Tascam DP-02 Digital Portastudio - 8 Track Review

Average Reviews:

(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 CDGT2 Guitar Trainer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great product with nice features, unfortunately, it's already been updated to the MP3 version, which I also own, and the new model kicks [...]!!! Worth the extra $50 simply for it's ease of use and replacement of songs, the CD model means you have to put the tracks you want to play/practice, onto a CD first. Being a drummer, it allows me to slow down or speed up the tempo of a song to practice what's being played, and there's also a multi-functional metronome on it, with a clear 'click' sound, not a tone or pulse, so you know exactly where the beat is. A good product, but the MP3 version is better.

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Featuring an improved compact design, the Tascam CD-GT2 guitar trainer allows artists, musicians, students, and music teachers to practice, learn and teach fast licks, rhythm parts and solos from their favorite artists. It offers comprehensive LCD display with graphical user interface, album title/track title indication by CD-Text, expanded effect banks for user preset, chromatic tuner.
Tascam's VSA feature (Variable Speed Audition, pitch control without affecting key) lets you learn a continuous mix of your favorite songs anywhere you go, while Flash Back, loop, and other play functions help review parts without having to constantly reach for the controls. The CD-VT2 also includes a vocal/instrument canceller, allowing you to play along to featured parts with your own vocal or instrument.
Key Features
Portable CD guitar trainer (More compact than previous CD-GT1MKII)
CD-DA/CD-R/CD-RW disc playback
10 second anti-shock memory
Comprehensive 128 x 64 dot matrix LCD display with graphical user interface
Album title/Track title indication by CD-Text
Elapsed Time/Remain Time display with bar meter
+16 to -50% pitch control in 1% steps
VSA (Variable Speed Audition, pitch control without affecting key)
Key control: +/-6 semi-tone, in semi-tone steps with +/-50 cents fine tune
Single play and continuous play
Single Loop, All Loop, and Seamless IN-OUT Loop
Flash Back function (Instant review up to 5 seconds prior playback)
Guitar Canceller with selectable canceling pan point and selectable frequency range
10 effect banks for user preset
Chromatic tuner with calibration (435 to 445Hz)
3 octaves tone oscillator
Metronome (BPM: 40 to 220, Beat: 2 to 6)
1/4-inch Guitar input
Guitar/Mic input volume
Guitar/Mic input level meter indicator on LCD display
CD level meter indicator
Foot switch connector
5 selectable functions by foot switch (Flash Back, Rewind, FF, Bank, Effect on/off)
1/8-inch stereo line output
1/8-inch stereo headphone output
Headphone volume
MONO monitor for CD (L+R, L, R)
Split monitor (Left ch: CD, Right ch: Input or vice versa)
Battery operation
Optional power supply PS-P520

Specifications
Disc Type:8cm and 12cm CD
Line Output Connector:1/8-inch Stereo mini connector
Nominal Stereo Output Level: -10dBV
Output Impedance: 600ohm (2V RMS)
Maximum Output Level (LINE OUT): +6dBV
Headphone Output Connector: 1/8-inch Stereo mini connector
Maximum Output Level (PHONES): 15mW (at 32ohm loaded)
Guitar/Mic Input Connector: 1/4-inch Phone Connector
Nominal Input Level
Guitar Input: -15dBV
Mic Input: -40dBV

Maximum Input Level
Guitar Input: +6dBV
Mic Input: -19dBV

Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (-3/+1dB); (A weight filter + 20KHz LPF)
Signal to Noise Ratio: Better than 85 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.03% (200Hz HPF + 20KHzLPF)
Channel Separation: Better than 80dB (A weight filter + 20KHz LPF)
Power Requirements: DC 5V (Optional AC adapter PS-P520) AA batteries x 4
Power Consumption: 4W (with PS-P520)
Dimensions: 7.64 x 1.52 x 5.43 inches (WxHxD)
Weight (excluding batteries): 19.4 ounces

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TASCAM DP-008 8-Track Digital Portastudio Review

Average Reviews:

