Recorders

Many musicians recording with teir computer find that they need to buy — and wire up — separate mic preamps, guitar preamps and monitor mixers as well as their soundcard. Martin Walker tries out a products that aims to combine all of these elements in one system.

Hugh Robjohns tries out the very first production unit of the AW4416 — Yamaha's eagerly awaited combination of O-series digital mixer, hard disk recorder and sampler — and finds even more than he bargained for...

We test one of the most eagerly awaited products of the year! Does the Mackie HDR24/96 really offer the best of both the traditional hardware and computer recording worlds?

Paul White checks out the new features offered by the recent software update for Alesis' unique CD mastering processor.

As PCs grow more powerful, native-processing systems appear to offer very impressive features. Nevertheless, as Martin Walker explains, there is still a strong case for using dedicated audio hardware, as evidenced by Soundscape's powerful R.Ed system.

There's a new addition to Echo's well-established family of PCI recording interfaces, and it caters for recording guitarists and those mixing in surround for DVD production. Martin Walker has a date with Mona.

Fostex have broken a price-barrier in this section of the digital multitracker market, providing 16-track recording, editing and mixing within their new, compact VF16. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser discover whether it's too good to be true...

Millennium Music are one of several UK companies who specialise in building PC systems to musicians' individual requirements. Martin Walker test-drives their service...

Competition in the world of 16-track recording workstations is hotting up, and Akai's new DPS16 looks to be a prime contender, with its impressive user interface and 24-bit/96kHz capabilities. Derek Johnson and Debbie Poyser take it for a spin.

Yamaha's AW4416 recording workstation, which debued at the NAMM show earlier this year, has been the subject of more reader inquiries at the SOS office than any other product in living memory. In this exclusive preview, Hugh Robjohns gets his hands on a prototype to find out what we have to look forward to...

A new PCI soundcard and breakout box system from Ego Sys combines analogue and digital audio, MIDI, and a host of synchronisation and driver options, and all without breaking the bank. Martin Walker wonders if this might be all you ever need...

Steinberg believe that now that PCs are so powerful, the days of dedicated DSP farm for professional computer-based recording systems are over. Martin Walker enters the native processing world of Nuendo.

Tascam's MX2424 hard disk recorder aims to provide professional 24-track digital recording features at an affordable price, combining the simplicity of tape recorder-style operation with the flexibility of computer editing. Paul White finds out how well it achieves these aims.

It would take a lot to convince your average engineer, producer or programmer to abandon their trusty hardware sampler, but Creamware may finaly tip the balance with their new PCI sampling card. Martin Walker never says 'never' again...

It's unusual for SOS to look at CD players, because, although most of us own at least one, they are usually...

If you have even a modest studio, your wall sockets and floor are likely to be festooned with wall‑wart and line‑...

Roland's new flagship VS workstation again raises the stakes in the all-in-one hardware market, but has it raised them enough to rival the success of the 1680? Mike Senior finds out.

MIDI interface, audio interface, effects processor, hardware control surface for software MIDI + audio sequencers... Edirol's USB-based U8 promises to be all of these. John Walden investigates.

Tascam have updated their ubiquitous DTRS format with an affordable and compatible 24-bit modular digital multitrack. Hugh Robjohns tries out the DA78HR.

Paul White tests Yamaha's new high-end CD recorder, featuring Apogee's acclaimed UV22 noise-shaped dithering technology.

Lexicon's reverbs are highly regarded by many musicians, and their new Core 2 combines them with multi-channel analogue and digital I/O to create an affordable computer recording system. Martin Walker tries it out.