Digital Open Reel Recorders

Digital Open Reel Recorders covers professional digital tape machines that recorded audio onto open-reel tape rather than cassette, cartridge, disc, or hard disk media. This category includes early and high-end digital multitrack and mastering systems such as DASH, ProDigi, and other reel-based PCM formats, where traditional studio tape transport design was combined with digital audio recording. These machines played an important role in the transition from analogue tape to digital production, offering familiar reel-to-reel handling while introducing digital storage, synchronisation, editing, and multitrack recording workflows.

Made In U.S.A.

Released in 1978 /

3M Digital Audio Mastering System

The 3M Digital Audio Mastering System, introduced in 1978, combined the DMS-32 32-track digital recorder and the DMS-2 2/4-track mastering deck. Recording at 16 bits and 50 kHz on 1-inch tape, it was the first fully integrated professional digital recording system. Extremely rare and prohibitively expensive, it marked the dawn of multitrack digital recording.

Made In Japan

Released in 1980 /

Mitsubishi X-80 2-Track Digital Audio Recorder

The Mitsubishi X-80 Digital Recorder was a pioneering audio recorder that offered significant improvements in fidelity and accuracy over analogue recording technologies upon its release in 1980.

Made In Japan

Released in 1981 /

Mitsubishi X-800 32-Track Digital Recorder

The Mitsubishi X-800 32-Channel Digital Recorder was a pioneering professional digital multitrack recorder promoted by 1981 and proposed as a 32-track 25.4mm tape system in 1982. As part of Mitsubishi’s ProDigi development, the Mitsubishi X-800 helped define the early battle between ProDigi and DASH, offering 32 channels of digital recording at a time when the industry was moving away from large-format analogue tape and towards professional digital multitrack production.

Made In Japan

Released in 1982 /

Sony PCM-3324 DASH Multitrack Digital Recorder

The Sony PCM-3324 stationary-head 24-channel digital audio recorder, when used with the optional RM-3310 synchroniser/auto locator/remote control, offers an ideal combination of digital performance and convenience, in addition to all the prime functions of analogue recorders.

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Made In Japan

Released in 1985 /

Mitsubishi X-850 32-Channel Digital Recorder

The Mitsubishi X-850 32-Channel Digital Recorder provided a 32-channel digital multitrack system with ProDigi compatibility and integrated synchronisation features, built on a transport design derived from the Otari MTR90 Mk II and widely used in professional studio environments.

Made In Japan

Released in 1986 /

Mitsubishi X-86 Digital Audio Recorder

The Mitsubishi X-86 is a professional fixed-head, two-channel digital audio recorder designed for music recording, broadcast production, post-production, and CD mastering, offering advanced digital processing, error correction, and extensive synchronisation capabilities.

Made In Japan

Released in 1986 /

Otari DTR-900 32-Track Digital Recorder

The Otari DTR-900 (Model II shown here) is a high-end 32-track digital multitrack recorder using the PD format, offering advanced tape handling, precise sync capabilities, and superior audio fidelity for mastering and post-production applications.

Made In Japan

Released in 1989 /

Sony PCM-3348 DASH Multitrack Digital Recorder

The Sony PCM-3348 was one of the defining professional digital multitrack recorders of its generation, bringing 48-track DASH recording to major studios around the world. Built for large-format production, it became closely associated with the transition from analogue multitrack tape to high-end digital recording during the late 1980s and 1990s.

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Made In Switzerland

Released in 1989 /

Studer D820X Digital Tape Recorder

The Studer D820X – developed for stand-alone use also fits effortlessly into any system through its extensive interfaces and offers advanced facilities for digital mastering.

Made In Switzerland

Released in 1994 /

Studer D827 MCH 24/48 Track DASH Tape Recorder

The Studer D827 MCH is a high-end digital multitrack recorder built on Studer’s renowned tape deck technology. It features a modular design, allowing in-field upgrades from 24 to 48 tracks. Standard features include a TC/RT chase synchroniser, MADI and AES/EBU interfaces, and extensive remote-control options. Advanced A/D and D/A converters ensure superior sound quality, with optional noise shaping DSP technology preserving 18-bit performance on 16-bit DASH media.

Made In Japan

Released in 1997 /

Sony PCM-3348HR DASH Multitrack Digital Recorder

The Sony PCM-3348HR is a 48-channel digital multi-track audio recorder supporting 16-bit and 24-bit resolution, using 1/2-inch tape in DASH and DASH PLUS formats. Introduced in the 1990s, it became a professional studio staple for its high audio fidelity and ability to handle complex projects, from album production to film scoring. Its 48-channel capacity made it ideal for large-scale recordings, cementing its place during the shift from analogue to digital recording.

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