TASCAM is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2021.
As the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, TASCAM’s heritage dates back to the late 1960s. That’s 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 TEAC’s recording technology for musicians and recording studios.
In 1971, TASCAM was established for the purpose of distributing TASC products in the U.S. and conducting additional market research. Then, in 1974, TASCAM was absorbed by the rapidly growing TEAC Corp. of America sales and distribution company, and TASCAM became the official brand name of all TEAC recording products designed specifically for musicians and recording studios.
The TASCAM name has a rich history, both in terms of the company’s technological achievements and the artists and engineers who have used the company’s products. The TASCAM SERIES 80-8 tape deck was a half-inch, open reel 8-track format recorder. It was 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.
Additionally, Lady Gaga’s father gifted her a Portastudio when she was roughly 11 years old, and Bruce Springsteen initiated a home recording revolution using TASCAM. With the help of his friend and guitar tech Mike Batlan, The Boss used a Portastudio 144 to record what would ultimately become 1982’s album, “Nebraska.”
Over the course of 2021, TASCAM users and prospective customers will have much to look forward to. There are a variety of promotions planned where music afficionados will have the opportunity to expand their equipment arsenals. The company will also introduce new products throughout 2021 and beyond.
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