Mackie HDR24/96--24-Bit/24-Track Disk-based Audio Recorder/Editor

Mackie HDR24/96 24-Bit/24-Track Disk-based Audio Recorder/Editor by George Petersen
	The last time I tested a product that was eagerly talked about, then announced, delayed and finally shipped, it was the Mackie D8B Digital 8-Bus mixer. And at Winter NAMM, February 2000, just over a year ago, Mackie announced an equally ambitious project: a 24-track, 24-bit (and 96kHz capable) disk-based recorder/editor with an affordable base price of $4,999. The product is the Mackie HDR-24/96, and, though it did ship a couple months late, Mackie probably set some kind of record for the speedy delivery of a product of this magnitude; it was definitely worth the wait. The unit offers an ease of use that should make disk-recording novices comfortable, while including an impressive feature set that will appeal to seasoned pros. Starting from the top, the HDR24/96 is a stand-alone (no computer required) 24-bit/24-track recorder/editor housed in a single four-rackspace chasis weighing in around 35 pounds—a lot less than your typical 400+ pound, 2-inch, analog deck and substantially less than a rack of three ADATs. Speaking of Modular Digital Multitracks, the HD- R24/96’s front panel looks and operates (with a few exceptions) a lot like most MDMs. The recorder’s faceplate holds few mysteries, and most users can be up and recording just minutes after unpacking the HDR24/96. The front panel is logically laid out, with a bank of 24 (selectable) peak/VU LED meters with track arming lights and buttons beneath each track. A large, bright, numerical LED display shows locations in hours/minutes/seconds/frames or bars/beats/ticks, and includes status LEDs indicating clock and bit status. A 24-character, 4-line LCD indicates operational status and menu navigation with four softkey switches and data ± (increment/decrement) keys beneath the menu select parameters and set modes. Eighteen additional switches are dedicated to various functions—ranging from looping and locate options, monitoring and record safe keys, SMPTE chase enable, etc. And every switch on the HDR24/96 has an associated LED that gives the user quick, visual feedback on what’s selected. The idea here is to reduce the user’s dependence on menus as much as possible, and other than simple selections such as choosing a project or which disk to record to, the menu operations are mainly “set and forget.” Familiar-looking, tape recorder-style keys (Rwd/Ffd/Stop/Play/ Record) handle basic transport functions, and the unit defaults to 2-button (press Record and Play) record enabling; it can be set to one-touch record if desired. A floppy drive is provided for loading software updates, tempo maps or reinstalling the system software, should the user later decide to install a larger internal hard disk (a 20GB drive is included as standard equipment). A second bay is designed to accept interchangeable media, such as Mackie’s M90 22GB removable hard drives or 2.2GB Mackie PROJECT cartridges. Reprinted with permission from Magazine, March, 2001 © 2000, Intertec Publishing, A Primedia Company All Rights Reserved [an error occurred while processing this directive]