Recording Studio Equipment

I am a multi-instrumentalist who creates atmospheric soundscapes that integrate electronic music with American folk instruments, woodwinds, and world percussion. I am a strong advocate for the *process* of recording music (which I liken with cooking) as opposed to mechanically generating beats and tones (which I liken with microwaving).

After some ambivalence over the transition from an analog to a digital Portastudio, I decided to go with this 8-track to replace my cassette 4-track when recording electronic music. (I still use the analog machine for recording guitar-bass-drums material which I then mix and master on computer, but to capture the fuller range of direct-input synths and drum machines it really is necessary to use a digital machine.)

With the DP-02, I have been more than impressed with the fact that I can combine analog and digital recordings on an album without differences in tonal quality becoming a distraction.

I would agree with other reviewers that the machine holds up quite well. It has frozen up only once, and that was at the end of a very long session (7 hours) on a summer afternoon in a stuffy attic studio.

I have discovered only four major drawbacks with this machine:

First, whereas my dynamic mics worked like a charm with my analog machine, this model does require a preamp to drive acoustic instruments into the mix. (On the other hand, the preamp does help generate a sense of warmth that I miss from the analog recorder!) With the DP-02, it is VERY important to keep an ear on the input level (for both mic and line in). When set too high it will pick up the sound of the internal hard drive, which has stained the recordings of some very good spontaneous moments with a high-pitched whizzing sound (thankfully I was able to restore them via computer software, but it took some work and some of the clarity became dulled). My advice, therefore, is to set the input level lower and to crank the output on your instrument/amp and/or to close-mic (just try to avoid clipping from the preamp by adjusting its volume level as needed). I have found that the balance *will* come out in the wash during the mixing/editing phase.

Second, the DP-02’s EQ and effects are good (though I really only use reverb – any other effects I tend to introduce at the instrument/amp level), and the hardware durability is outstanding (I’ve had this machine for about a year now and it has definitely withstood the test of time). However, I have found that the on-board mixes on this machine are muddier than those made via software. I find this disappointing because I would much prefer to use my hands to operate the sliders and pots than to sit before a computer screen pointing and clicking a mouse. On the other hand, two advantages to doing mixes by computer are: (a) the difference between 0 and 1, between 1 and 1.5, between 1.5 and 2, etc. on the DP-02 volume sliders is substantial, which makes it difficult to make subtle adjustments without affecting the entire mix, and (b) whereas software has an “undo” button, one mistake during a stereo mixdown on the DP-02 and one has to start over. All that said, I would say that the SmartCard model may be better than the CD model because it is about $150 cheaper!

Third, I love the fact that I can upload each song track by track to a computer via USB cable and then mix/edit/master/burn to CD or upload to internet from there. However, the transfer to computer process does take a while (between 5 and 25 minutes for a 2:30 song, depending on the number of tracks used and how involved the wave forms are). Uploading only can occur one song at a time, and the USB cable must be disconnected between uploads. In turn, I cannot set the DP-02 to upload 8-10 songs at a time and then leave the machine running while I do something else for a while. So bring a book during the transfer process.

Fourth, I concur with the other reviewers that the manual is a mess. However, don’t let this discourage you. The procedures are actually quite simple, and I was able to get them all down after about two (or at most three) times around. (Meantime, simply writing out my own set of step-by-step instructions was a good enough reminder when need be.)

Now to the positives. In addition to those I mentioned above, I would say that the DP-02 serves as an outstanding blank canvas. What goes in is what comes out – which is not something I can always say for recording equipment (digital or analog). It works just fine with a $100 stereo receiver and some good speakers for a monitor system (e.g., no need for a fancy mixing set-up). And again, it is very well constructed and should hold up for several good years (assuming that one cares for equipment).

Overall, for home recording I’d give this an A-. (In comparison, I would give my old 4-track cassette Portastudio the full A, and my old 1970s TEAC open reel a C+.) Comparisons and preferences are always subjective, and no one piece of equipment will ever receive a perfect score. But for what the DP-02 is designed for, it gets the job done.