(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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Tascam CD-VT2 CD Vocal and Instrument Trainer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Not everyone has a need for this but if you do, it works very well. It plays a CD well enough although if that's all you need then don't buy this. What it does well is it can either speed or slow the tempo of what is on the CD without changing the pitch, or it can change the pitch of what is on the CD without changing the tempo. It also acts as a tuner. And, it can remove center channel vocals if you want to just hear the music portion of what is on the CD.
Regarding the tempo and pitch change, it executes these tasks flawlessly.
Regarding the vocal elimination, it removes the vocals satisfactorily. I don't think any machine can do a perfect job because there's too many hitches inherent in the recording, but this one does a good enough job so that the vocals are faint enough for someone to sing over and not compete with them.
Build quality is good - it is part of the Teac company and they make quality stuff. I bought a separate power transformer for this unit so I didn't have to worry about batteries, so I have no comments regarding how long the batteries last.
The controls and functions are neatly laid out on the panel and are easy to use. The instruction book is easy to follow. This product does what I bought it for very well so I am happy with it.


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Featuring an improved compact design, the Tascam CD-VT2 CD vocal/music trainer allows artists, musicians, students, and music teachers to practice, learn and teach vocal harmonies, fast rap passages and complex melodies from their favorite music. It offers comprehensive LCD display with graphical user interface, album title/track title indication by CD-Text, expanded effect banks for user preset, chromatic tuner.
Tascam's VSA feature (Variable Speed Audition, pitch control without affecting key) lets you learn a continuous mix of your favorite songs anywhere you go, while Flash Back, loop, and other play functions help review parts without having to constantly reach for the controls. The CD-VT2 also includes a vocal/instrument canceller, allowing you to play along to featured parts with your own vocal or instrument.

Key Features
Portable CD Music/Vocal trainer (More compact than previous CD-VT1MKII)
CD-DA/CD-R/CD-RW disc playback
10 second anti-shock memory
Comprehensive 128 x 64 dot matrix LCD display with graphical user interface
Album title/Track title indication by CD-Text
Elapsed Time/Remain Time display with bar meter
+16 to -50% pitch control in 1% steps
VSA (Variable Speed Audition, pitch control without affecting key)
Key control: +/-6 semi-tone, in semi-tone steps with +/-50 cents fine tune
Single play and continuous play
Single Loop, All Loop, and Seamless IN-OUT Loop
Flash Back function (Instant review up to 5 seconds prior playback)
Vocal/Instrument Canceller with selectable canceling pan point and selectable frequency range
10 effect banks for user preset
Chromatic tuner with calibration (435 to 445Hz)
3 octaves tone oscillator
Metronome (BPM: 40 to 220, Beat: 2 to 6)
(2x) 1/4-inch Mic input
Mic input volume
Mic input level meter indicator on LCD display
CD level meter indicator
Foot switch connector
5 selectable functions by foot switch (Flash Back, Rewind, FF, Bank, Effect on/off)
1/8-inch stereo line output
1/8-inch stereo headphone output
Headphone volume
MONO monitor for CD (L+R, L, R)
Split monitor (Left ch: CD, Right ch: Input or vice versa)
Battery operation
Optional power supply PS-P520

Specifications
Disc Type: 8cm and 12cm CD
Line Output Connector: 1/8-inch Stereo mini connector
Nominal Stereo Output Level: -10dBV
Output Impedance: 600ohm (2V RMS)
Maximum Output Level (LINE OUT): +6dBV
Headphone Output Connector: 1/8-inch Stereo mini connector
Maximum Output Level (PHONES): 15mW (at 32ohm loaded)
Mic Input Connectors: 1/4-inch Phone Connector
Nominal Input Level, Mic Input: -40dBV
Maximum Input Level, Mic Input: -19dBV
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (-3/+1dB); (A weight filter + 20KHz LPF)
Signal to Noise Ratio: Better than 85 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.03% (200Hz HPF + 20KHzLPF)
Channel Separation: Better than 80dB (A weight filter + 20KHz LPF)
Power Requirements: DC 5V (Optional AC adapter PS-P520); AA batteries x 4
Power Consumption: 4W (with PS-P520)
Dimensions: 7.64 x 1.52 x 5.43 inches (WxHxD)
Weight (excluding batteries): 19.4 ounces

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Tascam PT-7 Chromatic Tuner/Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(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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