Tascam DP02 Pre Newbie Newbie Question

[scrapyardblue]

Thinking I want to record a couple guitar tracks, add some vocals and see if I can stand myself. Not real interested at this point in simulated anything and want to mic up. Also don't expect to interface with PC until I figure out what I'm doing.

GC clerk, who seemed to know what he was talking about, suggested the following:

Tascam DP02
Mackie MR 5 monitors
E609 mics

May not be the cheapest way to figure out if my songs and sound work, but want decent quality stuff. Couple questions:

1)I believe Tascam has good equipment. Anybody know about the DP 02?
http://www.guitarcenter.com/TASCAM-D...3660.gc?Mode=5

2)Does this sound like a decent setup for what I want to do? All music is original, so I'm not gonna waste other musicians time until it's ready. Thanks and hope the link works.

[TelecasterSam]

I am looking for a recorder and have been told by many that the model you're looking at is real good. I'm leaning towards that one. Surely someone here has one and you'll get a real reply soon! I've heard the TASCAM DP-02FX/CD is better yet...

[scrapyardblue]

Originally Posted by TelecasterSam

I am looking for a recorder and have been told by many that the model you're looking at is real good. I'm leaning towards that one. Surely someone here has one and you'll get a real reply soon! I've heard the TASCAM DP-02FX/CD is better yet...

I'll check it out also. Of the reviews I've read, everything sounds real good with two possible knocks:

1)Only 8 tracks. I'm not smart enough about recording to know if 8 is plenty for me or not. Couple guitars, bass, drums, vocals. Sounds like I've got a couple tracks to spare(or I'm missing the point).

2)Effects aren't that good. To me, I can't imagine any effects beyond a Keeley comp and maybe a Tubescreamer to go with my AV 52 and Deluxe RI that I will mic. Maybe the model you mention rectifies this weakness, but I don't see myself using machine effects.

Thanks Sam and if anybody out there thinks I'm headed in wrong direction, I'm listenin'.

[3rdDIY]

I bought the DP-02 with the CD burner last month with my income tax return check. I'm still reading the manual. According to it, you can record six tracks on a saved song and then bounce them down to a stereo mix on two tracks and record over the original six, using the stereo tracks as a playback.

You can bounce everything down to one track, but they don't recommend it for some reason. Theoretically, this means you can do a bounce down to all the tracks except the last two.

Unless i read it wrong.

[StuH]

What's your alternatives? I bet there is more finacial risk and more headaches going to a computer based recording setup and at that price range there really isn't a huge difference in the overall quality or richness of features between similarly priced units. It's a pretty competive market with only half a dozen companies with a half dozen models to choose between. Kinda like choosing between economy cars, the Nissan Sentra might have an extra cup holder while the Ford Focus has more room to store your pocket change but they will both get you from point a to point b at about the same time on a tank of gas. One thing that looks real nice to me is the amount of track knobs on the thing. Looks like it would be alot less menu diving compared to similar priced makes and models. The only thing I would want to make sure is if the mics you purchase will work fine with the unit. Pre-amps strong enough to to boost a low output passive mic. Phantom power for condensor mics etc...... This was my big mistake purchasing a $400 audio interface for the computer. The pre-amps are not strong enough to boost my SM 57 and 58, one size does not necessarily fit all. I'd say go for it but you want a guarentee from the salesman the mics will be fine.

[TNO]

I have the original version of this recorder. The new one looks great. The huge, huge advantage is having knobs to pan, eq, etc. Using the card to move stuff to your computer is probably the easiest way to go.

[beep.click]

My best advice: be very clear about the return policy.

I'm suspicious of recorders that use compact flash cards. Had one, years ago, and took it back.

It was crazy, but if you listened very very very VERY carefully, on headphones, you'd heard a BEEPING burned into the recordings. I even called the manufacturer (Fostex) -- their engineer said, there was NOTHING that could be done about it.

YMMV. Maybe that problem doesn't happen, with the Tascams.

P.S. If you're just starting out, and just want to see how your songs and sound work, I see no reason to spring for monitors. Just use your home stereo.

[3rdDIY]

Well, the one I bought has a built in CD burner.
I'd rather skip messing with my computer as it is three shakes from becoming a boat anchor.

