TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio (Used)
- Write a Review
- SKU
- #H80452000000000
Compact, professional CD-quality recording in a portable, digital studio.
The DP-24 from TASCAM is a 24-track digital portastudio with solid state recording, an easy-to-read color LCD display, and channel strip controls that make the recording process simpler, so you can stay creative. A total of up to eight tracks can be recorded simultaneously at 24-bit/48kHz audio resolution, so you know you’re getting professional quality sound. There are a total of eight microphone inputs, each with combination XLR-1/4” jacks and phantom power. There's plenty of inputs for whatever your project is calling for, even enough to mic up an entire drum kit. Input processing like compression and limiting are available during recording, so you’ll be able to keep levels consistent. There are also multi-effects and a guitar amp simulation for use with the instrument-level input, that way you can track guitars straight into the DP-24 without the need to lug around amplifiers, especially if you’re on-the-go.
Once you are happy with your recording, each of the tracks can be viewed and mixed on the large color LCD display. The DP-24 features dependable mixing controls like eighteen linear channel faders, a master fader, and a dozen channel strip encoders with dedicated controls for EQ, pan and effect sends, giving you complete hands-on control. There are two mixdown effects including reverb and chorus that are available, as well as a mastering effect that will have you polishing up your final mix in no time. Once finished, your final song can be transferred to computer over a fast USB connection or your tracks can be written directly to CD with the built-in CD-RW drive for instant mixdown and back-up options. That means you can go from recording, to mixing, and straight to CD without ever leaving the DP-24.
Features
- 24-Track digital Portastudio
- Color LCD display and 12-encoder channel strip for simple operation
- Eight microphone inputs on combo XLR-1/4” jacks with phantom power
- Up to eight-track simultaneous recording at 48kHz/24-bit audio resolution
- Solid-state recording to SD Card media for better shock resistance than hard drive recording
- Instrument-level input for direct recording of guitar or bass
- Dedicated controls for EQ, pan and effect sends
- Multiple effects processors for input processing, guitar amp simulation and mastering
- Virtual tracks for alternate takes and undo
- CD-RW drive for mixdown and backup
- Built-in chromatic tuner and metronome
- MIDI input and output for clocking and control
Great sound, powerful features and easy operation, anywhere you want to take it. Order the DP-24 from TASCAM today.
DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio Specifications:
- General
- Power supply: AC adapter (TASCAM PS-1225L)
- Power consumption: 12W (Phantom power ON)
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 21-1/4” x 4” x 13-3/8” (540 x 104 x 340 mm)
- Weight: 13.67 lb. (6.2 kg)
- Operating temperature range: 5 to 35-degree C/41 to 95-degree F
- Recording media: SD card (512MB to 2GB) SDHC card (4GB to 32GB)
- File system: SD card (512MB to 2GB) : FAT16 SDHC card (4GB to 32GB) : FAT32
- Analog Audio Input/Output Ratings
- INPUT A to H jack
- XLR type (Balanced):
- Connector: XLR-3-31 (1 : GND, 2 : HOT, 3 : COLD)
- Input impedance: 2.4 kΩ
- Rated input level: –14 dBu
- Maximum input level: +2 dBu
- Standard jack type (Balanced):
- Connector: 6.3 mm (1/4") TRS standard jack
- Input impedance: Above 22 kΩ 1 MΩ (INPUT H only, when LINE-GUITAR switch is set to GUITAR)
- Rated input level: +4 dBu
- Maximum input level: +20 dBu
- STEREO OUT jack:
- Connector: RCA pin jack
- Rated output level: –10 dBV
- Maximum output level: +6 dBV
- Output impedance: 200 Ω
- EFFECT SENDS jack
- Connector: 6.3 mm (1/4") TS standard jack
- Rated output level: –10 dBV
- Maximum output level: +6 dBV
- Output impedance: 200 Ω
- MONITOR OUT jack
- Connector: 6.3 mm (1/4") TS standard jack
- Rated output level: –2 dBu
- Maximum output level: +14 dBu
- Output impedance: 200 Ω
- PHONES jack
- Connector: 3.5 mm stereo jack
- Maximum output level: 70 mW+70 mW or more (THD+N 0.1% or less, 32 Ω load)
- Control Input/Output Ratings
- MIDI input (MIDI IN)
- Connector: 5-pin DIN
- Format: Standard MIDI format
- MIDI output (MIDI OUT)
- Connector: 5-pin DIN
- Format: Standard MIDI format
- USB port
- Connector: USB 4-pin mini-B type
- Format: Mass Storage Class USB 2.0 HIGH SPEED
- REMOTE jack
- Connector: 2.5 mm TRS jack
- Audio Performance
- Frequency response
- INPUT (MIC/LINE) q STEREO OUT/EFFECT SENDS/
- MONITOR OUT: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +1 dB/–1 dB
- Distortion
- INPUT (MIC/LINE) q STEREO OUT/EFFECT SENDS/
- MONITOR OUT: 0.01% or less
- S/N ratio
- INPUT (MIC/LINE) q STEREO OUT/EFFECT SENDS/
- MONITOR OUT: 90dB or more
- Operating Requirements
- See the TASCAM website for updated information about OS compatibility.
