DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Mar 04 2008 06:33 PM
I'm looking into possibly purchasing a new Digital Multi-Track Recorder.
I've been checking into the new TASCAM DP-02. This would be PERFECT
for recording, then burning a CD right off the unit itself, w/o having to go
thru "the Forest" (menu page) killing more time than I need to. Plus I want
to be able to record "right then and there" w/o having to look on ANOTHER Menu in the Computer......my question is:
Has anybody seen one of these on the Market yet? And if you did....where?
Does it look like a good buy? The new version I saw advertised was at G.C. and the price was $499. Anyone know anything about this new Model?? 
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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Joelman
Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1490
Redlands, CA
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Posted on Mar 06 2008 12:23 AM
I have the Tascam DP-01FX/CD recorder. It is still in the box it came in three months ago. I just haven't had time to find a place to set it up to start using it. I am looking forward to getting MP3s into the computer so I can add to the comp here at SG101 some day.
I also have the cassette portastudio also. I have used the cassette portastudio, and find it easy to use. I just can't figure out how to get the sounds into the computer. But I know the Tascam DP-01FX/CD recorder will hook right up to the computer.
sooooo, If I'm good enough, and on the ball enough, I might even send in a song this year.
Joel
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Mar 06 2008 02:39 AM
It's not hard to get the sounds from your casette unit into the PC. The best way is to run the master out from the Portastudio into the line in on the PC and then use a stereo wave editor program like Soundforge, Wavelab or any of the numerous free ones as a mastering recorder.
All you do is set the program rolling in 'record' mode (just like a taperecorder) then mixdown the four tracks as they play. Afterwards you can even do things like compress, brighten or remove hiss from the recording. It's really simple - probably even easier than the USB method used by a digital portastudio.
Obviously, there is no digital way to transfer the music from the portastudio as it's in the analog domain anyway.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Mar 06 2008 02:55 AM
DennistheMenace
I'm looking into possibly purchasing a new Digital Multi-Track Recorder.
I've been checking into the new TASCAM DP-02. This would be PERFECT
for recording, then burning a CD right off the unit itself, w/o having to go
thru "the Forest" (menu page) killing more time than I need to. Plus I want
to be able to record "right then and there" w/o having to look on ANOTHER Menu in the Computer......
Although I have a Tascam 788 - which is a great machine - I've just bought the Korg D888. This machine is ridiculously easy to use for a HDD recorder as its method of operation is designed to resemble an old analog mixer. Its just perfect for recording the band as it involves almost no menus or any of that nonsense that you dont want to be messing about with when you are standing there with a guitar in your hand. There's no CD drive but it's not necessary as the machine shows up as a normal external drive on your computer. You can just write the .WAV it produces to CD on your PC/Mac.
This machine is SO easy to use i'm almost disappointed.... I kind of enjoy the first week of looking at the intracacies of new equipment but I had the D888 completely mastered in an hour or so. This is the complete opposite of the Tascam which is so complicated I always forget how to use it when I've not done so for a while - and I'm a computer nerd. The D888 I highly recommend - and it can record all 8 tracks simultaneously too. great for live gigs/rehearsals.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Mar 06 2008 05:15 AM
estreet: that D888 looks very nice. How are the mic pres?
— SSIV
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Mar 06 2008 05:27 PM
LHR
estreet: that D888 looks very nice. How are the mic pres?
It's a bit early for me to say as I've not recorded Acoustic guitars or vocals with it yet. They seemed fine when I used them for recording electric guitars. When I was researching it on the net there was a couple of user reviews that didn't like them - not because of the sound but mainly because of the sudden surge of gain at the end of the control's travel. I can't say I have had any problem with this as with the mics I've used with it, the knob was way back from there to get the signal I wanted. Also, the Sound on Sound magazine review singled the pre-amps out for praise:
Soundwise, the D888 is impressive, possibly benefiting from the R&D Korg did when building their flagship D32XD 32-track recorder a few years ago. The preamps, in particular, perform well, providing a clean, full and natural sound.
I have an outboard high-end pre-amp anyway, so when I get some time over the next few days maybe I can post some comparison sound files in the gear demo section and you can decide for yourself.
So far I'm loving the machine and the sound is excellent.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Mar 08 2008 11:11 PM
estreet: Thanks for the reply. I am going to look into this one.
— SSIV
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Mar 09 2008 12:42 AM
Gee....What happened to my Tascam DP 02??? 
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Mar 09 2008 06:19 AM
DennistheMenace
Gee....What happened to my Tascam DP 02???
Hey Dennis, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I was inspired to post about the D888 because of your comments about ploughing through manuals and menus: the D888 barely needs a manual and has almost no menus. Anyhow - out of penance I've been looking around at the DP02 to see if I could add any useful comment.
It seems it uses a very similar concept to the D888 as far as mixing goes, with eight rows of faders and knobs, also with the USB2.0 interface. These are both very good things. However, the DP02 has only two pre-amps so you can only record two tracks simultaneously. This would put it instantly out of the running for me, but won't matter at all if you just plan to use it for working alone as opposed to recording a band. It only has two band EQ but you can select the centre frequency which is cool. The D888 has three but you cant do that. The DP-02 also looks very cool and the layout looks good.
It's always a trade-off between flexibilty and simplicity. The Tascam 788 I have is a fantastic machine that has loads more facilities than the D888 - but it's a machine that you end up getting the manual out for if you come back to it after more than a few weeks, as intuitive it isn't. From what I can see, the DP-02 looks simpler than the 788 but I would still expect a fair amount of multi-parameter menus. For example: there is no monitor level knobs on the panel so that will probably be a menu thing.
