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TASCAM Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary This Year

Originally the pro audio division of TEAC Corp in the late 1960s when the Tani brothers and Dr. Abe formed a special R&D group to research ways to apply the company's technology to musicians and studios.
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TASCAM has announced the year 2021 marks the company’s 50th anniversary, with the company dating back to its origin as the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation in the late 1960s when the Tani brothers — both engineers — and Dr. Abe (a senior engineer at TEAC) formed a special R&D group named TASC (TEAC Audio Systems Corp) for the purpose of researching ways to apply the company’s recording technology to musicians and studios.

In 1971, TASCAM (TASC AMerica Corp) was established for the purpose of distributing TASC products in the U.S. and conducting additional market research. By 1974, TASCAM became the official brand name of all TEAC recording products designed specifically for musicians and studios.

The TASCAM name has a rich history in terms terms of the company’s technological achievements and the artists and engineers who have used the itss products. For example, the TASCAM SERIES 80-8 tape deck was a half-inch, open reel 8-track format recorder first used to record the voices of R2-D2 and C-3PO in the making of the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, in 1977. Equally noteworthy, singer/songwriter/actress Lady Gaga’s father gifted her a Portastudio when she was roughly 11 years old. Reflecting on the gift, she said, “I could just sit at the piano and hook up a mic and record by myself. That’s probably the best gift that my dad ever gave me.”

Similarly, rock legend Bruce Springsteen helped initiate a home recording revolution using TASCAM. Working with his friend and guitar tech Mike Batlan, “The Boss” used a Portastudio 144 to record what would ultimately become the 1982 album Nebraska. Also of note, the company received an Emmy Award for the DA-88 digital multitrack recorder.

Over the course of 2021, TASCAM will be offering a variety of promotions planned where users will have the opportunity to expand their equipment inventories. In addition, the company will introduce new products in 2021 and beyond that address a wide range of applications.

Go here to find out more at the TASCAM 50th anniversary page.

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