power to the proper program tape deck d 1 d n correspondingly the audio line l is connected through the audio muting gate 18 which may be a spst relay or transistor switch to the output of an audio pre amplifier and amplifier system 20 which receives input from the proper program deck d 1 d n boxes 17 19 25 26 27 29 and 31 are inactive during the outgoing message mode the cycle start unit 15 upon being activated by an incoming call causes power to be applied to d 1 and causes the rdm zr to seize the telephone line the first message 11 a on deck d 1 is played through the audio pre amplifier and amplifier system 20 and the then inactive audio muting gate 18 to the calling party when the first control signal 12 a is played through audio pre amplifier and amplifier system 20 it is applied to decoding means such as a conventional band pass filter which includes a set of tone decoders 21 22 23 24 if the tone has a frequency a it will trigger tone decoder 21 and apply a trigger through its yes terminal to activate a logic circuit 25 that acts as a pause detector the yes terminal of tone decoder 21 is also connected to cause the control switch 14 to disconnect the program deck d1 and apply power to the incoming message tape drive mechanism 17 audio line l is switched to the audio amplifier 19 for recording the response the incoming audio is also connected from junction 14 p to a speech detector 26 which may be a conventional voice actuation circuit which is for sensing silence absence of speech intervals preceding an incoming.