Tascam is quality stuff and I expect the FX quality is similar to that of the 788 - very good.
Unfortunately I could find no external reviews for the DP-02 so I can only work from my experience of HDD machines (I've used quite a few) and the spec sheet for the DP-02.
I think the most important thing is to measure a machines features against your requirements and preferences. It's impossible to say a particular machine is the best because it depends on your way of working and what features you prioritise.
I was hoping to give some more specific information in this post, but I couldn't find too much out about the DP-02 - maybe it's too new.
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Mar 09 2008 11:31 AM
Estreet, thanks for the "Heads Up" on the Tascam. Yeah, you're right about the 2 band EQ, that has me a little nervous. I can always use an outside rack EQ, but then it totally defeats the purpose of a "All in one" Unit. I think for what I'll be using it for (one man musician, engineer, production type), it will probably serve its purpose. And yeah, I DID NOTICE the 3 band on the Korg, however, there' also about a $200 difference, and it doesn't come with the CD Burner, which is another feature that I can use, so that I won't have to go chase down a 'puter for those "on the spot" live recordings if needed. But I think I might wait and look for some feedback from people that might of purchased this new unit already. 
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Mar 21 2008 05:34 AM
Sorry to further derail your thread, but I ended up after some debate ordering the Zoom HD16CD instead of the D888 or the Tascam. Looks to be a pretty slick deal!
— SSIV
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Mar 21 2008 09:28 AM
Price wise yes, quality...questionable. How do I know ? I worked for Sam's Trash for 7 years. They own Zoom, Samson, Hartke, as well as a few other companies. When it breaks, good luck on trying to get it repaired within a reasonable amount of time. I'd rather deal with a company that's been in the business for recording and will BACK UP THEIR product. TASCAM, KORG, ROLAND and YAMAHA are the ones to stay with when you are getting into
recording equipment. Ask around, and you'll find out quick enough. For the money, it is a good deal, unfortunately, that's where it ends as well..... 
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Mar 21 2008 05:57 PM
DennistheMenace: Given budget, the alternative was a PC with an outboard AD/DA interface or the D888. PCs (or Macs) are the standard nowadays, of course. But PCs break down all the time, too.
And as far as reliability, I am holding it to the PC standard: two years, max, before obsolescence or system failure is fine by me. I am not going to marry this thing; it is merely a tool to get today's job done expediently. The way I look at it, if the final sonic results are comparable to studio time spent in the near term, I will be materially happy and come out ahead. And have a piece of gear left over.
BTW, I am not looking to pick a fight. This is really an apples and oranges discussion. The Tascam looks incredibly cool! And really sturdy. But it has only two mic pres. I need at least 8 to record our band live-in-studio.
— SSIV
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Mar 22 2008 02:47 PM
LHR
DennistheMenace: Given budget, the alternative was a PC with an outboard AD/DA interface or the D888. PCs (or Macs) are the standard nowadays, of course. But PCs break down all the time, too.
And as far as reliability, I am holding it to the PC standard: two years, max, before obsolescence or system failure is fine by me. I am not going to marry this thing; it is merely a tool to get today's job done expediently. The way I look at it, if the final sonic results are comparable to studio time spent in the near term, I will be materially happy and come out ahead. And have a piece of gear left over.
BTW, I am not looking to pick a fight. This is really an apples and oranges discussion. The Tascam looks incredibly cool! And really sturdy. But it has only two mic pres. I need at least 8 to record our band live-in-studio.
LHR,
Well, with your expertise and experience, you DEFINITELY have your choice of which unit you want to go with. All I was referring to was my own experience working in Sam's Trash, and I had to look at the frustration of many customers when they were told that they didn't know how long it would take being that the parts always had to be ordered, and it ALWAYS took much longer to get those parts as opposed to the other Maufacturers  .
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Mar 22 2008 07:30 PM
Did you get the Tascam unit yet? If so, I would love to hear how you like it. And now you got me worried a little bit about possible hardware failure. If the thing goes up in smoke, I will report back here.
— SSIV
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estreet
Joined: Mar 17, 2007
Posts: 839
United Kingdom
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Posted on Mar 22 2008 10:13 PM
Zoom are weird. The G series FX pedals are built like tanks, but I went with a friend who was looking at portable stereo recorders and we both agreed that the Zoom H4 was incredibly flimsy.
I think stuff either has a vibe of being robust or not - best to go with instinct. If the Zoom HDD recorder seems robust then it probably is.
I used to have a business repairing amps and musical equipment. All the big Japanese names (Roland/Korg/Yamaha etc.) were pretty good for getting parts from.
Ampwise, here in the UK - Peavey's after sales is absolutely brilliant, Mesa Boogie are OK and Fender are awful. I STILL have a friend's 63 RI Tank under my bed for which a replacement transformer was ordered over 6 months ago!
— http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns
Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.
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DennistheMenace
Joined: Dec 29, 2007
Posts: 714
Southeast, Florida
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Posted on Mar 22 2008 11:10 PM
No, not yet. I'm probably going to pick one up in the next few weeks. I'm not in any kind of hurry although I did want it yesterday  . Maybe right B4 I pick one up, I might have a chance to see some feedback on one of these  .
— .......make the Mos' of it,
.....choose the 'rite stuff!
.........owner of 9 Mosrites
proud owner and documented:
1963 "The Ventures" Model s/n# 0038
http://www.vintagerock4.com
www.mosriteforum.com
|
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