Over the last few years, this channel has grown... and so has my collection of multitrackers 😳 But the DP-006 still has a special place in my heart. Last week, I decided to revisit it... and I was reminded of why I love it. I made a long video about it, and I recommend the video for anyone who wants honest insight into recording with multitrackers and other DAWless devices: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hLKTZceLr5u5aYE.html

I can’t remember the last time that ten minutes of internet time has resonated with me more. Probably never. I’m 63, I started with a cheap cassette recorder from Woolworths, ‘advanced’ to a Tascam 4 track, and continued on until I had every magic trick in a box you could conceive. Only now have I realised that all of this stuff was like a politician’s promise; and I have never been happier since I returned to my roots with my little dp004 and heard what I wanted to hear - or not - in which case I turn off and start again. I like a bit of reverb, but that’s it! Thanks for your videos. All the best. David, Cornwall, U.K.

I totally agree with you 💯. This is the reason why I have used a Zoom R24 for all of my albums I have recorded and never had an issue with it. I started out with cassette based Tascam recorders for years with excellent results. Great minds think alike. Thank you for posting this.

I've started using actual synthesizers and drum machines. I think I will buy a tascam as well eventually. In my opinion sitting at a computer programming the sounds in feels lifeless. Actually playing real life synths bringing the song to life brings me so much creativity and joy. I'm glad you made a video on this

Totally get where you're coming from here...I use a Tascam DP-32SD for all my drum recordings...or any recording for that matter...I used to spend ages waiting for the PC to load, then another age for the DAW to load...then resolve any issues that inevitably popped up...it sucked out all the enthusiasm before id even got going. Now I switch on the Tascam and its all set ready to record before I've even made coffee..love the stress-free workflow now man..

Your story totally resonates with me. Thanks for this

I needed to hear this from someone else. THANK YOU !!!!!!

This is almost exactly what happened to me. It took me 50 yrs. to figure out sometimes less is more. I could have saved thousands of dollars if I just had one of these the whole time. Now I want one. Great vid!

couldn't agree more man. I call it the one click loop. I went down that road so many times. Restrictions breed creativity. My favorite way to record now is a simple zoom or tascam, usually one shot recording. I have found going back to the basics has helped me as a musician as well. No loops, no edits. Makes me focus on timing, and arranging and better lyric writing. The lure of new stuff is always there. For example, I would like to get an MPC, but already know that it will take me weeks to learn it, and those are weeks I could be focused on making music. I think if you look at the pros, working touring musicians, most had to make the choice at some point (do I want to be a musician/songwriter, or do I want to be an engineer. Very hard to do both effectively.)

Man! I took a 10 year break from making music and recently dove back into it. I'm a 90's hip hop head and decided to ditch the daw. I produce my shitty beats on an Sp404 mk2 and about to cop a DP-03SD for recording vocals. Great video, much love!

I have been recording with a fostex 16 track for almost 17yrs now and I am the same way I push the record button and play if I like how it recorded I keep it if not I do it over. I never cut and splice and piece together a song although my recorder can do that. I always play the song all the way through when I record. so it is nice to see other's that find this way of recording still having value as this will be the way I always record.

Same over here. I prefer DAWless production. I got the TASCAM DP-008 EX. Lots of fun and creative freedom, and I find it quicker as a workflow. On the other hand being in front of the computer with the DAW setup drains me. Each to their own. Great video🔥👍

I've been a Tascam Porta Studio user since the mid 80s. I now have the DP-24 and don't even like that learning curve but it's getting better and the workflow is getting quicker. A local buddy of mine uses a DAW. He likes to drink beer while he records. He told me by the time his computer boots up, updates, then he finally gets all his settings tweaked, he's already too buzzed to record!!!! 😂😂😂

Man I am loving what you’re saying here! What you have described here is a carbon copy of my last few years! I came on here tonight looking for confirmation that I should go DAWless and I think I’ve now decided. Thanks for the great video.

