The
company had been in business for 6 years and with over 20 products
in the range it was time for more innovation. The power amplifiers
were building a lasting reputation for reliability, the mixing
consoles were finding homes in more and more sound systems and
studios, the 3 and 5 way crossovers, speakers, multicores and
accessories completed the range. The challenge of how to expand
the range was soon met with the following two products.
8-2
Powered Mixer
The
concept of combining an amplifier with a mixer was still in its
infancy, with product offerings having a poor
specification and very limited features. What
the market needed was a mixer section with professional features
mated to an amplifier that was up to the rigors of portable PA.
The 8-2 was the answer with 8 balanced inputs,
3 band EQ, two Auxiliary sends (one for effects and one for stage
monitoring) and 60mm faders. The specification didn't stop there
as this was the first powered mixer to have three amplifiers inside.
A left and right amplifier and a dedicated stage monitor (foldback)
amplifier all using the latest MOS FET technology. A new standard
in powered mixers had been set and not bettered until the Studiomaster
Power House appeared later in the decade. To top off the design,
the 8-2 could be rack mounted - another new feature
to powered mixers.
Studio 4
The advent of the cassette based portable studio (portastudio)
had rapidly opened up the possibilities of recording for many
people. It allowed the user to record and mix 4 tracks onto a
standard cassette tape and mix to a stereo output. The first machines
although low cost were also low on features. Typically the mixer
and tape monitor functions were basic and only 2 tracks could
be recorded simultaneously. The porta studio soon became recognised
as a standard recording format and with it came a growing demand
for a professional version. Enter the Studio 4.
The mixer section was typical Studiomaster with phantom power,
sweep mid and bass EQ, full routing and monitoring facilities
and long travel faders. The cassette deck was a pro grade electronically
controlled unit which kept constant speed and rarely chewed tapes
- unlike the cheaper rivals! It was the first that could record
4 tracks at the same time and could also be rack mounted.
The
company had been in business for 6 years and with over 20 products
in the range it was time for more innovation. The power amplifiers
were building a lasting reputation for reliability, the mixing
consoles were finding homes in more and more sound systems and
studios, the 3 and 5 way crossovers, speakers, multicores and
accessories completed the range. The challenge of how to expand
the range was soon met with the following two products.
The
concept of combining an amplifier with a mixer was still in its
infancy, with product offerings having a poor
specification and very limited features. What
the market needed was a mixer section with professional features
mated to an amplifier that was up to the rigors of portable PA.
The 8-2 was the answer with 8 balanced inputs,
3 band EQ, two Auxiliary sends (one for effects and one for stage
monitoring) and 60mm faders. The specification didn't stop there
as this was the first powered mixer to have three amplifiers inside.
A left and right amplifier and a dedicated stage monitor (foldback)
amplifier all using the latest MOS FET technology. A new standard
in powered mixers had been set and not bettered until the Studiomaster
Power House appeared later in the decade. To top off the design,
the 8-2 could be rack mounted - another new feature
to powered mixers. 
The advent of the cassette based portable studio (portastudio)
had rapidly opened up the possibilities of recording for many
people. It allowed the user to record and mix 4 tracks onto a
standard cassette tape and mix to a stereo output. The first machines
although low cost were also low on features. Typically the mixer
and tape monitor functions were basic and only 2 tracks could
be recorded simultaneously. The porta studio soon became recognised
as a standard recording format and with it came a growing demand
for a professional version. Enter the Studio 4.
The mixer section was typical Studiomaster with phantom power,
sweep mid and bass EQ, full routing and monitoring facilities
and long travel faders. The cassette deck was a pro grade electronically
controlled unit which kept constant speed and rarely chewed tapes
- unlike the cheaper rivals! It was the first that could record
4 tracks at the same time and could also be rack mounted.