Input Lead Question For DP004

[M King]

I have recently purchased and have been using a Tascom DP-004 4 track recorder. It is being used primarily to record from music played on an organ which has 2 auxillary stereo feeds. At the moment I have been feeding these two leads into a stereo jack which in turn is fed ino the "A" input socket on the DP-004. On configuring the input for the DP-004 I find the volume of the unit is considerably enhanced if I set it to MIC(as apposed to "Line In"). Is this right or should I be setting it to Line In and separating the two input leads and feed them into Input's "A" & "B" at the same time? Unfortunately the small guide supplied with the machine is not very extensive in how differing inputs (other that guitars) should be set up. Is there another book/guide that someone can point to to.

 

[jjones1700]

Unfortunately, as of the digital era anyway, Tascam hasn't had all that great of manuals to accompany their products.

You would be best off having the organ auxillary feeds going into both of the inputs on the DP-004.

Something to consider: make sure you have the updated firmware for the DP-004. If it has an older version of firmware, you won't be able to adjust the sensitivity of the inputs (low, med, high) in the on screen menu. Those adjustments might help you out a bit in fine tuning the level and sound you are looking for.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[M King]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I did as you suggested - & yes, all works well. The volume is how I would have expected. However, I was hoping that I could record with my Electronic organ whislt a friend, who plays and improvises on a piano alongside me, would also be able to be recorded at the same time. Am I losing out by putting my 2 Aux leads into 1 jack and putting them into "Input A" whilst he is recorded in "Input "B". I am aware of the limitation of having only a 4 track recorder but it's the simplicity of it that makes it work for me. Should I be recording him separately on another track? Thanks in anticipation.

 

[jjones1700]

You are most welcome.

The DP-004 is a 4 channel unit, but only records two channels at a time. In order for you to record the organ and the piano, you will only have mono input from the organ so you can keep the 2nd input free for the piano. It would be nice if each of the inputs were stereo, enabling one to capture 4 tracks at once, but alas it isn't. The DP-004 is a cool little unit and I have used mine plenty of times, however, you would have to spend a bit more money and step up to a 2488 (a larger "portastudio") in order to capture more than two tracks at once, and even then, the 2488 is massive overkill for the project you are currently doing.

There is a DP-008 out there that you might have seen. It is 8 tracks, but only records two at a time just like the DP-004...

I would think the next logical step up would be the Tascam US-600 USB interface, which is used with either a PC or laptop. If you have a decent laptop, you could get 4 inputs at once.

These are just my humble suggestions.