Building a little Atari MIDI recording studio
Posted: 28 Sep 2026 20:55
Hi everyone,
I thought I'd start a thread documenting my latest project, turning our tiny spare room (1.5m x 4m), previously a dumping ground for guitars, amps and assorted junk, into a little Atari based recording room.
The plan is to build a late 80s/early 90s style setup centered around an Atari 520STE running Logic, synchronized to a Tascam 424 cassette four-track.
I've been digging out my old equipment as well as acquiring some new bits for the project, including an Akai AX73 (originally my brother's from 1987), E-mu Proteus 1/XR, Boss DR-660, Fostex 2016 mixer and various rack effects. I'm also on the hunt for an Akai S950 sampler.
The Atari now has 4MB RAM, an UltraSatan, Gotek, Logic dongle and Unitor II.
Here are a few photos showing what I've started with and the room after clearing everything out.
Most of the equipment has now arrived, and I'm about to tackle the wiring, shelving and putting it all together.
The idea is to have a fully functioning little studio room where I can make music without relying on a modern computer. I'll post updates and more photos as things progress.
Cheers,
I'll keep adding photographs and updates as the project progresses. I'm sure I'll run into plenty of technical problems along the way, particularly once I start getting everything synchronized.
Hopefully some of you will find the project interesting, and I'd certainly welcome any suggestions from anyone who's still making music with an Atari.
Cheers,
I thought I'd start a thread documenting my latest project, turning our tiny spare room (1.5m x 4m), previously a dumping ground for guitars, amps and assorted junk, into a little Atari based recording room.
The plan is to build a late 80s/early 90s style setup centered around an Atari 520STE running Logic, synchronized to a Tascam 424 cassette four-track.
I've been digging out my old equipment as well as acquiring some new bits for the project, including an Akai AX73 (originally my brother's from 1987), E-mu Proteus 1/XR, Boss DR-660, Fostex 2016 mixer and various rack effects. I'm also on the hunt for an Akai S950 sampler.
The Atari now has 4MB RAM, an UltraSatan, Gotek, Logic dongle and Unitor II.
Here are a few photos showing what I've started with and the room after clearing everything out.
- IMG_3616.jpeg (200.05 KiB) Viewed 32 times
- IMG_3834.jpeg (172.28 KiB) Viewed 32 times
- IMG_3830.jpeg (186.16 KiB) Viewed 32 times
Most of the equipment has now arrived, and I'm about to tackle the wiring, shelving and putting it all together.
The idea is to have a fully functioning little studio room where I can make music without relying on a modern computer. I'll post updates and more photos as things progress.
Cheers,
I'll keep adding photographs and updates as the project progresses. I'm sure I'll run into plenty of technical problems along the way, particularly once I start getting everything synchronized.
Hopefully some of you will find the project interesting, and I'd certainly welcome any suggestions from anyone who's still making music with an Atari.
Cheers,