All user reviews for the Tascam Pocket Studio 5

I was looking for a "beginners" digital recorder at a relatively low price. As a songwriter, I do basic home demos, nothing very complicated, and I wanted something I could record on quickly but with a reasonable amount of quality. I did some research online and the PocketStudio5 seemed to have some good features. I bought this recording unit at Guitar Center in Minneapolis and paid $400.

I think the price is reasonable. I like the fact that it is easy to send mixed MP3 versions of your recorded songs to a computer.

This recorder was very difficult to figure out and use. The instruction manual left me confused in many cases. I was able to get helpful tips from the Tascam forums, but even with that help, I struggled to do even the most basic recording on this unit. The menu-driven operating system was too complicated. The display screen on the unit is hard to read. After two weeks of working with it and getting very little actual recording done, I traded it in for a cassette four-track recorder.

This was another letdown. The unit looks good, but is made mostly of plastic, and things like the faders seem very cheap and not sturdy.

I have much more experience with analog recording than with digital, so perhaps for some more technically-minded musicians, this will be a recorder they can work with. I know many people at the Tascam forums seemed happy with the PocketStudio5. But if you are new to digital recording and expect a recorder to be intuitive and easy to operate, I would recommend looking elsewhere.

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

I use it since the purchase date. I use it just now
I have not tried any other digital recorder.
Likes: The portability, versatility, style arranger is excellent, ease of programming of a song and the ability to record over. The sounds of generators without its correct. The brass of course send the funk styles. It is a small MIDI expander with nice audio and more.
I do not like: the management of different types of files on the card not obvious: mp3, smf, playlists ... You can not save changes to program sounds, volumes, effects, occurring as midi file (must go through the PC). You can not save the south.
It is a pity we can not import new styles (well not to my knowledge).
With experience, you do again this choice?
Yes probably, but I would look at lending to small sequencers Yamaha SY. I think they have an audio input. Most powerful noon, but they record the audio? No idea
Value for money: it's an old product, difficult to assess today.

Multitrack recorder numrique compact
Record four tracks of audio-numriques CompactFlash
Module synthtiseur internal playback MIDI files squence
100 styles of songs with the possibility of rearrangement to CRER original music
Over 100 Intgr effects, high quality for voice, guitars and other instruments
edition Audio / MIDI: copy / paste with bars / beats, bounce tracks, automate punch-in/out
USB port for interfacing your music with Mac and Windows
Mixdown to MP3 format to post your music on websites or sent by electronic mail a friend
Playing MP3 audio files
Condenser microphone and headset
32MB CompactFlash card intgre
Up to two hours of autonomy guaranteed by two standard AA size batteries
AC power supply also included.

The Tascam Pocketstudio 5 includes 100 standard MIDI files, which allow the user to quickly be able to interview the potential of the recorder, to an instrument on the soundtrack incorporated. In addition, the Pocketstudio 5 allows users to CRER new compositions through these files, to the extent that each contains six musical scores for the standard Fast Fashion songs (Intro, Verse 1, Verse 2, Fill 1, Fill 2 and End) with the possibility of rearrangement. Its internal module synthtiseur allows high quality playback of any squence in the standard file format MIDI.

The Pocketstudio 5 also offers the possibility of mixing CRER final Stereo MP3 format that can be sent to personal computers through its USB port intermdiaire then be post on websites and electronic mail sent by friends and collgues. Likewise, thanks these features, the 5 can also Pocketstudio be used as an MP3 player.
Numrique as a recorder, it excute aisment editing functions such as select automatic entry / exit registration "Auto punch in / out", the 'edition of audio and MIDI tracks with copy / paste "Copy / Paste", using the measures and beats "bars-and-beats" and the bounce track "Track bouncing".
The Pocketstudio 5 is a portable recording solution vritable numrique, thanks its compact and run-time of two hours, guaranteed by AA-size alkaline batteries standard. It is also a quip AC power supply, a 32MB CompactFlash card and a headset in its complment Intgr condenser microphone.

For € 749 (ie 4913.12 FF) you have good quality and multiple functions that I put 2 Demos available.
Now it's my opinion ...
But above all Do not hesitate to ask me the DMOS, because I would not you buy before they have heard.
Because if you buy it and you of your, I do not want to be responsible.

Previous reviews see

Trs is easy to use, the machine until large enough, it's quite enjoyable to use more than the screen, large enough, can be rtro light .

I think that sounds good MIDI are trs trs. The numerous effects for guitars (electric and acoustic), bass and vocals are excellent! For the record, so it is the numrique plutt good I think.

