All in all, you get quality digital reproduction with this machine. The fact that you only have 3 band, sweep eq, limits your ability to shape the tracks post recording. In other words, work to get the sound you want as close as you can get it, on recording before mixing.

I think the effects processors, (2), are good. Plenty of selection and editing capabilities. After 6 months of use, I would say that faders & pots seem to be of good quality.

Everything functions well so far. I haven't subjected it to "the road" yet. We'll see........

For someone looling to get into 16 track digital recording, who has no concerns about amp modeling and drum tracks, you can't beat it. With the price in the $900.00 range with some of the financing options available, it's a great value.

n/a

whatever...........

Rock/blues/r&b/boogie/perimeter country

Excellent quality uncompressed sound. Relatively poor EQ. 2 Mic pre-amps are a bit noisy, not the best. Better to have your own quality board to get quality original tracks into this recorder. Smooth, quiet faders slide nicely, do not feel cheap.

Misleading advertising as far as "records 16 tracks at once!" - you need at least one additional expensive piece of equipment to do that (so much for the under $1,000 price tag, now!). No direct outputs on individual tracks. Can not record with EQ on all tracks. Can not record with compression on all tracks. Comes with its' own cd burner (and today, they all should!), a flimsy partial tray that is supported so poorly, the manual has a reminder that you must hold the underside while you snap a cd into the tray. Also has the requisite teeny-tiny LCD screen that is extremely hard to read. No "pan" knobs, panning (left and right placement) is done internally, so no Jimi Hendrix guitars flying from left to right during mixdown.

Seems to be made pretty well, althought the knobs along the top seem like they could break off easily (especially with all of the input busses right there - a lot happens at that top edge!). I do take the unit out in the world to record, but I am extremely careful with it - would not consider it to be "road-worthy". Could use a bigger screen, and at a better angle for viewing.

This is definitely the best unit for the price, tho I would certainly be willing to pay more to cover my "nitpicks" listed above.

I have not needed any support from Fostex. The unit has worked well, and has had no problems so far.

Very practical piece of equipment. 16 tracks is always better than 8. 24 tracks will always be "sexier" than 16, by the way (and so on, and so on).

All I can say is . To the company Fostex bravo and thank you for the wonderfull VF160.I have a small recording studio in Ontario, Canada.Since I first plugged the unit in I knew I had beutiful and well built peice of equipment.After the fist tracks where laid down I was amazed with the sound quality,the eas of use and the fact that you can record up to 16 tracks at once a must option that I was looking for in my search for a new machine. If any one is looking for a muilt track unit there is alot on the market but in my opinion for the money this machine has great sound no kidding it made me want to jump up and down.As for tips .Get in you car or walk, go to your locl Fostex dealer,by a VF160,take it home,unpack it,plug it in,get your guitar or what ever and just record you'll love it .

The VF160 What you see is what you get very conveinient.A very good mix of components and features in which I am completly satisfied.

I have had Fostex machines in the past and have had no problems with their products what so ever.Therfore I have not had to deal with them. But If their reputation compares to the quality off the products that they offer I'm sure that they will pull their weight with the greatest of eas.

Very sexy, nice appeal,very proffesional.It is a pleasure to own one.

Anything that sounds good.

no compression,16 bit recording. for the price,i cant complain. sounds pretty damn good!

liked all of the features, for the price, who can complain!!

i have owned my vf160 for a year now. so far no problems

excellent value for the money

never had to deal with them?

r+b/soul,funk

Pristine audio quality. Faithful to what you put in.

This is a very capable machine. A full 16 tracks, no stereo pairs. Options to use external processing, but has most everythig you'd need onboard.

Solid and VERY stable operating system. These machines rarely if ever crash, rarely if ever need reformatting -- very smart software design leading to rock-solid reliability.

The best value out there.

Matt at Fostex has been great in answering questions -- but I haven't had any problems requiring service.

The most useful parts for me are the pair faders, and the interal mixdown mode, it is a very simple piece to operate.

I haven't used it on the road yet. I will see soon though.

Great price for what it offers.

It sucks trying to contact someone from Fostex. I always end up talking with some guy with an undesirable accent and I have a hard time understnding him.

gospel

Superb quality - as good as any CD you'll listen to.

Low end EQ is limited - otherwise, the features are considerably more than any home recording user could want. An external compressor and/or reverb and/or EQ are normal extras for any recording unit, so naturally these will help you get even better control over your production - but there are integral versions of each if you don't have outboard units instead.

No problems whatsoever.

I thought it was a great eal at $1200 - now it's a lot less!

Got emailed patch upgrades for software. Very friendly folks.

Jazz/folk/fusion