Computer Recording Systems

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.

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.

Creamware's recently-updated, PC-based TripleDAT system attempts to offer a halfway house solution to those who've outgrown their MPC audio system, but can't afford a professional digital recording setup. Brian Heywood is the cat who gets the Cream(ware)...

Keen to get into PC hard disk recording? Samplitude Studio, the top of an impressive range of programs from German manufacturers SEKD, is one of the cheaper options available — but it's certainly not short on features. Panicos Georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs are mightily impressed...

This new French program must be one of the cheapest ways of integrating digital audio and MIDI sequencing. Panicos Georghiades and Gabriel Jacobs put it through its paces.

Out of the wilds of Germany comes an interesting attempt at addressing the key aspects of hard disk recording on the PC for the DAT-owning musician. Brian Heywood reports.

Wanna record professional quality audio on your PC's hard disk? Brian Heywood investigates the temptingly low cost route offered by Digital Audio Labs' plug-in cardD system.