If it's a hi-fi stereo model, it may have a facility to be used as a high-quality AUDIO recorder. When it's switched to that mode, the vision section is switched-off.
Check the position of any small switches, particularly ones with labels like "Audio mode", "Speed SP/LP/Audio".
Some recorders have a long-play mode (LP) which works only for recording AUDIO (as above) - if so, just switch back to standard-play mode (SP) !
ss, May 2008
