The Soundscape SSHDR1 was one of the first Windows based Digital Audio Workstation

Digital audio workstation

A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...

s available and was manufactured by Soundscape Digital Technology

Soundscape Digital Technology

Soundscape Digital Technology pioneered Windows based multi-channel studio recording, editing and mastering from the early 1990’s, becoming one of the most widely respected Digital Audio Workstations.- Soundscape SSHDR1 :...

 Ltd..


The system consisted of an external 2U rack unit which housed the audio processing hardware, based on Motorola 56000

Motorola 56000

The Motorola DSP56000 is a family of digital signal processor chips produced by Motorola Semiconductor starting in the 1980s and is still being produced in more advanced models in the 2000s. The 56k series was quite popular for a time in a number of computers, including the NeXT, Atari Falcon,...

 family DSPs

Digital signal processor

A digital signal processor is a specialized microprocessor with an architecture optimized for the fast operational needs of digital signal processing.-Typical characteristics:...

, 2 inputs and 4 outputs in both unbalanced analogue and S/PDIF

S/PDIF

S/PDIF is a digital audio interconnect used in consumer audio equipment over relatively short distances. The signal is transmitted over either a coaxial cable with RCA connectors or a fiber optic cable with TOSLINK connectors. S/PDIF interconnects components in home theaters and other digital high...

 digital and two IDE hard disk drives. Synchronisation was via MIDI in/out/thru via MIDI Timecode and an optional I/O board provided balanced analogue and AES/EBU

AES/EBU

AES3 is the standard used for the transport of digital audio signals between professional audio devices. It is also known as AES/EBU and is published by the Audio Engineering Society and as part of IEC 60958. It was developed by the AES and the European Broadcasting Union and first published in...

 connections. Each unit could record and play 4 tracks of 16bit 48kHz audio but later software upgrades increase this to 8 tracks.
The unit connected to an ISA card fitted into a PC expansion slot, each of which could host 2 x SSHDR1 units. Multiple host cards could be used.

Windows software (for Windows 3.1, 95/98/ME, 2000, XP) controlled the unit and provided 256 virtual tracks, mixing and editing.

Up to 16 units could be used simultaneously, with full sample accurate synchronisation, controlled by one Soundscape editing application.

In 1995 an optional DSP board added a configurable mixer with real-time DSP plugins, an extra 8 in/out via a TDIF port and allowed the unit to record 10 or playback 12 tracks simultaneously at up to 24bit 48kHz. The card could be retro-fitted into any unit.

Optional software packages for Auto-Conforming (for film and TV post-production use) and CD Mastering were available as well as a selection of plug-in effects developed by well known companies such as TC Electronics and Dolby.