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TASCAM DP-008 8-Track Digital Portastudio | 
| Brand: Tascam
Category: Musical Instruments
List Price: $449.99
Buy New: $209.00
as of 9/4/2010 22:43 CDT details
You Save: $240.99 (54%)
New (22)
Seller: audioMIDIcom
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 277
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.9
Dimensions (in): 11.8 x 6.8 x 4
TASCAM culminates 30 years of Portastudio Recording with the DP-008, a portable 8-track recorder for all musicians. TASCAM's DP-008 is an eight-track recorder that captures CD-quality audio, two tracks at a time. You can use built-in microphones to grab ideas, plug condenser mics into the XLR inputs or plug a guitar directly in to lay tracks. There's even a metronome and chromatic tuner built-in for tight-sounding tracks. The DP-008 also allows you to digitally bounce tracks to make room for mor
MPN: DP-008
Model: DP-008
UPC: 043774024995
EAN: 0043774024995
ASIN: B002YNY8GI
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 8-track digital Portastudio with 2-track simultaneous recording capabilities | | • | Records to SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32 GB in size; comes with 2 GB SD card | | • | Each track has its own row of knobs for level, pan and effects | | • | Built-in metronome and chromatic tuner for tight-sounding tracks | | • | Powered by four AA batteries or optional power supply |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Digital 8 Trk Recorder
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
 Finally--an intuitive digital 8-track January 18, 2010
Mfragin
34 out of 34 found this review helpful
After wanting a digital multi-track for a long time, I finally decided on this model, and I'm glad I did.
One thing that is not included in a list of specs is the usability factor. I've purchased my share of electronic devices for making and recording music over the years. Just looking at a dry list of specs has often been my method of deciding on what to buy. Well, on paper the DP-008 looks good, but it's not until you use this to cut a few tracks that you realize how well it is designed. I'm SOOOO glad I didn't buy the DP-004, as this model is clearly the results of Tascam eliminating the weaker aspects of the 4 track model just in time for the 8 track version.
I have seen a lot of digital multi-tracks that look good on paper, but to use them is a real pain. The fact that the DP-008 has all the individual track knobs means that you don't have to go flipping through pages on a menu or choosing the "hot track" in some other way. Here it's all laid out logically and makes tweaking the final stereo mix a piece of cake. Sure it would be nice if there were level sliders rather than dials, but these work just fine.
I use this model to record myself playing guitar and bass, run a Boss drum machine into it, and I record vocals with an external mic though a small mixer that has some helpful effects on it. You don't need a mixer, though, as the included mics are quite good. I am able to record several tracks, "bounce" them if I want to, and then write them to a stereo master mix. Then, I export that mix on the unit itself (sounds weird, but basically you're just creating a wav file that can be seen by a computer). The final step is connecting the DP-008 to a computer and merely dragging the song files over to the computer. I then use Audacity to convert it to an ogg file or mp3.
I use Linux and the process of transferring songs to the computer is very simple. In the past you would have received a useless cd-rom with a crappy "song transfer" program and maybe some crapware to go along with it. I'm glad that Tascam has decided to treat the customer right and state it clearly: There is no need for special software. Once you export the song, it will show up as an external storage device and you can simply transfer the files over to your computer, whether it's a PC running Windows or Linux, or a Mac.
Tascam, you've come a long way baby January 1, 2010
John Simmer (minnesota)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
My first Portastudio was a cassette tape Tascam 244 circa 1980/81. It was great for it's time and I used it so much the record head actually wore down. I moved on to an updated version of the cassette portastudio years later then got away from recording.
Now I'm back into music and recording so I thought I'd give Tascam another shot. I started with the 4 track DP-004 and loved it so much I immediately returned it and ordered the DP-008 which was a wise decision. This is simply an amazing unit in every way.
At first I was concerned that the menu driven system with a jog wheel would be cumbersome and slow but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's intuitive, fast and powerful. As a former portastudio user the learning curve for me was short.
The ability to easily import/export tracks and swap SD cards between DP-008s (even a DP-004 to a DP-008) is nice. The built in reverb is good and the condenser mics are excellent. Although you can mixdown and master your recordings on the DP-008 it's pretty easy to export the tracks and master them on a computer using Audacity or Soundbooth.
Best of all the price is simply amazing for all that you get. I highly recommend this for casual to semi-serious recording.
Love this little guy! March 11, 2010
Doc Welby (Blauvelt, NY USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I have lots of bigger and better equipment in my recording studio, but couldn't resist giving the DP-008 a try after reading all of the features contained in this little, carry it with you anywhere, pocketstudio. 8 tracks - phantom-powered XLRs as well as 1/4" inputs - built in reverb and EQ - a metronome and guitar tuner - internal stereo mics - RCA line outputs - runs on four AA batteries - USB connection - how can you not love this?
