Studer

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See also Studer (surname)

Studer A800 MK III 24 track recorder

Studer Vista 8 digital audio console

Israeli composer Josef Tal at the Electronic Music Studio in Jerusalem (~1965). On the right a sound synthesizer, on the left a Studer C37 Vacuum tube reel to reel tape recorder

Studer is a Swiss manufacturer of professional audio equipment, founded in Zurich in 1948 by Willi Studer. It is known primarily for the design and manufacture of analog tape recorders and mixing consoles. Studer also produce other technology solutions, such as telephony management systems and radio broadcast studio equipment. Studer originated the consumer brand Revox, but sold the group to private investors in 1990.

Studer's analog tape recorders are widely considered to be the best in world by Audio engineers due to their excellent reliability and sound quality.^{[citation needed]} The company has built a variety of 2 track recorder models throughout its history for stereo recording and mixing. One of the company's most successful models was the Studer-Revox A77 recorder, which was introduced in 1967. It sold over 400,000 units.

Studer was also an innovator in the design and production of multitrack recorders. The model J37 4-track recorder was used to record the Beatles renowned Sgt. Pepper album in 1967. Later Studer multitrack recorders were built in 8, 16, and 24 track configurations. With the addition of SMPTE time code multiple machines could also be linked together, making the number of available tracks virtually unlimited. Sales of these analog machines continued to be strong into the early 1990s when they began to be replaced by digital recorders.

Studer was acquired by Harman International Industries in 1994 and is operationally controlled by its UK-based sister company Soundcraft.

In July 2009, the Soundcraft management announced that the Swiss production facilities were to be moved to Soundcraft's own former production facilities. The decision was challenged by the Swiss workforce and negotiations with the Harman management are ongoing as of October 2009.^[1]