2010s Studio Gear Timeline
The 2010s were defined by the complete integration of digital technology into music production, with DAWs and plug-ins dominating professional and home studios alike. Software effects became more powerful and realistic than ever, often emulating classic analogue hardware with remarkable accuracy. At the same time, there was a strong revival of interest in analogue gear, with boutique manufacturers and reissues of vintage processors thriving alongside digital tools. This decade became one of balance, where engineers freely combined the convenience and flexibility of digital with the character and heritage of analogue, shaping a hybrid workflow that remains central to modern production.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
The Empirical Labs Mike-E is a digitally controlled, transformer-coupled mic preamp with ultra-low noise and a unique CompSat™ section that combines saturation, compression, and high-frequency emphasis. It delivers clean yet musical signals with vintage-style tonal shaping, all in an easy-to-use layout.
2010
Made In Japan
The TASCAM HS-2000 Broadcast Recorder is a 2-channel recorder/player purpose-built for broadcasting operations.
2010
Made In Japan
The TASCAM HS-4000 4-Track Broadcast Recorder is a 4-channel recorder/player purpose built for broadcasting operations.
2010
Made In Japan
The TASCAM HS-2 Solid-State Recorder is the perfect replacement for timecode DAT and MD recorders. It provides up to 192kHz/24-bit Broadcast WAV file stereo recording. Its feature-rich flexibility and reliability is perfect for broadcast, postproduction and professional audio applications.
2010
Made In Japan
The TASCAM HS-8 is an 8-channel audio recorder that employs CF cards as its recording media. It exhibits high performance capabilities in surround sound recording, as well as when used as a master recorder for surround sounds and as a backup recorder for computer recording.
2010
Made In U.K.
The Drawmer S3 Stereo Three Band Tube Compressor incorporates the very latest in Ivor Drawmer designs and the aim from the very beginning was to create a ‘no technical compromise’ circuit using only the highest-grade components.
2010
Made In U.K.
The Thermionic Culture The Earlybird 4 is a four-channel valve preamplifier in a nineteen-inch rack, offering 3 dB to 62 dB of clean class A gain, switchable input impedance and handwired point-to-point construction. Its custom Sowter transformers deliver minimal phase shift and high headroom, and a pair of VU metres and peak LEDs provide clear level monitoring.
2010
Made In China
Focusrite ISA Two brings together a totally independent pair of classic ISA microphone preamps from the original ISA 110 module, combining the best of traditional solid-state electronics with the original input transformer specified by Rupert Neve – the Lundahl LL1538.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
Avid’s Eleven Rack was a pioneering guitar processor combining dual-DSP hardware with Pro Tools integration, offering ultra-realistic amp tones, zero-latency recording, and built-in re-amping. With its True-Z input and versatile I/O, it delivered authentic feel and tone both in the studio and on stage, bridging the gap between digital precision and analogue experience.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
A-Designs EM-EQ2 recreates the classic Pultec EQP-1 tone with modern reliability, offering two channels of smooth, musical EQ in a durable 2U unit for professional tracking, mixing, and mastering.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
The Manley Voxbox combines the Manley Mono Mic Preamp, the ELOP reborn as a lower ratio compressor, the MID EQ blown out as a full range PEAK-DIP-PEAK EQ, and a DeEsser with a second ELOP limiter at the end.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
The Tonelux Tilt is a 1U, 8-channel rackmount EQ that adapts the famous MP1a Tilt control, offering simple one-knob tonal balance per channel with IN/OUT and polarity switches, plus balanced XLR and D-SUB connectivity.
2010
Made In France
The Al.So Hellax is a mono optical compressor/limiter offering a very low distortion rate with side-chain filters and blend feature, and is 100% made in France.
2010
Made In U.K.
The Drawmer S2 Signature Series Dual Channel Tube Compressor is the latest product to emerge from Ivor Drawmer’s high end designs and offers an ‘all tube - no technical compromise’ circuit using only the highest-grade components.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
Retro 2A3 delivers classic Pultec-style passive EQ with modern enhancements, dual-channel tube tone, and a powerful subsonic filter for musical and flexible equalisation across tracking, mixing, and mastering.
2010
Made In U.S.A.
