Sony PCM-F1

The Sony PCM-F1 was a digital audio processing device which featured PCM technology, typically used for stereo digital mastering in the early 80s.

Stewart Copeland owned a Sony PCM-F1, which he bought for his Worried Rabbit studio in 1983 for around £800. To him, it was a cheaper alternative to an Ampex 2-track tape machine to do mastering on. He mixed down most of the Rumblefish soundtrack with the F1.

The PCM-F1 came in handy for Stewart while making the Rhythmatist album; he sampled various sounds with the F1 on his travels in Africa, which on a later date he transferred onto the Fairlight CMI sampling synthesizer for further manipulation.