Fostex

Explore Fostex vintage audio equipment in the Vintage Technology Archive.

Models

Cassette Deck

10-DAT — Fostex D-10 DAT recorder — a mid-priced broadcast deck with RAM instant start, 100 cue points, 799 PNOs, and dual-machine GPI editing.

Cassette Decks

E-22 — Fostex E-22 half-inch two-track mastering recorder from the mid-1980s, reviewed by Studio Sound and DB Magazine. Find production dates here.

Headphones

M-77RP — Fostex M-77RP (1985): a little-documented Regulated Phase ribbon studio mic, recommended for kick and snare with a built-in three-position EQ switch.

Microphones

M-88RP — Fostex M-88RP ribbon microphone, documented in a 1989 DB Magazine listing: 40-18kHz, 600 ohms, XLR, $650. Obscure model.

Mixer

B-16D — Fostex B-16D half-inch 16-track reel-to-reel, 30 ips. The portable multitrack that cut tape costs 75% and put a studio in your trunk.
MCI-24 — Fostex MCI-24 — a poorly documented designation tied to early-1980s MCI 24-track recorders and Fostex synchronizer gear.

Mixers

G-16 — Fostex G-16: 16-track 1/2-inch multitrack recorder, praised in 1991 by Mix and EQ for its sound and integrated one-piece design.

Multitrack Recorders

Model 250 — Fostex Model 250 Multitracker — four-track cassette recorder with built-in four-channel mixer, 17x3x14in, 19lb. A 1980s personal studio in a box.

Recorders

D-160 — The D-160 is a 16-track digital hard disk multitrack recorder, Fostex's late-1990s move into affordable nonlinear recording. It records 16 tracks of
DV-40 (2001) — Fostex DV-40 (2001) DVD master recorder — $5,995 rackmount, 24-bit/96kHz to DVD-RAM, UDF files, companion to the PD-6.

Speaker Driver

FE-208 — Fostex FE-208 full-range driver — 8-inch, 45 Hz–20 kHz, 96.5 dB, 8 ohm. The Sigma Series single-driver for crossover-free builds.

Unknown

CMC-24 — Fostex CMC-24-inch — likely an AHB CMC 24 semi-automated in-line console (Studio Sound, July 1985). Brand attribution unconfirmed; specs undocumented.
G-16S — Fostex G-16S — Dolby S half-inch 16-track analog recorder with auto locate, ten cue memories, and a detachable remote; built for MIDI and time-code sync.
VF-16 — Fostex VF-16 digital 16-track hard-disk recorder/mixer with 20-bit A/D, 5.1GB drive, $1,399 list. Documented in EQ and Sound on Sound coverage.
X-26 — Fostex X-26: 6-input/4-track cassette mixer-recorder, $449 in 1990. 2-head, 1⅞ ips, 40 Hz–12.5 kHz. Little documented beyond period listings.
X-28 — Fostex X-28 four-track cassette multitrack recorder, c. 1992. Little documented; known from an EQ Magazine ad and UK X28H listings.

Other Models

450-16 — Fostex 450-16 — 16x4x2 project mixer with phantom power, in-line monitoring and four-buss routing, advertised at $1995 in 1987.
DV-824 — Fostex DV-824, an 8-track 24-bit DVD-RAM/hard-drive location recorder (4 channels at 96 kHz), $7,495 new — the redundant dual-write workhorse of production sound carts.
G24S — Fostex G24S — 24-track one-inch reel-to-reel with Dolby S, removable remote panel and built-in sync. A serious analogue multitrack that undercut two-inch.
Model 4050 — Fostex Model 4050 (1985) — SMPTE-to-MIDI synchronizer and autolocator for Fostex E-Series tape rigs; 100-point autolocate, 10 programmable edits.
Model 80 — Fostex Model 80 — 8-track home multitrack from the 1980s, named alongside the A8 and R8 as a Fostex classic.
MODEL-20 — Fostex Model 20 two-track master recorder with center-track SMPTE time code, built on the Model 80 transport, listed at $1,200.
MODEL-4030 — Fostex Model 4030 synchronizer — $1,500 SMPTE time code brain for E-Series tape rigs, with 0.01-frame resolution and daisychaining.
MODEL-450 — Fostex Model 450 — the 1980s 8x4x2 post-production mixer with phantom power, in-line monitoring, and four LED bar graphs, originally $1,095.
MTC-1 — Fostex MTC-1 sync/machine-control interface that let Atari/Mac sequencers drive Fostex tape recorders over MIDI. Deeply programmable, setup-fussy.
VF-08 — Fostex VF-08 — 8-track uncompressed 16-bit hard-disk studio at $799 MSRP, 5.1 GB E-IDE drive, 44.1 kHz, 99 scene snapshots.