Tascam GTR1 Portable Digital Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought mine from Streamline Audio Video via Amazon. Great price, free shipping and came quickly.
Hard to believe it's so hard to find a review for such a great product. It's very intuitive. File management is drag and drop. Hooks up to USB and charges from computer or optional power supply. Lasts a long time on a charge. Holds lots of songs. (read the specs for data) The looping and slow down features are great for practicing. Just push a button right on the front for start and stop points and another to loop. Slowing down without changing the pitch is one button push. Push it again to return to normal speed. I use it mostly for practicing drums since I don't have tabs for that. I have used it with guitar too. I think looping and slow down are the best features. The drum machine effects sound good and have a nice variety of beats but I haven't spent much time with that. Used it to record some ideas with the band live and was amazed at how good the levels were with no mixing or fiddling around. Emailed the song to the rest of the guys and they were impressed with it too - one take - live.
I have also used it to move some cassette tapes to MP3 format and it works fantastic for that too. A nice bonus. I bought the optional power supply too for around $20 - it is high quality.
I love this thing. My playing has improved quite a bit since it's arrival.
Hope this helps you as I could find very little info when I was looking.

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Plug your guitar into Tascam's GTR1 portable recorder and lay down tracks wherever the inspiration hits. Combining a portable recorder with an instrument trainer for the ultimate songwriter's toolkit, the GTR1 provides the choice of using the built-in stereo condenser microphones or plugging in your guitar or bass to record using the amp simulator, reverb and multi-effects.
The built-in rhythm machine sets the groove when beginning your song, and the overdub mode allows you to build a song step-by-step. There's also a low cut filter and analog limiter to keep levels under control, whether you're improvising in the studio or recording rehearsals or concerts.
The GTR1 records in MP3 or WAV format, 16-bit or 24-bit, and it comes with a 1 GB Secure Digital (SD) memory card to get you started. You can also charge the recorder and copy your recordings to your PC (Mac OS or Windows) via the USB port.
For training and practice, load MP3 files into the GTR1 and plug in to play along. Loop a section of a solo with two button presses, then slow it down without changing the pitch. You can even switch on a Guitar or Bass canceller to play along with the original rhythm section. The GT-R1 also includes a chromatic tuner and metronome for practice and warmup.

Key Features
Portable stereo recording with built-in condenser microphones
MP3 or WAV file recording, up to 48kHz/24-bit
1/4-inch Instrument input for Guitar or Bass
Amp simulation, reverb and multi-effects
Over 80 rhythm tracks in a variety of styles
Overdub function allows users to record over an existing track
Powered microphone input
Low cut filter and analog limiter on input
Loop and change the speed of music playback without changing the pitch to learn and transcribe new music
Guitar and Bass canceller allows musicians to play along
Includes 1GB SD Card and rechargeable battery
USB 2.0 Connection to computer for file transfer and charging
Optional AK-DR1 includes a tabletop stand, microphone clip and windscreen

Specifications
GUITAR IN input
Jack: 1/4-inch, mono, unbalanced
Input impedance: 1 MΩ or more
Nominal input level: -26 dBV
Maximum input level: -10 dBV

MIC IN input
Jack: 3.5-mm stereo phone (with plug-in power)
Input impedance: 30 kΩ
Nominal input level: -64 dBV (GAIN set to HIGH); -48 dBV (GAIN set to MID); -32 dBV (GAIN set to LOW)
Maximum input level: -48 dBV (GAIN set to HIGH); -32 dBV (GAIN set to MID); -16 dBV (GAIN set to LOW)

LINE IN input
Jack: 3.5-mm phone (stereo)
Input: impedance 23 kΩ
Nominal input level: -10 dBV
Maximum input level: +6 dBV

Audio file compatibility
MP3 files: 32–320 kbps; 44.1/48 kHz sampling frequency; VBR (playback only); ID3 tag support up to Ver 2.4
WAV files: 44.1/48 kHz sampling frequency; 16/24-bit rate
Recording medium: SD card (64 MB–2 GB) or SDHC card (4–32 GB)
File system: FAT16/32

