Tascam DP-004 Digital Pocketstudio User Reviews at zZounds

"SO worth the money!" submitted December 25, 2011

By a customer from windstream.net

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Sound

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

Manufacturer Support

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Hobbyist, off and on for 40 years.

Music Style: country/rock , blues

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Sound: It's hard to imagine better sound without spending much much more for a multi-track recorder. Both my acoustic guitars sound like they sound, and isn't that what you're looking for? Same for my electric guitar. So far I've only recorded in my living room, with no attempt to "studioize" the room. I was dreading having to purchase additional mics, pre-convinced that the built-in condenser mics would be poor quality, because how could they be any good when the whole deal is $150.00? So wrong. Really good sound capture from both vocals, and my Epiphone EJ-200. Feature: The redo and return to zero are great, especially compared to my old Tascam Porta-4 from the early 90's. Wait, wait, wait for the cassette to rewind. The metronome is very useful. If the ability to export MP3 as well as wav file were added, that would be cool. Ease of Use: There are some functions I have not used, but I was able easily to insert silence to eliminate chair squeak and repositioning my guitar before starting to record. I read the basic instructions twice before I took it out of the box, then once while looking at the controls, and boom!... I was off and recording. Quality: Seems to be well made. I think the Tascam projection of how long the batteries last is off quite a bit, but I'm using house brand batteries and might get better results with premium batteries. Value: I have nothing modern to compare it to, but on cyber-Sunday I paid 136.45 for what a competitor wanted $199.99 for. VERY much worth the price! Manufacturer Support: No experience. The Wow Factor: Until you have 4 arms and hands, it's the only good way to accompany yourself. Overall: For my needs, there will be no need to upgrade, especially when you can bounce tracks.

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"Great price for a 4 track recorder that does it's job with ease!!!" submitted January 27, 2009

By a customer from comcast.net

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Features

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active Hobbyist Musician!!!

Music Style: Everything except RAP!

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Sound: Wow!!! What a leap in technology...this recorder is top notch when it comes to a clean signal. I've used this with a ZOOM G2 and ALTO S8 mixer and the recording quality is flawless. The internal mics are amazing considering their size. The frequency / tone quality captured seems to rival some of my more expensive microphones!!! Feature: Make no mistake, this is a bare bones 4 track recorder. For the price, your getting better than cd quality recording with super ease of use at a very reasonable price. I'm sure that most people are going to use their own effects when it comes to recording and mix down. It would have been nice to have the AC adapter but for what I paid, I'm not complaining at all. Ease of Use: What can I say, I hate anything complex. This recorder is VERY easy to use and the manual is very clear on the recorder' use. Quality: I don't think I've ever had an issue with TASCAM products. Value: I don't think your gonna find a 4 track like this that's this easy to use and sounds great!!! *SUGGESTION* Buy one before the price goes up...and stock is low. Manufacturer Support: I haven't had to use any support from TASCAM lately but in the past, I've had great success. The Wow Factor: It's a basic recorder...the way I like it, SIMPLE!!!

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"Tascam DP004 - Excellent songwriter's tool" submitted January 27, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Part-time active musician

Music Style: Rock

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Manufacturer Support: Haven't used it The Wow Factor: It's got appeal if you like the idea of an updated mini-recorder - a bit retro. Overall: Perfect sound reproduction. Internal mics surprisingly good and the lo-mid-high sensitivity is very predictable once you try all three. Would like simple EQ to get rid of the usual low end mud and mid harshness in mixing. Other than that, it's a simple, exactly right songwriter's tool. Editing and other options on it that I probably won't use, because this is only for quick demos before going to Pro Tools, but it is useful to have cutting, space inserting, etc., when writing new material. Two further things to be aware of: it doesn't say it's compatible with Windows 7 (only XP, 2000, and Vista, so that's already out of date - maybe they'll update that, and we'll be able to load the update? Amybe it will work on Windows 7 anyway); the display should be brighter and whiter - it's a bit dull and green, like the displays on 1990s devices. In fact, my old Roland VS1660 display looked more "modern." Still, it's cheap, small, and solid. My only competitor was the bells and whistels, iPod sized guitar buddy from BOSS, but it just seemed to be trying to do too much. Good as a guitar trainer, probably, and easy travel companion.