- Windows
- Pentium 300 MHz or faster 128 MB or more memory USB port (USB 2.0 recommended)
- Macintosh
- Power PC, iMac, G3, G4 266 MHz or faster 64 MB or more memory USB port (USB 2.0 recommended)
- Recommended USB host controller
- Intel chipset
- Supported OS
- Windows: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.2 or later
-
TASCAM 2488 Mark II Multi-Track Studio at Winter N... -
BR-1600CD Multitrack Digital Recorder
Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 12 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
83%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (5)
- Excellent sound (4)
- Compact (3)
- Versatile (3)
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur recording (5)
- Home studio (5)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Experienced (5)
Most Liked Positive Review
Adequeate feature set, wonderful functionality for demos.
The sole reason I bought this unit was for demoing. I found it very frustrating to jot down ideas in a pro tools/console setting. Too much work plugging in all the outboard stuff ...Read complete review
The sole reason I bought this unit was for demoing. I found it very frustrating to jot down ideas in a pro tools/console setting. Too much work plugging in all the outboard stuff just to mess around. The Tascam DP24 is perfectly suited to my needs. It does exactly enough stuff to get a quality demo out, quickly and enjoyably. I in turn have come to appreciate revisiting a semi-linear recording process. It's powerful, but not so powerful that you'll get lost in the mix for 3 days tweaking minutia. Awesome for songwritting and demos. You may even be able to keep a track or two.
Simple 3 way EQ on every track. Hi/Low Shelf, 1 Sweepable mid + Q. EQ quality is acceptable and is as expected. EQ works well enough in a "make it work" sort of way. You can also apply dynamics and FX/Amp models at input to be recorded.
The compressors sound and function fairly comically, but I'd rather have them than not (note there are not GR meters) . Amp models are limited to selecting Speaker size/Cabinet and are not great, but are functional. It is nice to be able to add effects from within the box.
Bouncing tracks is super easy, and helps justify tracks 13-24 being dedicated stereo tracks. You are alotted one fader group assignment and it works well to create and control a drum group.
I formatted a 16gig SD card to be used for the device. Got about 14.5g left after format. Unit tells me I've got 50+ hours of recording @ 16/44.1 with that memory. Not bad!
The AD shows when you've piled up 20 tracks recorded through them. It has a little upper-mid gnarly-ness that tends to be inherent with these standalone recorders. I'm curious how effective the mastering section Tascam has provided will be at eliminating some of this shrillness. To the units credit, it does sound better than my old Akai DPS16, or my friends older Tascam 2488.
The effects can add a lot of noise, but are good for illustrating an idea of how you'd like the final recording to be produced. The unit appears to be of sound construction, and looks pretty cool.
Cost per ease of use and functionality is spot on.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Great, but no digital I/O
I use this product and I own a 2488 Neo.
Is beautiful, color screen, easy to use the EQ, but I tought that DP-24 was a upgrade for Neo...Read complete review
I use this product and I own a 2488 Neo.
Is beautiful, color screen, easy to use the EQ, but I tought that DP-24 was a upgrade for Neo but it is not. The only up are the 48K while Neo is 44K and the normalize function on mastering (which I do not recomend to do). The rest has the same as Neo but it is missing some important things found on Neo like DIGITAL I/O, option to assign effects and EQ PRE or POS on the channels strips (meanning record WET or DRY), DP-24 permit only up to 4 compressors to be used at same time while Neo permit up to 8. Neo has much more flexibility on the 255 virtual tracks which each can be moved to any real real track while DP-24 has 8 virtual track on each track, the only way to move to another track is copying, on other words, duplicating. And some others things.
