Tascam DP-02 MTR

[liteon]

Hey guys how you doing? I bought a TAscam dp-02 a month or so ago and i need a little advice. hopefully some of you are familiar with the machine. I was wondering if anyone knew how to tell the level of the gain and master fader on the unit. for example it is measured in numbers from 1 - 10 . there are no db ratings or anything. i was wondering because i would like to be able to calibrate everything to 0db if possible when recording. also , is it just me or has anyone else found the onboard pre amps to be terrible and add alot of noise, especially when micing up?

cheers guys

[MetalDave]

I haven't used tascam since they went to digital. I think they have some ok stuff but I keep hearing of problems with them getting good sound. Hope you didn't pay much for it. I have heard it compared to Zoom not my cup O T...

[liteon]

I don't mind the sound too much its just that i get a hell of a lot of noise when micing up. plugging stuff straight in is ok but i get a very poor signal when micing up. i have to up the gain to full and i still only get 1/4 signal before clipping... i think a nice new pre amp is needed

[nitpicker]

Hi, this is my first post, and let me say this seems to be the best home recording forum on the net. I particularly like how active the Big Kahuna is, especially in answering questions when nobody else seems to pick them up.
Yes. I just bought a Tascam DP 02, and the first thing I noticed was exactly what you said, that the level input had to be turned WAY up, even beyond max, when I used a Shure SM57. The noises included electronic hash and clicks (from the hard drive?). I did a lot of research online, and this seems to be a common complaint, and the suggested solution is to add a pre-amp.
The noise seems to follow a pattern. With level pots maxed out, after miking up and switching on the unit, there's about 30 seconds of silence. Then the electronic hash and clicking sounds kick on. After almost exactly 70 seconds, it stops, and there is silence again. If you leave it on, and come back and listen at random times, it sometimes comes back on and goes off again.
Is this what happens with yours?
I'm trying to determine whether my hard drive has been damaged in shipping or whether this is normal behavior.
As you say, the guitar inputs are better. My Breedlove with the LR Baggs needs to have the guitar's onboard volume knob only about halfway for a pretty normal sound level through the monitors, and the input level not maxed out. My Taylor, however, with the Fishman, needs to be almost maxed out on board, and at the level input. It's marginal.
This is my first encounter with homerecording and multi-tracks, and I'm wondering if this is par for the course in recorders at this price point, or just the Achilles heel of the Tascam DP 02. I love the general ergonics, layout and design of the DP 02, and find it quite easy to use. But I'm wondering if I should return it and find something in its price point (Zoom, Boss, Fostex???) with better dynamic range in the input levels.
Any thoughts, anyone?
Thanks.

[alascar11]

heya all...just chiming in. I have a DP02fx cd. Revisiting recording after a 12 yr break. I picked this recorder because all the controls are similar to the old 424 I had. Anyway, just wanted to say I love this recorder. I don't have any noise/low volume issues at all. Only have a small issue- when I turn on an effect, I hear it, reocrd the track, and it sometimes records the instrument dry- no effect recorded, though I can hear it when it's enabled. I turn on and off everything several times and finally it works. Anyone else have this problem? Thanx Bill oh BTW- I do notice I have plenty of volume with my Taylor, however there is less volume with my SM58- which I have to trim it up a lot more for volume. I think a preamp will solve that though.

here is the finished product of recording on my DP-02:
Bill Little on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

no, not a shameless plug. Just I love the results when I record with it, just that little irritating effect issue.