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"features? um. no. but damn nice clear sound." submitted November 30, 2009

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Features

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: studio musician, engineer, hobbyist, occasional performer

Music Style: musical

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Sound: excellent built in mic, but no ability to EQ limits you to just what you input onto it. Not so good for mixdown, just for capturing straight signals really clear like. Feature: well I guess a volume and a pan puts in at about the level of the old Porta02's but since tape is obsolete, this is the new version. you cant really do much with it other than recording, layering, and bouncing. If you have the time you can edit loops out of it. No effect send or comp or EQ makes it so you have to do it beforehand, thats my biggest gripe. It features basic track copy/paste type digital editing but thats not a big deal. Ease of Use: This thing is so easy to just turn on and que up and do your thing. Can't mess with the sound after, you have to do all your sound tweaking on whatever gear you are running into it. It doesnt really do much internally, just records what you input to it Quality: its a good solid little thing Value: I guess its alright for crummy simple home recordings, but a lot of others in the same price range give you effects and mastering mixdown stuff (look at boss and zoom stuff for instance). It does have a very nice internal mic duo, but it just doesnt have anything else to make it worth that kind of money. If there's another one like it but has effects and EQ internally for the same price (and there are) I would rather use them. Manufacturer Support: i dont know (yet, hopefully dont ever have to) The Wow Factor: its nice and sleek. i dont really look for sex appeal in a recorder. Overall: Just not enough going on for it other than the nice mic. It has another version with 8 tracks that actually has reverb and Hi/Lo EQ built in. I wish it had an effect send. As a basic basic recorder it's wonderful. I just know there's other stuff out there that cost about the same but threw in more stuff.

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"I always have songs going in my head and I was just using a voice recorder on my phone to record my ideas to play back later so" submitted January 25, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Active Musician / Songwriter

Music Style: Rock

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Sound: Sound recording quality is great! My use is to carry it with me and be able to capture ideas on the fly, most times just with the external mics. The sound quality is much better than I expected. I am very pleased. Feature: There are really not any extra features, but I like the simplicity of the device. I have recording equipment when I want to sit down and spend hours tweaking and mixing, but just to get a quick live recording, this is great. The power adapter should be included with purchase. Ease of Use: It is very easy to use, I briefly skimmed through the manual and it is pretty self explanatory. If a person wanted to record several instruments, with several tracks, bounce, mix and the whole nine yards it might get a little cumbersome. Quality: So far I have not had any problems but the device itself does feel a little wimpy. Not what I would consider road ready, but if you are careful and don't drop it, should not be an issue. Value: For the price it is great and exactly what I was looking for. Overall: Overall I love the recorder. Sound quality is great. Battery life could be better and the construction could be a little more solid. For the price it is a great device to capture musical ideas while they are fresh to work on them in more detail later.

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"Want to upgrade to digital without purchasing a computer or learning complicated software? Say "hello" to your dream come true." submitted March 22, 2011

By a customer from gmail.com

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Sound

Features

Ease of Use

Quality

Value

The Wow Factor

Musical Background: hobbyist

Music Style: rock

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Sound: The sound is precise and high-quality. I agree with an earlier reviewer who noted that the internal condensor mics are a little sharp in tone, a little trebley. But that's not a complaint, just an observation. All of this can be easily addressed by using a simple mixing board and lining into the device directly. Feature: This device is a dream come true for somebody who wants to record digitally without using a computer or learning complicated software. Internal adjustable condensor mics, two lines in, built-in metronome, built-in tuner, battery power, tiny size...all attributes a songwriter would appreciate. I wish the power cord was included. Ease of Use: I would characterize this unit's ease of use as "relatively intuitive." Previous experience with cassette-based 4-tracks would be very helpful. The user guide is excellent. DEFINITELY easier than trying to configure a soundcard and learning most digital multitracking software. Definitely! Quality: This unit seems solidly built. I haven't had any problems. I wish the SD card slot was located elsewhere, but that's a small thing. Value: Ten years ago, I bought my first TASCAM, a cassette PortaStudio. Analog sound, no display to speak of, few features. It cost $160. At that time, a standalone digital recorder cost at least $5000. Today, I bought this TASCAM digital unit - complete with all the features I already described - for $150. So, for less than what I paid for a bottom-of-the-line cassette 4-track TEN YEARS AGO, I got the digital precision and solid functionality of this unit. I'd say that's a great value. Manufacturer Support: I have not used their support. The Wow Factor: This unit has no "sex appeal" but that's exactly why I like it. I've had enough of marketing claims and just wanted something to help me capture my songs digitally. It had to be similar to my trusty old-school 4-track but a dramatic upgrade in sound quality and practical interface with my PC. It met those needs and thensome. You don't need sex appeal when you have something real and valuable to offer. Overall: This unit has the functionality and performance I've sought for over a decade. I couldn't be happier.

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Tascam DP-004 4-Track Digital Pocketstudio

User Ratings

"SO worth the money!" submitted December 25, 2011

"Great price for a 4 track recorder that does it's job with ease!!!" submitted January 27, 2009

"Tascam DP004 - Excellent songwriter's tool" submitted January 27, 2011

"features? um. no. but damn nice clear sound." submitted November 30, 2009

"I always have songs going in my head and I was just using a voice recorder on my phone to record my ideas to play back later so" submitted January 25, 2011

"Want to upgrade to digital without purchasing a computer or learning complicated software? Say "hello" to your dream come true." submitted March 22, 2011