Description
8-Track Digital Pocketstudio
From the manufacturer
Features at a glance
- Eight mono tracks
- CD-quality recording (16bit/44.1kHz)
- 2 Built-in omni-directional condenser microphones
- Phantom power supply
DP-008EX
Digital Portastudio Multitrack Recorder
Jot down ideas for your songs using these pro sounding multi-track recorders. For extra battery life, you can add the BP-6AA external battery pack. The DP-006 and the DP-008EX have two condenser microphones built into the front of the units. Record vocals or acoustic guitar anytime without the need for extra equipment or set-up time. TASCAM carefully chose the best sounding microphones for our recorders. Modeled after the top-selling DR series microphones, you can be assured high-quality sound.
Main Features
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Simple, Easy-to-Use InterfaceBoth models are optimally designed for on-the-spot recording. No unnecessary features were included that might complicate the recording to ensure easy functionality, and dedicated knobs make recording faster than digging through menus. Designed with Portastudio functionality, these POCKETSTUDIOs are the easiest songwriting scratchpads you can buy. |
Ultra Light Weight Design – Carry It With You EverywhereThe DP-006 and the DP-008EX both feature ultra light-weight designs to ensure portability. The DP-006 is 13 oz, and the DP-008EX is 21.5 oz. (without AA batteries) |
High-Speed Data Transfer via USB2.0Both models record to widely available SD/SDHC card media (4GB card included). In addition, both models can connect to PCs via USB2.0 for high-speed data transferring. All song ideas can be transferred via USB or SD card readers to and from the units at any point in the recording process. |
Two XLR Inputs with +48V Phantom PowerThe DP-008EX can supply phantom power for condenser microphones, even when operated with AA batteries. (Notice: Operating time becomes shorter when used with phantom power supply. We recommend connecting TASCAM’s BP-6AA or a power supply when using phantom power.) |
Unimon –
Extremely well engineered, solid, and multi-talentedThe only “bad” thing about this is it can only record two tracks at a time. That’s fine for it’s intended purpose.I have a Zoom mic/recorder for making quality recordings on the go. I originally got this to supplement the Zoom recorder, and have the editing capabilities and mixing capabilities this device adds while on the road, with no PC required. This is an important thing to consider in purchasing one of these that is rarely mentioned in other reviews:If you find ANY limitations in the editing/mixing capabilities of this unit, don’t sweat it. Export your tracks to a DAW on your Laptop, and voila!, no limits. That’s it!Nitpicking: It would be nice to have sampling rates higher than 48,000 HZ, and bit depth beyond 16 bit.The bottom line: This product does what it says and more. It is…. TOTALLY AWESOME.Buy a power supply for it, and a case to put it in so you don’t bang it up. Looks like it could last a lifetime if you don’t manhandle it or spill drinks on it. Pack a few audio cables, a good pair of earbuds, extra batteries, and maybe some additional mics if you need ’em and you’ll never be “away from the studio”.THANK YOU TASCAM!I use this unit for recording music (as in me and/or my band), and recording and producing radio programming for broadcast.I am stingy with stars, and this got 5. This should tell you something.UPDATE 3/2022 – I’ve been using this for purposes other than recording music now. Sometimes I sit it on the living room coffee table connected to a digital interface to the 4K Screen and use it to grab audio bits that I use in radio production. For any use of this device, learning how to use the interface is the key to satisfaction. If you can’t learn it, it’s not going to work for you. The user interface is designed for folks who are going to be recording and producing music and already understand multi-track workflow. If you don’t… that will be another hurdle. If you do, it will all make sense. Note that if you have big fat fingers, you may hate this unit. If you have reasonably small fingers, it shouldn’t be a problem. I play keys and sax, not guitar, so my fingers are delicate and don’t have a lot of callous like some stringed instrument players.I’m OK with the user interface despite its few limitations and not being as graphical as the most modern stuff, so I bought the big brother dp32-sd. Skills are transferable between the two. Unfortunately, audio files are not! To move between the 008EX and the dp32-sd I have to either export individual tracks, or master to 2 tracks and export. Then import on the receiving side using a PC to copy from one SD to the other. It would have been great if you could just swap the SD card. 32G SD cards are the maximum you can use.I’ve discovered that if you read the manual, there are some “hidden” features not visible on the user-interface or legends on the case. For example, F3/F4 (set in and out points) works from the home screen. This turns out to be a very convenient shortcut. Using a pedal to punch in/out works great, and that’s it. It can’t be used to help with editing which would have been a nice feature. The DP32-sd with its 3 switch pedal provides a lot more function that’s not available on the 008EX.Bottom line for this update. Non-fat-fingers, understanding multi-track workflow, and tolerance for not-slick graphical interfaces and the latest bling — you’ll be golden with this. Otherwise, you might not be satisfied. Could you produce a professional-sounding CD with this: Definitely, if you have the skills.
