Hey all:

just wondering if anyone here is tracking out to the new Tascam DP02CF 8-track....

if so, is it any good?

I'm still using my old 414mkII 4-track cassette... I just can't get into the whole "all computer" approach, and I'm thinking of upgrading to the new DP02...

it only records at 16 bit 44.1... 24 bit is all the rage... does it really matter, though? isn't 16 bit good enough?

any feedback would be helpful, especially from someone who might own the DP...

thanks

I own the DP02CF. Simple as hell, lots of inputs, even midi to sync your SP up with. I've never had a problem with 16 bit

By the way may add that those are some sexy porta studios. Compared to the last batch.

yeah, aint nothing wrong with 16 bit.

it seems like these days its half that. everybody wants that "warm" 12 bit sound. actually i'm startin to think there is a lot more to it than bit ratio. tascam is solid, with a rep for high quality sound.

I've been checking out the Tascam DP02CF lately also. It seems just about perfect - and for only $300!
I'm still using the 424mkIII. I love that bulky blue box - and I'll keep it,,, but I just might have to make room for the 8-track.
Recording to CF is pretty damn convenient also.

I'm going to buy one when I get my taxes.

bit depth has more to do with sound level than ne thing else. u can get a fuller recording with 24 bit...but it wont make ne difference at all since its gonna be bounced back to 16 bit for mp3 or cd any way. Some people say that u can notice a difference after if u used 24 bit... but I think they are just trying to rationalize on spending to much money

also, if u want to stay away from computers... I like the Zoom MRS-8 better than that tascam. Mainly because it has effects plus a mastering section that sounds good. So u can do your whole track on it. No usb...it would be nice if they gave u USB instead of that drum machine...owell... you can record back into the 404 and export .wav

word

im having a bitch of a time making it work.

the only way you can save the mastered song is to export it to a computer? if so what's the good of having the flash card?

i did a test recording. mixed it how i wanted to sound. did the master. now the only thing that it shows is the original recording. there is no two channel mastered mix.

what if i wanted to do several different songs, mix and master all of them. can i not save the mastered versions along with the originals until i feel like uploading them to my computer?

someone help me out here!

There is definitely a difference, but it's something hiphop producers usually aren't looking for anyways (hence the whole lo-fi stuff on their equipment.. ). If you compare mp3s with CDs or LPs the differences can really be heard, however for recording and playback 16bit is more than good enough. It will still give you the possibility to record into 192kb/s files which is more than enough for 'normal' usage anyways.



Definitely true too, and don't believe all the tales of salesmen or the commercials either. I mean sure there often ís a difference, but it's by far not as huge as they would have wanted it to be. :p

24-bit is important for processing in DAW. There you can get superior sound than 16-bit samples....of course you will need more powerful computer if u will playback for example 20 tracks in 24-bit

24 bit is nice but actually i think the best is the 1-bit stuff that korg is using on their mr-1/mr-1000, seriously. i had a 1 bit sony cd player a few years ago. it was high-end but i got it for 15 bucks and some laborious tasks at a christian thrift store. my buddy has it now cuz i couldn't travel with it(heavy as mini-keg). that was the best sounding cd player i've ever heard; bar-none.

on the flip side i love me some raw sounding shiz. for at least another 3 or 4 years 16 bits is all anybody really needs.

Now I forgot where I read this, but it still seems to make sense to me. If you bounce down from 24 bit to 16 bit you are actually WORSE off then if you started in 16 bit, because digital artifacts are added when converting. I'm far from an expert on this, so feel free to correct me if I'm way off. I'll try to find that article though.