Please help this "Dummie" set up her Tascam DP01

[MissMariAnn]

I can't get it to playback for me. I'm not sure I'm even recording because there is no VU meter to see.
I feel "lost".
Should I try to hire someone local to tutor me?
Is there anyone who could "walk" me through the infancy stage of "how to record and playback"?
Once I understand that I can start on mic placement but I can't even get a burp out of it!
Maybe I have it plugged in wrong.
I'm a bit confused about going to the song mode and then "create" I put in the title and it saves it before I have recorded anything.

My goal is to record original songs for a songwriters workshop I go to. I want to use it to share the "idea" and "feel" of the piece. When I'm ready for perfection I think I will hire a studio. So this is just for preview purposes. My intention is to lay down a percussion track and play piano, add a bass line and sing/add vocal harmonies.
Anyone out there Tascam savvy who can help me? thanks in advance. I sure would appreciate some help.
Lost in Translation-

 

[mjbphotos]

First, read the manual, start-to-finish. http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/352/dp01fxcd_eng.pdf

There is a meter, but it is not an old-fashioned VU meter, it's a level meter showing on the digital display.

Step 1 - connect your keyboard (if that's what you are going to record)
Step 2 - assign the inputs (press and hold 1 of the assign keys, then press one of the 8 track REC keys)
Step 3 - press the REC button on the track(s) you want to record - it will start flashing
Step 4 press the rec and play buttons (just like on an old cassette recorder) together
After that, press stop to stop recording, then rewind to go back, then play to listen to what you recorded (Use the track fader(s) and the red MASTER fader to adjust the level of
what you hear.)

 

[RecordingMaster]

When I'm ready for perfection I think I will hire a studio. So this is just for preview purposes.

And this is how it allllll begins! I started out the same way and eventually went to a local studio for some more serious material. After being unsatisfied, feeling I had to do everything myself and realizing I could do (or learn to do) just as good or better of a job as the "professional" engineer, I got more dedicated at home and on I go. It will never stop now!

Beware. You may fall in love and never want to stop.