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Akai DPS24 24-Track Digital Workstation

16/20/24-bit uncompressed recording. 32/44.1/48/88.2/96kHz sampling rates.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
           10 out of 10
Features:
           9 out of 10
Quality:
           10 out of 10
Value:
           10 out of 10
I Want It:
           10 out of 10
Sound:
           10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
           8 out of 10
Support:
           9 out of 10
 
 

Akai DPS24 24-Track Digital WorkstationCustomer Review

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from teleport.com
Submitted: 6/11/2004
Style of Music: everything
Location: New York City, Oregon

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
The best features is the professional considerations in the design paradigm. The control pots have a center detent light at the bottom of the lighted ring surrounding the pot. This allows you to see the pot position without standing up to look over the top of the pot. I like the way every page has a cancel or exit strategy allowing you to explore without inadvertantly applying an effect or activating a tool you might not want. With the exception of the a/b input selects and the mic/line selects, the buttons all light up, letting you know what's happening at all times. If I were to suggest any improvements, I would like to see variable normalization, the ability to add fx to sections of a track after recording, and I just wish the board had an assistant attached. One can dream.

Quality:
What can I say? Everything is high-quality.

Value:
This system can be thrown into the back of a car with mics and stands and set up in a live setting in under thirty minutes. 24-track digital recording from studio to live in no time at all. Even at the suggested retail price, all things considered, this is an exceptional value.

Desirability:
I have lusted for this device for over a year.

Sound:
First of all, this product meets the standard of all pro recording studios. Current experience tells most of us that processed recording signals (electric guitar, synth, drums, etc, sound just as good at 48 khz, but acoustic instruments, guitar, sax, dulcimer, sitar, etc, profit from the additional quality of 96 khz. The akai dps24 sound is extremely clear, open and rich. even a little compression from the on-board compressor adds a "soak" kind of effect, similar to tube compression. I really liked the normalizing for vocals and lead guitar, as I was able to record at a reasonable level without clipping and then normalize for more headroom in the mix. I strongly suggest adding a limiter in-line before the board to prevent the occasional digital grit at or on certain consonents at the beginning of words.

Support:
no epxperience yet. no problems other than the manual.

Overall:
I expect to be using this product as long as electricity is the mode of power in my area. I will use it as a control interface with a computer system soon and with the pulling of a few plugs, on the road it goes.

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"BEST STAND ALONE RECORDER EVER MADE!!"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
          8 out of 10
Support:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from wildblue.net
Submitted: 11/19/2006
Style of Music: Country, Rock, Alternative and Jazz
Musical Experience: Songwriter, Engineer
Location: USA

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
Features?! Comes with 8 tracks of ADAT, a mono switch onboard, a talk-back mic, powerful editing tools, a mastering suite, etc... the list is endless. Just read the specs on the DPS24 and compare them to the competitors. It's a no brainer!

Quality:
It's built like a tank and meant to last. It's a very big machine with lots of room to work the controls and faders. The tilt-up backlit display is very easy to read. You can also download aK.sys for free from Akai and use your computer monitor.

Value:
It's worth 3 times the price at least. Nothing else compares in this price range. Like I said above, just read the specs and decide for yourself. Once you've had the pleasure of getting your hands on one you'll see why this is the best 24 tracker on the market today.

Sound:
Astonishing! This is the best sounding all-in-one recorder ever made. For a digital recorder it's very warm and analog sounding. The best of both worlds for me. I don't know what converters or pres are in this machine but they are top level for being stock. Pristine sound and clarity.

Ease of Use:
Very easy to operate. Like any recording platform there's a small learning curve but if you're already familiar with an 8 buss/24 track set up you'll be up and running in no time.

Support:
Don't know for sure. I never had to use them personally but I've heard they're great!

Overall:
I'll hang onto this recorder forever or for at least as long as it lasts. I've had it over a year now with some heavy use and haven't had one single glitch or problem with it. It's been a top performer on every level and has made my recording experience a joy. Hey! It's made by Akai! Need I say more?!

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"I Like It"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from pei.sympatico.ca
Submitted: 12/22/2004
Style of Music: many
Musical Experience: Musician/engineer
Location: Prince Edward Island, Canada

 

 
Quality:
This thing is built like a Sherman tank---mostly metal where the Roland is mostly plastic.The Roland is a good unit though.

Value:
I believe this machine is worth more than it's typical selling price, and other owners agree.

Desirability:
I have to say that I lusted after this recorder ever since it first came out--I believe it was in 2002.

Sound:
This is the best sounding recorder that I have owned in the past 15 years of recording.

Support:
Here is where the Akai leaves the Roland in the dust.Akai gives wonderful support--constant free software upgrades--one of their people on the users group web site!Great stuff.

Overall:
I honestly believe that this will be the last recorder that I will own,unless Akai comes out with something better,which I doubt. The only other recorder that I would consider is the IZ Technologies Radar 24,paired with a Soundcraft Ghost 24 ch. analog mixer. Or if Akai ever come out with a unit similar to the DPS24, but with 24 motorized faders, and 24 simultaneous recording via the 24 faders,I would grab one of those.

