The DMT-8 is a pretty nice machine, with some glaring deficiencies.
First, the mixer section of the DMT-8 is very nice, 8-inputs-to-4-groups (8x4), with 2-band sweepable EQ on each channel, and 4-mic preamps with Trim control sliders. It has 4-group direct-in's and 8-track direct-outs. It will record up to 4-tracks simultaneously, and has that bright FL display. That's all good.
What's not good, is that the original standard disc was a 3.5" IDE 540Mb drive, which would only hold 12.5 minutes of 8-track audio!! This is frighteningly underpowered by today's standards. However, given that issue, there is an upgrade procedure that bumps disc capacity up to about 30Gb, (max). If you got the largest disc possible loaded in the DMT-8, then you'd have a very nice machine. All other DMT-8 features are adequate, but the standard 540Mb disc is too puny. It will adversely affect the daily useability of the DMT-8.
Also, given the full analog I/O on the DMT-8, there was little forthought to all-digital I/O options. There is an Optical Data In/Out spigot,
(Toslink), but that's all. There's no USB and no SCSI I/O.
Okay, now onto the FD-8. The FD-8 made some general improvements on the DMT-8, while simultaneously cutting corners on other features. The FD-8 has NO internal drive, except as a factory installed option. Fortunately, in these latter days, you may find FD-8's with the internal hard drive already installed on Ebay, but BUYER BEWARE. Check that
a FD-8 does or does not have the internal disc before purchase!
The original concept of the FD-4/FD-8 was to record onto removable external cartridge SCSI drives, (Jaz, Syquest), but the external SCSI drive is vastly superceded by the convenience of an internal IDE drive, if you can find one. Once the internal IDE drive is installed, the SCSI port and drive can be adapted to backup uses, not necessarily as a primary target drive for recording.
I have a 4.3Gb internal drive in my FD-8, and it provides about 50 hours of linear track time. That's 6.25 hours of 8-track format data. With 3-virtual tracks per track, eh,... 24 virtual tracks total. Keep in mind, that all the virtual tracks you load with alternate takes uses up a share of the total available track time. Alternately, there are NO "virtual tracks" on the DMT-8.
The FD-8 has a fairly nice 8x2 onboard mixer, but only has 2 channels with preamps that accept mic level signals. The FD-8 records only 2-tracks simultaneously in standard configuration. However, the FD-8 will record up to 8-tracks simultaneously by use of it's ADAT I/O, that's typically associated with devices like the Behringer ADA8000. At least the FD-8 gives you the option.
The FD-8's mic preamps don't have sliding Trim controls (like the DMT-8), but has Hi-Med-Low sensitivity switches on it's preamps, (cheesey).
It's a tough choice, between the DMT-8 and the FD-8. However, speaking personally, I have two FD-4's, one with internal HD and one without,... and I have an FD-8 with internal IDE hard drive. For my uses, 2-track-simul record limit is not usually an issue. If it were, I'd seriously look into an interface that provides ADAT I/O.
Also, the FD-8 has the SCSI port for backing up to an external cartridge drive or DAT, PLUS the ADAT I/O is capable enough that it can port your data to your 'puter in discrete 8-track format, into your multitracking software,... given that your 'puter has an ADAT I/O PCI card adapter. It's another handy expansion feature of the ADAT I/O on the FD-8.
I'd not get the MR8, as it's onboard mixing functions are inadequate, and it's almost extrinsically linked to the 'puter for it's fundamental operation. It's lifeline, if you will.
If you opt for the DMT-8, make sure NOT to get the "vl" model, as it's a stripped version of the DMT-8. Also, verify the disc size as the original 540Mb or maybe an upgraded one. The 540Mb is woefully undersized, from the word "go".
The FD-4 model also records only 2-tracks simultaneously, but will record up to 4-discrete tracks simultaneously by implementing it's S/P-dif I/O,... and a source that provides S/P-dif, such as another FD-4!
I am very pleased with the FD-4 and FD-8,... given that they're pretty nice units for Fostex,... and working within their known limitations. I'd much prefer the DMT-8 if it were upgraded to a 30Gb drive, then the DMT-8 would clearly blow the FD-8 away. As a stock, off-the-shelf purchase, the FD-8 w/internal HD kinda edges out the DMT-8 with the stock HD.
That's all I have to say, at this time. Maybe more later! Heh.
