3M Digital 32-Track Recorder

Nerd alert: Denis Leconte is slightly enthusiastic as he unwraps a 3M digital 32-track recorder.

The #3M Digital Mastering System, prototyped in the field at #Sound80 in Minneapolis in 1978 and released in 1979, was one of the earliest digital audio recording and mastering systems (after the #Soundstream recorder and the #Denon DN-023R and DN-034R) and the first to offer 32-track, 16-bit capability at 50KHz - a feat that truly pushed the technology of its time to the limit. Data was written in a proprietary format on specially formulated 1-inch tape, moving at a rather blistering 45 inches per second. Today, a good number of these masters remain.

These machines are now exceedingly rare, and at IMES we have the privilege of caring for and using some of the last remaining working examples. This is one of two that we are welcoming to our collection, where we will give them a good home and put them to work!