Hard disk recorder
Encyclopedia
A hard disk recorder is a type of direct to disk recording
system that uses a high-capacity hard disk
to record digital audio
or digital video
. Hard disk recording systems represent an alternative to more traditional reel-to-reel tape or cassette multitrack
systems, and provide editing capabilities unavailable to tape recorders. The systems, which can be standalone or computer-based, typically include provisions for digital mixing and processing of the audio signal.
s used analog multitrack recorders, typically based on reel-to-reel
tape. During the 1980s and 90s, companies like New England Digital
and Fairlight
began to include hard disk recording capabilities in their high-end systems. New England Digital
offered the Sample-to-Disk digital recording
option on the Synclavier
, the first commercial hard disk
(HDD) recording system. The high cost and limited capacity of these solutions limited their use to large professional audio
recording studios, and even then, they were usually reserved for specific applications such as film
post-production
.
With the takeoff of the compact disc
, digital recording became a major area of development by equipment makers. Several affordable solutions were released during the late 1980s and early 90s; many of these continued to use tape, either in reels, or in more manageable videocassettes. However, in 1991, Fairlight ESP Pty Ltd developed the MFX2, the first 24 track disk recorder. In 1993, iZ Technology Corporation developed RADAR
(Random Access Digital Audio Recorder distributed by Otari Corporation), designed to replace 24 track tape machines. By the middle 1990s, with the steady decline of hard disk prices and the corresponding increases in capacity and portability, the cost of hard disk recording systems had dropped to the point where they became affordable for even smaller studios. Though there are several other types of digital recorder still in use, hard disk systems are rapidly becoming the preferred method for studio recording. On January 14, 2004, Engineers from Fairlight, Waveframe and AMS were awarded Scientific and Technical Academy Awards for the development of hard disk recording technology http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1258442980898.
One major advantage of recording audio to a hard disk
is that it allows for non-linear editing
. Audio data can be accessed randomly
and therefore can be edited non-destructively
, that is, the original material is not changed in any way. Non-linear editing is not inherent to every hard-disk recording system, however. Different manufacturers implement different degrees of this facility. In addition, hard disk recorders offer some disadvantages, including the limited capacity and relatively high cost of replacement drives, as well as a reduced ruggedness of hard disk recorders as compared to magnetic tape
-based systems.
Hard disk recorders are often combined with a digital mixing console
and are an inherent part of a digital audio workstation
(DAW). In this form complex tasks can be automated, freeing the audio engineer from 'performing' a mix.
A personal computer
can be used as a hard disk recorder with appropriate software; nowadays this solution is often preferred, as it provides a more flexible interface to the studio engineer. Many studio-grade systems provide external hardware, particularly for the analog to digital conversion stages, while less expensive software systems can use the hardware included with any modern computer. The major constraints on any hard disk recording system are the disk size, transfer rate, and processor speed. Some systems use "lossy" digital audio compression to minimize the first two factors. This solution is becoming increasingly rare, thanks to rapid increases in hard disk capacity.
AKAI professional
Datavideo
Fostex
iZ Technology Corporation
KORG
Roland
Tascam
YAMAHA
ZOOM
*Rec = Simultaneous recording tracks
Direct to Disk Recording
Direct-to-disk recording refers to methods by which analog signals and digital signals such as digital audio and digital video are digitally recorded to optical disc recording technologies such as DVDs, and CD optical discs...
system that uses a high-capacity hard disk
Hard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
to record digital audio
Digital audio
Digital audio is sound reproduction using pulse-code modulation and digital signals. Digital audio systems include analog-to-digital conversion , digital-to-analog conversion , digital storage, processing and transmission components...
or digital video
Digital video
Digital video is a type of digital recording system that works by using a digital rather than an analog video signal.The terms camera, video camera, and camcorder are used interchangeably in this article.- History :...
. Hard disk recording systems represent an alternative to more traditional reel-to-reel tape or cassette multitrack
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
systems, and provide editing capabilities unavailable to tape recorders. The systems, which can be standalone or computer-based, typically include provisions for digital mixing and processing of the audio signal.
