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 1964

Studer J 37 Tape Recorder

The Studer J 37 Tape Recorder is a legendary piece of audio equipment that has etched its name in music history. Renowned for its exceptional sound quality and reliability, the J 37 was the tape recorder of choice at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. This masterpiece of engineering played a pivotal role in recording some of the most celebrated albums in history, including The Beatles’ groundbreaking work.
Released in 1976

Ampex ATR-100 Series Professional Audio Recorder

In the world of two track analogue mastering audio recorders, the Ampex ATR-100 Series recorders are regarded as the finest reel to reel audio mastering recorders ever made. The fact that they are still in use today, more than forty years later is surely testament to that.
Released in 1976

TEAC A-2300SX Stereo Tape Recorder

The TEAC A-2300SX is a 4-track, 2-channel reel-to-reel recorder from the mid-1970s, designed for home and semi-pro use. It features a three-motor transport, three-head design, and supports 7-inch reels at two speeds. With solid build quality and a frequency response up to 28 kHz, it remains a reliable and respected machine.
Released in 1977

Revox B77 Stereo Tape Recorder

The Revox B77 is a ¼-inch reel-to-reel recorder released in 1977, known for its robust build, high-fidelity sound, and precise tape handling. It features a three-motor drive, Revodur heads, and real-time monitoring, with multiple speed variants and Dolby noise reduction options. Widely used in professional and home studios, it remains one of the most iconic analogue tape machines ever made.
Released in 1978

Brenell Mini 8 Analogue Recorder

The Brenell Mini 8 is a professional-grade tape recorder that combines traditional precision engineering with cutting-edge electronic circuitry, offering superior performance and reliability for recording and broadcasting studios.
Released in 1979

Tascam 32 Stereo Tape Recorder

The Tascam 32 is a half-track, ¼-inch reel-to-reel recorder introduced in 1979, designed for professional stereo mastering. Featuring a 3-head design, direct-drive capstan, and dual tape speeds (15 and 7½ ips), it offered reliable performance with NAB EQ and both XLR and RCA connections. Known for its sonic clarity and robust build, it became a staple in studios and broadcast settings, and remains sought after by analogue enthusiasts today.
Released in 1980

Mitsubishi X-80 Digital 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.
Released in 1981

Tascam 44 4-Track Tape Recorder

The Tascam 44 is a 4-track ¼-inch reel-to-reel recorder designed for professional mastering, editing, and video sync applications. It supports 7½ and 15 ips tape speeds, offers full servo-controlled transport with quartz-referenced motors, and delivers wide frequency response up to 22 kHz, low wow and flutter, and high signal-to-noise ratio.
Released in 1982

Tascam 244 Portastudio 4 Track Recorder

In 1982, Tascam introduced the Tascam 244 Portastudio, revolutionising the recording world, especially for home musicians. This four-track cassette recorder made high-quality multi-track recording more accessible and allowed musicians to create complex demos from home. It also impacted professional studios by enabling artists to pre-produce tracks more efficiently, marking a turning point in music production history.
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.
Released in 1983

Tascam 234 Syncaset Recorder

The Tascam 234 Syncaset 4-channel cassette deck was a groundbreaking audio recorder based on the Portastudio transport, that was introduced in 1983. It failed to achieve the wide acceptance of the all mighty Portastudio however.
Released in 1984

Fostex B-16 Multitrack Tape Recorder

Upon its release, the Fostex B-16 Multitrack Tape Recorder gave smaller project studios access to a 16-track tape machine that delivered both performance and affordability for the first time. This marked a significant milestone in home and project studio recording, as the B-16 offered professional-grade multi-tracking capabilities at a fraction of the cost of larger studio machines. With its compact design and reliable sound quality, it allowed independent musicians and producers to create more sophisticated recordings without relying on expensive commercial studios, contributing to the rise of home-based music production in the 1980s.