Telefunken M-12 (reviewed 1975)
Not much information survives on the Telefunken M-12, but what does is useful. Studio Sound ran a full review in May 1975 (p.42), and AEG-Telefunken's own advertising is in the same issue (p.43). The review confirms the M-12 as a professional studio tape recorder. The period print spells it "M12." The reviewer called it "a fine recorder which is beautifully made." He singled out the input stage, which handles both line and microphone. Level setting is in two parts: a finger-operable preset control sets the approximate maximum input level, and a slider does the fine adjustment. The one serious criticism was the recording interlock arrangement, which the reviewer called lethal. An editor's note pointed to a follow-up letter (p.62) saying the issue had since been addressed.
In the ad next to the review, Telefunken pitched the machine at professional recordists moving from 15 ips down to 7½ ips to save tape costs. It claimed some strong figures at 7½ ips:
- Frequency response: ±1 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz at 7½ ips (claimed)
- Inter-track phase displacement: ±10° at 10 kHz at 7½ ips (claimed)
- Wear-resistant tape guides of sintered ceramics
- Ferrite heads of "extreme density"
Past these few period pages, the record is mostly blank. The archive confirms no production years, original pricing or service documentation. If you have a manual, a test bench report or even a clear photo of an M-12, send it in.
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