Tascam DP-24SD – 24-Track Digital Portastudio

Easy to use with the benefit of allowing 8 instruments to be played together. Fantastic mixing desk and brilliant recorder. Upgraded from a Tascam DP008ex, which is also a great device.

Having been used to a DAW with a PC and external sound card this was a big step forward. I expected to be spending a lot of time learning how to use it but it really is so well designed that mostly it is intuitive. The luxury of 8 inputs and 24 (32) tracks is incredible at this price. There are compromises though, and only being able to use one effect at a time is a slight limitation, but the second FX send and an external FX would fix this. If you are happy with CD quality sound then the sound quality this unit is capable of is good enough. The option of 24 bit is useful too. The build quality is very good and the unit does not feel light and 'plasticky' like some do. All the controls work nicely and the data inputting controls are excellent. The ability to use compression and Eq on the mixdown allows for making the final mixes suitable for different types of media, for example phones and bluetooth speakers, or proper HiFi / headphones.Not being able to burn to disc (as was possible with the previous version) may seem a disadvantage but I simply export the final track to some alternative software on my PC and then assemble tracks into a CD length and burn it there. There is lots of free software and DVD burners are pretty cheap. Using SD card as storage is brilliant since the memory is only limited by how many cards you have - and they too are now pretty cheap!All in all this really is an excellent recorder with very few serious limitations, and with the experience of Tascam / Teac behind it it should be. What is actually amazing though is the price.I have had this one for a few months and love using it. I usually record everything just in case it's good and then discard if not. Previously I had to set up for a recording session which detracted from the pleasure. Now it's plug and play!Thoroughly recommended.

If you're looking for a well built, easy to use 24 track portastudio look no further, 'cos you've found it. Before I bought this I used a Boss BR800 8 track... I though it would be the silk purse of home recording but it turned out to be a sows ear of complicated frustration. This has restored my faith and enjoyment.

I bought myself one of these recorders about three years ago, for home use, and it's a real godsend.I'm terrible at learning anything from a manual, so I'm lucky in that this recorder is fairly intuitive. I merely had to learn how to prepare the finished recording for export to an external computer. It has a virtual track function, but I don't bother with it, I just record three guitar solos on three individual tracks and pick the one that sounds the best for inclusion in the final mix! It also has some effects that I've not bothered with.My only quibble is that there is a tiny amount of hiss on each track, so if you've recorded on eight tracks, they do rather accumulate, and I must go to the end of each recorded part and delete the empty, hissy bit after it so you won't hear it when the last note is fading. Or merely pull down the sliders. You certainly don't hear any hiss, though, while the music is playing, and if you've recorded on just one or two tracks, you can only hear hiss if you turn it up and specifically listen for it.I'd certainly buy one of these again, if this was stolen. I record alone so you'd think I wouldn't need twenty four tracks (I think the most I've ever used is twelve). But you always need more than you think you will. You won't regret buying this recorder.

This is proving as easy to use as I had hoped. Excellent

The DP24sd delivered quality sound as expected.Highly satisfied with packaging and delivery but disappointed that the price decreased by around £40 two days after I ordered it! The cost now is in line with most other sellers.

Amazingly easy to use. Straight out of the box.

Prior to this I used the 2488 model for many years, which served me faithfully. This model however never agreed with me in its functionality, ease of use or, as it turns out, reliability - it broke down after 2 yrs of occasional use. Prior to this it kept freezing, showing error messages etc., until it finally refused to work. Despite my best efforts, I never ended up getting used to it. I guess the name Tascam doesn't carry that same mark of quality anymore.