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Tascam DP-02 Digital Portastudio - 8 Track Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an outstanding system for demo recording and I am sure it would also be useful for live recordings with some added components.
After much research, I purchased the Tascam DP02 Portastudio instead of the Boss BR900CD. I had previously used the BR900 with much success and had my mind set on it for quiet some time. I kept my options open and the DP02 seemed to be the most comparable system. Despite some reviews stating the DP02 did not allow you to hear the effects while recording, I decided on it due to the on-board high, low, and reverb adjustment options. (I did not want to transfer to a computer for mastering) I was going to add an effects processor and pre-amp for the mic, but found all effects do play through recording.
The system has a lot of built in guitar (acoustic and electric), drum, bass, and vocal effects. It took me only a few hours to record several tracks, master them, and burn them to disk. Only being able to record to 2 tracks at once is a small drawback, but if you are doing all of your own recording shouldn't be a problem.
READ THE MANUAL!
Although it is not the easiest to follow page to page, if you know how to find what your looking for it's in the manual. For those of you that want to sit down, push record, and be on your way, you may want to look for a simpler system. Once you get it down, the DP02 is quite easy to use, but not something you can just turn on and go without some instruction. The trickiest part would would be mastering, but it is by no means difficult if you follow the directions.
All around this is a great system for a home studio and possibly more.
P.S. Thanks to Amazon for having the lowest price, and quick delivery.Just a quick update. May 29, 2010. I have put many hours onto this Portastudio and can say it has absolutely been worth it. The volume on the final track can be a little tricky, but nothing some time and patience cannot overcome. It has not given me any trouble and has never locked up as some people have said. Great piece of equipment for a very fair price.

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With a classic, well-known interface that's easy to pick up by new users, the 8-track Tascam DP-02 Digital Portastudio sports dedicated controls for level, pan, effects send and EQ instead of the menu-cursor interface found on most other recorders. You can make music with two hands with the DP-02--just reach and twist a knob when your creativity strikes. The DP-02 records to a 40 GB hard drive, and it includes a multi-effect processor, stereo reverb and CD burner for CD masters and song backup.
A pair of CD-quality XLR mic inputs includes phantom power for condenser mics and a direct guitar input. High and low EQ controls for level and frequency are provided for every channel. It also includes a multi-effects processor, stereo reverb, even a dedicated stereo channel for recording your mix. You can transfer tracks and mixes to a computer using USB 2.0, or burn a master disc in the CD drive.

Key Features
Two XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones
Eight-track recording at uncompressed 44.1k/16-bit audio quality
Portastudio-based interface with volume fader, pan, effect send, high and low EQ controls per channel
EQ frequency button to access high and low EQ shelf frequencies
USB 2.0 interface for transferring tracks, mixes and backup files to a computer
Dedicated stereo master track for mixdown
Internal metronome and bar/beat display for song position
Headphone output
Stereo line outputs on RCA analog and S/PDIF optical digital connectors
40GB internal hard drive
Multi-effects processor with guitar, bass, vocal and drum programs
Stereo reverb processor with send/return controls for multichannel mixing
Built-in chromatic tuner
Built -in CD-RW burner for CD mastering and song backup

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TASCAM DP-008 8-Track Digital Portastudio Review

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(More customer reviews)After wanting a digital multi-track for a long time, I finally decided on this model, and I'm glad I did.
One thing that is not included in a list of specs is the usability factor. I've purchased my share of electronic devices for making and recording music over the years. Just looking at a dry list of specs has often been my method of deciding on what to buy. Well, on paper the DP-008 looks good, but it's not until you use this to cut a few tracks that you realize how well it is designed. I'm SOOOO glad I didn't buy the DP-004, as this model is clearly the results of Tascam eliminating the weaker aspects of the 4 track model just in time for the 8 track version.
I have seen a lot of digital multi-tracks that look good on paper, but to use them is a real pain. The fact that the DP-008 has all the individual track knobs means that you don't have to go flipping through pages on a menu or choosing the "hot track" in some other way. Here it's all laid out logically and makes tweaking the final stereo mix a piece of cake. Sure it would be nice if there were level sliders rather than dials, but these work just fine.
I use this model to record myself playing guitar and bass, run a Boss drum machine into it, and I record vocals with an external mic though a small mixer that has some helpful effects on it. You don't need a mixer, though, as the included mics are quite good. I am able to record several tracks, "bounce" them if I want to, and then write them to a stereo master mix. Then, I export that mix on the unit itself (sounds weird, but basically you're just creating a wav file that can be seen by a computer). The final step is connecting the DP-008 to a computer and merely dragging the song files over to the computer. I then use Audacity to convert it to an ogg file or mp3.
I use Linux and the process of transferring songs to the computer is very simple. In the past you would have received a useless cd-rom with a crappy "song transfer" program and maybe some crapware to go along with it. I'm glad that Tascam has decided to treat the customer right and state it clearly: There is no need for special software. Once you export the song, it will show up as an external storage device and you can simply transfer the files over to your computer, whether it's a PC running Windows or Linux, or a Mac.