I managed to make my first recording this morning using a drum pedal I bought at Heart of Texas here in Temple and an Ibanez folkie acoustic I bought for my daughter years ago. I had a new Peavy mike and an old maraca mike from a forty year old Norelco reel to reel.

The levels are very low but there is no hiss unless my hearing is worse than I thought.

Oh, and I was using a cheap pair of muff style stereo headphones for monitoring and playback.

[3rdDIY]

I plugged my Pacifica 12 string strat with the octave strings removed into the DP-02 this morning and got to play with the built in guitar effects.
They seem to be very synthy. I used a bass preset for a couple tracks and I found a cute little drum effect that you're not supposed to use for guitar, I guess. I even tried playing through the vocal de-esser. That was pretty nice.

The first few tracks with the built-in effects, I assigned input B to a mic, to capture my scrapings and bumpings to keep the input A with the effect from being too sterile. I found I couldn't get the level right. So I gave up and just assigned the guitar input to two channels.

I'm going to have to figure out how to match the recording volume to the monitor volume. But that is the point of buying new toys, isn't it?

[trag-o-caster]

I have the DP-01 and LOVE it! It's just a basic digital 8 track with no effects, no amp/speaker emulation, no CD burner - nothing. It's so easy to use - it's actually easier than my old TASCAM 414 4 track cassette machine. I have effects, amp/speaker emulators, and two stand alone CD burners along with my computer, so I figured that I didn't need any of the extras that the other DP models offered. I've had it since they first came out with them a few years ago, and I'm still happy with it. I've never needed to bounce any tracks yet. Someday I'm sure that I will.

The best part is this. I am by NO means any kind of studio engineer. I don't even have two good ears (I'm partially deaf in one). I'm learning all this stuff by trial and error. I now have an indie record company that's interested in putting out my music. They have their own facilities, but after hearing my home recordings, they said that they were fine with me recording at home on my own gear, as long as I was willing to re-do the vocals in THEIR studios, which really blew me away! I was worried about my drum sounds, and my low budget mics (Audix I-5's), but apparently they're fine with that.

So, can these low priced TASCAM units be used to record a "proper" CD? Apparently so. I'm gonna find out for myself. I'll let you know.

[3rdDIY]

Good luck with that!
What is wrong with the vocals?

I'm still finding whole new ways to misunderstand the manual.

[scrapyardblue]

Just able to unpack the stuff last week and read the manual. So far, just plugging in and getting familiar with the controls. The reviewers were right about the effects being weak, but that's not why I bought it. I do like the 12 string accoustic effect with my 52.

I have three mics and all are supposed to work well with the DP02:

SM 57
SM 58
Senn e609

Hope to take the plunge this weekend.

[3rdDIY]

I burned my first CD week before last. Not happy with the levels.
I am learning the hard way that record level does not match monitor level does not match mixing level does not match burn level.

I've been playing with the effects and found one that makes my guitar sound like a Hammond B3 played badly. I also have been messing with the Violin patch and if you peel the parameter down to 5, you can screw up the triggering so that it sounds cute.

Most of the auto-distortion patches, like 80s metal and 90s metal sound too tinny and tiny to me.

[scrapyardblue]

You're ahead of me, 3rd. I've recorded a few things and was pleased with a couple of the effects(12-string acoustic thru my 52), but knew going in that FX was not the strong suit of this unit. I have not mastered or laid off to a CD yet.

Next step is to mic up the real sounds: 52RI thru Keeley thru DRRI and get them on to the DP 02 before I burn. Might even throw in a few words.

[3rdDIY]

I haven't miked my amp yet. I figured getting a new toy was an excuse to go beyond the setup I've used for twelve years, a close-miked Charvel practice amp and a Soundtank digital delay.

The modelling attempts on the DP-02 are not something I take seriously. I'm more like Robert Fripp with the old Roland guitar synth: let's see what kind of interesting noises we can make.

I do find the tiny ittle orange and black screen irritating and backwards. The limited titling capability for songs reminds me of an ancient Canon pocket rollidex I still have around here somewhere.

I guess I'm going to have to learn to keep a log book.