TEAC W-1200 Dual Cassette Deck with Recorder with USB Pitch Control Karaoke-Mic-in and Remote (Silver)

The W-1200 is a double cassette deck featuring two, one-way cassette decks, mic mixing, a USB digital output and other versatile recording features. In recent times, cassette tapes have fascinated those whom have never used them, thanks to their warm, distinctly analogue sound, not to mention the ease of recording and the ability to create 'mix-tapes'. We 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, 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.

• Two simple and reliable one-way cassette mechanisms are employed. During playback (or recording) of TAPE1, users can change the cassette tape in TAPE2, preparing it to play (or record) next. Since both decks have independent drive sections for control, when one deck is playing (or recording), users can operate the other deck (changing tapes, fast forwarding, or rewinding) without affecting the operation of the first deck, ensuring continuity of playback or recording. 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.
• The built-in noise reduction system suppresses the hissing noise inherent in cassette tape playback. This allows cassette tapes recorded using Dolby B NR in the past to be played back with sound quality close to the original.
• 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 can make voices more straightforward 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 them to their "0000" counter positions easy with the press of a single button.
• Parallel Recording makes a pair of identical tapes simultaneously on TAPE1 and TAPE2. This is a convenient way to provide someone with a copy of a tape right after making a recording.
• The dual-mode REC MUTE function allows users to erase unnecessary sections and add spaces (silences) between tracks while recording. During recording or rec-standby, the W-1200 creates a 4-second 'blank' (which is a 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 INPUT + MIC MIXING The mic input and mixing function allow users to mix mic sound and tape/aux sound, and to record mixed sound to a cassette tape. By adjusting the mic level, users are able to enjoy 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, which helps make conference minutes, for example, one being the 'master' and another for distribution.
• USB DIGITAL OUT 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 can listen to them anytime anywhere with a computer, DAP, smartphone, network player or even in a car.