Advantages: Solid pro build, balanced AES/EBU ins and outs, Timecode included. Disadvantages: Older DAT tape recording format, limited to 16 bit 48k max sample rate.
This is an old workhorse of the DAT variety. Solid build 2 channel recorder, 3 channel mixer. Hosts of extras and options including 48v phantom power, limiters, LF rolloff, up to -30dB attenuation pads, extensive Timecode included! AES/EBU balanced analogue and digital ins and outs. Used by the BBC and film companies before the new generation of solid state / HD recorders and still in use by many sound engineers.
A thoroughly professional DAT recorder at 16/48 resolution, which is perfectly adequate for many music, dialogue and general recording tasks. DAT tapes are still available so still a good backup recorder with timecode.
Build quality and performance 5 stars! Would have to rate at 4 stars overall due to lower bit rate and sampling rate by contemporary standards and the old tape DAT format being replaced by HD and other ...
waterpump999 27.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Fostex PD-4
Advantages: Potable, Powerfull and Professional Disadvantages: Limited EQ functions
It was about this time last year when I got my fostex VF 16 hard drive recorder. I haven't stopped using it since. It is set up in my home studio and works as my main recording colsole. It is compact (about the same size as a normal cd seperate) but don't let the size fool you.
It has an on board 16 channel mixer, 8 stereo jack inputs, 2 XLR inputs, Aux out, optical in/out, phono out. It delivers a superb realism and has a fully programmable compressor so you can tell it how much to get rid of. It also has a myriad of on board effects (with all the classics, reverb, flange, chorus, delay and all of these effects are fully programmable.) There is no problem when you run out of space on the internal hard drive as you can backup on to Jazz or Zip drives. This means that there is no real limit to the ammount of recording time.
The only ...
chrisidavis 15.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fostex VF-16
After building my own speakers using Fostex FE83e full range drivers and the Fostex recommended DBR design (and 19mm thick ex IKEA shoe cupboard planks - matches my IKEA units) I have experimented for some time with speaker cables. I power the speakers with a Sonic Impact T amp. After trying some cables from Maplin, which produced a lively but slightly thin sound, with limited bass, I switched to my very thick Supra Rondo cables, which gave a much more weighty but somehow ponderous sound. Final step was to buy 5 metres of QED Silver Anniversary XT from the ever-helpful Richer sounds (£5.50 per metre) and terminate them with my existing quality banana plugs. From the first minute, a clear difference was noticeable. Bass was clearly present but tight, and treble was more precise with more "air". Surprisingly, even the mid range was ...