I never expected to find a device with many features! Frankly it's amazing. I use it as karaoke with midi files, to improve my guitar playing with backing tracks for recording quality of both sr small models ... I dj said, but I find the effects really excellent, so much so that I sold the multi-effects pedals I had before!
And then the report is excellent quality price!

For specific characteristics, see a different view ...
This is the studio handheld that does everything! It's simple, since I separated I do more!
Okay we can only record two tracks simultaneously, but it allows a smaller footprint! And what a joy the USB ...
The recording is in mp3, you can read mp3, midi files, patterns can be programmed easily and are very useful when you want to register a component quickly, but not "alone"
Comes with a combined headset is very light, it can help, like the microphone ...
The editing functions are also very well designed, with the auto-show punch
What did I forget ... ? Oh yeah There's a possibility to add effect to the recording, the effects being arranged by category (guitar, bass, vocals, percussion) with a parameter modified by effect (sic) which unfortunately does not know the name. .. Otherwise you can equalize each track, do your pan and use a reverb module (configurable, he, and not too bad bill).
Ah yes, a word about the media: CompactFlash cards are, I advise you to buy directly from 128MB, just to be quiet (40 € at the moment), even if we can save card 32MB provided. You can record two tracks on 1:15 smoothly on a 128 MB, for cons after there is only twenty MB to the mix (so about 20 minutes).

While there, super simple ... There's just plug
No, no joke, assignment of tracks, recording, auto-punch, mix, effects, programming patterns and more ... the user manual is very well done ... no problem!
I love his side mat, I use it to record rehearsals, to the compound (model), to interview people on the street ... I even recorded a concert on the radio by connecting to the headphone output of my chain (well no, I have no output to ...) ... and then this summer we will keep memories of the tour, I guarantee it! I also registered on the wire the intervention of an author in a library with built-in microphone, well it was not bad at all!
Oh, one annoying thing, however: in the manual they say that the recording is in mp3 format, but in fact when you look in the folder of your song on your PC, well There's a huge file, but c is not the mp3 ... and there's no way to read, so the only way is to first perform a mix of the pocket before transferring.
And then on the USB, I had a scare when I connected the first time because it did not work! Then I tried on other machines and there ... phew! So I added the USB ports on my bike and since it rolled nickel!
However, deleting files from the PC is not recommended, it happened to me several times to see that the change had not really been effective in the pocket and suddenly I had to reformat the card with the pocket ... after data transfer history to lose nothing
Otherwise the site is super Tascam succinct but there are all, we are already at version 2.04 of system functions including copy and paste and a more advanced list management mp3. And if you ever format your card, you lost the CD and you have no way of finding patterns (to be done, anyway!) ... Well they are on the site!
A little something I like when I perform comprises: the display in action rather than time ... but to each his own
Ah, a little regret (and which prevents it from being perfect!), Not the circuit! So, have to save the effect (MPX1) on another track and then mix it all ... Finally, it is to the layout, so ...
If you do a lot of operations, be sure to go to the menu card -> Optimize, you will regain the MB in no time!
And then I look forward to a new version of the system (who knows, maybe we can create more than 9 songs on the same card, and play cards> 128MB, other effects ... I see it as improvements ...)

Ah, this is a case that it is not easy to fill when you have no experience ....
All I can say is that I like! It does not feel too much compression, the effects are not top but can help, even if in principle I do not like too record with an effect (well above the voice), the parametric EQ is limited but you can still catch some things ... about the reverb ... Well is not that bad! A good set, it goes not too bad, it's worth the MPX1, but frankly, surprise!
No breath (ah ... digital) but cracking if we do not abuse or compressor input (digital ah!)
I put a score of 7 because I am not an expert, so it's not because I like that I'll put 10 ...

Well here it will be almost two months I have (after many months of waiting, but that's another story ...) and it follows me everywhere!
I will redeem it because I already have one but there's a buddy what cracking up, for all: the next portable, quality, flexibility ... makes it ideal for work at home and transfer of ideas by mail (even by reducing the quality of the mp3), to save a bit of everything (rehearsals, concerts, interviews) proper course of two tracks simultaneously maxi ...
I admit, I have not tried to compare, I relied on the features. We just € 500 new, it's a good price.
If you want smaller, cheaper and Zoom There's company, but one advice: think about the USB, because it fills up fast card!
For me it is a good compromise between the handheld side and the possibility of still making models.
It does not have virtual tracks, but I do not know if I would have been useful (for me it's good or not, or punch, so ...) and worse is something to eat you the map in no time at that!
Otherwise, agree with the previous opinion autonomy issue is a bit light, but I use it almost always AC ... Finally, it would not hurt that the food 6 batteries (all the same!) a little more slowly ...
Promised, if I have a problem, I go back a little critical of my "toy" ...

