so right now i have a tascam dp01 i record into (don't wanna fuck with computers im too stoopid) but i find myself recording shit less and less because it's so bulky and i'm wanting to have a small recorder i can basically use on the living room coffee table and record my 404, synths etc straight in...for some reason having a dedicated STUDIO space always fucks with my output for some reason and i like being a nomad with my shit, aka 404 and microkorg on the couch...anyone else like this? do i have commitment issues?

SO has anyone fucked with the zoom hand-held jobbies or any other of these badass lookin doohickies, i know roland put one out too.. they get great reviews and i'm thinking about picking one up...i'd appreciate any input anyones got...

thanx fam

I have had the tascam dr-07 for about a year and a half and use it to record my band's practices and live shows. awesome recorder, I feel like the value I have gotten out of it is for that particular use is unbelievable. but it's only 1 track.. and I'm hurting for a multitracker real bad. I'm having mad latency issues on the pc and like everyone else am trying to get away from the pc anyways.. so I've been thinking of getting the tascam dp-008. anyone here ever use one? it sounds like it's designed to be a digital version of the cassette tape portastudios (which I've actually never used).. i'm kinda waiting for the price to drop to <$200 though and i keep missing out on the <$200 deals when I see them on ebay, maybe after the holidays though..

some of the nice things about the dr-07 are that it records to either mp3 or wav, accepts a 8 GB SD card, super fast transferring to computer via usb, it has a good limiter for live music recording, also I actually use it as an mp3 player as well, haha it even has primitive looping, pitch and speed functions which are hella fun to play with when I get bored listening to music riding on the train!

I'm looking at the Zoom H4n right now. The whole line (H2, H1) have gotten really good reviews (both blog-wise and friend-wise). I like the H4n because it's got 4 tracks total (stereo built-in mics plus dual 1/8" inputs), so you could feasibly record a small band with just this guy. Runs ~ US$300 new but IMHO worth it to get away from a computer or studio setup. I also plan on using mine for foley work and recording found sound stuff so I may be skewed.

What models are you looking at?

Also wanted to big up the Zoom H2:
~US$150 new, top notch sound quality for stereo recordings with 4 built-in mics (also has mic inputs). Basically the industry standard for handheld recorders, does 24bit/96khz wav or straight to mp3 for space saving, can support 32gb cards. Great balance of price and features.

Zoom H2
works like a charm*
encode mp3 on the fly VBR
does 24bit 48khz wav
can do 4 channel surround
has a built in compressor, limiter (record live shows)
easy to navigate.
monitor whats coming into it
pretty versatile little machine 'i've dropped it multiple times while running for the bus, etc.

the H4 is obviously a better piece BUT
it is NOT AS PORTABLE AS THE H2 (h2 fits in your pocket)
now that they are $150 they are worth it (comes with a 1 gb sd).

I also have problems with making beats in one place
I have little side tables all over my apartment with different synth/SP combos set up

i've done as little bit of research and i think what i might actually go for is a tascam 004...compact little four track digital. those zooms look sweet but i wouldn't be doing any live recording, so i'm probably better with the tascam im thinking

word up, let us know about that piece, like i said i've been looking hard at the dp008.
(if you wanted to you can do live recording on either of these anyway, using built-in mics or external)

a couple of my friends have the zoom h2 and i will put it another word for the tascam dr-07-- its much sturdier and imo has a better look

I own a dp004. It is very nice. I use it a lot to record my dj sets live in bars with the built in mic's. They sound nice, no joke, I have used it to record live bands outside with the built in mic's and it sounded extremely nice. I also use it to record a beat into one track, rewind it and overdub some scratching into it. One cool thing about the dp is that you can record 4 tracks and bounce them into one and re record onto the other tracks. So actually it can be more than just a 4 track recorder. It comes with batteries and a 1 gig card out of the box. Also the usb is connection makes it easy to export into the computer.

^^^ Werd

thanks jeff that pretty much cinches it for me

isn't the dp004 only 32 khz max? I think that's what always kept me from getting it.

edit; I just checked and it's cd quality 44.1 damn, now i want one.