DAWs/Recorders Reviews & Features

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CAKEWALK Sonar 6 Producer Edition (Win) 

By Allan Metts

Like clockwork, the fine folks at Cakewalk release a new and significant version of their flagship digital audio sequencer each year....

KORG D888 

By Mark Nelson

Korg’s D888 is an unassuming digital recorder designed to record eight tracks of audio from mics or line sources while feeding a front-of-house mixer. This eliminates the need for a splitter box—in fact, the D888 can even serve as your main mixer....

Digidesign Unveils 003 Family 

Digidesign's new 003 family—the 003 Factory, the 003 Rack, and the 003 Rack Factory—offers analog and digital I/O for Pro Tools, high-definition audio resolution, and much more....

Cakewalk Ships New Versions of Sonar Home Studio 6 and XL 

Cakewalk's new versions of Sonar Home Studio 6 and Sonar Home Studio 6 XL offer new features and tools....

Joining the Reel World 

By Eddie Ciletti

The best way to give your digitally recorded tracks an authentic analog tape vibe is by sending them through a reel-to-reel tape machine. For example,...

ELECTRO-HARMONIX 2880 Super Multitrack Looper 

By Orren Merton

A traditional 16-second digital delay line is at the heart of the Electro-Harmonix 2880 Super Multitrack Looper (see Fig. 1), but this device offers much...

EDIROL R-09 

By Rudy Trubitt with Bruce Koball

Edirol, a subsidiary of Roland, has several field recorders on the market, including the R-1, a stereo deck that's a bit smaller than a videocassette,...

Cakewalk's Many Updates 

This year, Cakewalk's NAMM presence revolved around its flagship DAW, Sonar, as well as a bunch of related updates. ...

MOTU UltraLite 

By Rusty Cutchin

The MOTU UltraLite is a half-rack-width, 24-bit, 96 kHz FireWire audio-and-MIDI interface. It's equipped with the company's CueMix DSP feature, which...

SONY PCM-D1 

By Rudy Trubitt with Bruce Koball

The Sony PCM-D1 sounds great, is intuitive to operate, and is the coolest-looking piece of gear I've seen in a long time. Although the price is not for...

Digidesign Announces the Mbox 2 Mini 

Digidesign has announced the Mbox 2 Mini ($329), a compact USB-powered Pro Tools LE system....

PRESONUS Inspire 1394 

By Rusty Cutchin

The PreSonus Inspire 1394 ($229.95) is a compact FireWire interface that offers such features as 24-bit, 96 kHz operation; up to four simultaneous inputs;...

ROLAND 

By Marty Cutler

Not every musician needs a computer-based DAW with a ton of tracks, instruments, and plug-ins. You might be content to build tracks one at a time with...

DIGIDESIGN Pro Tools LE 7.0 (Mac/Win) 

By Mike Levine

Thanks to its state-of-the-art audio-editing features, excellent plug-in support, and quality hardware, Digidesign Pro Tools has become the dominant DAW...

IMAGE-LINE SOFTWARE FL Studio XXL 6.0.4 (Win) 

By Jim Aikin

Every digital audio sequencer has its own vibe. For all its power, few of us would describe the monolithic gray Pro Tools interface as fun. FL Studio...

DIGIDESIGN Mbox 2 

By Gino Robair

In 2001, Digidesign introduced the Mbox, a 2-channel USB audio interface that, for the first time, made the Pro Tools LE system available for under $500....

KORG D3200 

By Rusty Cutchin

After producing popular entry-level portable digital studios such as the D4 and D1200mkII, and then making a splash at the deep end with the D32XD, Korg...

Cakewalk Sonar 5.0 Producer Edition (Win) - A Windows powerhouse breaks the 64-bit barrier. 

By Allan Metts

Autumn is a wonderful time. Each year we get cooler weather, football season, colorful leaves, and, of course, a new version of Sonar. As usual, Cakewalk...

MOTU Traveler 

By Orren Merton

Most portable audio interfaces are compact and inexpensive, and they offer limited features. With the Traveler, however, MOTU gives the mobile recordist...

LINE 6 GuitarPort RiffTracker 

By Orren Merton

Line 6 has made some recent improvements to its GuitarPort USB audio interface. First, the company upgraded the unit's software, which serves as its operating...