Recorders

Despite the increasing popularity of digital recording and MIDI + Audio sequencing, the cassette multitrack is far from being dead, and many a newcomer to recording still starts his or her recording career with some form of 4-track, cassette-based studio system. Paul White and Debbie Poyser discuss the features a potential buyer should be looking for, and round up the models currently available.

If you're looking for 8-track hard disk recording in a hardware unit that behaves just like a tape recorder, but with all the benefits of digital recording, you owe it to yourself to check out the Vestax HDRV8. Paul Wiffen reminds you that you should never judge a book by its title.

Sony's new MDMX4 digital multitracker heralds the beginning of a conscious attempt to woo the home recording market, and uses the company's own MiniDisc technology to put a digital spin on that home studio mainstay, the compact 4-track recorder. Hugh Robjohns checks it out.

Though Tascam have embraced the digital generation of Portastudios with their MiniDisk-based 564, they're not about to abandon the low-cost analogue cassette format yet, as proved by their latest analogue machine, the 414. Derek Johnson gets it taped.

The Fostex DMT8 was the first affordable 8-track digital recorder with a simple cassette multitracker-style user interface. Now, there's the new DMT8VL, which costs less and has fewer features than its forerunner, but also boasts a couple of improvements to the original design. Paul White is determined to remain unconfused.

Tascam, the originators of the Portastudio concept, which is now almost 25 years old, have taken a fresh look at the format for the 90's, substituting the digital MiniDisc medium for the analogue tape which has served home recordists so well, and adding a clutch of brand-new features. Hugh Robjohns indulges in a little 4-play.

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)...

Panasonic's latest pro studio DAT is priced to compete with Tascam's established DA30 MkII. Paul White gives his professional opinion on how it measures up.

The latest in Akai's line of standalone hard disk recorders, which also includes 8- and 16-track models, sticks with the 4-track format of its predecessor, the DR4d, but adds 250 'virtual' tracks to increase the flexibility it can offer. David Mellor checks out this low-cost entry into the world of disk recording.

With the advent of digital portastudios, manufacturers are busily revamping their analogue machines and packaging them full of more features. Andy Davies checks out Tascam's latest cherry...

Using MD Data disks to deliver superb quality digital sound in a familiar package, does Yamaha's digital 4-track finally sound the death knell for the humble cassette multitracker? Paul Ward spins the wheel of fortune...

Tascam revolutionised home recording with their cassette-based Portastudio, but haven't yet offered a budget digital version to compete with the Fostex DMT8/D80 and Roland VS880. Now their 4-track MiniDisc-based 564 is almost ready. Paul White gets a sneak preview...

Can Tascam's lean, mean DA38 offer musicians more functionality than the portlier DA88 without compromising on quality — and give the Alesis ADAT XT a run for its money? Paul White investigates.

Paul White takes Tascam's new dual cassette deck into the studio for practical trials.

The battle for control of the affordable digital multitracker market has intensified in 1996. Paul White puts Fostex's latest weapon, the rackmounting D80, to the test.

Though hard disk recording offers possibilities far beyond those achievable with magnetic tape, it often sports a vastly more complex user interface, which can alienate the tape-based faithful. But Akai's new 16-track hard disk recorder seeks to meet the tape heads halfway, David Mellor plays ambassador...

Paul White ponders the benefits of a DAT recorder with a 40kHz audio bandwidth.

Hot on the heels of Fostex's DMT8 Roland's new VS880 offers another take on the affordable digital multitracker concept. But as Paul White discovers, beneath the apparent similarities lie significant differences...

Have Fostex really stolen Roland's thunder with their digital multitrack? Mystic Paul White thinks Roland might have a trick up their sleeve.

Paul White gets out and about with the Tascam DAP1 and discovers the joys of collecting sounds outside the studio.

ADAT is dead, long live the ADAT XT. Paul White reports on the rebirth of a classic.