Computer Recording Systems

The increased headroom and dynamic range afforded by 24-bit recording can be a boon, but until now its cost has put it out of reach of many. However, this looks set to change with the latest cross-platform release from Gadget Labs. Martin Walker looks and listens to the Wave/8:24 on his PC.

A new system from Alesis offers ADAT users the best aspects of both tape and hard disk, allowing them to copy material from an ADAT to a computer for editing, then fly it back to tape with single-sample accuracy. Paul White puts it to the test.

Emagic's new baby is a bargain cross-platform hardware and software bundle which includes a useful new CD-mastering package for Mac users. Paul White finds out whether they've delivered the goods.

Digidesign's latest Pro Tools MIX card offers even more power than last year's PT24, providing higher plug-in performance and improved mixing and processing capabilities — and there's a new software version with some useful enhancements. Mike Collins weighs up the pros and cons.

In a departure from their normal approach, Soundscape have developed a system that works inside your PC rather than outside it. Martin Walker takes a closer look at the Mixtreme environment.

Interested in combining hard disk recording with other analogue and digital recording formats? Paul White connects with a versatile recording interface that offers a host of interconnection options and also claims one of the lowest latency figures in the business.

With an excellent audio specification and lots of inputs and outputs, Event's Layla looks an ideal candidate for many small computer-based recording studios. Martin Walker gets plugged in.

Emu's APS system takes the company into soundcard territory, but with a comprehensive spec that even includes studio-quality mic amps. Martin Walker tries out this all-in-one experience.

Yamaha's soundcard is a synth, a mixer and an effects unit in one. Martin Walker finds plenty to talk about.

Superficially, it may look no different from other soundcards, but Yamaha's new DSP Factory is a real TARDIS when it comes to facilities. Martin Walker explores a soundcard that's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

If you want more of everything digital, why not try 24-bit recording at a 96kHz sample rate? Martin Walker is floored as his dynamics increase in leaps and bounds.

As the popularity of the ADAT optical 8-channel digital interface has grown, so PCI soundcards have appeared to transfer audio into this format and out of computers. Previous cards have included one optical connector, but Sonorus's STUDI/O has two, permitting 16-channel operation. Martin Walker makes light work of his optical cables.

Multichannel PCI-card based digital audio recording systems are increasingly common these days, but not all of them focus on the quality of the onboard converters to the extent they should. Dave Shapton checks out a new card from far-sighted digital problem-solvers Aardvark that promises not to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

There's plenty of choice when it comes to audio cards for Windows 95/NT PCs — Janet Harniman-Cook finds out what sets the new WaveCenter from Frontier Design Group apart from the pack.

Combining the famous Lexicon reverb sound with the latest hard disk recording technology, the Lexicon Studio system should win many admirers. Martin Walker falls in love.

Hard disk recording always strtches any computer to the limit, and if you want eight simultaneous tracks or more you'll definitely need help. Martin Walker finds out whether the V8 system can come to the rescue.

Pro Tools has made a leap to 24-bit, but does the increased theoretical quality really translate to a better sound, and it is worth the extra money? Mike Collins finds out.

When it comes to computer audio editing, the user interface is extremely important. Having physical controls to grab hold of has already give Ensoniq a lot of advance publicity for their Paris hard disk recording system.

Pro Tools moves up a bit (or eight) and Mackie's dedicated hardware controller for the system finally arrives. Mike Collins gets an advanced viewing.

Layla, Darla and Gina are the eagerly awaited multi-channel PCI soundcards from Event Electronics, which promise a complete audio solution featuring eight independent outputs. Martin Walker interfaces with Gina — and falls in love.

If you don't fancy struggling to get a 'PC plus soundcard' hard disk recording setup working reliably, you might be interested in a system where pre-configured external hardware shoulders all the complex processing, while your PC just stays in charge. Martin Walker explores the Soundscape solution.