All user reviews for the Tascam DP-004

- 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 ...

2 years of heavy use
3 models tested, zoom and boss
I like almost compact
I do not like the screen
I love the sensitivity knobs
do 2 entries to retain 80% of manual
4 tracks, 8 if we reflect mono and stereo in several passes
input levels are intelligently adjustable
the boss was too complicated every day, except for acoustic sessions, and the zoom was made to journalists or geek
an external power supply is a good idea to use a home studio, even if the connection is in a rare format.
I recommend to anyone who wants to start recording 2 minutes settings stopwatch in hand

+ Or anti-shock, do not play sports with either, it's not a player!
the screen is two colors, black and green, we would have preferred blue or white on black, good we made it
All components are of very good qualities, ca is the main reason for my purchase and I think here after 2 years.

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 am a sound engineer by trade, so I was pleasantly surprised by the interface and the simplicity of the device I bought to work and fix some ideas for music during my vacation.
I have not taken the time to flip the record, because I like the machines that allow intuitive to register without having to take the lead on the technical side. So I can not judge the clarity of it.
However, registration is simple to perform and the tool is quite logical.
I spent a few hours to experiment before you begin to work more seriously.
Unfortunately, after some manipulations, the record button has started to become unresponsive only half the time. Then after a few hours more, the button to validate an action has in turn passed away, followed in the wake by the person who can switch from one line to another menu.
My DP-004, then became completely unusable, has ended up in the trash.
However, the sound seemed to fit ...
Without this reliability problem, the DP-004 would probably be a very. One mobile device, but even below € 200, tascam could have made an effort on the quality of components used. Miniaturization does not justify everything ...
Shelf life: 4 days.
I bought 4 carried in the early 90's still standing ...

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

Bought yesterday (May 12, 2009 on Playback) and APRS have seen some vidos on youtube and other sites, I am absolutely amazed!
Trs simplicity and good sound quality rgonomie!

I hsit with Boss Micro BR as it silent in the same price and with a lot of option (Cosm effects, bite rate etc ...) but APRS certainly seen some videos I prfr convincing simplicity of the Tascam. The Boss was a bit cheap and not solid trs.

In addition it is IDAL to record the ides flies with its two Intgr microphones (Audio Technica) ... it's stunning! Then nothing prevents you to send your tracks and then a one on your pc / mac to edit and insrer effects.

The manual is clear ... but for my part I do not do not need too ... it's super intuitive.

Listen to audio stand the tests of the English effectus with internal microphones!

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=935364

and read the opinion ...
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=281855
199 I would do to clear this choice!
The bad thing is the optional power supply 29 Euros
if battery life lasts 8 hours

I use it for one month

the +

The establishment of pieces is quick despite the sub-menus
we appreciate the wheel.
Internal microphones are acceptable trs.

The quality of the sound t CRITERIA Determines purchasing.
No blows my ear

I'm not all deep into the "micro-editing", I think
buy this recorder esprant enter the dtails is nonsense
However, this does not seem insurmountable with patience.

Minimalism and economy of 4pistes (even digital) tend to make more direct
and cratif: you get lost in the least opportunity.

The -

Your exact in-house is in good dmo; things
getting richer in return with the computer.
It is a great BMOL: The computer is indispensable in my opinion.
The audio output minijack is :-(

No EQ

No import stereo tracks: one has to make a version 2xmono

Batteries dpannent recorder but the house stays on several hours
So the PSU is a must

No effects

I always had ordis mac / pc and the hardware has the advantage of being more direct
but also more limited.
It lacks an EQ section, avoid the effects are on most products
of quality so we quickly made the mourning.

The simple ratio qualitprix me that I am the right choice.

Hello,
I agree with most previous opinions: good machine for a 4 track portable base. Good ergonomics, good sound, perfect for short "note" / composite record their ideas or arrangement without using a computer.

But I also agree with Zeeton, with some nuances: the current firmware (1.3 I am not yet gone to 1.4) is extremely slow for everything conversion. And we must do it often ...
It is not communicating with the PC is at stake, it is the slow machine itself, or its firmware (?).

The machine will format the SD card into 2 partitions, one owner, and FAT32. Now all records (4 tracks, bounce and master included) are in the partition owner in a proprietary format.
To start we must first make a "conversion" to switch to 4 stereo master track. In real time but a priori this is normal since we want to mix live. I still wish I had the opportunity to make a quick mixdown ...

But before you can access to the slopes is either broken stereo master from a PC, you must convert them into wav files by transferring them to the FAT 32 partition.
But this conversion is almost in real time! and there is no excuse for cons ...
To summarize: it is a model of 4-track 6 minutes.
must be at least 6 minutes to let a master manip + 6 minutes to convert the master wav. Renaming files at each stage as it does not retrieve the name of the original song ... More transfer to pc. In short almost half an hour a piece of manipulation in order to share the song with other musicians ...

It's ok when it's really about model components, but if it is completely disproportionate to record rehearsals for re-listening.
We can perhaps hope that this defect is reviewed on a future firmware, but until it is quite irritating.

In conclusion, it is indeed a good mini 4-track work for composer / arranger who has time, but not a mini recorder to capture rehearsals and concert.

Purchased in July 2011, having just trashed his older brother,
DP-02 is literally fell into ruin! I restored a chance to this brand.
I wanted a recorder with no effects and battery included.
The two microphones are quite correct, the transfer to a PC is fast on my own and
importantly, the overall volume mixes I get is very honest, much higher than on my former DP-02.
Everything sounds perfectly including a bass guitar, which was not the case on my Zoom H4 for example.
I recommend it.

I had a boss micro BR then a Zoom H4

My need is to record acoustic guitar in two tracks (melody + accompaniment) so the + simple as possible without having to plug in a microphone.

The tascam responds very well to this need, the internal mics are good, the ergonomics are very good, no sub menus never end thus saving time.

The Micro BR was nice but not enough ergonomic microphone
Zoom was a good mic but bad ergonomics, function 4 tracks was tedious to use.

The tascam is in short the best compromise for my use, fun training of folk guitar (Larrivee L05)
In summary:
- + Sound quality and that proper decision-making without his head orientation of the microphones
- Despite its size super ease of use with functional buttons, large button per function
- Value for money very correct

I use it for 2 months, and this is my first recorder. I use it to record classical music in several voices.

the +

Grip very intuitive and fast.

His very correct: the defects are due to my lack of experience in the field of sound recording.

The mixing is very easy to do, knowing that I do not retouch my tracks (no post processing sound).

Export to WAV is convenient for those who want to tweak the sounds behind.

The -

No internal audio output: you need a headphone (and therefore more of a thread!)

Cell Autonomy is not terrible so I bought the external power supply, indispensablme! Too bad it is not sold with the device!

Excellent value for money. Lightweight, ideal for testing the musical compositions for several voices, etc.. The dream for me.