Tascam DP-004

The Tascam DP-004 has 2 ¼ microphone inputs and records in WAV format. You can record up to 2 tracks simultaneously but playback 4 at the same time. There are no effects on this console, it would have been nice to at least have some studio reverb of some sort just to add a little something to what you record. After you record you can then connect the DP-004 to your computer via USB to track out. It is very easy to get your recordings into your computer.
This console has 2 microphone preamps and they are pretty good. But there is no EQ on this console, with no effects and no EQ I say do not purchase it. You can almost get the upgraded version of it with 2 band EQ and effects for about the same price now.
This recorder takes the sound you record and puts it directly to an SD card. It only comes with a 1 GB SD card which probably will not be enough for anyone because I know it was not enough for me. If you want to get a 32 GB SD card it will cost a good amount of money. I wish when they sell the DP-004 they would just include the maxed out SD 32 GB card to save from having to go out and spend more money after you have bought this.
But with the DP-004 you can record anywhere because it takes AA batteries. But it does not come with a AC adaptor. You will have to buy the AC adapter separate which cost over 30 dollars. So by the time you buy a good SD card costing anywhere from 15 to 40 dollars, then you have to purchase the AC adapter; it is just too much extra money to be spent on a console that only cost 150 dollars. It really is not worth it.

So if you are looking to lay down the tracks to your new EP, this isn't the one for you. If you are looking to lay down tracks for some rough ideas and put some basic tracks together, this can be a very nice tool to begin to chart out song ideas or work on rhythm and lead concepts. The DP-004 Pocket studio is a great little unit and packed full of features that make it truly worth the money. It has two 1/4 inch inputs and two built in mics that are surprisingly great in the quality of the sound they record. There are levels for each of the inputs as well as a master volume. Each of the four tracks has a Pan and Level and they work just fine and do the job they are supposed to. You can bounce tracks, input tracks and save to CD format. Most importantly this unit is easy to use and understand and simply does what it's supposed to do. The design allows you to work with one hand while holding an instrument with the other. They definitely had the musician in mind when they built this. The menu and main selector dial is as easy as can be and lets you quickly get to recording and not having to refer to the manual twenty times. The manual while small is sufficient to get you going fast.

I was quickly able to import a backing track, lay down a solo and submit for a contest which was why I bought this in the first place. Yes there are more sophisticated things out there for that purpose such as Garage Band or Pro Tools, but for a relatively low cost, this can be the perfect tool for small projects. I love this thing and will continue to use it.

I'm not really an accomplished player or anything, but I like to record little dittys every now and then and needed something little for that purpose. I'm not in a band. I like country, rock, and top 40 or pop stuff. I read a book about songwriting a couple years ago and every since I've been playing around trying to get that one hook...

I bought this unit at a music store in a town down the road for about $200.

It's amazing the quality of the recordings. The sound is CD quality and it is so easy to use, it's click and start recording easy. There's a built in stereo mic, too, and has auto-punch, undo, some mixdown features, and a USB 2.0 port - which comes in handy when I want to dump things down to Cakewalk or whatever program I happen to be using at the time.

The track editing function takes a little getting used to, but I've experienced that with other models too so I don't know how much of a downer that is. Just something I need to learn to work with better.

Pretty solid. I feel like I could wind up and zing this thing from the mound down to the plate.

A little pricey, but a lot of technology is tied up in this tough little unit, so I think it's worth it.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

- Achet 4 months ago
- I was looking for a small enough powerful multitrack, autonomous, easy to use,
as close as possible to the use of an analog multitrack
without complicated software or internet.
- Premire acquisition of a digital machine after seeing operated portable recorders or Zoom Olympus.
- Cruel dsillusion: despite a nice and reassuring look, this thing is a nightmare.
Let him from if you do not have a computer DEA, forget it.
Designers are probably very comptents in their field, but
obviously they do not imagine for a second that the gear can be utilisbr /> by nophytes computer, and they probably never manipulbr /> a Portastudio or an analogue machine.

But even when I tried!
We must first find housing SD card behind the batteries and the festival begins with the management of the card, it is necessary to "partition"
2 parts without understanding despite what the manual was used.
Do not try not to know how much time you have,
it was not indicated anywhere.
We arrive listen to the demo to, but she did not learn much.

As record something, it's not sad.
Certainly there seems to be a lot of possibilities, but traveling through the menus,
an eye on the wheel and the other on the user manual,
Relve non prpar safari.

With patience, it happens when even choose the source,
and prrgler of levels.
But then you have to open a file, called a "load a song."
For me means load a song, so I want to save a!
This is probably the familiar vocabulary with digital habitus,
for me means nothing and no lexicon provided.
It's all match, it does nothing, even if the manual
resulting in a clean franais.

I obstinate I tent a record 2 guitars / vocals
with incorpors microphones: nothing or a net worth of its quasi inaudible.
For over a month I read the manual in every sense, do nothing.
And when I wanted dcourag return the vehicle to the seller, I obviously
surpassed the recovery DLAI.
So I have 200 plus the power supply that I use clipboard,
was expensive trinket.

So I can not rate an object that I can not use!

It would even when manufacturers deign some
set foot on land, by putting instead of customers.
Simple machines are asked simply to record music.
High technology should allow for recorders
more compact, better audio quality, more flexible employment.

The first two points seem achievements, but for versatility
everything is done, it is proposed that the technological fluff,
unfortunately.
I'm not nearly renew this kind of purchase, unless sellers
accept their techniques to train me for free.
Sorry but everyone does not have the opportunit to have followed the suitable courses,
or know someone who knows.

A word ...