Stupid Deal of the Day = TASCAM DP-008EX Digital 8-Track Pocketstudio

[T.C. Elliott]

TASCAM DP-008EX Digital 8-Track Pocketstudio for only $99... TODAY ONLY



Here is a link to the stupid deal of the day. Today it'll be the Tascam. Tomorrow, who knows?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid/

[Hook]

That's a good f%^&*g deal! Not the perfect machine but for that price!

[Farrell Jackson]

I just ordered this and was going to post up the good deal when I saw T.C.'s post, lol. What they don't tell you is that there is a free gift with the order. It's a Tascam TM78 large condenser mic with desk stand and chord. The mic alone goes for $75. So for $108 US I got them both including shipping! This will be perfect for portability, for quickly capturing song ideas, and for collaboration projects.....I'm a happy camper!

Farrell

[alfstone]

...sold out!

 

[Farrell Jackson]

Here's a very quick and un-detailed review of the Tascam DP-008EX that I purchased recently.

I've received the Tascam DP-008EX 8 track portable recorder. It was
a M.F. Stupid Deal for $99 plus it came with a free gift which is a Tascam TM-78
electret condenser mic. So the total was $108 US which I thought was a good deal.

It came with and records to a 2 MB SD card. I've gone through the basics of
recording a couple of tracks and then transferring them to and from my PC via
the USB connection. It records at 16/44.1 wav and does it well without too much
studying of the manual. Having several knobs versus scrolling through screens,
although there is some of that, makes it intuitive to use. The two built in mics
seem to work well also.

The reason I picked this up is because I do a lot of collab vocals and
songwriting in general with different artist, which at times means a lot of demo takes and trails.
Because my PC and the VF160 are in separate areas of my house plus the VF160 is too large to quickly disconnect from my studio and carry to the PC, this requires me to record tracks on to CDRs
and physically record them to my VF160 and/or my PC....a big pain in the rear.  After that I have no use for the CDRs so I end up tossing them. The Tascam will allow me to record directly to it whether it's a
keeper track, a demo take, or a transfer to and from my PC and the VF160
eliminating the need to use CDRs that end up in the trash. The CDRs are cheap but no need to fill the recycle bins with them if I can avoid it.

I haven't tried the TM-78 mic yet but it doesn't get very good reviews....hey what can
you expect for free, lol?

I just need to get use to the controls so I'm not looking at the manual constantly
but so far I like it.

Farrell

[64Guitars]

Having several knobs versus scrolling through screens, although there is some of that, makes it intuitive to use.

That's one of the things I like about TASCAM recorders. They have a lot of controls. It's so much nicer to just reach for a control and turn it instead of going through menus and adjusting the value of some number.

Because my PC and the VF160 are in separate areas of my house plus the VF160 is too large to quickly disconnect from my studio and carry to the PC, this requires me to record tracks on to CDRs and physically record them to my VF160 and/or my PC....a big pain in the rear.  After that I have no use for the CDRs so I end up tossing them. The Tascam will allow me to record directly to it whether it's a keeper track, a demo take, or a transfer to and from my PC and the VF160 eliminating the need to use CDRs that end up in the trash. The CDRs are cheap but no need to fill the recycle bins with them if I can avoid it.

I also have my recorder (BR-864) in a different part of the house than my PC. My BR-864 is on the main floor, while my PC is upstairs in a spare bedroom I use as my office. I sometimes bring the BR-864 upstairs to the office. It's small enough and light enough to carry easily. But, as you said, it's a pain to have to disconnect all of the cables every time I want to move it, then re-connect them again later. So what I usually do instead is to pop the CompactFlash card out of the BR and bring it upstairs where I have a USB card reader attached to my computer. In fact, just this past Friday, I bought myself a USB 3.0 card reader which is much faster than my old USB 2.0 card reader. It makes transferring files really quick and convenient.