Baron –
Easy to use with high quality sound!The Tascam DP-008EX is a great portable recorder. It has all the basic functions you need: pan, EQ, reverb, bounce, and more. The ability to bounce tracks endlessly means you can record 3 stereo tracks, then bounce them to 1 stereo track, then record 3 more stereo tracks, bounce again, etc., giving you the ability to record dozens and dozens of tracks if needed. I use the Tascam DP-008EX primarily to record multi-track music using synthesizers (Access Virus, Novation Nova, etc.), my own vocals, and a few other things here and there. The sound quality is top notch. There is no noise I can here, even after bouncing tracks several times, there’s no noise present at all. The sound is crystal clear.In the past I used my desktop computer to record multi-track music using Sonar, and other similar Windows desktop PC apps. While these PC apps are very powerful, I found that sitting in front of a computer tends to be counterproductive musically. No matter how many features a PC app might have, it’s simply a pain to use a PC when creating music. It takes forever to boot up a PC, the apps have no real knobs to adjust, they are all mouse driven, the apps tend to have tons of menus, options, etc. Plugging in all your equipment into the computer is awkward. A PC is just not the right tool for the job. The Tascam boots up in seconds. It’s easy to use. It’s quick and easy to plug in all your equipment. Everything you need is at your finger tips with real knobs and buttons. It simply does the job perfectly and it takes very little space. Sure, the DP-008EX lacks the vast number of features a PC app might have, but it’s so simple to use, and feels so natural in a musical setup, that I now never use my computer to record music on. After using the Tascam DP-008EX, I’m now thinking of upgrading to using a 32-track recorder, like the Tascam DP-32 in the future. The only reason I would ever want to use my PC for music now is for processing files after recording them. It’s just too awkward to use a PC for recording music, even for a software engineer like myself. It’s just not the right tool for the job.PROS* Boots up in seconds.* Absolutely NO NOISE. It has crystal clear sound even after bouncing tracks many times.* No latency, drops, or audio hiccups. Unlike a PC, this NEVER happens on this unit.* Reverb sounds good. It’s not cheap sounding reverb. It’s not the best either, but its good enough.* EQ settings work great. You can adjust EQ on a per-track basis.* Knobs are high quality with smooth fading and panning.CONS* The LCD screen can be hard to read at some angles (even with the proper LCD settings). I wish it had a better display.* It eats batteries like crazy. If you use it a lot, like I do, you’ll need to buy a power supply for it.* Power supply NOT included.* Proprietary native storage format. It stores your work on MTR partitions on an SD card which can’t be read by anything other than Tascam devices. This is a pretty big negative.* Making backups to a PC and transferring music to a PC require that you export your music to wav files on a special FAT partition on the SD card. Only after exporting to wav can you then read the audio you recorded. Exporting is a slow process. This is a big negative. Why did Tascam choose not to use FAT 32 and normal wav files to store all your recordings on in the first place? Why have this export feature? It’s a pain to deal with it. Fortunately you only need to do this when you’re done recording your music. But still, Tascam should not have done it this way. This is a really bad idea. I hope they stop doing this in the future. They should use 100% standard SD file partitions and standard file formats for all your audio work. That’s the proper way to do it.WISH LISTI love the DP-008EX because it’s so small and easy to use. I only wish it had more tracks to record on and a better LCD display. But it is an 8 track recorder, and I knew that when making the purchase. However, I find, being a synthesizer guy, that I really like having 16 tracks. I tend to use the bounce feature often to get more tracks out of this unit. I would prefer if this unit had the ability to record 16 tracks. That would be perfect. But the size would double if it had twice as many knobs, and it would be too big. It would be great if it had 16 tracks, but only 8 sets of knobs, and the ability to select which tracks the knobs were for (i.e., the first 8 or the second 8 of 16 tracks). Or possibly add a mode where you have 8 stereo tracks (16 mono tracks) instead of 8 mono tracks, were pan is a stereo balance control instead of a pan control. That way the unit would still be small and portable but support more tracks.CONCLUSIONThe only major negative is the proprietary storage format used by Tascam. This is a big drawback. Other than that, the unit is great. It’s easy to use. It boots up quickly. It has fantastic sound quality. The knob controls are smooth. I use it all the time and I love it. I highly recommend the Tascam DP-008EX!UPDATE: I bought this way back in 2013. It’s now nearing the end of summer 2021. 8 years have passed and it still works great! Absolutely no issues in 8 years. It’s really a quality piece of equipment. Money well spent!