History
Prior to the 1980s, most recording studioRecording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
s used analog multitrack recorders, typically based on reel-to-reel
Reel-to-reel audio tape recording
Reel-to-reel, open reel tape recording is the form of magnetic tape audio recording in which the recording medium is held on a reel, rather than being securely contained within a cassette....
tape. During the 1980s and 90s, companies like New England Digital
New England Digital
New England Digital Corp. , founded originally in Norwich, Vermont and eventually relocated to White River Junction, Vermont, was best known for its signature product, the Synclavier Synthesizer System, which evolved into the Synclavier Digital Audio System or "Tapeless Studio." The company sold...
and Fairlight
Fairlight
Fairlight is a digital audio company based in Sydney, Australia. In 1979 they created the Fairlight CMI, the first digital audio sampler, quickly used by artists such as Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Jean Michel Jarre. They are now a manufacturer of media solutions tools such as digital audio...
began to include hard disk recording capabilities in their high-end systems. New England Digital
New England Digital
New England Digital Corp. , founded originally in Norwich, Vermont and eventually relocated to White River Junction, Vermont, was best known for its signature product, the Synclavier Synthesizer System, which evolved into the Synclavier Digital Audio System or "Tapeless Studio." The company sold...
offered the Sample-to-Disk digital recording
Digital recording
In digital recording, digital audio and digital video is directly recorded to a storage device as a stream of discrete numbers, representing the changes in air pressure for audio and chroma and luminance values for video through time, thus making an abstract template for the original sound or...
option on the Synclavier
Synclavier
The Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
, the first commercial hard disk
Hard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
(HDD) recording system. The high cost and limited capacity of these solutions limited their use to large professional audio
Professional audio
Professional audio, also 'pro audio', refers to both an activity and a type of audio equipment. Typically it encompasses the production or reproduction of sound for an audience, by individuals who do such work as an occupation like live event support, using sound reinforcement systems designed for...
recording studios, and even then, they were usually reserved for specific applications such as film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
.
With the takeoff of the compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, digital recording became a major area of development by equipment makers. Several affordable solutions were released during the late 1980s and early 90s; many of these continued to use tape, either in reels, or in more manageable videocassettes. However, in 1991, Fairlight ESP Pty Ltd developed the MFX2, the first 24 track disk recorder. In 1993, iZ Technology Corporation developed RADAR
RADAR (audio recorder)
RADAR is a product line of professional digital multitrack recorders capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of audio.-History:...
(Random Access Digital Audio Recorder distributed by Otari Corporation), designed to replace 24 track tape machines. By the middle 1990s, with the steady decline of hard disk prices and the corresponding increases in capacity and portability, the cost of hard disk recording systems had dropped to the point where they became affordable for even smaller studios. Though there are several other types of digital recorder still in use, hard disk systems are rapidly becoming the preferred method for studio recording. On January 14, 2004, Engineers from Fairlight, Waveframe and AMS were awarded Scientific and Technical Academy Awards for the development of hard disk recording technology http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1258442980898.
One major advantage of recording audio to a hard disk
Hard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
is that it allows for non-linear editing
Non-linear editing system
In video, a non-linear editing system is a video editing or audio editing digital audio workstation system which can perform random access non-destructive editing on the source material...
. Audio data can be accessed randomly
Random access
In computer science, random access is the ability to access an element at an arbitrary position in a sequence in equal time, independent of sequence size. The position is arbitrary in the sense that it is unpredictable, thus the use of the term "random" in "random access"...
and therefore can be edited non-destructively
Non-destructive editing
Non-destructive editing is a form of editing signals where the original content is not modified in the course of editing—instead the edits themselves are edited by video editing software on a non-linear editing system ....
, that is, the original material is not changed in any way. Non-linear editing is not inherent to every hard-disk recording system, however. Different manufacturers implement different degrees of this facility. In addition, hard disk recorders offer some disadvantages, including the limited capacity and relatively high cost of replacement drives, as well as a reduced ruggedness of hard disk recorders as compared to magnetic tape
Magnetic tape
Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording, made of a thin magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic. It was developed in Germany, based on magnetic wire recording. Devices that record and play back audio and video using magnetic tape are tape recorders and video tape recorders...
-based systems.
Hard disk recorders are often combined with a digital mixing console
Mixing console
In professional audio, a mixing console, or audio mixer, also called a sound board, mixing desk, or mixer is an electronic device for combining , routing, and changing the level, timbre and/or dynamics of audio signals. A mixer can mix analog or digital signals, depending on the type of mixer...
and are an inherent part of a digital audio workstation
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
(DAW). In this form complex tasks can be automated, freeing the audio engineer from 'performing' a mix.
A personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
can be used as a hard disk recorder with appropriate software; nowadays this solution is often preferred, as it provides a more flexible interface to the studio engineer. Many studio-grade systems provide external hardware, particularly for the analog to digital conversion stages, while less expensive software systems can use the hardware included with any modern computer. The major constraints on any hard disk recording system are the disk size, transfer rate, and processor speed. Some systems use "lossy" digital audio compression to minimize the first two factors. This solution is becoming increasingly rare, thanks to rapid increases in hard disk capacity.