I picked one up about two weeks ago and am in no way disappointed. I was able to record stereo rhythm guitars, bass, lead and background vocal, and a guitar solo and get them into a nice mix with reverb after just a couple of quick glances at the manual. The DP-008 is easy to use, sounds great, and a perfect songwriting and practice tool.
Everything records to an SD card - it can take up to a 32MB card, although there aren't any approved 32MB cards appearing on Tascam's list of tested media on their website. And I couldn't find any of the 16MB cards they recommended either. I did find an approved 8MB card and am using that until I can replace it with a 32. (I should mention that the DP-008 comes with a 2MB card right in the box.)
No matter what you're up to musically, there's got to be some good use you can make out of one of these babies. If you're just getting started in multi-track recording, this is a great place to start - and I recommend spending the extra money, if you can afford it, to get this 8-track rather than the 4-track version that Tascam also makes. And even if you're a pro engineer, you'll find this handy, fun and the perfect songwriting or practice tool.
It doesn't weigh much, so you'll need to be careful where and how you place it when you're recording - I could easily see it flying off a desk or table if you make a wrong move while you've got a guitar or headphones hooked up to it. And it'll set you back another $20 or so, but I think it's a good idea to pick up the optional AC adaptor, too.
Thumbs up for this great little unit!
Great upgrade from the 4-track (+ update) April 1, 2010
4 a.m. Reader (Southwest US)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Much of my review at the Tascam 4-TRACK POCKETSTUDIO page can apply to this this 8-track unit as well. I liked the Tascam 4-track so much I decided to upgrade to this 8-track version. Since I like to overlay many guitars, some keyboard, vocal, bass, & drum tracks, I found I outgrew the 4-track. In my opinion, if it's just you and an acoustic or electric guitar with vocals, you're fine with just a 4-track. But if you have a band and you're recording with this (in my case, a one-man band) for mixing many instruments, spend a little more for this 8-track version.
Here are some of the things I like better on the DP-008:
8-tracks...I can mix in half the time compared to a 4-track, more diversity too.
Backlight on screen...easier on the eyes.
Reverb & EQ effects for each track...saves time from going into Audacity for vocal/instrument effects.
RCA outputs for monitoring (in addition to the headphone jack).
XLR mic inputs + phantom power for condenser mics.
Footswitch option (see update* below).
A few more buttons on the faceplate rather than buried in the menu (IE: tuner, track input change).
SD card slot in a more convenient place (comes with a 2GB. I recommend 8GB minimum).
(NOTE: If you have the DP-004, you can plug-in the same SD card to this one and it works fine without re-formatting so you can keep your recordings on the card intact. Tascam tech support said it wouldn't...but it did.)
Be sure to get a power supply for it Tascam PSP520 Power Supply For Mpgt1. It can eat up batteries. The backlight is programmable so it can shut off to save the batteries. I use the AC power all the time and only use the batteries for transferring files to the PC. BTW, it's the same AC adapter the DP-004 uses. I'm using a Sony PSP-100 AC adapter. Same specs, but I bought it used on Amazon cheaper.
For me, it was easy to start using this without the manual since I had the advantage of having already learned the 4-track one. A few things are a little (smartly) rearranged, but I overcame that fast.
If you go to Tascam.com and download the owners manual, you'll see all the great features it has. After I glanced it over, I realized I've barely scratched the surface.
*UPDATE:
If you are not perfect like me & screw up a note every so often, trust me on this...get a footswitch to punch in & out. I thought at first..."Bah! I don't need no stinkin' footswitch!" Guess what? I NEED a stinkin' footswitch. It's like a gift to my recording life. You won't know how you lived without it. Also, you don't have to buy the expensive Tascam one. The MUCH cheaper Yamaha FC5MM Sustain Pedal for Keyboards works just fine. Again, trust me on this one. As Monk would say, "You'll thank me later".
Perhaps Simpler Than the Porta One? Definitely CLEANER. January 16, 2010
J. Saltsman (Missoula, Montana USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
My biggest (and perhaps best) Christmas gift ever as a kid was a shiny black Tascam Porta One, which I received back in 1984 or 1985. I used the heck out of that thing and have a box of tapes the size of a Volvo somewhere (which I need to transfer via another Porta One someday... someday...). I've had a couple of other small recorders (digital and analog) over the years, but none of them have ever given me that simplistic user-friendly vibe that my original Porta One did - until now.
This machine sounds so clean, is so intuitive in it's controls, is just so addictive, that I can't stop recording. Within minutes of having it out of the box, I was up and running. Hardest part for me was turning it on (have to hold the button down for a sec or two before it turns on... thought it was DOA for a sec) and now hardest part is turning it off.
Tascam has created a new classic for the next generation of starry-eyed kids plunking away in their basements. Your Kings of Leon, Girls, Animal Collective, and Fleet Foxes to my Van Halen, Motley Crue, Scorpions, and Rush. Just wish I could flip the SD card over and get that backwards guitar sound! :) Wanna jam, junior?
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
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