The cassette player featured some nice features, including a Recording Level adjustment and a VU Meter to make sure you got your level set properly.
A new feature in the 242 was the ability for someone to record a "voice message" on a blank cassette tape. After the message was recorded, the "message indicator" light will glow as a reminder for other family members to check the message. Later in the 1970's when the IM313 was introduced, this type of design would be called a "Communi-Center".
You can also record your favorite music off the radio by leaving the selector switch in either AM or FM and placing the cassette into Record Mode.