Classic Recording Studio Gear
Vintage Digital
Effects Timeline
Our Vintage Digital and Analogue Effects timeline now includes Audio Recorders and Classic Music Tracks to help place these effects and devices within the history of recorded music. Any errors, please notify us using our contact form.
1994
Sony HR-MP5 Multi Processor
A year before releasing the Sony DPS-V77, Sony decided to offer a more affordable multi-effects processor in the HR-MP5, a half rack sized processor. The Sony HR-MP5 is not what one would hope for if looking for a 'Best of Sony' and probably was not intended to be that. Aimed at home recording studios rather than topflight studios, Sony had great success with the HR-MP5.
1994
Tascam DA-30 MkII DAT Recorder
The Tascam DA-30 MkII is a professional-grade DAT recorder that is designed for high-quality audio recording and playback. It offers a range of advanced features that make it suitable for use in professional recording studios, post-production facilities, and broadcasting environments.
1994
Panasonic SV-3700 Professional DAT Recorder
The Panasonic SV-3700 is the Digital Audio Tape deck designed specifically for professional applications.
1994
Stay
Lisa Loeb
Stay was Lisa Loeb’s breakout hit, and it quickly became a sensation on the airwaves. The song’s success was driven by its simple yet catchy melody and Lisa Loeb’s emotive and authentic vocal delivery. The song’s message of love and vulnerability also resonated with audiences and helped it to become an instant classic. Stay spent […]
Engineered by: Steve Holroyd
Mixed by: Brian Malouf
1994
Yamaha REV100 Digital Reverberator
The Yamaha REV100 was one of Yamaha's most affordable digital reverbs and it offers reasonable quality for the money too. Reverb is the essential effect for musical instruments, recording, and sound reinforcement. Delay and modulation run a close second and third. The Yamaha REV100 offered all this and is most suitable for live rigs.
1994
Alesis Quadraverb 2 Octal Processing Master Effects
You should never have to compromise your sound when you need multiple effects. With the Alesis Quadraverb 2, you will never have to compromise at all. The best effects processors in the world are known not only for their stunning sonic quality, but also for their versatility and processing power.
1994
D.W. Fearn VT-2 Stereo Microphone Preamplifier
In designing the D.W. Fearn VT-2 preamp, no compromise in sonic quality, reliability, or ruggedness was permitted. Like the best tube equipment of the 1950s and ’60s, the VT preamp is built on a heavy-gauge aluminium chassis, utilising point-to-point wiring.
1994
Roland SDX-330 Dimensional Expander
Roland made chorusing their thing and cemented their place in history with the Dimension D, but by all accounts, it is the SDX-330 that is the best chorus processor. The sad thing is, by the time it was released in 1994, chorusing had pretty much run its course in recording and the sales of this processor must have been very low as they rarely ever come up for sale.
1994
Yamaha D5000 Digital Delay
The Yamaha D5000 is something of a rare processor that is very difficult to find for sale, and when they are they are often rather expensive. So what is the magic? With the quote from Bob Clearmountain that it is the best digital delay ever made, the Yamaha seems to have gone underground in home studios or Yamaha simply did not make very many of them.
1994
Eventide DSP4000 Ultra-Harmonizer®
The Eventide DSP4000 Series Ultra-Harmonizers are multipurpose programmable digital audio signal processor with pitch change capability. It is the latest and greatest in a line of pitch change special effects units stretching back to before most audio manufacturers ever heard of digital.
1994
Panasonic SV-4100 Professional DAT Recorder
Based on the popular Panasonic SV-3700, the Panasonic SV-4100 offers flexible search and locate, as well as 5-mode external sync functions.
1994
Sony PCM-800 8-Track Digital Recorder
In the realm of embracing budget-friendly digital 8-track recording, Sony took a collaborative approach instead of crafting their own system. Opting to partner with Tascam, the result is the Sony PCM-800, essentially a Tascam DA-88 with a touch of rebranding.
1994
Lexicon LXP-15 II Multi-Effects Processor
The Lexicon LXP-15 II offers a rich and distinctive palette of special effects, including 128 preset effects programs to get you started. Each program has up to five display pages of variable parameters that you can adjust for subtle or dramatic changes in the program’s sound, and you can store as many as 128 customised programs in user memory.
1995
Focusrite Red 3 Dual Compressor Limiter
The Focusrite Red 3 employs an unusual and original single-VCA design to achieve high quality and truly independent compression and limiting, without the compromise and unnecessary processing involved in traditional designs.
1995
dbx Model 290 Digital Reverb
In the year of 1995, after years in the analogue world, dbx decided to jump into the world of digital effects, kicking it off with the dbx Model 290 Digital Reverb, a single rack size digital reverb designed to be easy to use.
1995
Zoom Studio 1202 Effects Processor
The Zoom Studio 1202 is a versatile effects processor with 512 presets across 32 effects and 16 variations. With a 44.1 kHz sampling frequency, it delivers high-quality sound, ideal for guitars, bass, and synthesizers. Its full stereo configuration provides rich, natural reverb and allows independent use of both channels.
1995
Fostex D-25 Digital Master Recorder
The Fostex D-25 Master Recorder is a professional-grade digital audio recorder designed for high-quality recording and mastering applications. It offers a range of advanced features that make it suitable for use in broadcast, post-production, and mastering environments.