Stand alone
AlesisAlesis
Alesis is a company based in Cumberland, Rhode Island, that designs and markets electronic musical instruments, digital audio processors, audio mixers, digital audio interfaces, recording equipment, drum machines, professional audio and electronic percussion products...
- ADAT HD24Alesis ADAT HD24The Alesis HD24 is a 24-track hard-disk audio recorder. It is the successor to the hugely successful tape based Alesis ADAT.- Advantages over tape-based ADAT :There are numerous advantages that the HD24 has over the tape-based ADATs...
AKAI professional
Akai
Akai is a consumer electronics brand, founded by Saburo Akai as , a Japanese manufacturer in 1929. It is now headquartered in Singapore as a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which also owns the formerly Japanese brands Nakamichi and Sansui. The Akai brand is now used...
- DPS Series (Digital Personal Studio)
- DPS12 (Nov 1997) - 16bit 32/44.1/48 kHz, 12tr(Rec8tr), 20ch Mixer, Jaz Drive
- DPS16 (1999) - 16/24bit 32/44.1/48/96 kHz, 16tr(Rec10tr), 26ch Mixer
- DPS24 (2002) - 16/24bit 32/44.1/48/96 kHz, 24tr, 46ch Mixer, CD-RW
Datavideo
- DN-Series
- DN-60 DV/HDV (Digital Field Recorder)
- HDR-Series
- HDR-50 SD/HD-SDI (Rackmounted Video Recorder)
Fostex
Fostex
Fostex is a Japanese manufacturer that is one of the largest transducer and OEM speaker makers in the world, founded in July 1973 by Foster Electric Co. Ltd.-Company history:Fostex , founded in July 1973 by Foster Electric Co...
- D-Series (Digital Recorder)
- D-80 (1996) - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 8tr
- D2424 - 16bit 44.1/48 kHz 24bit44.1/48/88.2/96 kHz, 24tr(analogRec8tr, ADATADATAlesis Digital Audio Tape or ADAT is a magnetic tape format used for the simultaneous digital recording of eight analog audio or digital audio tracks at once, onto a Super VHS tape that is used by consumer VCRs.- History :...
-optical 24tr)
- LR16 (16-Channel Live recording mixer) 16bit 44.1/48 kHz 16tr(Rec16tr)
- VF-Series (Digital multitracker)
- VF-16HD (Jun 2000) - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 16tr (Rec8tr w/digital 16tr)
- VF80(20GB) (Feb 2002) - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 8tr(Rec2tr)
- MR-Series (Digital multitracker)
- MR-8HD (Oct 2006) - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 8tr(Rec4tr)
- MR16HD (May 2007) - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 16tr(Rec4tr)
iZ Technology Corporation
- RADARRADAR (audio recorder)RADAR is a product line of professional digital multitrack recorders capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of audio.-History:...
- RADAR IIRADAR (audio recorder)RADAR is a product line of professional digital multitrack recorders capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of audio.-History:...
- RADAR 24RADAR (audio recorder)RADAR is a product line of professional digital multitrack recorders capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of audio.-History:...
- RADAR VRADAR (audio recorder)RADAR is a product line of professional digital multitrack recorders capable of recording and playing back twenty-four tracks of audio.-History:...
KORG
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
- D Series (Digital Recording Studio)
- D888 (May 2006) - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 8tr(Rec8tr)
- D3200 - 16/24bit 44.1/48 kHz, 32tr(Rec16tr)@16bit; 16tr (Rec12tr) @24bit
- MR Series (1-Bit Professional Mobile Recorder)
- MR-1 - 1bit 2.8824 MHz (DSDDirect Stream DigitalDirect-Stream Digital is the trademark name used by Sony and Philips for their system of recreating audible signals which uses pulse-density modulation encoding, a technology to store audio signals on digital storage media which is used for the Super Audio CD .The signal is stored as delta-sigma...
) 44.1/48 kHz@16/25bit 88.2/96/176.4/192 kHz 24bit, 2tr - MR-1000 - 1bit 5.6448 MHz/1bit 2.8824 MHz(DSD)/24bit 192 kHz(PCM)
- MR-1 - 1bit 2.8824 MHz (DSD
Roland
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
- VS Series (Digital Studio Workstation)
- VS-880 (1996) - 16bit 32/44.1/48 kHz, 8tr(Rec4tr)
- VS-1680 (1998) - 24bit 32/44.1/48 kHz, 16tr(Rec8tr)
- VS-2480 (2001) - 24bit 32/44.1/48/64/88.2/96 kHz, 24tr (Rec8tr@64–96 kHz 16tr@32–48 kHz)
Tascam
TASCAM
TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, headquartered in Montebello, California. Tascam is credited as the inventor of the Portastudio, the first cassette-based multi-track home studio recorders. Tascam also introduced the first low-cost mass produced multitrack recorders...
