Classic Recording Studio Equipment

Vintage Digital

TC Electronic TC 2290

TC Electronic 2290 Dynamic Digital Delay

When the TC Electronic TC 2290 arrived in 1986, it change the landscape for digital delays forever and it is still in use around the world today because of it's unique abilities. The TC Electronic TC 2290 was so iconic during the mid to late eighties, and it continued to show up everywhere in both studios and on stage with some of the biggest guitarists in history.

Details

In recording studios, PA rigs and guitar racks all over the world the TC Electronic 2290 is known as the industry standard Digital Delay. The explanation behind the achievement of this position is crystal clear sound quality combined with unique features, that allow you to work with effects and music in a creative way.

Five programmable effect loops and MIDI allow the TC Electronic 2290 to control your rack boxes and your favorite pedals at the same time. The Dynamic Control and Learn function provide you with a very unique tool to create new and exciting effects. The unique Dynamic Function enables you to suppress the effects when you are playing and let the effects reappear when you stop playing or the opposite.

Sound quality, Studio and Stage
The 100 dB dynamic range, 20-23000Hz soft roll off frequency response and 1 MHz sample rate are part of the t.c. electronics design philosophy. In the studio it means no compromise where recordings for compact disc are concerned, and to the performer, the 100 dB dynamic range means crystal clear sound, eliminated hiss and the headroom for all the ‘punch’ needed.

TC Electronic 2290 Effects
The TC Electronic 2290 features a large number of dynamic echo effects allowing you to add delay echo and repeats controlled by your playing. Numerous delay modulations allow you to create exiting chorus, ADT, syncronized flanging, even chorus effects on long delay settings. The stereo panning facilities create new ways of using the stereo image dynamically. Also, the modulation effects can be made simultaneously to make effects like a ‘dynamic echo chorus with stereo panning’.

An Effects ‘System’
The built-in connections to control other equipment enables very practical ‘total’ performance systems to be set up, controlling all the TC Electronic 2290 delay effects simultaneously with 5 external effects racks or pedals as well as MIDI controllable effects (& keyboards). All of it is remote controllable with simple ‘press a button’ commands from e.g the TC 0144 SRC stage remote control panel.

100 Preset Sounds & Personal Control
All music performers come across the wish to make some specific change of settings ‘at the push of a button’. 100 Preset sound combinations certainly helps doing easy changes. But often there is more to it. ‘I would like a simple remote delay time setting button’, a ‘bypass’ or maybe a ‘change volume key’. That is why we have included a number of ‘programmable’ keys and personalisation facilities. This also means that any key(s) on the front of the TC Electronic 2290 are readily made remote keys when you need.

New Effects, Half a Minute Delay and other options.
The software control of the TC 2290 and membership of the TC Software Club will allow you to add new effects and controls with the TC Electronic 2290 through the simple change of a low cost ‘software chip’. The TC 2290 has the facilities for adding options like half a minute delay memory with no sacrifice in sound quality, connections to your needs whether it be remote controls, computer sequencer or control, or maybe the next generation of MIDI.

Sa’Sa’Sampling’ampling’ampling (option)
With extra memory for longer delay times fitted, the sample record and playback option really become a use full tool for recording, modifying and playing back sequences of sounds live and in the studio. Up to 100 preset samples can be recorded and played back in various extractions. When shifting back and forth between delay echo and sample effects, the sampled sounds can remain unaffected ‘in memory’.

Sound Quality
At T.C. Electronics we realised that there is a genuine need for a digital delay capable of meeting the studio demands for compact disc quality recordings. Also, for live performances a high-quality delay unit were missing. A delay unit capable of doing better than ‘hiss and clip’ of the precious details and the ‘punchy’ parts of live music. The vital sound quality of the TC 2290 was specified.

Integrating Effects
A tendency within digital audio equipment is an ever-increasing complexity, not only in the effects provided but also in the control of them. What was lacking was the means to integrate previous, new and coming effects into a ‘system’ that can be set up and used in a simple and trouble-free manner. The inclusion of the external effects control, the TC LINK and MIDI provided the answer to this.

The Future
We also found that there is a need for a piece of equipment, that is capable of lasting longer than the typical short product lifetime of most delay units. Software programmability of all TC Electronic 2290 effects and control and the facilities to add hardware options provided the answer to this. With low-cost software, adding new effects and interfaces is possible. Effects and interfaces with capabilities beginning to appear limitless as time goes by. The 32 seconds optional delay time for sampling possibilities is a ‘hardware’ option example, others are future interface possibilities through a built-in option-bus connector.

Reliability
Finally, the TC 2290 had to be able to meet the stringent demands of an on-the-road life or 24-hour studio use for many years. This called for a durable construction with reliable top-quality components for a lasting and trouble-free operational lifetime. Easy serviceability through full documentation (Service Manual) fault-diagnostics software and easy identification of components.

Specifications

Released

Quantization: Unknown
Sampling Frequency: 1MHz
Frequency Response: 20Hz-25kHz
Dynamic Range: >100dB
THD: Below 0.05%

TRY OUR ‘MY EFFECTS RACK’ FEATURE TO TRACK WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR EFFECTS RACK NOW, AND THOSE ITEMS YOU WISH TO ADD.

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The details provided above are drawn from historical documents like advertising brochures or user manuals. They’re shared without bias or review. This info is given solely for your consideration, helping you gauge its usefulness to you.

TC Electronic TC 2290

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CLASSIC DDL

by Simon Alexander

Sound Quality 100%
Build Quality 95%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 100%
Reliability 85%

I’m not sure I’m going to give it all 10’s but it’s pretty close. TC got the design of this absolutely spot on. It’s more suited for guitar than keyboard, but still sounds phenomenal on Keyboards too. You’ll find 2290’s in a lot of big studios today and it’s become a bit of a cult classic. Ease of use, functional design and sound are so simple and good. There were various memory upgrades including sample options for the 2290, so if your after one, check and see what’s fitted as an extra. Push button contacts (like all similar type of age) need cleaning after time.

Review

by Jordi

Sound Quality 100%
Build Quality 100%
Usefullness 100%
Mojo/Funk 100%
Reliability 100%

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