Fostex FD-8 Digital Multitrack Recorder

Available for under $900 retail, the "big brother" to the acclaimed FD-4 multitracker offers eight-track digital recording and features a Lightpipe interface for direct connection with ADAT machines.

September 26, 1998 -- Building on the unprecedented success of the FD-4 digital multitracker, the Fostex Corporation of America today takes multitrack innovation and value to new levels with the market introduction of its new FD-8 eight-track digital multitrack recorder.

As with its successful four-track partner and the popular range of hard disc recorders Fostex has released over the past several years, the new FD-8 provides the user with all the tools needed to create professional, uncompressed 44.1kHz, 16-bit linear, CD-quality digital multitrack recordings. Since the FD-8 does not lock the user into purchasing any proprietary external SCSI drive, all the user has to do is choose his own media. In many cases, users will already own compatible drives, such as SyQuest SyJet and other large capacity drives.

In addition to providing more tracks and additional channels than the FD-4, the new FD-8 accommodates 16 virtual tracks in its mastering recording mode. The additional 16 tracks, added to the initial eight, make total 24-track recording possible with the FD-8. Any eight tracks of the 24 can be reproduced and mixed, and any single track can be exchanged for any other.

A new increased recording time mode called Advanced Digital Audio Acoustic Coding (A.D.A.C.) has been co-developed by Fostex Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Corp. A.D.A.C is a new digital audio coding technology optimized specifically for multitrack recording. This new A.D.A.C. recording mode allows the user to record up to as many as 20 minutes for a full eight tracks and 80 minutes of Stereo recording on a 230MB drive, for example.

The recording section of the Fostex FD-8 features the aforementioned A.D.A.C. technology that has the unit's default settings reside in the "Normal" mode rather than the "Mastering "mode, which provides an added convenience to artists or producers who want extra time to experiment with tracks.

Another feature of the new Fostex FD-8 is especially for the thousands of users of ADAT machines. The FD-8 offers an ADAT "Lightpipe" interface, which are optical I/0 jacks that provide the best solution available to exchange up to eight tracks of digital data simultaneously with an ADAT machine.

The lowest priced 8-track digital multitracker available at $899.00 M.S.R.P., the Fostex FD-8 features the FDMS-3 disc management system first introduced on the Fostex model D-160, which most efficiently utilizes the capacity of the user's choice of media. Its "Digital Track In" feature imports digital stereo sources into the FD-8 from digital audio equipment, while the "Digital Track Out" setting digitally outputs any pair of tracks (i.e. 1/2, 3/4 ... 7/8, etc.) and mixer left-and-right.

The FD-8's Copy Paste/Move Paste/Erase feature handles a maximum of eight tracks simultaneously, and these can be executed on a MIDI Bar/ Signature/Clock basis or by ABS/MTC time base.

The Fostex FD-8 also offers complete MIDI implementation and will fit into any MIDI environment. Time display of external MTC is also available. The unit's built-in Tempo Map allows an external sequencer to be synchronized to the FD-8 without using a recording track.

The 8 in x 2 buss x 2 out mixer section of the FD-8 features a dynamic range as high as 105dB, a high respondent 3-point EQ on all eight channels (2 shelving and one parametric), a 3-step mic trim (H/M/L) on channels 7 and 8 for gain adjustment and Stereo type Sub-Mix section to support the production of quality material. The FD-8's Scrub feature finds desired edit points on a track via the jog wheel and provides an envelope display during jog scrubbing.

Balanced XLR connectors and insert jacks are also provided on channels 7 and 8 of the FD-8 for high quality mic recording, while two AUX sends and a pair of Stereo AUX returns allow for the input of sound effects processors.

For more information, visit their web site at www.fostex.com.