Yeah.
That Pocketstudio 5 demo was a whole other ball game. You know it!
One of my biggest peeves about units like the DP-02 and others is the need for a front end mixer, as these units only give you A/B inputs with no input mixing, channel strips or any front end tone control whatsoever. The DP-02's preamps don't give me as much gain as I'm used to, but that's probably another post altogether.
With that being said, I've been using the Tascam 244's mixer section as input front-end mixer to the DP-02cf with really pleasing results. It's a world of difference in flexibility, production power and sound quality I can develop onboard the 244,... really developing the sound and mix for tracking,... and the DP-02 becomes a simple "capture" device more than anything else. I hate when what's supposed to be a "traditional" Portastudio design becomes a 2-piece system 'cause the unit lacks features,... but that's literally what it's become in this case. I'm not gonna say outright that the DP-02's A/B Inputs and Preamps are utterly useless, because they're functional, but it's "functional" and little more.
Post-tracking (final) mixdown is really a minor part of the production (for me), as I develop 99% of the overall sound on the front-end, by mixing and tweaking the input signals prior to recording down to tracks. Hence, using the 244 which has a small but primo mixer section. It helps a lot. It's a noticeable difference.
Nonetheless, I kinda like the DP-02cf. After all, who doesn't like new toys? I'm basically pleased with the quality of recordings I've gotten on it, but not to forget the major contribution made by the 244 as a primary link in the signal chain. These two units together is like old-school-meets-new-school sitting on the table and working together.
Note: For the record, [heh: pun], the drums were recorded with 2 mics straight into the DP-02cf using the internal preamps. I don't want to totally dog on the internal preamps, 'cause they do have some utility. Due to their limited top end gain, they perform best with loud/high-SPL sources and lively mics.
I have to admit that the load/save/dump backup scheme between the DP-02 and the 'puter is still my least favorite part of managing songs on this device. Partly because I'm a well known old-school cassette guy, and partly because it's not convenient at all, as my XP machine is in an entirely other house than the DP-02 recorder setup. When it's time to export my master to the 'puter, I have to take the DP-02 under my arm and carry it over, next door. Maybe that's just an inconvenient quirk with my personal setup, but I so much prefer to "pop in another tape" and continue the session, rather than... "disc full"... aw shucks! More hassle!
With this recording or recording in general, as with anything else, YMMV.
Thanks bro!