On Neo I record from my synth and Voice processor to digital IN. On DP-24 only analogs inputs and outputs.
Don't fool yourself wondering that you can use USB as digital I/O. USB is just for tranfers files from DP-24 to/from PC after you tranfered from TASCAM disk format to FAT partition on the SD Card, same as NEO on Hard Disk, which takes a LONG time. I use the digital I/O to transfer tracks and MIXES to PC which is much faster than transfering via USB.
For the price Neo was much better option and I hope TASCAM will put it back for sale for those that need digital I/O. Today digital I/O is a very important thing.
This machine is great and a lot of features for live records but missing features for studio.
Reviews
Reviewed by 12 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-10
Previous | Next »
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Excellent Sound
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Studio
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
Very easy to use. Great quality. Easy mixdown & mastering.
Pros
- Compact
- Excellent Sound
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Performances
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
I purchased the DP-24 as an upgrade from my 2488-II. I use it for both home studio and live recording of acoustic (jazz & rock) groups. The thing I like the best is having all 8 XLR inputs. The earlier tascams only had 4 XLR inputs, very frusturating when trying to insert the recorder in between stage mikes and the PA. As to sound quality, sounds about the same as the 2488, very clean. It's obvious the software is completly different, I'm still working up the learning curve, and I like the changes. I wish it had a sexier reverb effect. I used to have an old Fender stand alone spring reverb unit, which made a vocalist sound like a superstar, never have found one to match that sound since then. I rarely use any of the other effects because I'm not into artificial sounds. As to quality, the unit feels a little classier than the 2488; I hope it doesn't develop dirty-pushbutton-contact syndrome like my 2488 has. (I used spray contact cleaner but you still have to push hard to get some of the buttons to respond.) I love the color display and also the auto punch feature. Also having a removable SD card is nice so you don't have to worry about running out of hard drive space. Also, you can have a separate SD card for every band. The instruction manual is just as terrible as earlier ones, I wish they would take a technical writing course and get a little feedback from consumers before publishing. (When I first got my 2488 years ago, I even went to the factory in Montebello and the guy couldn't figure it out either!) All in all, I'm quite happy with my purchase.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Excellent sound quality
- Powerful
- Solid User Intereface
- Versatile
Cons
- No Dynamic Track Effects
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
What would have been a top notch professional recording studio a couple of decades ago is now available in an affordable "portastudio", the Tascam DP24. Amazing!
The user interface is very well desgined and can be pretty well mastered in a few days of use. I was concerned that having just one set of EQ and effect knobs shared by all 24 channels would be akward, but to switch tracks you simply press the desired channel SELECT button and "presto" you are there!
Overall sound quality is quite good and the quality of the EQ and effects are definitely acceptable. The color display is excellent. One odd thing is that dynamic effects like compression are only available at the MIC inputs and when mastering, but not during track mix down, but this is not a big issue for me.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Low Distortion
Cons
- Poor Effects Quality
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Performances
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
I bought this trying to replace my roland digital multitrack recorder and it was easy to use.In my Roland i can work with 4 effects at a time if you have 2 effectboards. The quality is amazing.Thanks Roland. The effect quality of the Tascam Dp24 is very poor the rest is ok. Recording drum needs a little more body but overall it does the job. I preffer if roland had made an equal type of multitracker but they don't.So we are forced to work with what's available.If you want to record some decent guitar you'll have to use a external pedalboard.
The cons are once you have recorded the track you can't undo it. The EQ is ok it's almost the same as a roland. The overall sound is ok for the price you pay. Effects are very limited and difficult to get set properly because of lack of more quality.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy To Use
- Excellent Sound
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Events
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
Great value. Solid construction. Many usable functions. Does require a learning curve to delve into the effects. The effects are not too had for on board type. I recorded a high quality demo for a songwriting contest which turned out excellent.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Excellent Sound
- Great Recording quality
- Low Distortion
- Nice Interface
Cons
- No Post Recording Effects
- Weak
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
This unit is not the successor to the 2488neo. It's just another in the DP series. It's primary function will be to record tracks for transfer to a DAW for processing. You cannot add additional compression or other dynamic effects to recorded tracks. Just mixdown and mastering effects. I got rid of mine and will be keeping my neo.
