Recording Hardware: Tracking Changes at the Messe

By David Korn

April 28, 2000

FRANKFURT: A fierce competition raged at the Musikmesse between Roland, Fostex, Akai, and other manufacturers for domination in the "digital portastudio" market, with plenty of products updated to now include 24-bit recording, integrated CD mastering, and even built-in accompaniment tracks. The most computer-allergic musicians can now find something to fit their needs and budgets, from the Boss BR8 to the Yamaha AW4416. And from the number of valve (tube) products on display at the show, I suspect that it won't be long before that technology finds its way into one of these recording combos.

Highlights, for me, included Yamaha's demos of its mLAN technology, which uses firewire to convey multiple streams of audio and MIDI through one cable, although its arrival is still off in the future somewhere, so cable manufacturers shouldn't despair - yet. And on the digital mixer side, the high-end Sony DMX-R100 was most impressive - an OXF-R3 for the rest of us?

All prices throughout this article are in U.S. dollars, unless noted otherwise.

Hardware AD/DA Converter

RME The ADI-8 DS limited edition converter.

Hardware Audio Interfaces

Digigram New power-packed features are added to VXpocket sound cards.	Echo Three new options for 24-bit/96kHz recording.
Ego-Sys Wave Terminal U24 brings 24-bit resolution to USB.	RME A new addition to the Digi96/8 series.
SEK'D High-quality converters at an affordable price.	TerraTec The EWS88 D provides ten digital audio channels.

Hardware Audio Recorder

TerraTec High performance for EWS64 users.

Hardware Hard Disk Recorders

Fostex Direct recording to DVD-RAM.	RME Hammerfall Light offers solid price point.
Roland New digital workstations expand options for 24-bit recording and home studios.

Hardware MIDI Interface

Steinberg The new Midex 8 ships in June.

Hardware Mixers

Mackie Designs A new compact mixer, plus updates for SR24-4 and SR32-4

Hardware Signal Processors

Roland New adventures in room simulation.	SPL A new true stereo equalizer.
TC Electronic Improved sampling fidelity for the Finalizer 96K.	TL Audio Fresh options for processing valve sound.

Hardware Audio Interface w/ Digital Mixing & Effects

Aardvark The Direct Pro 24/96 offers onboard mixing with effects.

Microphones

AKG A new studio mic and a revamped Emotion series.	Beyerdynamic Introducing the Opus series.
Microtech Gefell New studio mics, including a vacuum tube condenser model.	Sennheiser Two new additions to the condenser mic selection.

Miking/Mixing System

SPL More options for surround miking and mixing.

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