SOUND ON SOUND
Hugh Robjohns has been Sound On Sound's Technical Editor since 1997. Prior to that he worked in a variety of (mostly) sound-related roles in BBC Television, ending up as a Sound Operations Lecturer at the BBC's technical training centre.
He continues to provide audio consultancy and bespoke broadcast audio training services all over the world, lectures at professional and public conventions, and occasionally records and masters acoustic and classical music too!
This mid-priced DAT shares some rather higher-class innards with its more expensive siblings, and is also equipped with Sony's Super Bit Mapping technology for improved noise performance. Hugh Robjohns checks it out.
Hugh Robjohns dons his technical head and invites you on a guided tour of what makes an analogue tape recorder tick...
Active monitoring used to be the preserve of those with quite a lot of money to spend on their studio speakers. Recently, though, it's become a lot more affordable. Hugh Robjohns powers up the 4Ps and undergoes a spiritual experience.
The VCS1 goes for the best of both worlds, featuring a valve for warmth and character, and solid-state technology for level control. Hugh Robjohns finds out what the combination has to offer.
Regular maintenance can not only ensure that your analogue recorder gives years of reliable service, but can also immeasurably improve the quality of the recordings you make with it. Hugh Robjohns retires to the test department and meets the challenge head-on...
If digital perfection leaves you cold, the Aardscape can lend an analogue quality to your recordings. Hugh Robjohns warms to the idea...
A back-electret mic that doesn't need phantom power; Hugh Robjohns won't be calling the ghostbusters...
Hugh Robjohns shrinks to microscopic size in order to show you around the conglomeration of knobs, wires and circuits that make up a mixer.
If you can live with loosing four tracks on your multitrack tape recorder, the Rane Paqrat will allow you to record with up to 24-bit resolution. Hugh Robjohns rates the 'rat.