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Boss Micro BR Digital Multitrack Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been looking for a device that would allow me to multi-track record with the utmost convenience. I have used my computer with a USB sound card to record in the past. I have found it takes me up to ten minutes to set up to begin recording with the sound card. And then, I get bogged down by the numerous options in the recording software. By the time I'm done, I've missed an evening to spend with my wife, and the inspiration to record in the first place has been encumbered by the technology.
My needs are simple. I'm just recording classical guitar solo, duet, and ensemble, but I want a reasonably nice recording. I want set up to be fast. The Micro BR meets these needs.
The Micro BR has four input types for recording: guitar, built in mic, stereo line in, and stereo external condenser mic (with 2.5 V plug-in power). The sensitivity of each input can be adjusted to match a wide variety of equipment. Insertion effects can be added during recording, when bouncing tracks, or when mastering down to a stereo recording. There is a wide variety of preset insertion effects. You can also add reverb to the monitored sound, or to the recording of bounced tracks or mastered tracks. You can play back four tracks at once and record two tracks at once. Each track supports eight "virtual" tracks. These are really just alternative choices to use for a track. You can edit tracks by moving sections of sound, copying sections of sound, or erasing sections of sound. You can also set punch-in and punch-out points for fixing small mistakes. When recording in "normal" mode, you have three choices of formats which are Boss proprietary. In MP3 mode, you can record stereo 64, 128, and 192 kbps MP3 or WAV. In MP3 mode, you do not have the multi-track capabilities nor can you use reverb effects. When doing multi-track recording, after you have mastered down to stereo, you can export to MP3 64, 128, 192, or WAV formats. You can then hook up the device to your computer via USB and copy your production. You can also back up song data to your computer for all the virtual tracks, song patches, and other settings to be recovered at a latter time. The device also is a powerful guitar modeler. There is 80 guitar preset insertion effects. I have not used these guitar effects.
I am very pleased with this little device. Recording quality is really good. Sampling rate is 44,100. AD and DA conversion is 24 bits. Stored recordings have 16 bit samples. Noise on the external mic input could be better, but it is better than any sound card I've used. I have also found the built in mic to be pretty good. It lacks some bass presence, but I've found I can compensate for that on the mix down with the equalizer and boosting the low frequencies. The noise on the built in mic is very clean. I have not noticed any latency problems. One thing I really love about this device is that it is completely silent. Before, I had to move away from my computer to avoid fan noise. This made for awkward ergonomics of playing and controlling the computer. Battery consumption is high. I would recommend rechargeable batteries or purchase the separate DC adaptor. I would also recommend a larger SD card. The 128 MB one provided is good for a few songs. When using multiple tracks, including mastered tracks and copying to MP3, memory goes fast.
This may seem extreme, but this one device has obsoleted my previous hardware and software. I've packed away my minidisk recorder, my USB Audigy 2 NX, and uninstalled Cakewalk Home Studio. I can do everything I need on this one little powerful device that fits in your shirt pocket. If I want to get audio into my computer, I can capture it with this device where ever I want and just use the USB to copy it on my computer digitally. I have also found the Micro BR is great for recording audio of family events. When doing this, I just record in MP3 mode since I really don't need to mix. But while recording in MP3 mode, I have figured out how to apply processing in-line with the recording. I added a limiter to remove clipping and set the 3 band compressor to take out very low frequencies which can distract a recording where you are trying to capture voice. I just use the built in mic which works great for this purpose. The entire family recording setup fits in my shirt pocket. The Micro BR rocks.Review Update
3/2/2009
I still love this thing. Micro BR still rocks. But if I could change a few things, given my recording goals, it would be these things:
1) Have mute for tracks. Lowering the volume to 0 is a pain.
2) When recording from guitar and built in mic simultaneously, be able to put guitar on one track, and mic on another. This seems to be a simple oversight by Boss.
3) A Bass Cut effect to kill very low frequencies. This might be a bit out of the price range for the Micro BR, but it would be nice.
4) Be able to apply more than one guitar effects from compressor, chorus, flanger, phaser, and tremolo/pan. When you edit the COSM GTR AMP effects algorithm, you have to choose the FX type between compressor, chorus, flanger, phaser, and tremolo/pan. You can only pick one type. You can effectively combine them by bouncing one effect after another, but this takes extra time. Again, this wish is probably outside of the Micro BR price range.
5) Have a bass guitar modeler. This is available on the BR-600, the next model up. It allows you to play bass guitar using a regular guitar. Again, this wish is probably outside of the Micro BR price range.
6) Have some 3/4 time signature drum patterns. They are all 4/4!
Since my original review, I have bought a transducer pick up for my classical guitar. I have since played with the guitar effects. I am not a good judge of how well these effects sound, as I am not an electric guitar player, but the guitar effects modeling is pretty extensive for something so inexpensive. You could easily pay much more for just for a guitar effects box that doesn't even do multi-track recording. You could spend days just playing around with all the effect algorithms and parameters.
Here are some tips for using the Micro BR that I have learned since my original review:
1) When you switch inputs, the available effects bank switches with the input. So for guitar input , you have guitar bank, with built in mic input, you have mic bank, for external mic and line input, you have line/ext bank. I didn't realize this for a very long time, but you can switch the bank and choose between all four banks for all inputs. All you have to do is move the cursor all the way to the left. The cursor will be on GT, MC, LN, or EX. Now just do -/+ VALUE to change the bank without changing the input. The manual does not explain this. This allows you, for example, to use an Enhancer and 4Band Equalizer (which are on the mic bank) on a guitar.
2) The external mic is a little noisy. You can suppress this noise by using the Noise Suppressor effect while recording. Move from EX bank to MIC bank as explained in 1), and then shut off all other effects except the Noise Suppressor. This will kill quite a bit of noise from the external mic without altering the sound.
3) For recording just an acoustic guitar, try combining a pick up with the built in mic. You would need an acoustic guitar with a pick up for this. Place the built in mic about one foot from the bridge. You can do this without an external mixing board. You can mix the two with the input levels to get the balance you want. This ends up sounding really full and natural. I'm quite happy with this. You can balance in just enough of the pick up to make up for the missing low end of the built in mic. This is now my standard way of recording my classical guitar with the Micro BR, and I have experimented quite a bit before settling. Set up for this is very fast.
4) Take notes of what you are doing with your tracks and virtual tracks. You will forget.
5) Don't talk to your spouse about the 5 million things the Micro BR can do. Your spouse will not care.
Have fun!
[...]