Man, you got me in tears..I just did the same thing I bought a tascam 24sd multitrack portastudio, I got tired of the DAW it's becoming more like work, so I got the tascam and now I feel like a big kid...JUST HAVING FUN recording and loving it.

Nice one mate! Incredible how technology has moved on isn't it? What would have cost a fortune in the 80's sound creation wise, you can now virtually get for free! Thanks for posting.

You nailed it,man.Simple is best (and that goes for many things).

I really liked your video and your approach to recording your music. When I was growing up in the late 60's I got my hands on a suitcase type reel to reel tape deck and I would use the funky mic that came with the unit and just "roll the tape" as they say and then listen back to what I had done. I would also record rehearsals of bands that my friends were in. I would show up and set up a single mic to record the whole group. I wasn't trying to make a demo of the band just recording their practice sessions so they could listen to the playback and work on parts of songs that needed more practice. So I like your approach to keeping things simple.

I had stepped away from music for a few years, so I was unaware of my choices - thought DAW was my only option. I'm so glad I discovered the dp-008ex recently! Picking one up soon. Thanks for your perspective.

Twenty years ago, I had a lot of fun with just my midisequencer inside my Roland XP60. Composing various lines, including drums and bass. Recording it first onto my CD-recorder. Then I had a VS840, which was more fun because of the various FX I could add and of course my voice. Then I got my first Powermac with Cubase and Propellerheads. At first it was fun… but gradually I lost it. Completely stopped recording… and thus composing… A few years ago I bought a DP008EX. For a live recording of my daughter’s live performance. And now I see where it went wrong. But more importantly: I have THE tool to get things right again. I still have a XP60. I have a Mininova. And a SR16. Should be enough to get me going again: I can’t wait!!

Wow! The comments clearly demonstrate the audience for DAWless. Amazing ! - good on ya.

I’m a 63 year old dilettante who has fumbled about with bits and pieces for 40 years. I’ve just bought a dr600 and a boss rc5 loopstation because I’ve come to this same conclusion. My plan is to generate rhythm stuff on Ipad garageband , export directly through audio out into either or both of these units , and just bounce/ loop/ layer stuff around, and return process tracks, vocals and guitar through guitar effect pedals back into these units. My mind is buzzing with ideas for the first time in years. Cubase totally defeated me, and was so inorganic that the process overwhelmed the creation. I know I’ll never create top shelf material, but it’s the fun I’m looking for. I love the idea of improv technology, and the physical engineering side has always been my first love, I figure I’ve got more available to me with these ‘simple’ modern tools than the Beatles had in their heyday. I envisage multiple loops , layers and return feeds into mono and stereo lines and tracks. I’m a happy geriatric😄

Wow!! Thank you!!! That made soo much since to me. I lost my enthusiasm in music and I have been getting some music equipment to get back to music again. And I'm not a super professional or nothing I just always love music. Thank you, for your words. I thought I was the only one who felt like getting back to the way I use to be early on. Thanks again!!

Thank you for sharing this informative video. Personally, I began my music production journey using DAW software. However, I recently decided to explore the Tascam DP32SD hardware unit for a change and to experience its unique capabilities. Despite my curiosity, I have faced difficulties transitioning to the hardware unit due to the absence of certain plugins that I heavily rely on during the mixing process on my computer. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful that by producing songs solely on the DP32, I will be able to achieve the desired level of audio quality I strive for.

"Limitations are the mother of creativity"

You hit the nail on the head sir. I am 44, and when I was 15 I got my first Tascam Portastudio 4-track and it changed my life. In the almost 30 years since, I have used DAWs the same way I did that entry level cassette recorder. I miss that feeling, which is why I am looking to get a D-006, and that is also how I came across your video. I'm sold now.

Great video. I came from 4 tracks and I always created more content when limited. Using hardware synths and my MPC One has rejuvenated that joy. Having less options helps me as I’m easily distracted!

