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TASCAM DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Pocketstudio

BH #TADP008EX • MFR #DP-008EX
 37 reviews
TASCAM DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Pocketstudio
Key Features
  • Dual Omnidirectional Microphones
  • Records WAV Files at 16-Bit/44.1 kHz
  • Onboard Channel, Reverb and Mastering FX
  • XLR and 1/4" TS Inputs
The DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Pocketstudio from TASCAM is a compact, battery-powered multitrack recorder, featuring two built-in omnidirectional condenser microphones and WAV file resolution up to 16-bit/44.1kHz. Additionally, two balanced XLR inputs and two unbalanced 1/4" TS inputs can be used to record mic, line or Hi-Z instrument signals. The XLR inputs have switchable +48V Phantom power. Designed with analog functionality and dedicated control knobs, the DP-008EX is ideal for on-the-spot recording. A Mini USB 2.0 output facilitates high-speed file transfer to your Mac or PC.
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$229.00
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TASCAM DP-008EX Overview

  • 1Description
  • 2Versatile Recording and Data Transfer
  • 3Recording Media Included
  • 4Recording / Playback Engines
  • 5Additional Features

The DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Pocketstudio from TASCAM is a compact, battery-powered multitrack recorder, featuring two built-in omnidirectional condenser microphones and WAV file resolution up to 16-bit/44.1kHz. Additionally, two balanced XLR inputs and two unbalanced 1/4" TS inputs can be used to record mic, line or Hi-Z instrument signals. The XLR inputs have switchable +48V Phantom power. Designed with analog functionality and dedicated control knobs, the DP-008EX is ideal for on-the-spot recording. A Mini USB 2.0 output facilitates high-speed file transfer to your Mac or PC.

The DP-008EX features onboard effects on all its input channels. Compressor, 2-band shelving EQ, de-esser and exciter are available on each track. Additionally, the DP-008EX has six different types of reverb built-in. Mastering effects for the stereo mix are also included, offering 2-band EQ, multi-band compression and normalizing. An Auto Analysis Mastering tool is also included, making the process easy, just choose between Natural or Maximum.

The DP-008EX provides a line output on a stereo pair of RCA jacks, as well as an 1/8" stereo headphone output. An integrated chromatic tuner and metronome help you perfect your performance. For elongated battery life, the DP-008EX is compatible with TASCAM's BP-6AA external battery pack. It can also be powered by the PS-P520 AC adapter. Both alternative powering solutions are sold separately.

Versatile Recording and Data Transfer
The DP-008EX can record, import and export 16-bit/44.1kHz WAV files. It is compatible with both mono and stereo files.
Recording Media Included
The DP-008EX records WAV files to SD/SDHC cards up to 32GB, a 2GB card is included. High-speed data transfer is available through the onboard USB 2.0 port. Your files can then be imported to your favorite DAW.
Recording / Playback Engines
The DP-008EX can record 2 mono tracks or 1 stereo track simultaneously. It offers up to 8 tracks of simultaneous playback.
Additional Features
  • Dedicated stereo master track available
  • Selectable low/high microphone sensitivity
  • Independent level / pan / reverb send controls per track
  • Backlit 128 x 64 dot-matrix LCD
  • Direct locate function by jog-wheel
  • Undo / Redo function
  • Track editing functions
  • Backup and restore songs
UPC: 043774028467

TASCAM DP-008EX Specs

Form Factor
Desktop
Number of Tracks
8
Maximum Sampling Rate
44.1 kHz / 16-Bit
Built-In Microphone
2 x Omnidirectional Condenser
Connectivity
Analog Audio I/O
1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Headphone Output
1 x Stereo RCA Coaxial Unbalanced Line Output
2 x 1/4" TS Unbalanced Line Input
2 x XLR 3-Pin Balanced Mic Input
USB (Non-Host)
1 x Mini-USB (USB 2.0, External Storage)
Performance
Frequency Response
20 Hz to 20 kHz +1/-3 dB
Maximum Input Level
Line Inputs:
+6 dBV
Mic Inputs:
+8 dBu
Maximum Output Level
Line Outputs:
+6 dBV
Headphone Output Power
20 mW per Channel into 32 Ohms (Max, 0.1% THD)
Impedance
Mic Inputs:
2.4 Kilohms
Mic/Line Inputs:
≥ 10 Kilohms
Hi-Z Inputs:
1 Megohm
SNR
> 81 dB
THD
< 0.05%
Audio Storage & Playback
Supported Media
SD Card
Memory Card Slot
1 x SDHC
Supported Media Capacity
SD/SDHC:
32 GB Minimum
File System Support
Tascam (MTR), FAT32
Compatibility
OS Compatibility
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
macOS 10.2 or Later
*As of November, 2021: Check with manufacturer for the most up-to-date compatibility
Power
Power Requirements
Battery, AC/DC Power Adapter (Not Included)
Power Consumption
2.4 W (Maximum)
Battery Type
4 x AA
Approximate Battery Life
5.5 Hours (Alkaline, Recording, Line Input)
6.5 Hours (NiMH, Recording, Line Input)
6 Hours (Alkaline, Playback, with Headphones)
7 Hours (NiMH, Playback, with Headphones)
Physical
Operating Temperature
41 to 95°F / 5 to 35°C
Dimensions
8.7 x 1.74 x 5" / 221 x 44.3 x 126.5 mm
Weight
1.3 lb / 610.0 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight
2.385 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
11.9 x 6.9 x 3.8"

