If you're on a very tight budget then you might be willing to live with a CD recorder with unbalanced analogue phono connectors, consumer S/PDIF digital interfacing and no-frills operation. However, if you want more professional features, then the CDRW2000 is well worth checking out.
The MRS1044 is Zoom's first serious 'studio in a box', offering 10-track hard disk recording and editing with integrated drum machine and bass sounds. Does it have what it takes to succeed in this increasingly competitive area of the market?
Korg's new pocket-sized multitracker gives you everything you need to record impressive demos on the road, and also lets you transfer the tracks to a computer via USB for backup and archiving.
Aardvark's newest soundcard and breakout box are claimed to provide all the recording facilities PC owners could ever need, with excellent sound quality and at an affordable price. But how does the Q10 fare on the SOS test bench?
Roland Disc Lab CDX1: Multitrack CD Audio Workstation
Roland's innovative new audio workstation is the first multitracker to use a CD-RW disc in place of a hard disk, and offers a one-stop production station with multitrack recording, phrase sampling, and CD mastering.
Paul White tests one of the first of a new generation of portable multitrackers which utilise SmartMedia digital data storage cards as their recording medium.
Roland's eagerly awaited new flagship VS workstation builds on the success of the VS1680 and VS1880, offering a massive range of features including 24-track, 24-bit and 96kHz recording, a 64-channel digital mixer, up to eight stereo effects processors, 24-voice phrase sampling, and an enhanced graphical output for a VGA monitor.
Marantz's dual-deck CD writer uniquely allows the creation of a Red Book CD from a CD-R recorded in Track-at-once mode. Paul White finds out if you really can compile masters in the studio without a hard disk recorder.
The new third-generation RADAR hard disk recorder is the most affordable version yet, and offers 24-bit recording over 24 tracks at sampling rates of up to 192kHz. Hugh Robjohns puts it through its paces.
Hoontech Soundtrack Audio DSP24 & ADC/DAC2000 PC Recording Interface
Hoontech may be a new name to most SOS readers, but those interested in affordable multi-channel digital audio cards for Windows platforms may want to get to know them better. John Walden puts their Soundtrack DSP24 and ADC/DAC2000 package to the test.
Carillon Audio Systems' range of specially designed music PCs has been one of the most ambitious product launches in recent years. But apart from their distinctive design, what do these computers offer that other PCs don't? Martin Walker finds out...
MOTU's good-sounding, competitively priced audio hardware has won them a lot of friends in the project-studio and professional arenas. The latest addition to their range is a 12-channel interface that offers 96kHz, 24-bit recording. Robin Bigwood tests the 1296.
Tascam's versatile US428 combines the duties of audio interface, preamp, MIDI interface and MIDI fader surface at an attractive price, and has generated a lot of interest from musicians. Derek Johnson & Debbie Poyser test it with the Mac, while John Walden reports on the PC situation.