This was so earnest and refreshing. Thanks! I had a similar path. Started with a digital 8-track, had tons of fun with it, and was productive without really even trying to be. Then I had the DAW downfall. Now I mostly make beats on my Novation Circuit because it’s limitations allow me to experience focus and joy. Thinking of bringing my old 8-track into the picture again :)

Great Video! Really enjoyed listening to your story. Thank you for sharing.

I had been using a DAW, and I too was using it in a naïve way. Well, my laptop broke down and I bought a Zoom R20. It has a touch screen so you can do some DAW-like work right on it. It has stepped up my recordings and most importantly, my willingness to record in a major way. It might not be for everyone, but for someone who likes to keep it simple, it has been great so far.

Great video. Very inspiring. I'm back making music again - and presumed that DAW was the modern answer. But at the back of my mind I just knew that I should go 'old school'. You've convinced me . I'm going to buy a Tascam DP-006.

dude I went thru the same thing going back to Tascam units and ambandoning DAW.Cool at first then I literally wanted to quit making music.too many tutorials and issues,subbed.

I completely understand where you're coming from. As for myself, I grew up on Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page's "Guitar Army." Add in Rush's and YES' amazing instrumental work and Jeff Beck's great jazz fusion albums and - you get the picture. I'm the polar opposite of a singer/songwriter. I also had a 4-track in college, and found it very limiting - I had just the opposite problem, really: not _enough_ tracks, since my drum machine was stereo. I bought an 8-channel mixer to plug into two of the tracks at a time, but that meant I had to record a bunch of stuff at once. If I got 75% of the way through a recording and decided that a drum fill had to be different, well, too bad. Deal with it or start over from scratch. I was basically using a drum machine, a couple of MIDI keyboards and a sequencer to create a very low-fi version of a modern DAW. So I'm sure you can understand that DAW apps like PreSonus Studio One are precisely what I've wanted. *EXCEPT!!* _Your comment about the learning curve is SO completely spot-on. _*_Holy crap are there a lot of sub-menus and sub-sub-menus._* How long until I can click 'Record'? I've almost forgotten the idea I had that made me launch the app in the first place... I've been looking at the 8-track version of your Tascam box. (That's how your video popped up in my suggested list.) I think you've convinced me to pull the trigger and get one. I can record six at once and bounce to stereo, freeing up six more tracks for overdubs. I can use Studio One as just a drum machine (for now), create the drum tracks and then just export (or play them into) the Tascam. And I'm pretty sure I can pull the audio tracks into Studio One for further mixing, if I want to play engineer/producer. Thanks for a good video.

Well, I love my DAW. I use REAPER, I feel very comfortable with it, I use a small collection of old freeware VSTs that I like a lot and that sort of defines my sound. I will never go DAWless, and I don´t have any issues with having too much power overshadowing the actual music creation process. However, since I was a teenager many years ago I have been dreaming of a truly portable rig I can take with me on hiking trips and when travelling. I just bought a DP006 for that very reason, for a long roadtrip through Sweden, and it allowed me to do a sort of music diary. At the moment I am just using a few apps on my phone as the soundsource but I intend to get some very small battery-operated synth (the Roland Botiques come to mind) for a more tactile, hands-on experience. I actually choose this unit over its direct competitor, the Boss DR-2, because of its simplicity. When out in the woods the one thing I don´t want to do is to be tied up with technical questions. The DR-2 is like a miniature DAW in that respect, with more tracks, onboard effects, and much more menu driven. It doesn´t appeal to me at all, I much prefer the approach of the Tascam.

Refreshing message . I like hands on recorder and keeping it simple also. There is unmatched beauty in simplicity. Sincere Thank You for this message,..something I needed to hear,....

Good story. I’m Tascam DP-006 all the way.

