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Prototype For Sale

The RDS-1 is a 24 track audio video control console. This is one of our greatest "Non renewable energy" projects to date. Click the pic to review the operations manual or buy it. Operations Manual included with purchase as well as training on how to operate and maintain the RDS-1


This unit is for sale at 10K. Over 17K invested in just PARTS. Used only a few times.

Introduction

The RDS-1 was created as a Prototype for evaluation of a complex, portable, turnkey, video / audio recording studio for today’s Concert Video Producers, TV Producers, industrial Media departments, high end Videographer, or well-funded Band that wants to produce their own video segments. The 24 track 24 bit hard disk recording deck from Mackie takes the 24 tracks from the 2 onboard retractable 1604 VLZ mixing boards and cleanly records them onto a removable computer hard disk.

This unit was inspired after working with a large industrial media department during a well-funded musical performance at a Christmas party. A video was shot by a 4 camera TV crew that also had a 48 channel audio mixing board run by a sound engineer. I remember quite vividly all the effort it took these men and women to bring out all the equipment from the delivery van, unpack all the stuff, set it up on tables, open up the 6 foot long wood crates that held the video monitors and other equipment to do the video production and the mixing board, mikes, cables, lights etc. It took them hours to hook up everything and test it. I noticed that there was an opportunity to have most of the video equipment in one big 19 inch rack mount cabinet but instead it was spread out between two six foot wood crates. It was at that moment that I started designing the RDS-1.

The RDS-1 does not have all the high quality video equipment that that old analog video camera system had that shot the video of the Christmas party musical event but it did not need to. The versatility and durability that the RDS-1 brings to the table is incredible.

Captain Willy Producer/Director/Design Engineer

Review by Hi-Fi systems Reviews www.highfidelityreview.com

The Sound of Mackie HDR-24/96 Hard Disk Recorder

I found the sound of the HDR to be surprisingly good. While the converters will not exactly compare to ones costing 10x as much per channel, they’re not that far away either. If you really want the ultimate, just get the AES I/O cards and plug in a set of your converters of choice. Actually, this is necessary if you plan to use the machine at 96k, as the on-board converters don’t operate at that sample rate. Also keep in mind that the number of available tracks is halved to 12, which shouldn’t be a problem in a surround mix.

After having spent a lot of time on other dedicated hard disk recorders (some costing a whole lot more, too), I can say that I really like the HDR. You get a lot for your money, and its efficient layout and user interface allow you to get right to the task of recording rather than struggling with a computer. At $4999 for the basic unit (minus I/O, remotes, and peripherals), this unit is not only a bargain, but a serious piece of gear easily up to any professional task.

PRICE: HDR-24/96, $4999; Remote, $299; M90 Media, $199; PDI-8 8-channel AES I/O, $399; OPT-8 8-channel light pipe I/O, $99; DIO-8 8-channel TDIF/ADAT I/O, $450; AIO-8 8-channel analog I/O, $349.

There are three AIO-8 (8-channel analog in and out cards) used in the RDS-1.

CONTACT: Mackie, Tel: 800-258-6883.

Web: www.mackie.com

Mackie is a Proven Leader in Analog Mixers

Beyond sounding great, the Mackie 1604VLZ4 mixer is one piece of gear you can truly rely on. It continues the VLZ Series' trend for rock-solid construction, while taking your sound quality to a new level. You've got an amazingly wide dynamic range, incredible 60dB gain range on the Onyx microphone preamplifiers, and ultra-low-noise performance. The 1604VLZ4 also boasts better-than-ever RF rejection for prime performance in broadcast situations. And with high-resolution meters, generous I/O, and sealed rotary controls that keep out dust and grime, the Mackie 1604VLZ4 is one of Mackie's best mixers ever.

The last time I tested a product that was eagerly talked about, then announced, delayed and finally shipped, it was the Mackie D8B Digital8-Bus mixer. And at Winter NAMM, February 2000, just over a year ago, Mackie announced an equally ambitious project: a 24-track, 24-bit (and96kHz 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. For more info. click here.

The RDS-1 weighs over 300 pounds but yet can be moved horizontal with add on wheels that quick disconnect. This allows it to be safely moved from studio to sidewalk to lift gate truck for transport. The 19 inch rack mount case is made from anodized aluminum and durable for generations even after the equipment inside is obsolete.

This is the back view where all the cables for the intercom, video cameras, microphones, and line ins are connected to the many patch bays.

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