I know the VF160 doesn't use memory cards, but I have a couple of other suggestions for you to consider. First, the VF160 can also write to CD-RW discs. These cost a bit more than CD-R discs but have the advantage that they can be erased up to 1,000 times. And you'd only need one since it's just for temporary storage to get files from your VF160 to your PC. You can buy CD-RW discs singly but it's cheaper to buy them in packs. Here are a couple of examples.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817130253

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817501108

But you don't need to order online. They should be easy to find locally. You can even get them at Walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Verbatim-95156-12x-CD-RW-Media/13215207

Another thing you could consider is using the VF160's SCSI port to attach a Zip drive. You can buy Iomega SCSI Zip drives on eBay, Amazon, etc. There is also a USB version available. If you bought one of each, you could leave the SCSI Zip drive attached to your VF160 and connect the USB Zip drive to whichever computer you want to transfer your files to. Unfortunately, the USB Zip drives can be up to $200. But you could probably find a used one for a reasonable price. The SCSI Zip drive should be pretty cheap since they haven't made it for many years and SCSI isn't very popular anymore.

Here's one example with 12 Zip discs for $49.99. But I don't know if this is the best deal you can get, so check around - you might find a better deal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IOMEGA-ZIP-100-SCSI-Z-100S2-SCSI-CABLE-ADAPTER-12-ZIP-100-DISKS-/161195248526

I should mention that the Zip disc media is quite expensive, considering that they only hold 100 MB (yes, that's megabytes, not gigabytes). For example, here's one at Walmart for $11.48. That's just for one disc.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/IBM-Mac-Compatible-ZIP-Disk/24966681

So maybe that deal at $50 for the SCSI drive and 12 discs is pretty good afterall. At $11.48 each, 12 discs would cost you $137.76. Not that you'll need 12. One is all you'll need because it's just for temporary file transfers. Though it's always nice to have spares in case your disc starts acting up.

[Farrell Jackson]

Because my PC and the VF160 are in separate areas of my house plus the VF160 is too large to quickly disconnect from my studio and carry to the PC, this requires me to record tracks on to CDRs and physically record them to my VF160 and/or my PC....a big pain in the rear.  After that I have no use for the CDRs so I end up tossing them. The Tascam will allow me to record directly to it whether it's a keeper track, a demo take, or a transfer to and from my PC and the VF160 eliminating the need to use CDRs that end up in the trash. The CDRs are cheap but no need to fill the recycle bins with them if I can avoid it.

I also have my recorder (BR-864) in a different part of the house than my PC. My BR-864 is on the main floor, while my PC is upstairs in a spare bedroom I use as my office. I sometimes bring the BR-864 upstairs to the office. It's small enough and light enough to carry easily. But, as you said, it's a pain to have to disconnect all of the cables every time I want to move it, then re-connect them again later. So what I usually do instead is to pop the CompactFlash card out of the BR and bring it upstairs where I have a USB card reader attached to my computer. In fact, just this past Friday, I bought myself a USB 3.0 card reader which is much faster than my old USB 2.0 card reader. It makes transferring files really quick and convenient.

I know the VF160 doesn't use memory cards, but I have a couple of other suggestions for you to consider. First, the VF160 can also write to CD-RW discs. These cost a bit more than CD-R discs but have the advantage that they can be erased up to 1,000 times. And you'd only need one since it's just for temporary storage to get files from your VF160 to your PC. You can buy CD-RW discs singly but it's cheaper to buy them in packs. Here are a couple of examples.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817130253

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817501108

But you don't need to order online. They should be easy to find locally. You can even get them at Walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Verbatim-95156-12x-CD-RW-Media/13215207

Another thing you could consider is using the VF160's SCSI port to attach a Zip drive. You can buy Iomega SCSI Zip drives on eBay, Amazon, etc. There is also a USB version available. If you bought one of each, you could leave the SCSI Zip drive attached to your VF160 and connect the USB Zip drive to whichever computer you want to transfer your files to. Unfortunately, the USB Zip drives can be up to $200. But you could probably find a used one for a reasonable price. The SCSI Zip drive should be pretty cheap since they haven't made it for many years and SCSI isn't very popular anymore.

