Tascam DP02CF 8-Track Compact Flash Digital Recorder

8-track recording at CD quality 44.1k/16-bit. 2-track simultaneous recording. Includes 1 GB Compact Flash card. 84 People rated this product:

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Composing and recording use two completely different parts of your brain. When you've been struck with inspiration, you don't want complicated machinery stifling your creative flow, but you also don't want a unit that's so simple it limits you. The Tascam DP02CF 8-Track Compact Flash Digital Recorder strikes the perfect balance between ease of use and powerful functionality. And because it's built around an ultra-light design that uses Compact Flash as its recording medium, you'll be able to capture your flashes of brilliance no matter where they strike. It's like a conduit through which your greatest ideas can enter the world.

Multitracking Made Easy
If the term "multitrack recorder" makes you nervous, fear not: the DP02's layout was designed around a streamlined recording workflow, and it makes laying down multi-part instrumentation a snap. Plug a microphone into one of the recorder's two XLR inputs, or a guitar into the dedicated instrument jack, "arm" the first two tracks, and hit record. When you've captured your basic idea, keep the mics plugged in, select two different tracks to record onto, and hit record again. . . you're overdubbing! Repeat this process to layer embellishments, harmonies, and counter-melodies until you've got a pop-orchestral number that'll make Brian Wilson green with envy. A built-in metronome helps keep all those parts in synch with one another, and the clear LCD and footswitch punch-in option make cleaning up flubbed takes a cinch. The overdub process is made so effortless by the Tascam DP02, it's like having your own studio assistant.

Simple Yet Powerful Mixing
Intuitive layout is only the beginning with the DP02. With eight separate tracks, you've got plenty of space for even complex arrangements, and having each element separate gives you more arranging flexibility even after you're done recording. Say you've just added a violin part that you think might conflict with the accordion lick you recorded three takes ago, but you're not sure which one you want to keep. Simply ride the respective tracks' faders to pull them in and out of the mix and listen to which one sounds best. Think a vocal part might sound better with a little reverb? Don't just try to picture it, use the DP02's built-in effects section and really get experimental. There's even flanger, overdrive and a bunch more effects especially tuned for guitar and bass. Each track also has dedicated EQ and left-right panning controls, so you can truly get a sense of what works and what doesn't in a stereo recording.

Share Your Masterpieces With The World
When you've got a mix where you like it, bounce everything down to a CD-quality, stereo WAV file using the dedicated Master Bounce tracks. From there, send you files to computer via high-speed USB and burn a CD, or distribute digitally to the entire world.

Optional Studio Pack Or Tascam LaunchPad Sarter Pack
Specially priced as an optional add-on, the Tascam LaunchPad Starter Pack is the perfect companion piece for your new DP02CF. Intended for the beginning recordist, this accessory pack comes with a pair of reference-quality Tascam HPVT1 headphones, and a dynamic microphone designed by MXL, makers of some of the most popular studio microphones on Earth. It's just what you'll need to start basic tracking right away.

If you're itching for that real studio experience, however, the Studio Pack represents an amazing opportunity to outfit a complete home studio at an amazing price. A zZounds exclusive, the Studio Pack is assembled by our pro-audio experts from some of our most popular recording accessories. It'll transform your Tascam DP02CF into an enviable recording rig. The Studio Pack includes a pair of second-generation KRK Rokit RP5 self-powered reference speakers for real, studio-quality playback monitoring. For a microphone, we've outfitted the recording pack with the Audio Technica AT2020, a beautifully detailed condenser microphone that sounds stellar on vocals, acoustic guitar, piano. . . just about anything you point it at. Of course, we've also included all the little extras--mic stand, cables, vocal pop-filter--to get your project studio off the ground without delay. We've even thrown in a spindle of fifty blank CDRs, so you'll be that much closer to your first record release.

Great ideas that aren't acted upon remain just that: ideas. Let the Tascam DP02CF help you get those ideas out of your head and into the world! Whether or not you've used a multitrack recorder before, the DP02CF makes expressing, developing, and sharing your unique creativity a whole lot easier. You won't have to keep those unrealized musical masterpieces to yourself any longer. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Tascam products.

Tascam Warranty

Tascam Warranty

If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 323-727-7617

zZounds is an
authorized Tascam dealer

Product Description

zZounds is an
authorized Tascam dealer

Tascam's DP02CF combines 8-track CD-quality recording with a Portastudio interface--designed for musicians who want to record quickly and have fun. A matched pair of Tascam mic pres features XLR inputs with phantom power for condenser mics and a guitar in for direct recording. Each channel gives you dedicated controls for instant access to fader level, record arm/track mute, pan, effect send, high and low EQ. There's also an EQ frequency button for finer control over the mix.

The DP02 records two channels at a time to an included 1GB compact flash card--with enough space for a dozen songs or more. When you're satisfied with your production, arm the dedicated master track for your stereo mixdown. You can transfer your tracks and mixes or backup your song to a computer through a speedy USB 2.0 connection for MP3 encoding or CD burning from your Mac or PC. No other workstation makes recording so simple, affordable and fun as the Tascam DP02CF.

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

1GB Compact Flash card included with enough room for a dozen songs or more

Tascam LaunchPad Starter Pack information
LaunchPad - The Tascam recording kit includes headphones, cables and a microphone to help musicians start recording at an affordable price. Since revolutionizing home recording 25 years ago with the Portastudio, the name TASCAM has become synonymous with creative home recording. The LaunchPad is the ideal accessory for musicians to start recording with their TASCAM DP01 Digital Portastudio, cassette Portastudio or USB computer interface.

