Studer V-Eight – In 1991, the recording industry experienced a seismic shift with the introduction of the Alesis ADAT format. This breakthrough made it possible for budget-conscious individuals to produce high-quality recordings using standard S-VHS cassettes. ADAT’s success was unprecedented, with over 100,000 units sold, making it the most successful recording format ever. Despite pressure from within the industry, Studer was hesitant to release its own ADAT recorders, citing concerns about the technology’s maturity and its ability to deliver the quality expected from a professional recorder bearing the prestigious Studer logo.
However, a few years later, Studer was approached by Alesis with an offer to collaborate on the development of a new recording standard called ‘ADAT Type 11’. This new format was designed with cutting-edge technology and underwent rigorous testing by Studer technicians, who were confident that it would meet the expectations of their discerning customers. The fruit of this partnership between Studer and Alesis is the Studer V-Eight 20-bit digital multitrack recorder. This recorder is a testament to the benefits of collaboration and the willingness of industry leaders to work together to advance the field of recording technology.
The Studer V-Eight is built on the ADAT type II format, an upgraded version of the ADAT format, which enables recording at either 16- or 20-bit resolution. To set the resolution, one simply presses a button before formatting the tape. When a cassette is read, the Studer V-Eight automatically detects whether the recording was made with 20- or 16-bit resolution. Recordings made at 16 bits are fully compatible across the Studer V-Eight, Alesis ADAT, and ADAT-X1. This is a viable alternative to disk-based recording systems, which often require time-consuming file conversion to achieve partial compatibility.
Furthermore, with an 8-channel 60-minute, 20-bit tape containing 3 GB of audio data, access to the data is immediate without any upload or download time. The Studer V-Eight is also fully compatible with the system environment, as the ADAT Sync and ADAT optical interfaces utilise the same format as existing Alesis models, allowing for complete integration with the Studer V-Eight. The optical interface supports full 20-bit data transfer, while the Studer V-Eight can reduce the data width to 16 bits through dithering to perform high-quality transfers to 16-bit media.
The fully professional tape deck ensures both quick access to tape locations and gentle handling of the tape. It features a direct drive capstan for fast stop/play transitions, two independent DC spooling motors (eliminating the need for an idler wheel or mechanical brakes), and independent tape tension sensors. Tacho information is derived from the spooling motors, enabling the development of a software-controlled, highly optimised tape deck.
In addition, the tape deck can record two additional linear tracks. One is dedicated to time code recording, allowing for continuous reading of the SMPTE/EBU TC during spooling and jog/shuttle mode. The other is an analogue AUX track, which can be sourced internally or recorded from an external source via separate XLR inputs/outputs.
The controls of the equipment are designed for easy operation in a dark studio environment, featuring a “Night Design” that makes them easy to locate. All keys glow dimly when in passive state. Separate displays show the peak levels and tape deck status. The display panel is highly functional with a well-organised layout, allowing for direct reading of peak level meters, input status, tape counter, offset and locator addresses, equipment settings, and more. These special display units provide optimal functionality for the user.
The Studer V-Eight comes equipped with an integrated SMPTE/EBU TC reader/generator as a standard feature, enabling full utilisation in professional time code applications. As mentioned previously, synchronisation based on the separate TC track or absolute time is possible. The synchronisation and TC generator support all standard frame rates, including 24, 25, 29.97, and 30 frames per second.
The Studer V-Eight offers direct controllability of the tape deck, allowing for a true jog/shuttle function to be implemented. The jog/shuttle wheel function can be selected either by pressing the wheel or via a change-over key. In jog mode, a specific audio position can be located, and the audio is played back from the AUX track mentioned earlier. In shuttle mode, the audio is read from the AUX track within the range of 1/4 to ten times the play speed, enabling a wider range of tape positions to be searched across a larger speed range.
When it comes to the reproduction of recordings, nothing is more critical than achieving the highest quality possible. The Studer V-Eight ensures the renowned audio quality of STUDER products worldwide. It employs 20-bit A/D and D/A converter technology, the same used in the D827 DASH machine, ensuring absolute fidelity during playback. To match the level to an existing installation, individual trimmers for each channel are externally accessible and adjustable within the range of +4 dB to +24 dB.
In order to produce a headphone and monitor mix without the need for an external mixing console, the Studer V-Eight includes an integrated monitor mixer. The mixed down signal is available both at the headphones and through a monitor output. Additionally, the mixer includes an extra input for returning effects or for looping in additional eight channel units.
By connecting the master signal of one Studer V-Eight to the return input of another Studer V-Eight, the first eight channels can be mixed down with those of the second unit into a 16-channel monitor mix using a separate return level potentiometer. This cascading feature can be expanded as needed. With STUDER’s expertise and experience in professional audio recording, and with the widely accepted ADAT type II format, the Studer V-Eight is able to meet the demands of recording and broadcasting studios.
Features
- Direct-drive full-servo S-VHS transport, designed for continuous shuttling and heavy-duty professional use
- Two available bit resolutions: 16-bit standard ADAT Type I, and 20-bit ADAT Type II
- 24-bit A/D and D/A converters
- Built-in monitor mixer
- Studer “Night Design”
- High-quality transformer-balanced line inputs
- +4 dBu balanced XLR and ELCO (block) connectors
- Selectable 16-bit dithered output for transfer to 16-bit systems
- JOG/SHTL wheel for fast navigation
- Analog AUX track for superb scrub and JOG monitoring
- ADAT, SMPTE, video and word clock synchronization capabilities
- Dedicated SMPTE track
- Two custom vacuum fluorescent displays
- Extensive error reporting capability via “QUALITY” indicator
