Klark Teknik preview hard disk recorder for live performance applications

Klark Teknik showed a pre production unit of the DN 9696, the industry’s first high resolution hard disk recorder aimed at the live performance environment, at the PLASA show 2007. In developing the DN9696, Klark Teknik has responded to a changing market, which is experiencing live recording as a new revenue source. Bands are increasingly being recorded for archive purposes, live CDs, DVDs and post-show sales, b-sides, web releases and mix engineers using the recordings for virtual sound checks. The DN9696 offers 96 tracks of 96kHz audio at 24bit and nine hours internal recording time. It uniquely features mirrored drive capability, allowing simultaneous internal and external HD recording for real time backup and redundancy, removing the need for time-consuming copying at the end of a concert. It is packaged as a simple-to-use, stand-alone single box solution. Other features include both front panel and GUI operation, dual redundant AES50 connections, full integration with Midas Digital Systems, standalone recording using Midas XL8 analogue and digital I/O and industry standard Broadcast Wave files (BWAV) which can easily be imported into any DAW system. At the heart of the DN9696 is a customised version of the SADiE MTR software and DSP core, with added features specifically for the live environment, including a front panel Solo/PFL headphone output for monitoring and simple transport controls for play/stop/record functions. SADiE Is a proven, reliable and stable software platform with a large installed base, predominantly in the time-critical broadcast environment, studio recording and the exacting CD pre-mastering market Klark Teknik has focused on optimising and simplifying the setup and workflow aspects of live performance recording and subsequent mixdown. The DN9696 occupies only 5U of rack space, has very simple cable requirements and doesn’t require a dedicated recording technician. Klark Teknik recommends the use of SADiE workstations for studio mixdown but the DN9696 files are equally at home being mixed on other professional workstations.