BW –
The best $200 I have ever spentThe DP-008EX is easily the best $200 I have ever spent.My background:-Intermediate acoustic guitar player + vocalist-Experienced in DAWs-Emphasis on writing songs, not “production value”I’ve only had this device for a few days and I can already say it is worth every penny. Here’s why:-The amount of functionality and quality you get out of a device this small and affordable is simply unheard of.-The built-in mics really are as good as other reviewers say. One could almost say the $200 is worth the mics alone. Audiophile snobs will surely disagree, but 90% of people using this device I think will find the mics to be more than sufficient.-I was able to lay down a 5-track recording, mixdown, and master in about 30 minutes from opening the box. Exporting and copying the song to my iMac using the USB interface was very easy and straightforward. The final product sounds better than anything I’ve done in a DAW, although I am not an audio engineer by any means.-While you will have to drill down in menus on occasion, there are enough dedicated buttons to make most of the useful functions only one button press away (sort of: I’ll get back to this).-You can monitor during playback and recording with absolutely no latency that I can tell.-The unit powers on in seconds. Once you’re at the home screen (and assuming you had a song previously loaded) you can immediately start recording. All your work will be saved when you power off the unit.-The simplicity of this device and the dedicated knobs makes the recording process a lot simpler and more fun than using a DAW in my opinion. I set this thing on my ottoman and crank out tunes from the couch. I record percussion tracks by punching the ottoman for a “kick” sound and tapping the guitar for a “snare” sound. It sounds amazing.I would like to take a moment to debunk some of the complaints I’ve read in other reviews:-Many say the battery life is weak. This doesn’t surprise me based on all the functions this unit provides. A little tip I picked up from reading the manual: you can set an auto shut-off time for the backlight. This might help the battery life a little bit. Just get the power supply if you’re worried about it, and pack a bunch of batteries with you if you’re going to go record in the woods. Get rechargeable so you can juice them up again when you’re at home.-One reviewer complained that the phantom power takes two button presses to enable even though there is a dedicated button for it. I assure you Tascam did this on purpose, so that you do not inadvertently turn on phantom power and kill your battery life (or a connected mic that doesn’t support it).-The most common complaint seems to be that it’s hard to use. I assure you that anyone with even a tiny bit of multi-track recording experience (in a DAW or elsewhere) should find this unit very intuitive and easy to use. If you are new to multi-track recording, take your time and read the manual. It is one of the best-written manuals I’ve seen in a long time. They left nothing out, and the quick start guide should get you up and running right away. I don’t know how they could have made anything any simpler on this device without sacrificing functionality or introducing problems/confusion. If you think this is too complicated, multi-track recording just isn’t for you.-Some complain about the real-time mixdown and mastering. If you are using the DP-008EX for its intended purpose, your songs should not be longer than 5 minutes or so. That’s 10 minutes of total wait time to export your master. Big deal. If you are trying to record 3-hour long band practices, look elsewhere. The DP-008EX is designed for recording individual songs. Don’t leave a negative review because you used the product for something it wasn’t intended for.-A couple people said the metronome is so quiet it is not usable. I agree that the metronome could be louder, but there is a very simple solution to this: turn down your master volume, increase your headphone/monitor volume. The metronome volume does not change with the master volume (it has its own dedicated volume setting). This should not have been hard to figure out.-Some complain about the 2-second count-in for auto punch in/out. I actually agree with this one. Tascam should just release a software update that increases this time (or make it configurable by the user). Not a deal breaker though.To summarize, this is the best piece of studio gear I have ever purchased. I can produce songs with this thing that sound as good as my $2k studio setup, and I can do it literally anywhere I want. Whether you are a professional or a beginner, this unit has something for everyone at a price for everyone.
