New Fostex Digital Recording/Mixing System

Continuing to make good on its promise to the professional audio and project studio markets to deliver advanced digital audio products at affordable prices, Fostex Corporation of America today introduced the new Fostex VM 200/VR 800 digital recording and mixing system. The Fostex VM 200 digital recording mixer, a 20-input/8-bus digital console with extensive automation and DSP capabilities, is a sophisticated, intuitive and affordable 20-into-8 direct bus digital mixer. Coupled with the new Fostex VR 800, an eight-track digital hard disk recording system featuring high levels of both functionality and format compatibility, the new Fostex VM 200 is the first truly affordable turnkey recording and mixing system designed and built specifically for project studios and private studios.

The Fostex VM 200 is packed with highly usable features that will make digital music sessions simpler and more creative. The console's 60-mm. motorized faders on all channels feed signal into a 32-bit RISC CPU, maintaining ultimately superior audio signal integrity while facilitating full moving-fader automation. Utilizing the VM 200's S/PDIF In/Outputs, two consoles can be linked for cascaded operation, doubling the number of inputs from multitrack recorders. The VM 200's extensive automation package includes a 100-scene memory with both preset and userdefinable recording and mixdown scenes. Unlike other digital mixers, the VM 200 mimics a conventional console in many ways providing instant-access to often-used features without resorting to complicated recall operations. Each channel has a dedicated rotary pan control while EQ can be accessed via 12 rotary controls with interactive graphic on-screen representation of EQ patterns. But the VM 200's automation capabilities don't stop there: the VM 200 can be totally controlled via MIDI, while the handy Autoindicate facility and self-illuminating switches allow the user to see at a glance the configuration of the entire mixer, via a large backlit LCD graphic display (256 x 64 dot).

The VM 200

The VM 200 is loaded with other features, including a dedicated LED stereo/ solo level meter, direct operation of Pan and EQ for each channel via 12 rotary controls, a 4-band parametric EQ on each input channel with a graphic display, three fader groups, three mute groups, paring and solo capabilities, and full word 1/0 (44.1, ADAT 44.1/48, S/P-DIF 44.1/48, Word 44.1/48) capability. The VM 200 has a highly configurable input matrix, as well, with eight analog inputs (4 balanced XLR with +48v phantom power) plus four insert points, and eight digital inputs via ADAT optical 20 inputs in remix (eight analog, eight ADAT optical plus effects return channels 17-20).

At the heart of the Fostex VM 200's operations is Fostex's proprietary A.S.P. (Advanced Signal Processing) - a breakthrough in DSP effects processing. A.S.P. is a unique digital effects processing technology newly developed by Fostex. By combining a special Harmonics Feedback Algorithm with Hi-Density Logarithmic Processing, A.S.P. effects offer higher gain in the early reflection characteristic and are free from the 'grittiness' associated with lesser technologies. Effects such as reverb and digital delay can now be combined with an integrated mixer to produce exceptional sonics with a low-noise environment.

The Fostex VM 200 is the perfect digital recording console and mixer for the current and next generation of digital multi-track recording systems, both linear and hard disk-based. The VM 200 incorporates Fostex's heritage of advanced technology with its comprehensive understanding of intuitive user interface and operations, all at an incredibly affordable price.

The VR 800

The Fostex VR 800 digital recorder offers eight tracks of hard disk recording and editing with all of the benefits of random access recording, including copy, paste, move and erase, with nondestructive editing futures such as Undo/Redo and multiple track paste. In the process of recording and overdubbing, any track can be audio-scrubbed and precisely monitored via a graphic envelope display. Other features include a 99-song memory, a six-point edit memory and vari-pitch capability (+/- 6%).

With the ability to simultaneously record 8 tracks of digital audio to a variety of internal or external media, the new VR 800 makes an ideal companion to the Fostex VM 200. just connect two ADAT optical cables and start laying down tracks. All the tools are already there, including Fostex's unique A.D.A.C. technology, which offers increased recording time on media such as ZIP and MO. Sophisticated MIDI and Word sync facilities are also standard on the Fostex VR 800, including MTC Slave, MIDI Clock & SPP-out and MMC, as is its unique eight-track simultaneous digital recording interface with the ADAT, with which up to 16 more tracks can be added to projects, allowing for 24-track recording. Data back-up is simple via the VR 800's SCSI port. Then there's the quality which, predictably with Fostex, is nothing short of stunning: up to 44.1kHz at full 16-bit fidelity. Quality, facilities and ease of use are the defining characteristics of the new Fostex VR800 Digital Multitrack.

"The introduction today of the Fostex VM 200/VR 800 combo reflects the ongoing commitment that Fostex has made to develop comprehensive yet costeffective digital audio systems that meet the needs of the real world," said Phil Celia, Fostex Corporation of America Director of Sales. "The high level of flexibility, combined with the intuitive user interface and high-level functionality, put the Fostex VM 200/VR 800 system in the same league as multitrack recording systems costing thousands and thousands of dollars more. Yet, like those more expensive systems, it can grow along with the user and has compatibility with a range of other media. That kind of creative edge in design makes us partners with the people who use systems from Fostex to create their own visions."

MSRP for VM200 is $1,499.00 and MSRP for the VR800 is $749.00 without media. Also, for users who wish to operate the VR 800 with analog mixer, Fostex offers an interface model TC8.