TASCAM DP-008EX Reviews

easy to use

By Joseph
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2020-05-21

This recorder is easy to use. I had an older Tascam model for many years. It was big and bulky and used a hard drive. This new unit is much smaller and lighter and can run off of batteries. The manual wasn't bad but once I realized it worked like my older Tascam model then it was easy to figure out. I like the built in mikes but I usually use a hand held mike for voice. All in all a very nice machine for the price.

The best thing is what matters: THE SOUND

By Ramon A
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-08-30

This Pocketstudio sounds FANTASTIC. I expected the on-board mics to sound horrible, but on the contrary, they sound excellent. I like to use them over XLR microphones if I don't need a particular sound. Drums recorded through them sound detailed from top to bottom. All the bass of the kick gets picked up with all the good thump, too. I usually set it right in the front middle of the kick drum and that prevents the hi-hats and cymbals to overpower everything while getting a balanced image. The snare sounds gets picked up as good as it sounds to my ears. All the wire ring and the snap of the drum head is there. I expected it to sound horrible, but no, it somehow sounds fantastic. It's pretty impressive to me, and I'm picky with my sound. The stereo separation is great, so even though the mics are close to each other, you can hear the position of each drum and cymbal. The DP-008EX is FUN to use. Period. If you want to make music and forget about the computer, get this puppy and start running all your synths and guitars through it. It's so easy to use, you can figure it out through trial and error. Really. It's intuitive even if it has a lot of buttons and it looks a bit intimidating. While I'm pretty knowledgeable on the technical side of things, I tend to get overwhelmed by user interfaces, but this Tascam is comfortable to me. The EQ and dynamics are good enough to use live while recording, and the reverbs sounds better than a lot of VST plugins. They're not impressive, but for being included for free, they sound very natural when not overdoing them. I like those reverbs on everything. They give the entire image a nice space. The preamps are obviously not mind-blowing, but are more than good enough to obtain professional-sounding results. What I like it that you can feed hot signals to the line inputs and the converters do not overload or make horrible noises like, for example, my Audient iD14 recording interface. That thing makes clipping noises straight from nightmare lands. The Tascam, OTOH, when the red Clip light turns on, you're greeted by a clean-sounding crunchy saturation, pleasant enough to my ears that I intentionally record everything really hot. Obviously, overdoing it with too much low frequencies distorts the sound, but a few decibels saturates nicely. You can be pretty aggressive, because it takes it like a champ. When I heard that saturation the first time, I got giddy and smiled, because I was trying to avoid the red but because everything sounded too tame and sometimes too thin, I decided to lower the gains to the minimum and push the volume and see where it would take me. Oh, it sounded so crispety-crunchety, almost like valve saturation. I'm not lying. It sounds like a very clean tube. I recorded an old Yamaha YPT-220 through it and made a nice track, and it sounds warm and more high-end than how the toy keyboard sounds by itself with headphones. I also like to record my mixdowns from the computer to the Tascam, right in the red, so it all sounds saturated and less "in the box" digital. In summary, if you are creative and have enough technical know-how, I am sure you will cherish the DP-008EX. It's no toy. Thanks for reading and God bless you!

