FD-8 software update is not available anymore... I'm the moderator of Fostex Forum and one of our intelligent forum users contacted fostex about the same question, and the response is below..
The fact is that the maximum capacity that FD-8 can recognize is only 8.4GB regardless of the software version.
Even if the HD capacity is larger than 8.4GB, it is recognized as 8.4GB.
However, if the HD is in the condition right after formatting and nothing is recorded, according to the calculation, you can record up to
198 minutes at 16-bit/44.1kHz/8TRK."
I also installed a 40 GB HD (Toshiba IDE 2.5") into my old FD-8, installed software version 1.12 (which I got through Fostex US support division on the internet) and hoped to gain more recordingtime, but no - it hit the "celing" at 8.4 GB.
question on recording time with a given HD capacity :
"The formula is as follow.
Recording time (min) = Capacity (Byte)/Fs (Hz)/X/60/number of recording track.
X: 2 (16-bit resolution), 3: (24-bit resolution)
* Example 1 (40GB HD, 8 track recording, 16-bit, 44.1kHz)
= 40 * 1000 * 1000 * 1000 / (44.1 * 1000)/2/60/8 = 944 (min)
* Example 2 (80GB, 16 track recording, 24-bit, 48kHz)
= 80 * 1000 * 1000 * 1000 / (48 * 1000)/3/60/16 = 579 (min)
.......Thank you and best regards,"