5 Comments to “Tascam DP-02 Digital Portastudio – 8 Track”

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1. Kit
   July 1, 2010 at 4:20 am | Permalink

   TASCAM’s DP-02 is the 8-track digital recorder that makes recording fun, ditching menus for simple knobs and faders. Based on more than 25 years of cassette Portastudios ™, it sports dedicated controls for level, pan, effects send and EQ instead of the menu-cursor interface found on most other recorders. Make music with two hands with the DP-02 – just reach and turn a knob when your creativity strikes.

   The DP-02 records up to 8 tracks to its built -in 40GB hard drive. A pair of CD-quality XLR microphone inputs include phantom power for condenser microphones and a direct guitar input. High and low EQ controls for level and frequency are provided for each channel. It also includes a multi-effects processor, stereo reverb, even a dedicated channel for recording stereo mix. You can transfer tracks and mixes to a computer via USB 2. 0, or burn a master disc in the CD. Also available is the DP-02CF, which records to Compact Flash media to make it easier than ever to afford a digital Portastudio.

   Not spend hours configuring a computer for recording when you can afford a simple box dedicated to recording music. No other workstation makes recording easier, convenient and fun as the TASCAM DP-02.

   For a more portable, check out the DP-008 battery Pocketstudio with microphones .

   Rating: 5 / 5

2. Andrew M. Bland
   July 1, 2010 at 4:39 am | Permalink

   I am a multi-instrumentalist who creates atmospheric soundscapes that blend electronic music with American folk instruments, woodwinds and percussion world. I am a strong supporter of * * the registration process of music (which I compare with kitchenette), as opposed to beats and mechanically generated tones (which I compare with microwave).

   ; After some ambivalence over the transition from analog to digital Portastudio, I decided to go with this 8-track to replace my cassette 4-track recording When electronic music. (I still use the machine for recording analog guitar-bass-drums material I then mix and master computer, but to acquire the most complete range of synths and drum machines-direct input, it is necessary to use a digital camera. )

   The DP-02, I have been more than impressed that you can combine digital and analog recordings on an album without differences in tonal quality becoming a distraction. < br />
   I agree with other reviewers that the machine is holding pretty well. I froze up once, and that was the end of a very long session (7 hours) in a summer afternoon in a sweltering attic study.

   I found only four major disadvantages of this machine:

   First, as my dynamic microphones worked like a charm with my car analogy, this model does not require a preamplifier to drive the acoustic instruments in the mix. (On the other hand, pre not help generate a sense of warmth that I miss from the analog recorder!) The DP-02 is very important to keep an ear on the input level (for both microphone and line in). When is too high it takes the sound of the internal hard drive, which has tarnished the records of some very good moments with a whistling sound spontaneous infarction (fortunately I was able to restore them using computer software, but it took some work and some clarity become numb). My advice, therefore, set the level lower entry and exit elbow on your instrument / amplifier and / or close-mic (just try to avoid clipping from its level preamp with volume, if necessary). I discovered that the * balance * in washing out during mixing / editing.

   Second, the DP-02’s EQ and effects are good (although in reality only the use of reverb – other effects tend to introduce the instrument / amp level), and hardware durability is excellent (I had this machine for about a year and has definitely stood the test of time). However, I found that the mix of board on this machine are muddy those performed by software. I find this disappointing because I would much prefer to use our hands to operate sliders and pots that sit before a computer screen by pointing and clicking on it. On the other hand, two advantages to make computer-mix are: (a) the difference between 0 and 1, between 1 and 1. 5, between 1. 5:02 and so on sledges volume DP-02 is remarkable, making it difficult to make fine adjustments without changing the whole mix, and (b) while the software has a “Cancel” button, an error during a mixing Stereo DP-02 and you must start over. All that said, I would say that the model SmartCard can be better than the CD model because it is $ 150 less!

   Thirdly, I like the fact that I can load each song track by track to a computer via USB cable and then mix / edit / master / burn to CD or upload to the Internet from there. However, the process of transferring computer takes a little ‘(between 5 and 25 minutes for a 2:30 song, depending on the number of tracks used and how waveforms are involved). Load can occur only one song at a time, and the USB cable must be disconnected between uploads. In turn, I can not set the DP-02 to load 80-10 songs at a time and then leave the machine running while I do something different for a while ‘. So bring a book during the transfer process.

   Fourthly, I agree with other reviewers that the manual is a mess. However, do not let that discourage you. The procedures are actually very simple, and I managed to get them all down after about two (or at most three) times around. (Meanwhile, just typing my step-by-step instruction set was a pretty good reminder when necessary.)

   Now for the positives. Besides those I mentioned above, I would say that the DP-02 is outstanding as a blank canvas. What goes in is what comes out – which is not something that I always say to recording equipment (digital or analog). It works very well with a $ 100 stereo receiver and some speakers for a good monitor system (eg no need for a mixture of fantasy set-up). And yet, it is very well built and should hold good for several years (assuming that cares for equipment).

   In general, for home recording I’d give this an A-. (By comparison, I give my old 4-track cassette Portastudio full, and my old TEAC 1970 reel to open a C +). Compare and preferences are always subjective, and not a device will ever receive a perfect score. But what the DP-02 is designed for, it gets the job done.
   Rating: 4 / 5

3. P. Verlee
   July 1, 2010 at 5:36 am | Permalink

   I bought this two weeks ago based on some mostly good reviews, but I lost the view to “not stop”. I recorded some songs (I am making all things a cappella) and although it was easy to learn and the sound was excellent, the unit tends to fall, at worst, with the infamous “not stopped” message. This has happened three times today. When you do not get the “stop” message, everything you’ve worked on is lost, gone, history, bye-bye. I’m sending back and get a Yamaha, we’ll see if this is better. Or maybe I just grit my teeth and learning ProTools.
   Rating: 1 / 5

4. Stuart Langrehr
   July 1, 2010 at 7:27 am | Permalink

   This is a great little recorder. Although it is limited to 2 tracks at a time, works great, sounds great and has all the built in effects you could want. The built in CD recorder makes it easy to master. Makes a lot of stuff so you need to read the manual, but is written clearly and will guide you through the steps to get things done.

   As usual, Amazon had the best price and fantastic delivery. I love anything to order from Amazon!
   Rating: 5 / 5

5. Troy J. Brandt
   July 1, 2010 at 9:21 am | Permalink

   Just got the Tascam DP-02 for Christmas from my wife. I just started playing with him last night and it looks like a solid little unit. And ‘more or less takes up most of the need for a computer to record. I have not really done much with advanced features, but after about an hour, I made a 3 song guitar track, mixed-master, and burned a CD.

   It ’s a bit ‘complicated outside the box. The manual did not really start to finish tutorial for dummies, so trial and error should suffice to use the manual as a reference. Probably not that hard if you used something like this before, but arming tracks and assign the input to a track record would first of all was a little ‘fun with the shift key functions at first. I had problems to record anything through the fourth “line mic in. Once I plugged a guitar worked well. I think I’ll use the XLR inputs for microphones, but these are better anyway.
   ;
   All in all it is a great little unit. I can not wait to jam session recording and live close to my PC. Super cool computer interface options. I give this device 5 stars. ‘ well built and fairly easy to use.
   Rating: 5 / 5

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