TEAC 2340 vs. 3340

[Nil]

I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me even more...

What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track reel-
to-reel decks? The reason I ask is that I have a multi-track tape of my
'70s rock band that was recorded on (I think) a 3340. I met someone who
has a 2340, and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the 3340 that I
can play my old tape on it in order to transfer it to digital.

[John L Rice]

Post by Nil
I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me even more...
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track reel-
to-reel decks? The reason I ask is that I have a multi-track tape of my
'70s rock band that was recorded on (I think) a 3340. I met someone who
has a 2340, and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the 3340 that I
can play my old tape on it in order to transfer it to digital.

If I remember correctly the tape speed ranges are different. The 2340 does
3.75 and 7.5 IPS and the 3340 does 7.5 and 15 IPS . . . . I think. The
biggest reels that will fit on a 2340 is 7" and I'm pretty sure the 3340 can
handle 10" reels. So if the tape speed and reel size is compatible you
should be fine for the most part. ( unless the head alignment between the
two is messed up but Scott D will tell ya about that I'm sure! ;-) As far as
I know the heads and electronics were pretty much the same otherwise.

Best of luck.

[Ben Bradley]

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 23:53:26 -0600, Nil

Post by Nil
I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me even more...
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340

Max 7" reels, speeds of 3 3/4 and 7 1/2 IPS.

Post by Nil
and 3340 4-track reel-

10 1/2" (IIRC - the standard 'big' ones) reels, and can run at 7
1/2 and 15 IPS.

Post by Nil
to-reel decks? The reason I ask is that I have a multi-track tape of my
'70s rock band that was recorded on (I think) a 3340. I met someone who
has a 2340, and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the 3340 that I
can play my old tape on it in order to transfer it to digital.

If it was recorded at 7 1/2 IPS and you can put it on a smaller
reel, then yes.

[Arny Krueger]

Post by Nil
I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me
even more...
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340
4-track reel- to-reel decks?

A picture is worth at least 1,000 words?

http://reel2reeltexas.com/vinAd74.html

Post by Nil
The reason I ask is that I
have a multi-track tape of my '70s rock band that was
recorded on (I think) a 3340.

That was the 10 1/2 reel version.

Post by Nil
I met someone who has a
2340,

That was the 7 1/2 reel version.

Post by Nil
and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the
3340 that I can play my old tape on it in order to
transfer it to digital.

Do the reels fit?

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Nil
I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me even more...
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track reel-
to-reel decks? The reason I ask is that I have a multi-track tape of my
'70s rock band that was recorded on (I think) a 3340. I met someone who
has a 2340, and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the 3340 that I
can play my old tape on it in order to transfer it to digital.

The four track (NOT quarter-track, which some folks called four-track)
quarter-inch format is standardized. So if you have a 4-track 1/4"
tape, you can play it back on any machine that is set up for the same
EQ configuration.
--scott

[hank alrich]

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by Nil
I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me even more...
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track reel-
to-reel decks? The reason I ask is that I have a multi-track tape of my
'70s rock band that was recorded on (I think) a 3340. I met someone who
has a 2340, and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the 3340 that I
can play my old tape on it in order to transfer it to digital.

The four track (NOT quarter-track, which some folks called four-track)
quarter-inch format is standardized. So if you have a 4-track 1/4"
tape, you can play it back on any machine that is set up for the same
EQ configuration.

And tape speed.

--
ha

[Sean Conolly]

Post by hank alrich

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by Nil
I've been googling around, but it's just confusing me even more...
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track reel-
to-reel decks? The reason I ask is that I have a multi-track tape of my
'70s rock band that was recorded on (I think) a 3340. I met someone who
has a 2340, and I'm wondering if it's similar enough to the 3340 that I
can play my old tape on it in order to transfer it to digital.

The four track (NOT quarter-track, which some folks called four-track)
quarter-inch format is standardized. So if you have a 4-track 1/4"
tape, you can play it back on any machine that is set up for the same
EQ configuration.

And tape speed.

Could you play at 7-1/2 and record at 22.05 KHz, and then mark the file as
44.1 KHz ? Or would the bias be screwed up too much?

Sean

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Sean Conolly
Could you play at 7-1/2 and record at 22.05 KHz, and then mark the file as
44.1 KHz ? Or would the bias be screwed up too much?

No, what is screwed up is the EQ. You will have to draw out the 7.5 ips
NAB curve and the 15 ips NAB curve and subtract the two to get the difference.

Also, of course, running at 7 1/2 ips you will get usable response WELL
above 11 KHz. You might even get a -3dB point close to 20 KHz with the right
heads and careful setup.
--scott

[Nil]

Post by Nil
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track
reel- to-reel decks?

Thanks for the clues, everyone. I guess I'll just I'll just have to try
my tape on this machine to see if it's recorded at a compatible speed.
And I didn't know that this 4-track format was as standardized as it
is. It sounds like I might be able to use a conventional stereo-each-
way consumer deck to play this back, if I can't find a TEAC 3340.

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Nil

Post by Nil
What's the difference between the old TEAC 2340 and 3340 4-track
reel- to-reel decks?

Thanks for the clues, everyone. I guess I'll just I'll just have to try
my tape on this machine to see if it's recorded at a compatible speed.
And I didn't know that this 4-track format was as standardized as it
is. It sounds like I might be able to use a conventional stereo-each-
way consumer deck to play this back, if I can't find a TEAC 3340.

You can play two tracks at a time on a quarter-track consumer deck, but
you can't match them up afterward. You'd think you could record one
pass to a DAW and then record the other pass in reverse and put them
together, but they will never line up because the tape machine can't
maintain constant speed.

You can always send the tape to Steve Puntolillo or me. (Although I
could only hand you back a DA-88 tape or a 4-track 1/2" tape and Steve
can make anything imaginable.)
--scott

[Nil]

Post by Scott Dorsey
You can play two tracks at a time on a quarter-track consumer
deck, but you can't match them up afterward. You'd think you
could record one pass to a DAW and then record the other pass in
reverse and put them together, but they will never line up because
the tape machine can't maintain constant speed.

I think the tape consists of, basically, a stereo backing track and two
tracks of various pieces (vocals, guitar overdubs, etc.) I was thinking
that even if I had to retrieve the tracks in two passes, I could still
synchonize everything in my DAW because only the backing track is
constant. The other bits could be divided up into separate clips.

Of course, doing it all in one pass would be best.

Post by Scott Dorsey
You can always send the tape to Steve Puntolillo or me. (Although
I could only hand you back a DA-88 tape or a 4-track 1/2" tape and
Steve can make anything imaginable.)

Thanks for the suggestion. I may approach you guys about this later.
But right now, it's off to grandmother's house we go (figuratively
speaking).

[p***@aol.com]

I can confirm that the 2340 was 3.75/7.5 ips with 7" maximum reel size,
and that the 3340 was 7.5/15 ips with 10 1/2" maximum reel size.
Otherwise they were completely format-compatible (1/4" 4 track). So a
tape made on a 3340 will play just fine on a 2340 as long as it was
made at 7.5 ips and is loaded onto a 7" reel.

Ted Spencer, NYC
tedspencerrecording.com