Included in the LaunchPad are a pair of TASCAM HPVT1 studio-quality headphones and a TASCAM microphone designed by MXL, whose mics have found their way into a number of studios and hit songs. It also includes a mic clip, mic pouch and cable so you're ready to record right out of the box. The TASCAM LaunchPad is the ultimate mic & headphone kit for passionate musicians.

Optional Tascam DP02CF Studio Pack Contents:
1 x Hosa CPA203 Dual RCA To Dual RCA Cable (9.75 Foot)

1 x RaXXess Stoppit Microphone Pop Filter/Popper Stopper

1 x OnStage 7701B Tripod Boom Mic Stand

1 x Whirlwind MC20 XLR Microphone Cable (20 Foot)

2 x KRK RP5 Rokit Powered Two Way Active Monitor

1 x Audio-Technica AT2020 Side Address Studio Microphone

1 x Memorex CDR80 50-Pack Spindle (52x, 700MB)

Our extended 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies on this product. Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

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What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "I am extremely pleased. My order was placed on a Tuesday evening, and the package arrived unexpectedly Thursday afternoon. Wow! Thanks zZounds." - customer on May 4th, 2012

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 (84 ratings) Rate and Review This Product

Read all 4 Tascam DP02CF 8-Track Compact Flash Digital Recorder Reviews

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us. "I don't know if you will find a better value anywhere ..."

Sound: Let me start out by saying this is my first recorder of any kind. I have wanted one for a long time, and the price of this unit was just too appealing to pass up, and with Zzounds "no questions asked" return policy, I figured, "How can I go wrong?" (other than return shipping charges). Anyway, I am really impressed with the sound repro, even with a really make-shift home studio (I basically closed the door to the rec room in our house and told the wife and kids to keep the heck out for a few hours). I am using a TubeMP Studio V3 mic pre-amp with the unit, and I think that makes a big difference. I also bought a Raxxess pop filter, and I'm sure that helps. The free Tascam mic and headphones you get in the starter pack are worth about what I paid for them, but they were at least included at no extra charge. Feature: I think the basic pan, EQ, and fader controls are pretty much industry standard. The faders have 45mm (about 1-3/4")length throw (again, I believe this is standrard for recorders in this category), and are very smooth. One disappointment was the lack of including a USB cable. I happened to have a cable that worked, but it is not your standard male/male USB cable. It is what is known as a standard "B" connector USB cable. They are quite inexpensive, so you would think Tascam would have included it. Walmart has a good Belkin 10 foot long model (Belkin model #F3U133-10-GLD) with 360 degree strain reliefs to protect the connectors for about $10. Ease of Use: I found the unit very easy to use, despite what I have read in some other reviews here on Zzounds, but I have many years of experience reading poorly written manuals for electronic equipment, so it didn't seem difficult at all to me. And I have never even been in a recording studio. But if you take your time, and read the instructions, then go back and read them again if things aren't going smoothly, you shouldn't have any problem. After unpacking, and setting things up, I had recorded a couple of tracks, mixed them, transferred the mix to my PC, played around with some Nero audio enhancement software, burned it to a CD, and was listening to it on my home stereo in about 1.0 hour. Quality: The unit is very sturdy, the finish and feel of the recorder are high quality. The control labels are easy to read. Better on board lighting would have been great, but I have a small table that I placed the unit on along with a small lamp (I really prefer to play in dim light and thick smoke), and that worked quite well. Value: You may be able to find a batter value, but you may have to look and wait a long time. And the time you spend has value (you could be doing something elese, like practicing for American Idol). Manufacturer Support: I have not dealt directly with Tascam, but the purchase I have made from Zzounds have been flawless. Excellent prices, excellent packaging, and I take the free shipping, and the products always arrive sooner than I expect. The Wow Factor: The unit has no "sex" appeal, or at least not to me. But if someone told me they would give me double the money for it, and I couldn't buy another one, I'm not sure I would do it. Overall: I think I will be satisfied with this unit for a long time, but in this day and age of electronic technology adavancement, you never know. I say that when I buy a new computer, but sure enough, about 3-4 years go by, the whole computer industry changes, and I gotta' have a new one. We'll just have to wait and see on digital recorders.

Style of Music: Folk, light rock, outlaw country

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"The best recorder you'll get for under $500 (at the moment)"

Sound: As one would expect with a low-end digital recorder, it's a little lossy. However I, nor hopefully anyone buying this unit, have no delusions about producing my next multi-platinum album with this unit. Feature: No accessories, but its setup could not be more straightforward. There are two instrument jacks and two mic jacks, one for each channel. 'Nuff said. The rest of what's back there you probably won't play with the first time around anyway. It's way smaller than its its Ease of Use: I've owned a couple other, more difficult to use digital recorders in the past; this one was a piece of cake. With the help of much pre-emptive caffeine, I had six tracks laid down on a two-minute sample a half hour after I plugged it in. If you're not familiar with this type of unit, get familiar with the manual before you even touch it. Quality: Considering the price, I was shocked at how sturdy this thing is. It feels a miniature tank. Value: "You get what you pay for" usually applies with technology nowadays, but with the DP02CF I know you'll wind up paying nearly twice as much before you come even close to getting better quality with this set of features. Buy it! The Wow Factor: A major improvement on the previous generation of big, awkward Tascam units. I'd actually let my girlfiend catch me in the closet (recording) with this thing. Overall: I think the only thing I could ask for with this already exists - these features with more space. That's the DP02. I'd also wind up paying a ton more for it. Thankfully, I'm fine laying down just one song at a time. There is lots better out there, but if you're just in it for something simple for some projects (and in my case, eventually start my own podcast) and practice, this is a steal.

Style of Music: Electronic, Folk, Ethnic

5 of 6 people (83.33%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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Read all 4 Tascam DP02CF 8-Track Compact Flash Digital Recorder Reviews