The multitrack recording revolution began to pick up steam in the mid-1960’s, as musicians and studios sought to keep up with the latest technology. In the 1950’s, Ampex made a few custom 8-track machines (mostly notably for Les Paul and Atlantic Studios), but wide access to such tools didn’t happen until at least a decade later. In 1967, Ampex created a custom 16-track for Mirasound Studios in NYC, and debuted the first commercially available 2-inch 16-track machine (based on its MM-1100 transport) in 1968. 

Best known in audio circles as a tape manufacturer, the 3M company had launched the M23, the first commercially available 8-track in 1966 and had assembled a team of audio pros (Dale Manquen, Don Kahn, Jack Mullin and Jim Leatherman) to create its first 16-track. The prototype was unveiled at the New York AES Convention in October 1968, and was well-received, especially for its compact form factor — only 30-inches wide, about half the size of the competing Ampex recorder — which allowed it to be easily wheeled between different rooms in a multi-studio complex. That prototype eventually became the popular M56, and not only featured an advanced Isoloop audio tape transport that was gentle on tape, but contained its electronics on 64 circuit cards for easy servicing. Even today, more than 50 year later, many recording engineers still consider the M56 to be among the best-sounding multitrack recorders ever made.

Award Year
Created/Introduced Year
1968
Company
3M
Image
M56 16-Track Recorder