As others have suggested, look for a VOX switch and turn it off; it may
be labeled "VCVA"

Even if you get that problem solved I suspect you'll be very unhappy
with the results. Microcassette recorders are great for voice but
terrible for music: very limited frequency response and terrible wow
and flutter.

wrote:
Hi all,
I just got an Olympus Pearlcorder S702 microcassette voice recorder off
of eBay (there's mistake #1)...for my musician's needs as a way to
listen to myself, I don't need anything fancy.
It has this really weird problem....all functions work beautifully
except the record function. I checked it out, and the rotating drivers
that hook onto the casette spin just fine, except when I hit rec/play,
when it spins for a short time and then fizzles out. Sometimes it spins
longer than at other times, but wait long enough, and it will stop
rotation. This causes the recorded audio to waver everywhere in pitch,
and generally sound ugly. Batteries are new.
Is this a matter of lubrication/cleaning, or did I buy a cheapo
piece of trash, or is it mechanical, or hopeless...etc...?
Ideas.....!?
Thanks....
Chloe H.