The Acme Opticom XLA-3 is an all-tube optical limiter inspired by the Teletronix LA2A, featuring a unique triple optoelectronic circuit. It offers versatile compression tones, from clean to harmonically rich to dirty, with improved speed and flexibility.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
Retro Powerstrip is an all-tube recording channel with vintage mic preamp, passive EQ, and variable-mu compression, delivering classic analogue tone in a single compact 2U rack unit.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
The Speck Electronics X.Sum is a 32 x 4 line mixer with 16 stereo inputs, flexible routing, high headroom, and external expansion capabilities, designed for professional DAW summing or use as a synth and effects return mixer.
2011
Made In Denmark
The Gyraf Audio G9 is a dual true tube microphone preamp – made like our mother did it. It’s a simple, yet powerful unit, based on a variable-gain input tube stage driving a tube SRPP output stage. No silicon or other crap in signal path.
2011
Made In Japan
The Roland R-1000 is an intuitive stand alone, dedicated recorder/player designed to work with the V-Mixing System in any live event or production. You can also connect and use the R-1000 with any digital console that has MADI output capabilities by using the Roland S-MADI REAC MADI Bridge.
2011
Made In Japan
TASCAM X-48 MkII is the new and improved version of the original X-48, world's first standalone 48-track Hybrid Hard Disk Workstation co-developed with SaneWave. The TASCAM X-48 MkII continues to integrate the best of both worlds: the stability and ease-of-use of a purpose-built hard disk recorder, with the GUI, editing and mixing features of a computer-based digital audio workstation.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
The Grace Design m103 channel strip features the m101 mic preamp with ribbon mode, a three-band EQ for precise tonal shaping, and an optical compressor for smooth gain control. It includes a Hi-Z input, independent preamp and EQ/compressor access, and a link/sidechain input for external processing. Built for durability, it comes with a five-year transferable warranty.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
The Tonelux OTB16, released in the mid-2000s, is a 16-channel analogue summing mixer built around Tonelux’s discrete op-amps and transformer design, offering the depth and character of console summing in a compact 1U rack unit.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
The Crane Song Egret is an eight-channel D/A converter and stereo mixer featuring adjustable colour control, analogue processing insert capability, and sample rate conversion up to 192 kHz, designed to enhance DAW mixing with flexible analogue summing and monitoring options.
2011
Made In China
The TASCAM TA-1VP is a 1U vocal processor combining Antares Auto-Tune Evo pitch correction, microphone modelling, tube warmth, compression, de-essing and EQ. Designed for studio and live use, it delivers modern, polished vocal sound with simple, fast control.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
The dbx160SL is a 2U stereo Compressor/Limiter in the tradition of the industry standard dbx160. The signal path consists of a high precision input stage followed by the worlds widest dynamic range voltage-controlled amplifier - the dbx V8™ VCA - and then an output stage with phenomenal performance.
2011
Made In Australia
The Sebatron VMPDualPlus is a dual-channel valve microphone preamp with a passive two-band EQ, offering Class A transformer-coupled design, wide gain range, and rich analogue tone suited for all microphone types.
2011
Made In Australia
The Sebatron AXIS 200-VU is a robust, Australian-made dual valve microphone preamp offering both pristine transparency and rich saturated warmth without fragile chip components—ideal for engineers seeking musical versatility at a reasonable cost.
2011
Made In China
The Line 6 POD HD Pro guitar processor offers unmatched flexibility and high-quality amp modelling, effects, and customisation options for both studio and live performance.
2011
Made In U.K.
The Drawmer 1968 MkII is a 1U stereo bus compressor combining J-FET gain reduction with a 12AX7 tube stage for smooth, transparent compression. It offers six attack and six release options, full sidechain access, and unique 'BIG' and 'BIGGER' modes that preserve low-end clarity while preventing pumping.
2011
Made In U.S.A.
The AnaMod 670 Stereo Limiter offers Classic Variable-Mu compression profile and vintage tone with three modes of compression and limiting, with six original 670 time constants plus two new variations.
2012
Made In U.S.A.
The Dangerous Liaison is a programmable analogue router offering instant recall, parallel processing, and A/B comparison with six stereo insert loops and two stereo busses in a mastering-grade signal path.
2012
Made In U.S.A.
The Crane Song Titan is an analog compressor-limiter with a very large range of color and control choices that has reset-ability
2012
Made In U.S.A.
The Mercury EQ-P2 is a dual-mono, 3U valve programme equaliser based on the Pultec EQP-1A, featuring transformer-balanced inputs and outputs, premium components, and Mercury’s unique I.S.T. Switch, providing two distinct tonal options per channel.