Fostex D-160 16-Track Hard Disk Recording/Editing System
July 11, 1997
Supported by a growing market demand by end-users
for product that offers a clear and compelling price performance value, Fostex Corporation of
America today announced it has begun shipments of its new 16-track Fostex D-160 removable hard
disk recording/editing system. Designed specifically to be the first hard disk system of its kind to offer an unprecedented range of price/performance functionality in a single digital audio platform, the
new Fostex D-160 system is available in four configurations-Models D-160, D-160B, D-160TC and
D-160TCB-to meet clearly defined end-user needs and applications, reports Fostex Corporation of
America Director of Sales Phil Celia.
"With the shipment of this remarkable new Fostex D-160 series, this company is clearly
demonstrating its ongoing commitment to provide end-users with a broad family of products
designed to meet very specific applications," Celia said today.
"We believe that every performance feature carries with it a perceived price value on the part of the
user. Our goal is to research, design and manufacture recording and editing systems that offer the
most important features necessary to do a job thoroughly and professionally-for a price that can
involve the largest number of potential of customers in the widest variety of large and small
applications.
"In fact," Celia continued, "we challenge anyone to go out and find another 16-track hard disk
recording and editing system that offers as much performance for the money as the D-160 does. It
can't be beat!" Fostex is not a hard disk drive manufacturer, Celia pointed out. Thus, it is constantly
challenged to forecast demand accurately enough in advance in order to ensure maximum savings
for its customers. "Hard disk drive pricing is always in flux. It's a fact of our life that we have been
able to work with quite effectively. I hope we can continue to be as successful with pricing in the
future. It's certainly our goal."
Underscoring this point, Celia pointed to the entire-and growing-line of Fostex hard disk
systems, which include the newly introduced Fostex D-90 hard disk recording/editing system and
the new Fostex DMT-8VL digital multitrack recorder and editor. In addition, the company markets a
full line of professional DAT recorders, including Models D-30, D-25, D-15 and D-5. For portable
applications, the company also offers the new Fostex PD-4 (Version 2) portable timecode DAT
recorder.
The new Fostex Model D-160 offers the MI, broadcast and post production markets an entirely new
level of price/performance capabilities. The D-160 comes standard with a removable 2.55 GB hard
drive for 30 minutes of 16-track and one full hour of 8-track recording capability. It also features 16
dedicated channels of audio plus 8 "virtual tracks", enabling sounds to be grouped for sweetening.
A selectable stereo S/PDIF port and ADAT Digital Interface utilize 2 optical I/Os capable of
accommodating 16 tracks of ADAT digital data.
The Fostex D-160's editing capabilities are equally impressive and include full random access
editing functions and the ability to cut/copy/move and paste across all 16 tracks. In short, up to 16
tracks of ADAT information can be transferred across all 16 tracks and edited in sync.
The full line of Fostex D-160 recorders/editors also offer a range of other enhanced features
including:
- A more sophisticated file management system which allows for more increased "virtual reels" and
automatic back-up functions.
- A Vari-pitch function which allows for +/- 6-percent pitch variations in highly precise increments of
one-tenth of a percent steps.
- A selectable sampling rate of either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, which reflect the two most used
sampling rate standards in the industry. Furthermore, the sampling rate can be independently set
and changed per program.
- MMC Rec Track Select Function Key enables individual track arming on a slave machine.
- Significant synchronization capabilities, including an MTC-only Chase Function allowing the D-160
to slave to any recorder/sequencer by feeding MTC data without word clock data which, when
combined with the D-160's standard ADAT and SCSI interface capabilities, gives the D-160
unparalleled systems networking capabilities.
Fostex Model D-160B, in addition to the above features, offers D-sub 25-pin balanced I/O
functionality for professional console interface.
Fostex Model D-160TC goes one step further, offering film and video post-production professionals
an additional timecode option. The D-160TC's built-in TC/Sync card and LTC-only chase function
enables the D-160TC to slave to an external LTC and sync to a video reference signal or word
clock. Finally, Fostex Model D-160TCB offers both D-sub 25-pin balanced I/O functionality and
built-in SMPTE time code.
With prices starting at $3,995.00 for the basic Model D-160, the Fostex D-160 16-track hard disk
based recording/editing system is nothing less than the first truly affordable platform to offer
professional audio, broadcast and film/video post-production users the ability to interface with many
digital audio environments. Those interested in learning more about the Fostex D-15 and the complete Fostex product line can
visit the company's World Wide Web Site, "Fostex On-line," at www.fostex.com or by
sending email to Fostex at info@fostex.com. |
