Let's take things one step at a time. First, you can't record anything without a card in the unit. I think it comes with a small one however very small capacity. I suggest that you NEVER use a mono plug in a stereo jack as it, over time, damages the jack. Press the number 1 and it should say "speed". Use the up or down arrows if this is not normal. If your unit says yours is on normal and you are hearing yourself wrong, send it back. The list had someone else with this problem. Check these things first and we can move on. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- To leave the list at any time, please write to <ptr1-users-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> with unsubscribe ptr1-users in the subject or the body. The list home page is at <//www.freelists.org/list/ptr1-users/>.