Philip D. Miller –
A great unit with a few short comingsAlthough I am an amateur musician, I have been involved in sound and recording since 1984. I currently own 3 multi-track recorders. A Tascam 488 MkII (old analog 8 track cassette), a Boss Micro BR 4 track and now the Tascam DP-008EX. Not to mention DAW programs I have used over the years (Cubase, Sonar).Build Quality 5 Stars (out of 5)My first impression after taking the DP-008EX out of the box was wow! It feels very sturdy and well built. The knobs all have a very nice resistance when turning them. It also has separate inputs for the balanced (Microphone inputs) and unbalanced (Guitar/Bass/Line). This is a nice change from recent units that combine them. This means you can leave mics and line inputs connected at the same time. Combine the weight with the rubber feet on the bottom and you have a unit that will stay where you put it. That being said, calling this a “Pocket Studio” is bit of a stretch. The display is also very clear albeit a bit small. Even with my aging eyes I have had no problems reading it.Setup: 5 Stars (out of 5)Getting started was quite simple. Even if you have no experience with multi-track recorders, the quick start guide in the manual should get you up and recording in about 5 minutes. Understanding the mix down and mastering features will take a bit more understanding of the unit but there is nothing here that should be too difficult to understand. The manual is indexed and well laid out.Sound Quality: 5 out of 5I am very impressed with the built in microphones on this unit. They are very sensitive but quiet, even with the gain kicked up a bit. My Micro BR had an annoying hiss when you kicked up the gain too much. The line inputs are also very quiet and work well with keyboards, synths and drum machines.Features (3 out of 5)I am being a little harsh here because the unit basically does everything I purchased it for. There are however units out there that do a lot more but of course at a higher price. For example, this unit only contains basic effects such as reverb and compression. Units like the more expensive Zoom R8 have guitar multi-effects units that can give you distortion, phasers, flangers right out of the box, you just plug your guitar in, choose an effect and go. This unit also has no drum machine and cannot act as a USB sound source for your computer. Once again though given the price I paid for it, I really wasn’t expecting or needing these features but you should be aware of it. Here are some of the main features of the unit:8 recordable tracks (2 simultaneous record, 8 playback)4 Modes: Multitrack, Bounce, Mix Down and Master1 shelving EQ per Track (2 band)4 Effects (Reverb, Compressor, Exciter and De-esser)Auto and Manual Punch In/OutFull track editing including Copy/Cut/Paste/Move/ClearOne of my few complaints about this unit is the auto punch feature. For those of you who are new to recording, punch in and punch out is a feature that allows you to correct errors in a recording without re-recording the entire track. You typically set the “Punch in” point just before the mistake, and set the punch out point a few seconds later. You then start the recorder and start playing along with the track you are fixing. When the punch in point is reached, the recorder begins recording over the mistake area and continues until the punch out point. When done correctly you can seamlessly correct errors. The feature on this recorder works but only plays 2 seconds of the track before recording starts. This makes it difficult to sync your playing with the track you are trying to fix. Other multi-track recorders I have used allow you to start the recorder any time before the punch in point. The work around for this is to use the manual punch in/out mode but this requires you to hit the play/record buttons on the unit or use a foot switch (sold separately).Also, this unit only supports WAV files. In case you don’t know, WAV files are completely uncompressed and can be huge. In other words, if you want to actually share your recordings with