Tascam DP-24 Solid State Digital Portastudio

Before the desktop digital audio studio there was the Portastudio. Originally recording to cassette tapes, the system ushered in the era of “everyone can do it.” Over three decades later the concept still lives on, but now the fragile tapes and hard drives have been replaced with solid state SD cards as the recording medium. The Tascam DP-24 is a multi-track Digital Portastudio that records up to eight tracks and plays back twenty-four tracks simultaneously using SD/SDHC cards.

A color LCD, nineteen linear faders, and a dozen channel strip encoders make the process of recording simple without impeding creativity. The recorded tracks can be mixed down to a stereo file using dedicated controls for the per channel three-band EQ, pan and effect sends provided on each input and playback track, and the resulting master file burned to a CD using the built-in CD-RW drive, or off-loaded to a computer via the USB connection for further processing.

Eight XLR/TRS combo jacks provide microphone/line input to the recorder with one of the connectors switchable to a guitar or bass input. Phantom power is available in groups of four. Input processing like compression and limiting, as well as guitar amp simulation and multi-effects for use with the instrument-level input can be used during recording. Two “Mixdown” effects, including reverb and chorus are also available, as well as a mastering effect to add the final polish to the master file.

A built-in chromatic tuner and metronome provide additional functionality to help with the recording process, while MIDI input and output deliver clocking and further control of the unit’s functions. Auto punch in/out can be initiated with an optional footswitch. Virtual tracks are available for trying out alternate takes. Dedicated monitor outputs, effect-send outs and a headphone output round out a very well-equipped personal recording studio that is very much in line with the original concept.