a cue recording system for magnetic recorders responds to the closure of a pushbutton switch which is operated when a cue signal is to be recorded , by activating a duration decision circuit which maintains a cue generator in operation during a time duration determined by the decision circuit for magnetic recording thereof , independently from the length of time during which the pushbutton switch is held closed . with a magnetic recorder in which an acoustic signal to be recorded and a cue signal is recorded on one track of the magnetic tape , in serial fashion a short - circuiting or agc transistor is rendered conductive as the cue generator is turned on , thereby short - circuiting or attenuating a record input from an associated microphone .