Tascam DP-004 Pocketstudio Digital Recorder

June 24, 2011

For enthusiastic bands that are already excited to appear in the popular music scene, the right equipment must always be present. However, financial constraints make it almost impossible to accomplish this. Thankfully, the Tascam DP-004 Pocketstudio Digital Recorder exists to satisfy their recording needs. It is a device that aims to record sounds, seminars, demos, lectures, and other audio samples without the use of complex audio mixing and controls. This piece of technology houses all these simple and easy-to-utilize features in one portable 1.6-pound case.

The product features two 1/4-inch line or microphone inputs that can record two guitar or microphone tracks at the same time. The switchable guitar level signal allows for recording. There is a headphone output dock that enables the user to listen to the recorded demo via playback. A USB 2.0 connector allows for direct home computer access, and the data is recorded to the included 1 GB SD Card. It has record, repeat and undo functions with a set dedicated stereo mix-down track controls. The device can be powered by two AA batteries or a PS-P520 power adapter. It has a total lifespan of about 8 hours of recording, and at least 8 and a half hours of playback.

Pro 1: Affordability

For beginners and professionals alike in the music scene, this device has a remarkably affordable price even with its huge range of functions. In terms of functionality, it could probably be beaten with its sisters that have more specialized uses, but this product runs over all of them with its “ready-to-record” price and functions.

Pro 2: Compactness

As expected of something affordable and handy, this product is extremely compact, not even bigger than a typical paperback textbook. Featuring 6.1 inches in width, 1.3 inches in height, and 4.2 inches in diameter, this portable product can even fit anyone’s pocket for use on the road, at home, or in a live studio.

Pro 3: Simplicity

The device is extremely easy to operate. Musicians, students, songwriters, and even seminar hosts would be able to record their material without any form of difficulty. The manual could be quickly interpreted by anyone, and the controls do not have occupation-specific jargons. With these easy features, anyone would be able to start recording in no time.

Pro 4: Quality

For its simple blend of functions, the device outstandingly delivers. The four-track recorder performs well especially in a band situation when members would want to input ideas for a new song. The built-in internal microphone is able to capture an excellent stereo image even at a fair distance away from the source.

Con: Not for Lengthy or Multi-Track Recordings

The device is wonderful for capturing band rehearsals or demos, but it does not have the needed capacity for capturing lengthy sessions or demos–especially with its included 1 Gigabyte SD card. The system and the card just do not have the capability to hold that much data, as well as tracks that exceed four.

What Others Are Saying About The Tascam DP-004 Digital Recorder

After conducting extensive online product research I found dozens of satisfied reviewers for the Tascam DP-004. The majority of reviewers gave this product a 5 star rating, indicating the highest rating. Here are some of the comments I found:

“I thought this would be complex to use because it does so much. However, after thoroughly reading the manual I found it fairly easy to use. Though I haven’t done any track edits or mastering, the record and play back process is pretty simple. Tracks and inputs are fairly easy to manage with dedicated controls and menus. When the time comes, I feel I can easily record and master a complete song with this thing. It’s very portable and doesn’t need a computer to work.”

“Im in the dark ages when it comes to technology, and I found this portastudio super easy to use out of the box. Ive yet to burn a cd off of it, that part sounds a little tricky, but as far as recording multiple tracks, bouncing, silencing and mastering, i dont think it could be any easier.”

“I recommend this product for anyone wanting a tactile modern version of a portable 4 track recorder. While it has on board processing and mixing features, I have found that using it to just track quality sources and then use computer based mixing/mastering is faster.”

“I’ve had this for about a month now and love it! It is very easy to use, you’ll be recording in minutes. The onboard microphones sound great and are super-sensitive but can be adjusted for louder recording sessions. The knobs are nice and make for a quick set up. Transferring data to the computer was a snap. Very happy with this item.”

Final Thoughts: Simple, Yet Very Effective

The Tascam DP-004 Pocketstudio Digital Recorder does not have the wide range of features, knobs, controls, or mixing functions that may attract the professional mixer or audiophile, but its simple yet very effective features are particularly useful for garage bands that want to submit demos especially in quick, small-scale proportions.