Here's one example with 12 Zip discs for $49.99. But I don't know if this is the best deal you can get, so check around - you might find a better deal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IOMEGA-ZIP-100-SCSI-Z-100S2-SCSI-CABLE-ADAPTER-12-ZIP-100-DISKS-/161195248526

I should mention that the Zip disc media is quite expensive, considering that they only hold 100 MB (yes, that's megabytes, not gigabytes). For example, here's one at Walmart for $11.48. That's just for one disc.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/IBM-Mac-Compatible-ZIP-Disk/24966681

So maybe that deal at $50 for the SCSI drive and 12 discs is pretty good afterall. At $11.48 each, 12 discs would cost you $137.76. Not that you'll need 12. One is all you'll need because it's just for temporary file transfers. Though it's always nice to have spares in case your disc starts acting up.

Thanks 64, all great ideas! I actually have all the pieces that you've mentioned to try. My old Fostex FD8  doesn't have a built in hard drive. It records to an Omega Zip drive, which I still have along with several zip discs. I've not thought of trying to use them for transferring files to/from the PC/VF160. I do use CDRW discs over and over for getting tracks from the VF160 to my PC but going the other way using a CDRW (PC to VF160) my PC finalizes the CDRW disc and I can't get it un-finalized to use it again on my VF160.

All good ideas to try! I think I may invest in a USB card reader if it becomes more hassle than I want to deal with by moving the DP-008 back and forth.

Farrell

[64Guitars]

I do use CDRW discs over and over for getting tracks from the VF160 to my PC but going the other way using a CDRW (PC to VF160) my PC finalizes the CDRW disc and I can't get it un-finalized to use it again on my VF160.

I don't think there's any way to un-finalize a disc, but you can erase a CD-RW disc completely. Then you can reuse it on the VF160 or the computer. I don't know what software you use for burning CDs, but here's the instructions for erasing a CD-RW disc in Nero. Other CD-burning software will have something similar.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7280277_erase-cd-using-nero.html

Also, there will be an option somewhere in your CD-burning software to disable finalizing of the CD when you write to it. Once disabled, you'll be able to continue adding new files to the CD-RW disc until it fills up. Then you can erase it. In fact, you can continue adding files to regular CD-R discs too if they're not finalized. The difference is, once they fill up, you can't erase them.

[Hook]

I am a little jealous! I did like my Dp004 but it really paled in comparison with the MBR. I've always liked the look of the 008.  8 tracks has proven to be tolerable (to me at least) & the reverb is nice, it certainly would be better than the MR8. I recall the built in mics were pretty good & transferring files was super quick. If Tascam would add some more effects & virtual tracks they would edge out boss & zoom in my opinion. That deal you got Farrell is awesome, I can't wait to hear more about the machine.
This one has peaked my interest, they ditched the cd burner.


On a completely unrelated topic, Farrell are you at all familiar with the fostex wav converter? I'm having issues importing tracks from the computer to the card. They export fine but I can't get it to import. Just wondering if you use program with your tracks, probably not though now that I think about your recorder & computer being set up in different rooms. Oh well...have fun with the new toy. Try recording something entirely on the 008, I'd like to hear what you can do with it!
Rock On!

[Farrell Jackson]

I do use CDRW discs over and over for getting tracks from the VF160 to my PC but going the other way using a CDRW (PC to VF160) my PC finalizes the CDRW disc and I can't get it un-finalized to use it again on my VF160.

I don't think there's any way to un-finalize a disc, but you can erase a CD-RW disc completely. Then you can reuse it on the VF160 or the computer. I don't know what software you use for burning CDs, but here's the instructions for erasing a CD-RW disc in Nero. Other CD-burning software will have something similar.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7280277_erase-cd-using-nero.html

Also, there will be an option somewhere in your CD-burning software to disable finalizing of the CD when you write to it. Once disabled, you'll be able to continue adding new files to the CD-RW disc until it fills up. Then you can erase it. In fact, you can continue adding files to regular CD-R discs too if they're not finalized. The difference is, once they fill up, you can't erase them.

Thanks 64 I'll give that a try.

Farrell