Fostex Announces Agreement with Syquest for FD-4 Digital Multitrack

July 10, 1998 -- As part of their implementation of retail programs for the FD-4 digital multitracker /mixer, the Fostex Corporation of America has announced that a special agreement has been completed with SyQuest to have its widely-used ezFlyer removable external drives and media available through all authorized Fostex dealers.

Not normally sold through traditional M.I. channels, the popular SyQuest ezFlyer drives and cartridges will be available throughout the authorized Fostex dealer network for a retail cost below $150 to be used as a companion piece to the remarkably affordable FD-4 four-track digital multitracker /mixer. Customers who choose this convenient option also get one free 230MB removable ezFlyer cartridge to get them started. Additional ezFlyer cartridges are available for approximately $30 through Fostex dealers.

"Our research has found that most people either own or have access to their own removable media," explains Phil Celia, Director of Sales for Fostex. "With the FD-4, we're trying to give something back to the customer by not demanding they buy something they may already have. With our new arrangement with SyQuest, those who want to buy dedicated media for their FD-4 can purchase a great removable external drive right at their local music dealer for an amazing price."

Equipped with a standard SCSI-II port, the Fostex FD-4 comes without media, allowing users the freedom to make their own choice from a variety of recordable media. In addition to the SyQuest ezFlyer, the FD-4 operates with other familiar and readily-available removable external systems such as Iomega Zip and Magneto Optical. Unlike all mini disk systems, the Fostex FD-4 offers uncompressed CD-quality audio and unlimited recording times. Please refer to the charts on page 3 and 4 of this news release for more detailed information on the approved drives and media for the Fostex FD-4.

Fostex has also tested and approved internal 2.5"' E-IDE hard drives for use with FD-4. The internal drives must be factory-installed by Fostex and users can enjoy up to 78 minutes of uncompressed audio with 2.1 gigabytes of memory, for example. Due to the volatility of the hard drive market, Fostex recommends contacting them directly for price and availability before choosing the internal drive option.

The Fostex FD-4 truly provides the user with all the tools needed to create professional, uncompressed digital multitrack recordings. Additional features of the FD-4 include cut/ copy/ move/ paste editing, non-linear memory, undo/redo, vari-pitch and onboard MMC/MTC/Midi Clock features, plus two added virtual tracks (six tracks total). Its Graphical Preview function offers inuitive fine adjustment of edit points and the Jog/Shuttle wheel allows for the shuttling of audio or precise scrubbing of edit points.

The Fostex FD-4 four-track digital multitracker /mixer is on display at the 1998 Summer NAMM show in Booth #730 in the Nashville Convention Center.

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