Audio Recorders

Audio Recording formats, encompassing both stereo and multitrack configurations, are essential tools in the creation and preservation of audio content. Stereo recording formats capture two audio channels, typically left and right, providing a simple yet effective method for reproducing sound with spatial accuracy. Stereo formats are commonly used in music production, broadcasting, and consumer audio devices, offering immersive listening experiences across various media platforms.

Multitrack recording formats, on the other hand, enable the simultaneous recording of multiple audio channels or tracks onto a single medium. This allows for the independent manipulation of each track during the mixing and editing process, offering unparalleled flexibility and creativity in audio production. Multitrack formats are widely used in professional music studios, film and television production, live sound reinforcement, and podcasting, enabling artists and engineers to craft complex arrangements, add effects, and achieve precise control over the final audio product.

Both stereo and multitrack recording formats have evolved over the years, from analog tape-based audio recorders to digital technologies such as hard disc recording, solid-state recording, and computer-based digital audio workstations (DAWs). These advancements have democratized audio production, making high-quality recording accessible to a broader audience while pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the field of sound engineering and music production.

Released in 1988

TASCAM 238 Syncaset Recorder

TASCAM, in 1988, pulled off the impossible by releasing the TASCAM 238 Syncaset and cramming 8 tracks onto a single cassette tape, and somehow they got it to work without compromising sound quality.
Released in 1989

TASCAM DA-50 Digital Audio Tape Recorder

The TASCAM DA-50 Digital Audio Tape Recorder was the first US-legal DAT tape recorder with SCMS Copy protection, it was also a rebadged high-end TEAC or in Japan, Esoteric DAT recorder with some cosmetic changes to suit professional studio use.
Released in 1989

TASCAM BR-20 Reel to Reel Recorder

The TASCAM BR-20 Series are highly flexible and reliable professional stereo audio recorder/reproducers that use 1/4-inch-wide tape on 5, 7 and 10-1/2-inch reels, at two selectable speeds: 15 inch/s (38 cm/s) and 7.5 inch/s (19 cm/s). All models are switchable between NAB and IEC equalisation.
Released in 1989

Studer A827 24 Track Audio Recorder

The Studer A827 24 Track Multi-Track Recorder is quite possibly the finest 24-track analogue audio recorder ever made, celebrated for its superior sound quality, reliability, and precision. Released in the late 1980s, it became a staple in professional studios worldwide. Many units are still in use today, valued for their ability to deliver the unmistakable warmth of analogue sound.
Released in 1989

Sony PCM-3348 DASH Multitrack Digital Recorder

Sony PCM-3348 DASH Multitrack Digital Recorder was the State-of-the-Art Digital 48 Channel Recorder offering Professional Quality, Performance and Reliability.
Released in 1989

TASCAM 644 MIDIStudio 4 Track Cassette Recorder

TASCAM 644 MIDIStudio combines analogue cassette multitrack recording with built-in MIDI synchronisation and a 99-scene recall memory. It offers sixteen inputs on eight channels, dual-mix routing into four busses, two inputs per channel with trim and three-band EQ, two sends, four effect returns and real-time MIDI mute automation.
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.
Released in 1989

TASCAM 688 MIDIStudio 8 Track Cassette Recorder

The TASCAM 688 MIDIStudio is an eight-channel cassette multitrack recorder with dual-mix routing, built-in MIDI synchronisation, 99-scene recall, real-time MIDI mute automation and extensive EQ, send and insert flexibility for hybrid analogue-MIDI production.
Released in 1990

Akai DR1200 12-Track Digital Recorder

The Akai DR1200 was a 12-track digital hard disk recorder from the early 1990s. It was designed as a professional digital multitrack recorder, aimed at studios looking for high-quality digital recording without relying on tape formats like ADAT or DASH.
Released in 1990

Sony MU-D100 Stereo Cassette Recorder

Released in 1990, the Sony MU-D100 recorder features a design aesthetic that matches the Sony MU-R201, while offering advanced editing capabilities and a highly durable mechanism for professional use.
Released in 1991

TASCAM 488 Portastudio 8 Track Cassette Recorder

The Tascam 488 Portastudio is an eight-track, eight-channel rackmount recording system that combines a twelve-input mixer (eight mono channels with trim and EQ plus two stereo auxiliaries, four group busses and dual effect sends) with a four-track simultaneous overdub recorder at 9.5 cm/s.
Released in 1991

Yamaha DTR2 Digital Audio Tape Recorder

The Yamaha DTR2 is a professional rack-mounted DAT recorder designed for studio mastering. It offers optical and coaxial digital I/O, balanced and unbalanced analogue connections, and high-quality 1-bit AD/DA conversion. With excellent audio specs, intuitive controls, and a full-function remote, it delivers strong performance but lacks external control ports for integration with automation systems.