Fostex Delivers PD-4 Version 2 Portable Timecode DAT Recorder

Upgrade option is available for owners of version one PD-4 recorders.

July 11, 1997 -- Fostex Corporation of America developed the PD-4 (Version 2) portable timecode DAT recorder to meet the growing market demand for a higher quality portable DAT recorder that can perform exceptionally well in all types of on-location film and television production. Since making its debut earlier this year, the Fostex PD-4 (Version 2), which is available for immediate delivery at a suggested retail price of $7,395.00, has gone on to win market acceptance from a number of leading sound engineers who have come to rely on the unit to perform under the most challenging of on-location circumstances.

One major reason for the model's field success, reports Fostex Corporation of America Director of Sales Phil Celia, is the fact that the new PD-4 incorporates Fostex's unique 4-head design in order to provide off-tape confidence monitoring - a critical feature in most on-location applications.

"We took the best portable timecode DAT recorder in the industry, the original Fostex PD-4, and made it even better," Celia explains. "We improved the unit's feature set and added both remote control and time code memory capability, among other improvements. More than ever before, the Fostex PD-4 is the only logical choice for production professionals to make when it comes to investing in a professional, extremely rugged, portable timecode DAT recorder."

As part of its commitment to provide its customers with a clear upgrade path when new products do become available, Fostex is now offering an affordable and convenient upgrade option to all owners of version one PD-4 recorders. According to Celia, version one owners have the option of purchasing its Model 9710 upgrade package, which provides all of the new features and benefits incorporated into the version two recorder. "It is important to understand that Fostex makes a total commitment to its customer base," Celia says. "We always do everything possible to make certain that new Fostex technology is passed along, at a reasonable cost, to our customers."

What's more, customers can purchase the upgrade package for only $399.00. "This upgrade package is comprehensive and includes factory installed hardware and software changes. An upgrade takes 2-3 days to complete, but when it is finished, Fostex customers have a product that looks and performs just like the new generation PD-4 recorder."

The version two Fostex PD-4 portable DAT recorder also comes with a built-in 3X2 channel mixer with 3-position pan functions-allowing users to send input from one channel to either or both channels. Selectable 48V phantom powering and variable low-cut filters are also available. A standard NP-1B type battery offers 1.5 hours of recording time. A 40.048 sampling frequency is provided for direct downloading to workstations and digital pull-down applications. In addition, the new Fostex PD-4 recorder features a three-position mic attenuator (0, -15, and -30 dB), a 1kHz slate tone generator, a remote control port for remote roll (offering ten modes of operation, including start ID search), and a newly modified input board that prevents any audio leakage when gain controls are fully potted down. What's more, the new version PD-4 now provides for battery retention of the timecode when changing power cells in the field. Complete back-up is provided by two AA cells, which can be easily changed on the unit's back panel. Finally, a battery status LED is included on the top panel with related silk screening.

Those interested in learning more about the Fostex D-15 and the complete Fostex product line can visit the company's World Wide Web Site, "Fostex On-line," at www.fostex.com or by sending email to Fostex at info@fostex.com.