Computer Recording Systems

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.

Paul White checks over TSC's latest Mac-clone-based music studio package and sees red.

The Masterport system consists of dedicated multitrack software and a high-quality card, allowing you to avoid the compatibility problems that can arise when software and hardware from different manufacturers are run together. Janet Harniman-Cook thinks it's the cream of the crop.

Although it also forms part of the all-encompassing digital SoundLink system, Korg's 1212 PCI card offers a standalone, cost-effective option for getting multitrack digital audio in and out of your Mac. Paul White discovers that digital audio recording relies on going through the proper channels...

Digital audio recording on computers has been possible for several years now, but without expensive multi-channel I/O units, the inputs and outputs from computer-based systems have been limited to simple stereo jacks. Now, several inexpensive multi-output PCI I/O cards are coming onto the market. Paul White looks at Emagic's solution, and decides he knows what he likes...

Take an Atari Falcon, strip away the outer casing, add some major circuitry and a host of external connections and package in a sturdy rackmount box. Stir in a copy of Cubase Audio, connect up a CD recorder, and the result is the new Sunrise Audio Workstation. Dominic Hawken checks out this unique new recipe.