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"the best multitrack you can get"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          9 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from yahoo.com
Submitted: 6/20/2004
Style of Music: Rock, Punk, Hip Hop, Ambient electronica
Location: NYC

 

 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
It has everything you need...but be prepared to spend a while learning how it use it...the manual poorly describes details, and rarely goes into step by step detail

Quality:
I bought this product blemished, and upon hours of careful inspection, the only blemish i can find is three of four scratches on the rear of the unit..they arent even deep enough to show metal...just a scratch into the outer coat of paint. The faders are smooth and the motors are silent, and the lcd is very easy to read and use. The interface is very well designed

Value:
Absolutely worth the price...has a cleaner, more intuitive interface than the roland VS series, and sounds better...

Desirability:
its beautiful

Support:
The folks at DPS world included AKAI employees, so the support is unparalleled...they go the extra mile to find answers to your problems.

Overall:
i will use my deeps until i no longer have the need to record my own music...or until someone wants to pay for me to record on a neve 88r

1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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"The Best made.Period. From a former pro-tools owner."

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from hotmail.com
Submitted: 7/8/2005
Style of Music: All
Musical Experience: 19 years.
Location: Los Angeles, CA.

 

 
Feature:
The features are professional and applicable to recording; you will not find amp models, harmony features, built-in bass and drum track. DPS24 is a recording machine, not a gimmic toy like the boss-roland.

Quality:
There is nothing better out there on the market. Ask pro-tool users how often the lose material because of software crashes. This is built to last internally and externally.

Value:
Just call a recording engineer and ask what it costs in added hardware and software to equal the DPS 24? What is inside and outside would cost 6-8 thousand dollars

Sound:
The only reason to consider any recorder is sound. This one records and reproduces sound with great accuracy.

Overall:
This is the standard that all future recording platforms should imitate.

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"If this thing were to blow up today...I'd have another one on its way tomorrow."

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from yahoo.com
Submitted: 6/19/2005
Style of Music: Alt/Rock
Musical Experience: 25 years playing and 5 years recording experience in my own studio
Location: Spring Creek NV USA

 

 
Quality:
I've had this machine for 3 years and not one glitch. Not even a hiccup.

Value:
Best gear I've ever owned.

Sound:
Nothing cheesy about this unit. Built like a tank and pro all the way. Nice clean pres, very useable EQ and FX, and the MBCX is awesome!

Overall:
What else can I say?

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"If this thing were to blow up today...I'd have another one on its way tomorrow."

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from yahoo.com
Submitted: 6/19/2005
Style of Music: Alt/Rock
Musical Experience: 25 years playing and 5 years recording experience in my own studio
Location: Spring Creek NV USA

 

 
Quality:
I've had this machine for 3 years and not one glitch. Not even a hiccup.

Value:
Best gear I've ever owned.

Sound:
Nothing cheesy about this unit. Built like a tank and pro all the way. Nice clean pres, very useable EQ and FX, and the MBCX is awesome!

Overall:
What else can I say?

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"Easier and simpler quick start manuels, walk through cd's videos,ect."

Overall:
          8 out of 10
Features:
          7 out of 10
Quality:
          8 out of 10
Value:
          8 out of 10
I Want It:
          7 out of 10
Sound:
          9 out of 10
Support:
          8 out of 10
User: a customer from peoplepc.com
Submitted: 6/26/2004
Style of Music: rock, blues, country, ballads,pop, alt................
Location: ashfork az. usa.

 

 
Feature:
Its hard to rate, intelligent people have a problem using this or any other comparable products, It should be as easy as ABC 123, I get a migrane much of the time when you want to access the power of the unit before your inspirations vanish. It can really be annoying. And thats just the way it is HELP! Tim

Desirability:
I GOT IT !

Sound:
I use Innertube's mag mic, for live work and custom homemade vacuum tube pre amp-compressor-limiter and record at 24 bit belive me when I say this tube mic sounds like a u-47 if you know what I mean. Its how good It sounds going in the board-recorder, that makes the difference of OK, or great. My only ***** is the product learning curve the manuels, suck. their written for design engineers, not song writers and musicians

Support:
OK if you can get through

Overall:
iF I cant be satisfied with this digital product Im getting Our My 16 track analog tape machine!

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"A salesman finally told me the truth; and AKAI is the best."

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
Submitted: 12/14/2005

 

 
Feature:
They need a firewire for this thing, but still it is a very great device.

Quality:
Big amd metal and big and solid.

Value:
I couldn't afford Pro Tools, and probably never really to have it anyway. But this and Tascam DAWs are the only decent sounding things out there.

Sound:
I owner a Yamaha then a Roland. There is no sound comparable to Akai, except Tacam.

Support:
I had an Akai guitar looper and they were good folks to work with.

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"Stunning Sound Quality + Rock Solid Reliability"

Overall:
          10 out of 10
Features:
          10 out of 10
Quality:
          10 out of 10
Value:
          10 out of 10
I Want It:
          10 out of 10
Sound:
          10 out of 10
Support:
          10 out of 10
User: a customer from wfstudios.net
Submitted: 6/17/2005
Style of Music: Various
Musical Experience: Mastering Engineer
Location: SoCal

 

 
Feature:
What else, let's see
1 of 1 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?    
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