your friends and family, you will have to transfer them to your computer and then use another program (such as iTunes) to convert the WAV file to a more portable format like MP3 or M4A. My Boss Micro BR can mix down directly to MP3 format which is rather convenient and makes the Micro BR a truly self-contained unit.ProsExcellent recording quality with the built-in micsSturdy well-built unitGreat sounding reverbMastering effects built inConsNot the greatest battery life and AC adapter is sold separatelyOnly 2 seconds of play back before auto punch in.No MP3 support means using an external program to convert to a more portable formatFinal ThoughtsOver all I give the Tascam DP-008EX 4 out of 5 stars. It is a wonderfully solid well-built unit with a few short comings, but at a price of $149, I don’t think anything else even comes close. If you don’t need all of the bells and whistles that units like the Zoom R8 offer, this unit is a great choice. The built in mics offer great sound quality for acoustic instruments such as guitar while still providing inputs for keyboards, microphones, bass and guitar.
Steve –
Great 8 track recorderI was going to use this to bs on sound cloudBut you can makr some quality tracks on this , its intuitive and sounds cd quality 😁
Alphonsel –
Excellent 8 Track Recorder That Won’t Break Your HeartI started working with this when I bought it in late January 2017. For me, having one of these is the only way I can write and nail down a song. I still have my old school Tascam cassette tape 4 track recorder Made in the early 90’s. The 4 tracks really limited me. I recorded a total of 20 songs, they came out okay, but I lost interest. For many years.Now it’s a whole new world out there with DAW and computerized stuff that I did research on. It sounds like the way I probably should have gone, but my playing was rusty enough. I did not want to spend days and money learning how to record all over again, with a chance I might not like it after all. So I went with something more familiar to me. And 8 tracks to work with, I was like a kid in a candy store when I got this.Now, the figuring out how to work this recorder…..in my case, I at least had experience with a 4 track, from the same brand. BUT swallow your pride and read the operating manual. I had to. No matter what, the operation of this may seem unintuitive at first, but once you get it down it is actually quite easy to use. I have yet to finalize anything yet, and have not plugged this in my computer as of now. That’s my own fault, I just don’t have anything quite ready that I think is worth it yet.Now I just turn it on, run my drum machine and guitar directly to this recorder, and from this recorder I have powered speakers hooked up. So all my dabbling around is ready for recording instantly once I find the right riffs worth recording before I forget them. There are some steps you need to take to do this. That’s where things could be a little simpler. Basically, you go thru the menu, create a new song, then you have a blank canvas to create with. But if you were to go thru the menu and create a new song every time you come up with a good riff, you would more than likely forget it first. So I just keep the one song going, ready to record as soon as I come up with something that is worth going back to later. To do this, I have to write down the time I stopped recording, and keep repeating these steps. Once I have about 10 minutes of ideas, then I create a new song, and start over. I just wish this process was a bit easier. The recorder once turned off, then on again resets to the beginning of your “song”, so using the times I wrote down, I have to fast forward to the point I left off. If not, of course what I previously recorded is overwritten.Also of note, and something I never got solid advice on, is if you can run your guitar to a pedal, then the pedal to this recorder. You absolutely can, and the sound quality is outstanding. You just need to adjust the recording levels accordingly.What this has done for me so far is amazing. I have a room I call my recording studio, and I am able to keep this available and ready the minute inspiration hits me. I cover it with a cloth to keep the dust off when not in use.Overall, this is a great little recorder and I love it. My next step will be to try out computerized recording with a DAW. But being old school, I wanted something I knew I could figure out with minimum frustration. This does it.Also, a kudos to Tascam. It’s a little thing, but it came with a 4gb SD card instead of the 2gb advertised. A power cord added in would have been nicer, but no matter what this is perfect for what I need it for.
