A simple, relatively inexpensive system for signal recovery in retrospect was designed to record lake-ice seismic events. The system is broad-band, D.C. to 100 Hz, light-weight and may be added to any existing data-acquisition equipment. The system may be used ( 1 ) to initiate high-speed paper recordings in the field, (2) to store transient events on magnetic tape while in the field, or (3) for the unattended laboratory-recovery of transient events from a continuous field recording. Continuous, high-resolution, broad-band recordings of seismic events occurring in lake ice over a period of weeks may be stored on a single reel of magnetic tape. The initial cost of the device is rapidly equaled by the savings in tape cost and man hours expended in signal recovery.