Boombox

A radio recorder (modern spelling and Radio Recorder ) is a portable audio device with playback and recording functions for audio cassette ( tape recorder ) and built-in radio to receive radio broadcasts. The unit is a development of previously used portable transistor or transistor radios, which nothing could be recorded.

Many devices have a built-in microphone, and often a second cassette part or - since the mid- 1980s - even a CD drive for recording to a second sound carrier. Today's devices have partially slots ( engl. slots) memory card or USB connectors for devices with MP3 files.

History

The radio recorder had its heyday in the 1970s and early 1980s. In particular, produced in the U.S. and Japan devices often had a pompous appearance with huge speakers and many additional functions (Karaoke, equalizer or even small TV).

Large units with powerful amplifiers and often removable boxes were colloquially referred to as boombox or ghetto blaster. This leads on the one hand from English to blast, here: " make a noise ", on the other hand of the ghetto as the residential areas most socially disadvantaged African-Americans and Hispanics in the United States. The Ghetto Blaster played a significant role in the development of hip- hop and its often road -focused culture (see breakdance, graffiti).

The speakers were to high sound levels, despite restrictions imposed by the battery. In general, full-range speakers were used, often supported by tweeters. A characteristic feature of the radio recorder is in relation to the low depth with many large front LEDs and controls.

The mid-1980s ebbed, the " radio wave recorder " from: the devices were smaller and the quality subsided. Today, the classic ( and rather expensive) radio recorder is often replaced by smaller, cheaper products, but not come high on the " cars " of the 1970s and 1980s. The old equipment enjoy a cult status among collectors, which is reflected in the sometimes high prices for used equipment in good condition.

Since 2001, the transport of radio recorders in airplanes due to repeated problems is forbidden to radio communications or generally for safety reasons by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Within the EU, this may therefore no longer be carried in passenger aircraft.

Components

Typical components of a radio recorder are:

• Radio Receiver: AM (usually only medium wave, short wave rare and / or long wave), FM ( frequency modulation, usually with stereo decoder ); Listening through speakers, simultaneous recording on cassette tape possible.
• Cassette tape recorder (usually stereo ): One or two drives (the second dubbing )
• Optional: CD Player
• Optional: microphone, playback speaker ( Karaoke) or recording music on cassette
• Stereo audio amplifier and speakers usually two, sometimes with optional base widening and bass boost, some with removable boxes

Radio Recorders are often designed to operate with batteries ( mobile application ), but have an internal power supply, so that they also operate on AC power can.

Game " Ghetto Blaster "

In 1985, Virgin Interactive out the computer game ghetto blaster in which a Rastafari and his radio recorder play the main role.