I PS5 for a week, look super good ergonomics function keys,
a catch all the same it is not really "pockect" or so with pockets size handbag
I am in version 2.07
For the price, I am the last lucky to buy a "NEW" 338 euros (yes) on the website playback
I took jai for the seriousness of tascam even if the Korg PXR4 must be a lot less features
I needed a machine to fix the ideas for a steal ... it's great even compared to a MD!
The value for money (or the price I got 338 E) is amazing I would not have bought 610 euros (Home studio)
There's still a big catch (for me) you can not edit their own patterns of drums
and those that are not refile tascam terrible and nobody talks about
same for the bass ... can be in a future update
but hey I will take it even when
I takes only seven to be serious as to make it a model is frustrating because of the lack of flexibility of the edition!

2 entries jack, a mini jack, 1 MIDI
headphone and line out usb
registration is on compact flash support up to 128 MB
and unlike what is often said in a proprietary format tascam
only the mixdown is in mp3!
4 tracks reading and recording 2 (stereo)
MIDI File playback is cool thanks to the exellent GM module (for the price of course)
Mine is version 2.07
Big catch (I think) you can not MAKE DRUM PATTERN
or low in fact we should reuse internal preset bank
on the other hand can create a chord keyboard
I have a bcp deu!
a score of 7 instead of 10 if I'd had a drum edit y'avais
know but can be in a future update

The ergonomics of the function keys returns quickly in fact that the beast
I wanted to record the ideas I am not volle deu
I almost have a MD recorder and saw the price I pay nine (I keep it in the end)
I'll be smothered ..
functions have missed are fully explained in the doc
I was able to record my first drafts after 15 minutes of trial and error!
really only the lack of drum patterns edition I manqubr /> So I use the metronome ...
9 yet because of the non edtion of drums and bass pattern

ps I read that there was a lighting retro ben j'lai not trouvbr /> if anyone knows how to put a post

So I used the MD (sharp) from my singer
the sound of the tascam is worse, requiring 44.1
but frankly I'm bluffing with the same quality when
effects for guitars are more than enough to put any kind
idea to create the sounds of the tone generator (GM module)
are really cool ... more I work the more I discovered with the sounds used
the dynamics are good
the general effects for voice were very well on this side really nothing wrong.
thanks to the guitar effects I will work my MIDI File satriani on vacation
the dream I had not planned .. I'm gonna use this to deprive myself
10 because everything is perfect in its exellent general equilibrium
I will not compare a studio with a pocket station direct to disk upscale
(I creamware pulsar 2)

I PS5 for a week, look super good ergonomics function keys,
a catch all the same it is not really "pocket", or else with pockets size handbag
I really do AIM we can not create your own drum pattern

For the price I am the last lucky to buy a "NEW" 338 euros (yes) on the site playback.fr
I took the last promo ....

I took jai for the seriousness of tascam even if the Korg PXR4 must be a lot less features
but a more reasonable size

really think the size of the object to a handheld application
it is not so small that even if I plan to have me carry around everywhere

Cootra

See http://www.tascam.com

Trs simple configuration ... not too many buttons, just enough, ergonomics really nickel for a small device like this in the manual is the most direct trs (a quick start and a manual on CD-rom or online to return to the dtails) ...

Level sound is cool, the voice ... Guitar Effects the effects are slightly lower LGERS ...
I do not like the sound patterns ... So ... I put "off" and I use rhythm box ... (Sounds of the batteries are cool, but it is not anything special ... it's going ...)
I have not yet understood why they put a reverb gnrale .... I do not see the diffrence ... So ... Whereas I only mix ... the effects are "blah" ...
but ... it's going .... during recording, the effects are terrible ... So ... Against Ca-balance.

... it's terrible ... no regrets ... really .... (In addition, one can do interviews thanks to micro Intgr), ... Finally .... honntement ... must not hsiter .... if you have some money too and no gear to record (and you your beginners like me) go for it! this is the best machine on the market (in numrique 4 tracks) ... I compared a lot of machine via the forums ... and frankly, this is the best I think ... but Obviously, it's still a four-track ... must not ask the rsultats the SX1 ... O)