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Tascam Porta02mkII 4-Track Cassette Portastudio

For the aspiring musician, songwriter, or music educator looking for the best value in an entry-level multi-track recording system, the Porta 02 can't be beat. With great sound quality, easy operation, and full compatibility with consumer stereo cassette decks, this economical 4-track recorder lets you record, overdub, and mixdown to standard cassette. Learn More...

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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Great for a $100 Recorder. The pan is nice if you want bass on one side guitar on the other.

Quality:
It fine its great. will last me years if I treat it like a 100,000 dollar car

Value:
Such a score I paid $100 Thats great if you want a good low end multi track recorder like this

Desirability:
MUST GET IF TOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND OVER 100 ON A MULTI TRACK RECORDER PERFECT IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING TO MAKE DEMOS FOR YOUR BAND

Sound:
The sound its great for a tape. Great for demo's. I might use it for an LP if that all we have

Ease of Use:
You have to be blind to not know most of the stuff you can do with it. The manual good to have if you don't know you could hook it up with a stero

Support:
The best support is if you never need to make the call

Overall:
I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS EVERYBODY MUST BY THIS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE CHEAP DEMOS I ONLY WISH YOU COULD RECORD ALL 4 TRACKS AT A TIME BUT WHO CARES THAT NO BIGGIE BECAUSE IT TELLS YOU HOW TO IF YOU READ THE MANUAL

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Overall:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
For the price it was about right. I didn't expect too much for the price paid. It's quick and easy to learn how to use. No complaints.

Quality:
I'd give it a ten but I havene't had it long enough to know for sure. Seems well made on the outside, though.

Value:
For the price paid, and considering its ease of use - and taking into account its awful sound quality, for which there is really no excuse, I'd say it offers reasonably good value for the money. A bit more spent on a dolby noise reduction circuit for the tape and I'd have given it a ten.

Desirability:
Sex appeal??? The overall 'look' of the product is, to my eyes, very attractive aeshetically. Sexually??? No piece of musical equipment looks sexually attractive to me. It 'looks' like it's easy to use, and as it turns out...it is.

Sound:
It gets a low grade because, even for a tape machine, it should offer better sound quality. The least expensive cassette player sounds better than this does.

Support:
There should be a rating for "haven't had the need to call support", but there isn't so I gave it a rating of half way. I have noticed that most companies I've had to deal with, that sell music-related items, have what I'd label as mediocre support. I hope this company offers better. Though what I really hope is that I never have to find out!

Overall:
I'd like to rate it higher but, because of the lousy sound quality - mostly, I suppose, from the tape hiss - I'm rating it lower. I'm already looking for something else that is easy to use but offers better sound quality. Unfortunately I suppose it means looking into those way-too-complicated digital recording studio thingys that I've been trying to avoid.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10

Feature:
Wish I could record all 4 tracks at a time,but you get what you paid for.

Quality:
The quality is outstanding!I was pissed off at it one day and kicked it against a wall and OMG it still works.Probably even better than before lol. This thing might be platic but it sure is dang durable.

Value:
Its fantastic for the buck

Desirability:
This thing is fugly,but its ok in the inside.

Sound:
Its ok for what it is..Um...I would say this is the best recorder for novice musicians. Dont get the first model because theres a huge sound difference(I had one for a week and I hated it). Save up a coulpe more bucks and buy this bad boy. It has an old school type of sound where you can still here that his even if you had some kind of noise gate. I would highly recommend this to begginers before they go onto using the digital recorders.

Support:
never really had to call.

Overall:
I think there are better recorders out there but Im really satisfied with this one. Its probably the best way to record a good quality demo.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10

Feature:
would be nice to have balanced mike inputs,and to be able to record 4 tracks at once,but you cant have it all at this price,it is a good sketch pad for songwriters.

Quality:
had mine 3 yrs and no problems yet..(keep the heads clean)

Value:
fair price,but if I had to do it again I would step up to the next model,at least,to get 4 track simultaneous recordability,balanced mike inputs,and noise reduction...

Desirability:
it works,but I would not call it "sexy"...

Sound:
pretty good sound for the money (unless tape hiss aggravates you)great for hard rock guitar and drum recording,seems best with TDK pro cassettes..I use it for vocals,elec.guitar direct from my marshalls,and run a boss drum machine into it.

Support:
never had to contact them...

Overall:
I will replace it with something that can record 4 tracks at once....probably the "mk III"

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 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

Feature:
You dont really need that many features

Quality:
It doesnt seem like its going to break.

Value:
I paid only $89 for mine on ebay from a closeout. This was probobly the best investment in musical equipment I have made.

Desirability:
Its blue. Blue is cool

Sound:
Its really good to get an old 60's type recording sound with. A good thing to do is record the drums and bass. then put it into a computer program like cool edit pro. and then get a new tape, and record 2 guitars and vocals. Put that in the computer. This way you can still mix it however you want as long as you keep the tapes. Remember, Sgt. Peppers was recorded onto two four track machines

Support:
Never dealt with them

Overall:
I will use this for a while. Hopefully uprgrade to an eight track reel-to-reel some day. That would be nice.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10

Feature:
Each of the 4 tape return channels has pan controls. This allows you to create a great stereo image of your recoding. Each track has its own volume control so it is easy to get a ballanced sound. All of the inputs are 1/4" so you will need to purchas TS (Tip Sleave) 1/4" - XLR adapters or 1/4" - XLR cables if you want to use most microphones, which have XLR connections.

Quality:
Every thing is made of plastic, which is ok. It sames on cost. The only worry that I have is that a knob might break off on a cable as I pull it in and out of my equipment bag.

Value:
I haven't tried other products that are similar to this but recorder has been recomended to me by a fellow artist that says Tascam recorders in this price range sound better that the others. I don't like how much tape hiss is picked up.

Desirability:
Simple and not too futuristic looking like a lot of products. Metal construction and retro styles are more appealing to me.

Sound:
The quality is great for use as an audio sketch pad. I like running my electric guitar directly into it. The trim controls that are used for mics act as gain controls when you plug in guitars. Running instruments direct allows me to work on song writing projects without bothering my room mates. A lot of tape hiss is picked up when you record so I wouldn't recomend using it to record music that you intend to distribute.

Overall:
I expect that by takeing good care of it by cleaning the tape heads, keeping it free from dust, and not smashing it some how, it will last a long time.

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