A hard disk recorder is a type of recording system that utilizes a high-capacity hard disk to record digital audio or digital video. Hard disk recording systems represent an alternative to more traditional reel-to-reel tape or cassette multitrack systems, and provide editing capabilities unavailable to tape recorders. The systems, that can be standalone or computer-based, typically include provisions for digital mixing and processing of the audio signal.

Prior to the 1980s, most recording studios utilized analog multitrack recorders, typically based on reel-to-reel tape. During the 1980s and 90s, companies like New England Digital began to include hard disk recording capabilities in their high-end systems. The high cost and limited capacity of these solutions limited their use to large recording studios, and even then, they were typically reserved for specific applications such as film post-production.

With the takeoff of the compact disc, digital recording became a major area of development by equipment makers. Several affordable solutions were released during the late 1980s and early 90s; many of these continued to use tape, either in reels, or in more manageable videocassettes. However, by the middle 1990s, with the steady decline of hard disk prices and the corresponding increases in capacity and portability, the cost of hard disk recording systems had dropped to the point where they became affordable for even smaller studios. Though there are several other types of digital recorder still in use, hard disk systems are rapidly becoming the preferred method for studio recording.

One major advantage of recording audio to a hard disk is that it allows for non-linear editing. Audio data can be accessed randomly and therefore can be edited non-destructively, that is, the original material is not changed in any way. Non-linear editing is not inherent to every hard-disk recording system, however. Different manufacturers implement different degrees of this facility. In addition, hard disk recorders offer some disadvantages, including the limited capacity and comparatively high cost of replacement drives, as well as a reduced ruggedness of hard disk recorders as compared to tape-based systems.

Hard disk recorders are often combined with a digital mixing console and are an inherent part of a digital audio workstation. In this form complex tasks can be automated, freeing the audio engineer from 'performing' a mix.

A personal computer can be used as a hard disk recorder with appropriate software; nowadays this solution is often preferred, as it provides a more flexible interface to the studio engineer. Many studio-grade systems provide external hardware, particularly for the analog to digital conversion stages, while less expensive software systems can use the hardware included with any modern computer. The major constraints on any hard disk recording system are the disk size, transfer rate, and processor speed. Some systems use "lossy" digital audio compression to minimize the first two factors. This solution is becoming increasingly rare, thanks to rapid increases in hard disk capacity.

Popular hard disk recorders

Stand alone

AKAI professional

DPS Series (Digital Personal Studio)

DPS12 (Nov 1997) - 16bit 32/44.1/48kHz, 12tr(Rec8tr), 20ch Mixer, Jaz Drive

DPS16 (1999) - 16/24bit 32/44.1/48/96kHz, 16tr(Rec10tr), 26ch Mixer

DPS24 (2002) - 16/24bit 32/44.1/48/96kHz, 24tr, 46ch Mixer, CD-RWAlesis

ADAT HD24Fostex

D-Series (Digital Recorder)

D-80 (1996) - 16bit 44.1kHz, 8tr

D2424 - 16bit@44.1/48kHz 24bit@44.1/48/88.2/96kHz, 24tr(analogRec8tr, ADAT-optical 24tr）

VF-Series (Digital multitracker)

VF-16HD (Jun 2000) - 16bit 44.1kHz, 16tr(Rec8tr w/digital 16tr)

VF80（20GB） (Feb 2002) - 16bit 44.1kHz, 8tr(Rec2tr)

MR-Series (Digital multitracker)

MR-8HD (Oct 2006) - 16bit 44.1kHz, 8tr(Rec4tr)

MR16HD （May 2007） - 16bit 44.1kHz, 16tr(Rec4tr)KORG

D Series (Digital Recording Studio)

D888 （May 2006） - 16bit 44.1kHz, 8tr(Rec8tr)

D3200 - 16/24bit 44.1/48kHz, 24tr(Rec16tr@16bit, 12tr@24bit)

MR Series (1-Bit Professional Mobile Recorder)

MR-1 - 1bit 2.8824MHz （DSD） 44.1/48kHz@16/24bit 88.2/96/176.4/192kHz 24bit, 2tr

MR-1000 - 1bit 5.6448MHz/1bit 2.8824MHz（DSD）/24bit 192kHz（PCM）Roland

VS Series (Digital Studio Workstation)

VS-880 （1996） - 16bit 32/44.1/48kHz, 8tr(Rec4tr)

VS-1680 (1998) - 24bit 32/44.1/48kHz, 16tr(Rec8tr)

VS-2480 （2001） - 24bit 32/44.1/48/64/88.2/96kHz, 24tr(Rec8tr@64-96kHz 16tr@32-48khz)YAMAHA

AW Series (Professional Audio Workstation)

AW4416 （May 2000） - 24bit, 16tr, 44ch Mixer

AW2816 （July 2001） - 24bit, 16tr, 28ch Mixer

AW16G (July 2002) - 24bit, 16tr(Rec8tr), 36ch Mixer

AW1600 （2005） - 24bit, 16tr(Rec8tr), 36(input) Mixer

AW2400 （2005） - 24bit, 24tr(Rec16tr), 48(input) MixerZOOM

MRS Series (MultiTrak Recording Studio)

MRS-1608 - 16bit, 16tr（Rec8tr), 27ch Mixer（Effect, Rhythm, Sampler)

*Rec = Simultaneous recording tracks

Computer software

Ardour (Linux, Mac OS X)

Adobe Audition (Microsoft Windows)

Pro Tools (Mac OS, Microsoft Windows)

Cubase (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X)

Logic Pro and Express (Mac OS X)

Myth TV (Linux)