AV Shack brings you the TEAC W-1200 Double Cassette Deck Player

TEAC W-1200 Double Cassette Deck draws on TEAC’s proud heritage in creating world-class tape recorders, an authentic double cassette deck for the modern day. This double cassette deck features two one-way cassette decks, mic mixing, a USB digital output and other versatile recording features. 

Cassette Decks

In recent times, cassette tapes have fascinated those who had never used them, thanks to their warm, distinctly analogue sound, not to mention the ease of recording and the ability to create ‘mix-tapes’. Both decks support the playback of Normal (Type I), Chrome (Type II), and Metal (Type IV) tapes, while supporting recording on Normal and Chrome-type tapes.

TEAC set out to create a cassette deck that combined an excellent level of performance with an interface that suits the digital audio era. Not only does the W-1200 offer sound that’s close to the original, but it also has a wide range of versatile facilities that allow karaoke singing, the recording of conference minutes, and even the digital recording of analogue cassettes via a computer.

Functions

TEAC’s decades of experience in making recording equipment are self-evident in the W-1200, particularly where the noise reduction system is concerned. It allows users to play back legacy cassette tapes originally recorded with Dolby B NR and hear them correctly. Moreover, the pitch control allows you to change playback speed to whatever’s considered appropriate, while the level meters provided enable fine-tuning of recording levels. A timer REC/PLAY function is provided to allow use with a third-party audio timer.

Furthermore, the W-1200 can deliver digital audio at CD-quality (up to 48kHz/16-bit PCM) to a computer via a USB cable, allowing digital archiving of your cassette tape library. Once you’ve digitised them on a computer, you’re able to enjoy your old tape-based music library anytime, anywhere via a network player, DAP, smartphone or even in your car.

Noise reduction system

The built-in noise reduction system suppresses the hissing noise that is inherent in cassette tape playback. This allows cassette tapes that were recorded using Dolby B NR in the past to be played back with sound quality that is close to the original.

Pitch control + RTZ functions

TAPE1 is equipped with a pitch control that changes playback speed (in order to restore the playback sound on old tapes to the original key) by allowing the adjustment of tape speed by ±12%. Moreover, by combining the Pitch control and A-B Repeat play, users are able to make voices easier to understand at reduced tape speeds when transcribing recorded meetings and speeches. Furthermore, both TAPE1 and TAPE2 are equipped with Return-to-Zero (RTZ) functions that make returning to them to their “0000” counter positions easy with the press of a single button.

Parallel Recording

Parallel Recording makes a pair of identical tapes at the same time on TAPE1 and TAPE2. It is a convenient way to provide someone with a copy of a tape right after making a recording. The timer REC/Play ready allows users to record/playback tape when the W-1200 is turned on with a third-party audio timer. The W-1200 is not equipped with a built-in timer, so a third-party audio timer is required. Devices that allow timer operation can be connected as sources.

Dual Mode REC/MUTE

The dual mode REC MUTE function allows users to erase unnecessary sections and to add spaces (silences) between tracks while recording. During recording or rec-standby, the W-1200 creates a 4-second ‘blank’ (standard gap) between tracks simply by pressing the REC MUTE button once – press and hold it for more than 4 seconds, and you can create a blank as long as you need.

Mic In/Mixing Function

The mic input and mixing function allow users to mix mic sound and tape/aux sound, and to record the mixed sound to a cassette tape. By adjusting the mic level, users are able to enjoy a Karaoke performance (useful for announcement-type applications) without an external mixer. Of course, recording the mic sound alone to a cassette tape is also supported. Combine that with the Parallel Recording facility, and users can create a pair of identical tapes simultaneously, useful for making conference minutes, for example, one being the ‘master’ and another for distribution.

One-touch Tape Dubbing

With just the press of a button, users are able to duplicate cassette tapes, making a backup copy of the original tape. Users are also able to create silences between tracks by pressing the REC MUTE button during dubbing. This also serves as a simple editing system by allowing the erasing of unwanted sections.

Fluorescent Display

A fluorescent display with high contrast and high brightness is employed to show – in one place – all the information needed to operate the decks, including Left and Right level meters for full-fledged recording plus independent tape counters for TAPE1 and TAPE2. The dimmer function allows users to adjust the brightness according to the environment.

USB Digital Recording

The built-in A/D converter and a USB digital output on the rear panel allow users to digitally archive their cassette tape libraries at 48kHz/16-bit CD-quality. The sampling frequency and bit depth are selectable from 8k to 48kHz and 8 or 16 bit, depending on the recording quality of the original tape. Once a digital archive is created, users are able to listen to it anytime, anywhere with a computer, DAP, smartphone, network player or even in a car.

Key Features

– Dual cassette decks for REC/PLAY (both decks) with independent mechanisms
– Noise reduction system suppresses hiss during playback (equivalent to Dolby B)
– Mic input with mic mixing for karaoke and announcement applications
– One-touch dubbing, ±12% pitch control and A-B repeat
– Parallel Recording for recording to two tapes at the same time
– USB output for digital recording on PC/Mac at CD-quality (48kHz/16-bit PCM)

Technical Specifications:

 

Deck Section
– System: 4-track, 2-channel Stereo
– Config: REC/PLAY (each TAPE1/TAPE2)
– Tape speed: 4.8cm/sec
– Pitch control ±12% (TAPE1 only)
– Fast rewind time: approx 120s (C-60)
– Wow and flutter: 0.25% (WRMS)
– Freq resp: (I/II) 30–13/15k Hz (±4dB)
– SNR: 59dB (Max level in, A-weight)

 

Input/Output
– Analogue i/o: RCA pair (0.28/0.46V)
– Mic in: 1/4” (6.3mm) TRS monaural
– Headphone out: 1/4” TRS stereo
– Output power: 15mW (@32O loaded)
– USB digital out: Type-B (Full-speed)
– Sample: 8/11.03/16/220.5/32/44.1/48kHz

 

General
– Operation: AC 230V 50Hz (UK/Europe)
– Power consumption: 22W
– Dimensions (WHD): 435 x 145 x 285.8mm
– Weight: 10.2lbs/4.6kg (UK/EU)

 

Included items
– Remote control (RC-1331) x 1
– AA batteries x 2
– RCA audio cable x 1
– Owner’s Manual (+ Warranty)