A modular digital recording system that records audio on digital audio tapes provides redundancy and the ability to record audio while listening to portions of audio that had been recorded on the DAT. The system uses a hard disc that receives audio for recording simultaneously with the DAT. When one wishes to listen to a voice message, one can activate the hard disc to listen to a particular message while the DAT is still recording. The system is modular so that the capacity can be expanded as required. The system includes a LAN adapter so that the system can providing networking access.