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
I don't know about anyone elsebut we couldnt' figure this thing out. We spent quite some time putting down a song and before that spent some time just trying to figure out how to do basic things such as arming the tracks and assigning ect. Before we were using the 2488 which is much simpler to use. After we finally got the song laid down my uncle went to mix it and he don't know what he did wrong but the song all of a sudden was erased. We said thats it we're sending it back. I mean we are musicians not rocket scientists
probably a good machine if it was a little more user friendly
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
The sole reason I bought this unit was for demoing. I found it very frustrating to jot down ideas in a pro tools/console setting. Too much work plugging in all the outboard stuff just to mess around. The Tascam DP24 is perfectly suited to my needs. It does exactly enough stuff to get a quality demo out, quickly and enjoyably. I in turn have come to appreciate revisiting a semi-linear recording process. It's powerful, but not so powerful that you'll get lost in the mix for 3 days tweaking minutia. Awesome for songwritting and demos. You may even be able to keep a track or two.
Simple 3 way EQ on every track. Hi/Low Shelf, 1 Sweepable mid + Q. EQ quality is acceptable and is as expected. EQ works well enough in a "make it work" sort of way. You can also apply dynamics and FX/Amp models at input to be recorded.
The compressors sound and function fairly comically, but I'd rather have them than not (note there are not GR meters) . Amp models are limited to selecting Speaker size/Cabinet and are not great, but are functional. It is nice to be able to add effects from within the box.
Bouncing tracks is super easy, and helps justify tracks 13-24 being dedicated stereo tracks. You are alotted one fader group assignment and it works well to create and control a drum group.
I formatted a 16gig SD card to be used for the device. Got about 14.5g left after format. Unit tells me I've got 50+ hours of recording @ 16/44.1 with that memory. Not bad!
The AD shows when you've piled up 20 tracks recorded through them. It has a little upper-mid gnarly-ness that tends to be inherent with these standalone recorders. I'm curious how effective the mastering section Tascam has provided will be at eliminating some of this shrillness. To the units credit, it does sound better than my old Akai DPS16, or my friends older Tascam 2488.
The effects can add a lot of noise, but are good for illustrating an idea of how you'd like the final recording to be produced. The unit appears to be of sound construction, and looks pretty cool.
Cost per ease of use and functionality is spot on.
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
Took me about 2 days to figure it out. After that, recordings are shining. Wish it had a master insert for my rack. Luckily most of my preamps have side-chaining ablily. The large color display screen and lack of sub menu navigation make this recorder user friendly. The V-track feature is proving to be a lifesaver when recording bands with limited time slots.
More features than any other recorder in this price range. They are 'real world' features, not unusable garbage like some other brands I will not name. Tascam finally got the mastering effects to a basic yet valuable format.
Top notch unit. I was a little worried about the side-slack in the trim knobs and faders, but have concluded that must be an intentional design for whatever reason. Heavy and solid.
Again, I will not name the brand that I sent back before pre-ordering this unit.. but it cost almost $400 more, and is absolute junk compared to this one. Dont know how Tascam is selling these for this price.
Comments about TASCAM DP-24 24-Track Digital Portastudio:
I use this product and I own a 2488 Neo.
Is beautiful, color screen, easy to use the EQ, but I tought that DP-24 was a upgrade for Neo but it is not. The only up are the 48K while Neo is 44K and the normalize function on mastering (which I do not recomend to do). The rest has the same as Neo but it is missing some important things found on Neo like DIGITAL I/O, option to assign effects and EQ PRE or POS on the channels strips (meanning record WET or DRY), DP-24 permit only up to 4 compressors to be used at same time while Neo permit up to 8. Neo has much more flexibility on the 255 virtual tracks which each can be moved to any real real track while DP-24 has 8 virtual track on each track, the only way to move to another track is copying, on other words, duplicating. And some others things.
On Neo I record from my synth and Voice processor to digital IN. On DP-24 only analogs inputs and outputs.
Don't fool yourself wondering that you can use USB as digital I/O. USB is just for tranfers files from DP-24 to/from PC after you tranfered from TASCAM disk format to FAT partition on the SD Card, same as NEO on Hard Disk, which takes a LONG time. I use the digital I/O to transfer tracks and MIXES to PC which is much faster than transfering via USB.
For the price Neo was much better option and I hope TASCAM will put it back for sale for those that need digital I/O. Today digital I/O is a very important thing.
This machine is great and a lot of features for live records but missing features for studio.
