not to mention the sound quality from my AKAI/ Roberts real to real running at 15" per sec.!!!

Answer 2

No it won't.

It is designed as an "audible notebook", the sort of thing a non-critical journalist might use for low quality inteviews or simply making notes.

Not only does it have an inadequate freqeuncy response (250-6300Hz), it also uses compression - what they call "automatic recording level control".

Compression aims at recording a more or less constant amplitude signal despite (natural) changes in the intensity of what the microphone "hears". In other words it completely destroys the dynamic range.

Another disadvantage (as if that wasn't enough) is that the in-built microphone will be sensitive to handling noise.

If you want to record on audio cassettes and get good (really good) results you will have to pay upwards of $200 for a second hand Sony WM-D6C Walkman Pro (those in very good condition go for $400). They frequently appear on eBay.