Ed Word –
High fidelity with great portabilityI have been looking for a multi-track digital unit that wasn’t going to cost an arm and a leg. I’m a guitarist/songwriter (somewhat!) who has been setting up a recording situation in my little music room. Did the google search thing and this TASCAM unit kept popping up that it’s quite a workhorse. Amazon’s good about backing up their products as far as satisfaction goes, so I took the plunge, and not a deep one for an 8-track for under $200.I’ve so far used it for live gigs and jams. The fidelity of the built-in mics is surprisingly good. As long as you watch the meters and set the gain correctly, you’re gonna get pretty much what is going on on stage. Good separation and good bandwidth to capture everyone (unit placement is vital, of course). I’ve also recorded from the p.a. mixer direct out on one side and a field mic to capture everything else. Pretty impressive. The only downside is that you can only record on 2 tracks at a time, which is understandable given the unit’s price point. After all, it’s not the Rolling Stones’ mobile recording semi!The instruction book does leave a lot to be desired, however. When you’re studying how to do a particular function, it may refer you to another part of the book, something you haven’t covered yet, so the new part becomes it’s own sub-study section. Then you gotta go back to what you were initially trying to figure out. It’s understandable enough, but I suggest read it until it gets a little frustrating, turn the unit on and start recording something. I figured out more stuff just by messing around with it. Then after a few recording attempts I could go back to the manual and go “Ohhh! That’s what they meant!”But otherwise, I love the portability, and the fact that, if necessary, you can run it on batteries. I usually use a power transformer wart plug-in thing to be sure to get constant voltage, but one time I forgot the power unit. I always carry a fresh set of batteries Justin Case. Battery power got me through the entire 4 hour gig with plenty of power left in the batteries.It’s pretty light and is made of what I think is high-grade plastic. So I carry my unit in a Crown Royal velvet bag which, in turn, is carried in one of those shoulder bags with the power unit, extension cord, and other back-up junk, so I try to not let it get bumped around too much.So, if you’re OK with recording only 1 or 2 tracks at a time (track bouncing and mixdown options aplenty!) there is no reason to not give this unit a spin. Built-in reverb, e.q., mic assignment, line levels, all the basics to making a groovy basic recording live in this TASCAM unit. Get the 64-gig micro-card and space will not be an issue.