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Alesis PalmTrack Handheld Portable Digital Recorder, 24-Bit SD Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a rather handy device. I needed something that I could just quickly record some song demos and send to band mates over the web. It does as advertised and sounds surprisingly crisp. I am currently using the "mp3" setting at 320 and the two built in mics. Have not tried a separate mic yet. I have recorded with "wav" but could not send a 3 minute song via e-mail attachment because it was "too big" of a file to send so I went back to "mp3". Frankly, could not tell the difference in sound quality. Menu is easy to set, too. I attached the base of unit to a mini-tripod (camera) stand so it doesn't tip over--that's a really nice feature. Don't know about battery usage yet--seems fine so far. Once hooked up to a computer you can "rename" your songs and that also shows up on the PalmTrack, too after you disconnect. The unit is very plastic-y and I don't recommend dropping it! Best advice--get the little mini-tripod camera stand.

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Tascam PT-7 Chromatic Tuner/Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered this on the basis of positive reviews in the music press and websites, sadly, I'll be returning it.
All the things it does, it does well, with reasonable controls, a good size display, nice backlighting etc .Build quality was good, display and controls were intuitive enough.
However...
Neither the tech specs, nor any of the reviews I found mentioned that this 'recorder' has no monitoring capability. The fact that there is no record monitoring to speaker or headset makes it useless to me; I can't find any way to enable monitoring. I rather suspect that Tascam left out monitoring on purpose, so this would not compete with their vocal trainers, which cost twice what this does and generally have fewer features.
It's a real shame, the unit is quite nice, but even the cheesiest digital recorders all have a headset monitor feature, Tascam/Teac knows better.

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