In computer news this week:

Lead: Imagine what Sam Phillips could have done with this ! A review of the Fostex VF160 Digital Recording Studio

Sam Phillips actually started in business in 1952 with his recording studio in Memphis, Tn, to record local blues artists. He found the marketplace limited and expanded into other recording services, and one day a young truck driver named Elvis Presley came in and paid to make a record for his mother, which really launched his and Sam's career.

In those days music was recorded on reel to reel tape players; without any electronic effects. Most music was recorded on the first take, as there was very limited dubbing and editing capability. As music evolved into the modern recording studio of the 60's thru 80's, it became possible to do almost anything with a recorded piece of music - but at the cost of very expensive recording equipment, studios, skilled technicians and producers, and years required to learn techniques.

Then the pc revolution changed the world, and now you can buy a microprocessor based recording studio with more capabilities and effects than Sam Phillips ever dreamed of, for under $ 1000.

For many years I've been teaching guitar through Spokane Parks & Recreation Department. When I first began I used a small tape recorder to do instruction cassette tapes for my classes. Then in the mid 90's I started using a Fostex 4 track tape deck so I could make quality stereo recordings, and do some overdubbing. This was a nice system but it was still cassette based. When I made copies the quality degraded, and younger people in my class were asking "Mr. Delaney, what's a cassette tape?" I realized the cd world was the new music world.

So last year I bought a Fostex VF160 digital recording studio for just under $ 1000.00 from Musician's friend, an online music store. Fostex describes this product on their website http://www.fostex.com/ as the next generation hard disk 16-track digital recording/editing/mixing/CD mastering power tool all wrapped up in one easy-to-use package.

It is a complete recording studio with a built-in 20 Gig hard disk, and a built-in cd-burner.

After you record something, you then edit in all the digital effects you want. This includes adjusting the treble, midrange and bass, deciding where in the stereo panorama you want this channel to come out of - and adjusting the level relative to the other things you've recorded. Then there's the built-in effects generator, which enable you to select 28 degrees of vocal reverberation or instrument effects like delay, chorus, or flanger.

Fostex says this is an easy to use package, but this is a very technical product. They said the same about the 4 track tape deck I had bought back in the 90's, and I had ended up writing my own easy to understand procedure manual on how to use it to do the things I wanted to do. I did the same thing with this digital recording studio, so now I never have to read their book, which is quite similar to some of the first computer technical manuals we all struggled through. I'm sure it could take years to master everything this can do. I just need to remember how to do the things I want to do.

I will say that it is an incredible product, and a truly exceptional value. Of course in addition to this digital studio, you also need quality microphones, chords, instruments, and previous recording experience would be helpful. But now anyone can record their own music, edit and mix it, add effects, and create their own music cd's. I'll bet Sam Phillips would have loved this.

For Raw Bytes, This is Frank Delaney

POB 222 Spangle, Wa 99031 (509)245-3736 624-7230