Look at the front of your tape recording unit. You will see a rotating switch with numbers next to it.
Turn the switch. You will feel it lock into position as you turn. Each position is a speed for your tape recorder. The average tape recorder has three speeds, 3 3/4 inches per second, 5 1/2 inches per second, and 7/12 inches. This speed determines how many inches of tape will be recorded on in one second's time.
Turn the switch to 7 1/2 inches for a high-quality recording. This will run through your tape faster, but audio quality will be clearer and voice pitch will be maintained.
Turn the switch to 3 3/4 inches to conserve tape. This speed will not capture all of the frequency levels of music, and is often used for spoken word where sound quality isn't crucial. Recordings made at this speed often sound low and somewhat sluggish.
Turn the switch to 1 7/8 inches for long speeches when sound quality isn't important. This option will use the least amount of tape.