StormJH1 –
Solid budget 8-track recording device with a variety of input options for guitars, mics, synths, and other audio sourcesI’m coming to multi-track recording late in the game – doing it for the first time in my mid-30’s and having actually learned to do it first on my iPad and iPhone (using a variety of interfaces for guitar and audio sources into a DAW). So it’s a little hard to articulate why I was drawn to the TASCAM DP-008EX, when it arguably offers far less editing capability and flexibility than a DAW. But, for me, I found the affordability, variety of input options, and simplicity for capturing ideas quickly to be very appealing with the DP-008EX. It even motivated me to purchase a dynamic microphone (SM-57 copy) and mic stand to finally attempt to mic and record some of my amps at home!I will keep this review short, since I’m somewhat of a novice user and haven’t put in the hours yet to fully explore this device. But I found relatively simple to get working “out of the box”. There are a few design choices that feel archaic, such as the way inputs are assigned and pretty much anything having to do with the LCD interface. But keep in mind that those choices are part of what keeps this an affordable product for people who might not have used a multi-track recorder before, and for whom basic functionality (off a set of batteries, nonetheless) is more important than bells and whistles.I found that the purchase of the DP-008EX led to a few other inexpensive purchases, including a 1/8″ to 1/4″ mono cable and the XLR cable for the aforementioned dynamic mic purchase. (I’ve actually heard the on-board condenser mics aren’t half bad, but positioning those in front of a guitar amp while trying to start a recording seemed like a non-starter to me). One early concern I’ve read about and experienced with the use of an external mic is that the recording levels seemed low. However, there are a number of settings that impact this, including a switch on the back of the device, and a series of recording levels you can designate in the LCD menus. So, come to think of it, I might not have explored all of those options, in addition to being a total novice when it comes to mic placement and recording levels. I did record some other audio sources (iOS instruments and Korg Volca synths and drum machine) and had little problem getting the levels where I wanted them.So, why buy a DP-008EX when you can purchase a $10 DAW and an interface and record directly on a mobile device? For me, it’s much the same reason why I still enjoy playing real life guitar amps and effects pedals versus modeling software offering far more variety in sounds…it’s just a much more satisfying experience working with physical gear. In my case, I already had the guitars, effects pedals, and even preamp “direct” pedals, so the DP-008EX was an affordable way to capture recordings without getting bogged down in a bunch of software.The lack of an included power supply is a bit disappointing at this price point, but I might try using Eneloop rechargeable batteries for awhile in lieu of being tied to a wall plug. Really liked the level control, pan, and reverb send knobs laid out physically on the display. Getting content off of the device sounds a little harder than it should be in 2016, but I’d rather have difficulty on that end than hassle on the front end when I’m trying to record ideas.
Orange Crush –
Excellent little 8 track recorderSmall footprint, small knobs, but everything is accessible and well thought out: menus are well designed for the most part. Built in mics are flat sounding and able to handle louder sounds well, with selectable sensitivity. Out of box I was recording a track within 60 seconds. Display is medium sized for this type of thing – bright and clear, but small text, nothing out of the ordinary though. Watch a few YouTube videos for an easy introduction to this one. There is a nice manual (who ships manuals anymore?!) which was a surprise. This unit can be powered by a usb power source with the correct adapter cable. Sound quality is good. I added some higher end eq to my acoustic track because it sounded a bit dull, which worked well. This won’t necessarily replace a DAW for most people, but that’s not its purpose – it is best used as a musical sketch pad. Having 8 tracks right there, with built in mics makes it easy to get song ideas down quickly. Nice to have line outs and xlr mic inputs with phantom. Pair this with an amp sim pedal and this goes a long way:
Gregory Jackson –
Tascam has created another classic – purchase it!I’ve been in the music business since the 90’s…and making music for a long time prior to that. Tascam products abound throughout my history.. at home.. on tour.. on vacay, with a need to write. And this little baby – rocking 8 tracks to work with, is an essential tool my brotha’s and sista’s.Youtube is your friend, if you’re a visual learner like me. It just took a few minutes reviewing the basics, and I had popped a little korg drum machine, running on four aa batteries..and had a dope beat down… and armed another track and grabbed a Fender bass off the rack…and boom!.. I had a groove down… nice and clean digital sound.. no tape hiss hear my friends..So why? Well I do have many recorders and a DAW I use.. but I like to hop on a train, and spend a weekend at a little casita with a light footprint.. having this little baby tucked in my overnight bag is a nice option to lay a few tracks down lickity split… Or when I’m on the road, and in my hotel room with a little time to kill before soundcheck.. I can lay a few ideas down.. bit by bit.. so I am getting a little of my own work done, while still on the clock… and then grab and go… hop on the bus.. or make that flight..Out the box.. it feels like a real damn recorder.. not a piece of crap plastic thing.. and when you read intuitive.. its exactly that. arm a track.. record a track.. there is a lot more.. I haven’t even gotten to that yet. like I said.. I just unboxed the thing.. and threw the batteries it came with in.. and got something down. to break the ice..It does what it says.. I suggest you get it..