Great little device

By Chris
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-07-11

For the price, this recorder's unbeatable as far as I can tell. It provides a lot of versatility in a small package. You can record on 2 tracks at a time, and have 8 tracks total to use. The interface is fairly simple, and it's portable (powered off of 4 AA batteries, or with the AC adapter, sold separately). I would buy this again, but all the same, here's a couple of minor nit-picks: - It would be nice if the device could be powered via the usb port. In many cases that would mean not having to bring the AC adapter, or buying it in the first place. - Adding a mic input to the headphone jack would be helpful...this would allow folks to record using a gaming headset - An option to have in/out markers and repeat per-track would be helpful, rather than only being able to repeat the entire composition. - An option to auto start/stop recording based on adjustable input level would be helpful for situations where there are significant pauses in the audio (like transitioning between presenters at an event). The device already has a feature to tell you when the audio is over a set level, so this seems like a feature that could potentially be added via a software only change. - I found the process of assigning an input to a track a little bit clumsy....this could be improved by providing better user feedback.

Tascam DP-008EXn8-track Digital Pocketstudio Review

By Al
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-05-18

Love the size more than anything else.� Really like that it is battery powered as I have had several situations where I didn't have AC power available for my other, larger recorder.� Excellent features, Users Manual is easy to use & understand.� I record as a hobby--not a full time gig but this machine produces a very high-end recording.� I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Works Well

By Antonio
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-03-14

I have only played with it a bit but it works very well. Small learning curve but well worth it. And the price is great!

Amateur singer gets punked by Tascam

By Eric the Red
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2018-03-10

I had the hardest time recording, in part because the red record button wasn't identified as a record button.� With other demands on my time, I have yet to discover the full capability of what may be a fine machine.� It is also quite difficult to utilize it so as to record multiple inputs,� particularly from the mic jacks.� I never knew that a guy like me, with a short history of perfect scores on Calculus tests, and moderate soundwork experience, could feel so incredibly stupid before a piece of audio equipment.

Incredible

By Lloyd F
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2019-03-10

Very easy to use and works great, sound quality excellent.

Good recorder

By Jones
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-09-14

Recording is clean, but menu to master is unclear on where your next step leads you. The on board mics are very good. A recording made with them can be sent to broadcast.

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Is it possible to plug in two vocal mic lines and ...

Is it possible to plug in two vocal mic lines and add a third line for a keyboard anywhere? I see 2 XLRs, is there any way to connect a keyboard other than via the XLRs?
Asked by: graham
This recorder allows for two input sources to be recorded at a time. There are mic inputs A and B, but also 1/4-iinch inputs A and B, that can be used for instruments like a guitar or keyboard. You can choose any two source variations of inputs at a time. In your case, you may choose to record a mic into the A channel and a keyboard on the B channel, and then overdub the second mic vocal part on the next pass.
Answered by: Steve
Date published: 2021-02-04

question

what is the right sd card for Tascam pocket studio dp-008ex?
Asked by: Ray B.
The Tascam DP-008EX is compatible with SD cards up to 32GB. A Class 4 or higher card will work fine. Sandisk and Transcend cards are widely compatible, and work well with the Tascam recorders.
Answered by: Jeff P.
Date published: 2018-08-28

question

what is the right sd card for Tascam pocket studio dp-008ex?
Asked by: Ray B.
The TASCAM website has a downloads section for DP-008EX that includes the full owners manual and the tested media (SD card models) that were verified by TASCAM (currently last updated in May 2014).
Answered by: Ira M.
Date published: 2018-08-28

question

Does the TASCOM dp-008ex record in MP3 format or just WAV?
Asked by: Anonymous
No - it records in an internal format and exports (to PC) and imports (from PC) as WAV files. You have to use a program on your PC (such as open source Audacity) to convert WAV to MP3 files. You can find the complete manual at the TASCAM website.
Answered by: Ira M.
Date published: 2018-08-28

question

How's the noise level on this? We use NTG-2 and I've had some problems with the handheld Tascam because the mic output level is so low
Asked by: Anonymous
Noise level is fine on this. The mic level is a bit low (especially at the default settings). We have not tried to modify it much using the settings (though this is possible). My son has recorded a few songs using only this (you can hear it on Google Play - he is Fencing Marlin's ).
Answered by: Anonymous
Date published: 2018-10-24

question

Can the DP-008EX also be used as a USB interface to record microphone input directly to a computer?
Asked by: Anonymous
Yes it can but you'll need an interface to put the signal through.
Answered by: Jeremy F.
Date published: 2018-08-28

question

Does the Tascam DP008ex list input db levels on the lcd while recording?
Asked by: Aaron
It shows the db level bars going up &amp; down along a graph when input changes occur but no--not a specific digital readout.
Answered by: Al S.
Date published: 2018-08-28
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