1995
Sony DPS-V77 Multi Effects Processor
Having done all they could with the DPS series, Sony only had one place left go, and that was to combine all four DPS effects into a single processor. The Sony DPS-V77 was born! In creating the Sony DPS-V77, Sony unleashed a 'Best of Sony' in terms of not only the effects on offer by combining all the best DPS Series effects, but also the sonic performance of the internals too.
1995
TC Electronic M5000 Digital Audio Mainframe
The TC Electronic M5000 Digital Audio Mainframe is unlike any other effects processor you have ever seen, at least it was at the time...By combining TC DARC technology with the skills of the best signal processing software engineers around the world, we have created the perfect mix of effects you have access to in the TC Electronic M5000 today.
1995
Ensoniq DP/4+ Parallel Effects Processor
Following on from the huge success Ensoniq enjoyed with the DP/4, the Ensoniq DP/4+ took a successful recipe and added subtle updates to the interface. The Ensoniq DP/4+ creates 24-bit digital effects using four independent processors and features four independent inputs and outputs with full internal mixing capabilities.
1995
Akai DR16 Hard Disk Recorder
The Akai DR16 is a digital hard disk recorder with sophisticated non-destructive editing functions allowing near-instant data access, and a 16-channel programmable mixer. It's as easy to use as a conventional analogue MTR machine but gives true 16-track performance from a single hard disk at a highly cost-effective price level per track.
1995
Lexicon PCM 80 Digital Effects Processor
The Lexicon PCM 80 brings you exciting new effects with extensive processing and control capabilities, and uncompromising sonic clarity. The Lexicon PCM 80 contains a built-in library of 200 preset programs that provide a comprehensive array of effects ranging from beautiful and lush to completely wild.
1995
Fostex D-5 Digital Master Recorder
The Fostex D-5 digital master recorder fits comfortably into the professional studio and the home project studio as well. With three sampling frequencies, the D-5 is extremely flexible. The addition of 32kHz gives the D-5 a long play mode - you can have up to four hours of continuous recording or playback on a 120-minute tape.
1995
Otari DTR-8 Digital Audio Tape Recorder
Otari proudly introduced a new R-DAT recorder in 1995, the Otari DTR-8. The Otari DTR-8 follows the concept of the familiar DTR-7, but with greatly enhanced capabilities.
1995
Yamaha ProR3 Digital Reverberator
The Yamaha ProR3 marks a new era in Yamaha’s reverberation technology. Third-generation Yamaha digital signal processors (DSP) with 32 bit digital signal processing and high-performance 20 bit linear A/D and D/A converters provide unprecedented density and resolution, with breathtaking dynamics.
1995
Ensoniq DP/2 Parallel Effects Processor
The Ensoniq DP/2 is equally at home in a professional recording studio, home studio, guitar rig, MIDI setup, or PA system. The Ensoniq DP/2 creates 24-bit digital effects using two independent processors and features two independent inputs and outputs with full internal mixing capabilities and discrete stereo processing.
1995
Drawmer 1961 Equaliser
Designed to complement the widely acclaimed Drawmer 1960 Mic Pre-Amp Vacuum Tube Compressor, the Drawmer 1961 Vacuum Tube Equaliser combines low noise circuitry with no fewer than twelve active tube stages to provide two channels of exceptional equalisation possessing unique 'personality'.
1995
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
The year 1995 witnessed the arrival of a musical masterpiece that would go on to redefine the landscape of alternative rock and propel its talented singer, Alanis Morissette, to global superstardom. Jagged Little Pill was not merely an album; it was a cultural phenomenon. The album’s impact was nothing short of seismic. Selling more than 33 […]
Engineered by: Glen Ballard, Chris Fogel
Mixed by: Glen Ballard, Chris Fogel
1995
D.W. Fearn VT-5 Tube Equaliser
The D.W. Fearn VT-5 tube equaliser will change the way you think of EQ. It’s smooth and sweet, and can be very subtle at mild settings, but quite strong with aggressive use of the controls.
1995
D.W. Fearn VT-4 Tube Equaliser
The D.W. Fearn VT-4 tube equaliser will change the way you think of EQ. It’s smooth and sweet, and can be very subtle at mild settings, but quite strong with aggressive use of the controls.
1995
D.W. Fearn VT-7 Compressor
The D.W. Fearn VT-7has a highly transparent sound, although it can be used more aggressively when needed. Artifacts of the compression process are substantially lower than in most other compressors.
1995
Alesis MidiVerb 4 Digital Effects Processor
The Alesis MidiVerb 4 is the perfect effects processor for professional project studios and musicians who require an affordable solution for fully-programmable, high-fidelity effects. Its excellent effects algorithms produce dense, natural reverb, rich chorus, flange, delay, pitch effects and up to three simultaneous multieffects.
1995
Roland GP-100 Guitar Preamp/Processor
The Roland GP-100's development took a deep dive into rock’s rich history and iconic sounds, aiming to faithfully recreate the legendary guitar amps that have shaped the genre. By comparing everything from modern, acclaimed models to vintage classics, it meticulously analysed the elements that define 'that sound' cherished by fans - from components and circuits to tonal qualities and overall listening experience.
1995
dbx 160A Compressor Limiter
Since its introduction in the mid 1970’s, the dbx 160 series has been the world’s most popular line of audio compressors. After the classic 160 (which is still used daily in many world class studios), came the 165, the 160X and the 160XT. And now, the 160A.
1996
Crane Song STC-8 Compressor
The Crane Song STC-8 is a high-quality compressor combined with a remarkably dependable peak limiter, that provides overload protection critical to digital recording and broadcast transmitters.
