Automatic Program Search System

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The APSS logo

The Automatic Program Search System , also known as the Auto Program Search System or APSS for short , is a technology developed by Sharp for audio cassette players to automatically wind to the beginning of the next or previous track on audio cassettes - similar to the more modern CD medium . The APSS is available for devices with mechanical buttons as well as for devices with electronic buttons. There were also turntables with this function, but technically it worked differently.

functionality

Mechanical buttons

If you press the fast-forward button or the rewind button on an audio cassette player with APSS during playback, the pressure roller is lifted from the capstan via a mechanism and the head carrier is pulled back a little from the magnetic tape against a spring force. The tape head now has slight contact with the tape. The play button stays in place and the rewind button also clicks into place. Then the tape is rewound forwards or backwards depending on the rewind button pressed until there is a longer pause or a very quiet passage on the tape with a playback duration of at least a few seconds. This point is recognized by the tape head and the control electronics, which unlock the latch of the respective reel button. This now jumps back into the rest position by spring force. This will stop the winding process and return the head carrier and pressure roller to their normal playback position. Playback will then continue at the pause found.

Electronic buttons

The process is basically the same as with the mechanical keys, but the keys do not click into place and the movements of the mechanism are driven by an electric motor.

Disadvantages of the system

  • Spooling with the tape head partially extended leads to a high load on the tape head and the tape.
  • Pauses between the tracks are necessary for the function. Title boundaries without pauses cannot be found.
  • Very quiet passages within a title can be wrongly detected as the beginning of a new title.
  • You cannot jump to specific track numbers.

Supported Products

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Radio recorder

model

designation

description Construction year
GF-500 Stereo radio recorder with two cassette drives 1983
GF-5454 Stereo radio recorder 1982
GF-5757 Stereo radio recorder 1985
GF-6500H Mono radio recorder 1978
GF-7300 Stereo radio recorder 1978
GF-8181 Stereo radio recorder 1978
GF-9191 Stereo radio recorder 1978

Cassette decks

model

designation

description Construction year
RT-1157 Cassette deck with mechanical buttons 1978
RT-31 Cassette deck with mechanical buttons 1981
RT-350 Autoreverse cassette deck with electronic buttons 1983

Record player

  • RP-114 (Optonica): Turntable with vertical platter, two-sided scanning and electronic control (1982)

other producers

A corresponding function is also available in better cassette decks from other manufacturers, usually with electronic buttons, e.g. B. the Akai GX-32, GX-52 and higher, there called IPSS (Instant Program Searching System). By pressing the winding button several times, you can jump two or more pauses further. There is a special function to create a pause of 4 seconds when recording. The glass-coated tape heads greatly reduce wear and tear.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stereo Radio Cassette GF-500Z. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  2. ↑ FM stereo SW / MW / LW 4-band radio recorder. In: Radiomuseum. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Sharp Stereo Radio Cassette Recorder GF5757. In: Radiomuseums Bocket, RadioWiki. Retrieved October 27, 2019 .
  4. ↑ GF-6500 H. In: Radiomuseum. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  5. ↑ GF 7300 HG. In: Radiomuseum. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  6. ↑ GF-8181 H. In: Radiomuseum. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  7. ↑ The Searcher GF-9191H. In: Radiomuseum. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Stereo Cassette Tape Deck RT-1157H. In: Radiomuseum. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Sharp RT-31. In: Hifi-Wiki. Retrieved August 9, 2020 .
  10. ↑ Sharp RT-350 Stereo Cassette Deck. In: CassetteDeck.org. Accessed November 4, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Optonica RP-114. In: Hifi-Wiki.de. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Rescued 1980s Relic: The Sharp RP-114 Vertical Turntable. Retrieved November 4, 2019 .
  13. ↑ Operating instructions for the Akai GX-52 stereo cassette deck, English. PDF, 3.0 MB. Retrieved October 27, 2019 .