- DP Series (Digital Portastudio)
- DP-01, DP-01FX, DP-01FX/CD - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 8tr(Rec2tr)
- DP-02 - 16bit 44.1 kHz, 8tr(Rec2tr)
- X Series (Hybrid Hard Disk Workstation)
- X-48 - 24bit 96 kHz, 48tr(Rec48tr)
YAMAHA
- AW Series (Professional Audio Workstation)
- AW4416 (May 2000) - 24bit, 16tr, 44ch Mixer
- AW2816 (July 2001) - 24bit, 16tr, 28ch Mixer
- AW16G (July 2002) - 24bit, 16tr(Rec8tr), 36ch Mixer
- AW1600 (2005) - 24bit, 16tr(Rec8tr), 36(input) Mixer
- AW2400 (2005) - 24bit, 24tr(Rec16tr), 48(input) Mixer
ZOOM
Zoom (audio company)
Zoom is a Japanese audio company that is distributed in the U.S. under the Samson family of companies, in the UK by Zoom UK Distribution Limited and in Germany by Sound Service GmBH. Zoom produce effects pedals for guitars and basses, recording equipment, drum machines...
- MRS Series (MultiTrak Recording Studio)
- MRS-1608 - 16bit, 16tr(Rec8tr), 27ch Mixer(Effect, Rhythm, Sampler)
- HD Series
- HD8Zoom HD8 and HD16Zoom HD8 and HD16 are digital multitrack recording devices manufactured by Zoom Corporation. HD8 and HD16 were presented at Winter NAMM 2007 as the successor of MRS-1608. The HD8 and HD16 models have been discontinued in December 2009....
(late 2007) - 16bit - 8tr(Rec2tr) - HD16Zoom HD8 and HD16Zoom HD8 and HD16 are digital multitrack recording devices manufactured by Zoom Corporation. HD8 and HD16 were presented at Winter NAMM 2007 as the successor of MRS-1608. The HD8 and HD16 models have been discontinued in December 2009....
(late 2007) - 16bit - 16tr(Rec8tr)
- HD8
*Rec = Simultaneous recording tracks
Computer software
- ACID ProACID ProSony ACID Pro is a professional digital audio workstation software program. It was originally called "ACID pH1" and published by Sonic Foundry, but is now developed and sold by Sony Creative Software....
(Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
) - Adobe AuditionAdobe AuditionAdobe Audition is a digital audio workstation from Adobe Systems featuring both a multitrack, non-destructive mix/edit environment and a destructive-approach waveform editing view.-Origins:...
(Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
) - ArdourArdour (audio processor)Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on Linux, Mac OS X and FreeBSD. Its primary author is Paul Davis, who is also responsible for the JACK Audio Connection Kit...
(LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
) - Cubase (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X)
- GaragebandGarageBandGarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package on Mac OS X.-Audio recording:...
(Mac OS XMac OS XMac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
) - Logic ProLogic ProLogic Pro is a hybrid 32 / 64 bit digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac OS X platform. Originally created by German software developer Emagic, Logic Pro became an Apple product when Apple bought Emagic in 2002...
and ExpressLogic ExpressLogic Express is a "light" version of Logic Pro, a MIDI sequencer and digital audio workstation software application maintained by Apple that runs on the Mac OS X platform. It was announced on 15 January 2004 for release in March 2004....
(Mac OS X) - Myth TV (LinuxLinuxLinux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
) - Pro ToolsPro ToolsPro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
(Mac OSMac OSMac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
, Microsoft Windows)
See also
- Direct to Disk RecordingDirect to Disk RecordingDirect-to-disk recording refers to methods by which analog signals and digital signals such as digital audio and digital video are digitally recorded to optical disc recording technologies such as DVDs, and CD optical discs...
- Digital video recorderDigital video recorderA digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
- DVD recorderDVD recorderA DVD recorder , is an optical disc recorder that uses Optical disc recording technologies to digitally record analog signal or digital signals onto blank writable DVD media...
- Flash memory recorder
- Non-linear editing systemNon-linear editing systemIn video, a non-linear editing system is a video editing or audio editing digital audio workstation system which can perform random access non-destructive editing on the source material...
- Project studio
- SMPTE time codeSMPTE time codeSMPTE timecode is a set of cooperating standards to label individual frames of video or film with a time code defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in the SMPTE 12M specification...