Meet the creator.

Today, the musical artist has a new instrument at his command-the recording studio. It's an instrument that can capture sound, manipulate and mold it, stack it and scramble it, equalize and echo it--a contemporary creative tool with possibilities confined only by the borders of imagination.

Some might call this musical sound foolery, an adulteration of the pure musical art form. But throughout history, the truly creative artist has always used whatever instruments were available to reproduce the music he heard in his mind. The artist is no different today--but the instruments he uses are. And this has resulted in a dynamic new range of musical experiences for us all.

The creator--a 4-channel studio that fits on a shelf

With the needs of the contemporary artist in mind, TEAC tape technologists set out to design a precision musical instrument that would provide studio electronic flexibility and studio performance accuracy-yet be compact enough for home use and priced within the bounds of reason. The result: the creator, TEAC's amazing Model 3340 4-Channel Simul-Sync Tape Deck--a recording studio that fits on a shelf.

The 3340, backed by TEAC's exclusive two-year Warranty of Confidence,* is carefully crafted in the TEAC tradition of professional quality. 10 1/2" studio reels; a quick and gentle three-motor transport; four studio-calibrated VU meters; eight input controls for complete mic/line mixing; dual bias selection; 7 1/2 and 15 ips studio-accurate speeds. And Simul-Sync.

Simul-Sync: what it does and how it works

Overdubbing has become a familiar term to every knowledgeable musician. Simply, it means a) recording a voice or instrument on one track of a multi-track tape machine, b) adding another voice or instrument to a different track at a different time, and c) matching the two tracks so it sounds as if they were recorded simultaneously when played back. To overdub properly, the artist recording on the second track has to listen to the material recorded on the first track while performing in perfect synchronization to it.

That's where the problem occurs with most tape recorders. Conventional record/playback monitoring systems only let you listen to the previously recorded material off the playback head. That means a time delay between the track being recorded and the track being monitored. A small delay, to be sure, but large enough to make perfect synchronization virtually impossible.

TEAC engineers solved the problem with Simul-Sync. They designed a studio-tolerance 4-channel record head, then added electronics that allow each track on that head to be switched independently to either record or playback modes. By doing so, they completely eliminated the time lag and permitted the artist to add track after track--all in absolute synchronization with each other.

The TEAC Simul-Sync head, operating in conjunction with a 4-channel erase head and a hyperbolic playback head capable of reproducing either stereo or 4-channel material, served as the foundation for the TEAC 3340 concept. It also opened the door to a whole new realm of musical creativity and enjoyment.

Exploring the realm

Here are just a few of the sonic effects possible with the TEAC 3340:

1. Unlimited overdubbing. Up to nine individual instruments or voices can be recorded at different times without any track being used beyond second generation. Sensational signal-to-noise ratio is the result.

2. Professional quality mixdown. All four channels to a single track or 1/4-track stereo masters. The optional TEAC AX-20 Mixdown Panel makes it a quick and easy process. Individual controls also allow for desired mixing level for each channel.

3. Special effects. Enter the world of psycho-acoustic phenomenon where the creative juices can really start flowing. Things like echo, cross echo, 4-channel rotating echo and pan pot ffects (with AX-20 Mixdown Panels). You can put echo on some instruments and not on others. One-man group arrangements, with a single artist playing all instruments and singing all vocal parts. Backwards recording, an effect that gives any instrument a totally new sound. Dual speed recording, mixed down in perfect sync. With all these effects at his disposal, the professional musician can quickly save the cost of a 3340 in reduced studio experimental time alone.

4. Pseudo-quad recording through ambient delay to the rear channels. And, of course, full discrete 4-channel record and playback.

5. Are you creatively curious? If so drop TEAC a line, and ask for the "Meet the creator" booklet. It describes all of the 3340 effects in detail and explains how each is done. And it's free.

If creative involvement is what you're after, meet the creator-the TEAC 3340 4-Channel Simul-Sync Tape Deck. (or the 7" reel, 3 3/4, 7 1/2 ips version, the 2340). When it comes to creative recording, they perform miracles.

*TEAC or one of its authorized service stations will make all necessary repairs to any TEAC tape deck resulting from defects in workmanship or material for two full years from the date of purchase, free of charge to the original purchaser.

The TEAC 2340 and 3340 are priced at $759.50 and $849.50, respectively. For complete information, please write to TEAC, 7733 Telegraph Road, Montebello, California 90640.

In Canada: White Electronic Development Corp., Ltd., Toronto.

TEAC Corporation, 1-8-1 Nishi-shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku, lbkyo, Japan.

TEAC EUROPE N.V., Kabelweg 45-47, Amsterdam-W.2, Holland.

Hi-Fi, S.A. Alta Fidelidad Hidalgo 1679, Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico.

TEAC®

The sound of a new generation

( Audio magazine, Feb. 1973)

Also see:

TEAC frequency response (ad, Apr. 1973)

TEAC 3300 open-reel tape deck (ad, Jan. 1973)

TEAC -- Open reel tape recorder technology (Feb. 1979)

TEAC -- Open reel tape recorder technology (Sept. 1979)

= = = =