Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

Don't use the PREs on the unit - prefer to use a Focusrite or a SD field mixer. Doing this yields very good results (mostly for voice over work). I bought this to replace a Fostex FR-2, which I found next to impossible to get repaired. So far, I'm pretty happy with the unit. Took only a couple of hours to get familiar with the menus and methods it uses to do the recordings.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

We use this product for recording nature sounds. Light, compact and easy to use.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

This is the perfect recorder for working with the 5D and 7D.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

...IF you know what you are doing. If you are stepping up from the Zoom H4n the audio quality will amaze you but the learning curve will baffle you. I've used mine on 6 film projects now. Workflow is difficult on the run. Timecode is a pain. Retake button is a joke. Construction is not as solid as a Zoom H4n or Sound Devices. A Sound Devices mixer is a must on the front end. Keep the Tascam gain on the floor. Push the levels from the SD, not the Tascam. You'll need an ENG bag and will have to make mods to the inner bag structure to access the 'select' button. If you don't you'll eventually rub the skin off of the top of your finger till it bleeds in the bag. I give it a 3 only because it sounds absolutely great with a SD mixer.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I use the HD-P2 for secondary audio for both Super16mm film and Canon 5D Mark II. It's simple and easy to use. For the cost, it is a fantastic piece of equipment

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

Outstanding versatility with an easy menu interface that eases its use. The quality of the recorded sound is nothing less than what is now demanded. However, when compared to the Tascam DA-P1 DAT that the HD-P2 supersedes, the feel and quality are not the same. The DA-P1 has a stout feel to it, from its rubberized coat surface finish to the solidness of its controls. The HD-P2 is a very good purchase, and could turn out to be a great value tool if it lives up to the expected durability.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

Just a note that Tascam has posted a firmware update (1.06) that allows recording to CF cards larger than 8 GB. [@]

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I use HD-P2 as a recorder

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

XLR input does not take line in from the mixer.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

Great recorder for the money. Excellent sound and good feature set. The ability to record time code and lock to external clocks makes my rig incredibly flexible. Being able to plug in a standard keyboard makes working from a sound cart dead simple.

It saves project settings (sample rate, time code settings, presets, etc) in xml files on individual CF cards, which makes it a bit difficult to use multiple cards for long gigs.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I use this recorder for stereo sound tracks for video productions when the built in audio is not good enough, for live music, for collecting background sounds, and for collecting sound EFX.

It is tough and well made. It is easy to use, and the controls are very intuitive... "You don't need a union card to use it".

The built in, multiple mode Timecode for syncing with a video camera was a deal maker for me. I use it with a Canon XL-H1s.

There is no issue about the size of the CF memory - an 8gb card will record over 12 hours in 16bit/48Khz mode.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I used to lug an old mono Webcor reel to reel recorder around to record the Racket Squad when I was in high school and college in the 1950's.
Then audio cassette recorders came out around 1970 and would run for more than an hour on a set of batteries.
A few years ago I began accumulating used DAT recorders - cheaper to buy a used one than to repair a broken one.
This Tascam HD-P2 is the recorder I have wanted my entire life.
I use it for studio recordings, with a large diaphram condenser mic and lots of sound absorbing foam. I use it to dub professional Umatic and Beta video tapes. I use it to dub my old audio cassette tapes.
It always sound fabulous. Super easy to use, even for my 68 year old eyes and fumbling fingers.
I record noisy old tapes at high sample rates and 24 bit and can clean them up in the computer so they sound better than ever before.
Buy this recorder. You'll love it.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

In fact this guy is more than it appears to be, the sound is excellent and the cards is long-lasting. The only bug is I want another one so I can record 4 seperate channels in the field and skip the mixer.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I am an independent radio producer. I decided on the Tascam HD-P2 because after talking with other radio folks and reading dozens of reviews I felt like it carried the best mix of features and quality output with extra room to explore (e.g. the time sync features). After working with it for about three weeks I am not disappointed one bit.

Most of all I appreciate the HD-P2's size and weight. The push to smaller and smaller gear is understandable for some applications but I like the fact that not every feature on this recorder is buried in a digital menu. The buttons and knobs feel like they are made for the fingers of adults and not children like some of the other products out there seem to be.

I have only used a Sennheiser condenser microphone with this unit and the two perfom very well together. The use of the internal phantom power of the HD-P2 doesn't effect the longevity of the battery life too much and eliminates the need for the power supply I used to carry. The ability to plug in a keyboard to the recorder for both operating and file naming is a very nice touch. I have found that the Adesso "Flexible Full Sized Keyboard" does in fact work with the unit even though there is a warning about the potential of USB to PS/2 connectors not working. In the end the HD-P2 is a great compromise between the top of the line and middle range.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

If your looking for a flash based stereo recorder that can lock to time code, this unit is it! I wish it had a remote control, but I got around that by using the PS/2 keyboard input and a wireless keyboard. Excellent choice for running a safety recording at the same time as recording into a DAW.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

Stay away from this unit unless you like carrying a lot of CF cards and you want to be stuck using 8GB or smaller Compact flash. This recorder can not in it's current state and most likely will not ever record pass 8 gb on any compact flash card. (We only been asking tascam for two years now) For example I purchased a 16gb San Disk III card back when they first came out. I put the card in the unit, the Unit recognized the card and I thought all was well until the unit made it to 7.99 gbs on the CF card and promptly locked up. Repeated tests have proven time and time again this unit will lock up solid when you attempt to record more than 7.99 gbs of data onto a CF card.
It does not matter the resolution you record at when you get to 7.99 gbs the unit will lock up and requires removing batteries..
Tascam refuses to even address the issue any longer.
This is also made by Frontier so you truly are not even dealing with Tascam but some no name company that refuses to address this issue either.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

Very well built, with ergonomics and ease of use obviously taken into account. I use it mostly for interview recording and ambient sound on video shoots. The only criticism I have is that I'd like to see backlit buttons for use in low light situations.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I use the HD-P2 as the primary recorder in my field recording kit. It is easy to operate, reliable and sounds great. Transfer of files to computers is quick and easy thanks to the built-in firewire connection. It will operate over 4 hours from rechargeable NiMH AA's, will also take power off a 6-pin firewire jack, and the AC adapter jack accepts DC, so many other options are available for powering. I can't comment about the built-in time code facilities--haven't had the chance to use them yet.

Drawbacks: the HD-P2 is not a light, hand-held device, so if that is what you need, look elsewhere. It's construction is not super sturdy--I do not recommend dropping it or letting water get on it. A good field bag is recommended if you are going to tote it around a lot. It only records uncompressed WAV files, so if you want MP3, look elsewhere.

Comments about Tascam HD-P2 Portable Stereo CF Recorder:

I do non-cart run and gun stuff with it. It is fast to navigate, easy to sync and runs like a charm. GREAT sound. and affordable.

cons: its not as cool looking as a sound devices and the limiter isn't the best.