Very encouraging. I have written many songs myself but have recorded relatively few. I could be an idealist about it, but the truth is I have certain aversions, as it seems you do, and one of them is to deep menu diving and "virtual" interfaces. I've decided to do what you're describing and am presently putting together an order of equipment to facilitate it, all of which circumvent the DAW. More knobs, fewer screens! Lol

As dimebag said the little imperfections is what makes a record perfect

1 million percent understand exactly what you’re saying. I feel exactly the same way. I keep getting rid of gear left and right. Like guitar modeling units. I spent more time trying to figure them out than using. I had them all. Got rid of them all for a Blackstar SilverLine Special combo amp. Went back and made myself a very small pedalboard with a looper, a chorus and a Boss OD1 overdrive. I use the delay and verb in the amp. I’m waiting on my Zoom R4 handheld recorder and ditching Logic and all the chaos, time and energy I needed to invest into using that. Going to sell my high end audio interface. The R4 is one and is great. Plug in a mic and my guitar into the R4 and record. Unplug one and plug in a drum machine. Unplug that plug in a cheap synth when needed. I’m done with all this “ high tech, “ razzamajazz too. And I’ll be 100 times more productive and most importantly, happy.

I just bought a Porta 05 and a Zoom L8 for the same reason thnx subbed!

I've had two or three goes using a laptop-based DAW over the last couple of years, and not really got very far with it. I've just bought a digital Portastudio and I'm romping ahead with it. I like knows and sliders that I can actually touch, and the features are enough for me as I'm essentially an acoustic player.

Thank you so much for making this video and i thank each and every one of you for your comments! I see i have most certainly not been alone in my personal preference by just abandoning the endless DAW and like y'all go back to my roots. A very reacuring theme I've noticed is how we've all eventually lost that spark of passion in song writing and performing. DAWs can be enough to make one go completely nuts with which sound sounds better with the finest of tweaks to this and most precise adjustments to that. I eventually found myself literallying ping ponging back and forth between this DAW setting that DAW setting so much so i lost sight of the creative process and instead came to the conclusion just for O.C.D. DAWs were making me become!! Making music should Never be a stressful process it's in our lives for enjoyment. Not trying to out sound the last recording. I think going back to our roots is going to allow ourselves to rediscover many things that we had right from the very start! I NEED SIMPLICITY IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW!!!! And i have the very make and model of Tascam you've got in your video!! I wish everyone out there the best of luck with their newly rediscovered recording methods and just get back to the war things were with music. Just enjoy it!

So very true. I've been exactly here.

We use a TASCAM DP03 for all our recording releases these days. Feels more hands on . Great video.

Glad to find your video! I’m getting one ASAP! I’m always trying to record my ideas and video and DAWs are to complicated and expensive! Thanks for sharing! The recordings on your Sound Cloud sound amazing! 🤟

It is funny that we all have this power to OVER-produce our sounds now... I appreciate being able to use something like GarageBand to organize and add slight things to recordings or to easily export sharable files...but seems like I gravitate towards recording through a cheap mixer into a DP-008. I remember being really impressed at the idea of recording a virtually limitless number of tracks to a project...but I almost never use all eight tracks on the TASCAM thing for any given project. Anyway...this was an entertaining video :D

Fucking love this bro. I went through the EXACT same thing. Got a pocket studio, loved it and it felt so natural and I was putting out songs. Thought I needed a better sound , went to Logic Pro X , turned into over analyzing everything and stopped writing and recording all together. Pocket studio is where it’s at. Simplicity.

Awesome and refreshing perspective! How and when we became so terrified of playing a song from start to finish? Totally getting a tape recorder

I'm 100% with you, started out on an old tascam four-track, went super deep into Sony acid music studio pro, hundreds of VSTs, couldn't be productive, worked great for producing rap for others, but I couldn't do what I wanted to do. Now I do everything on a tascam port 05 and a rack unit I put together, , stereo compressor, side chain EQ, quadrverb, lexicon, ect. It's all hardware. I can crank out a song in 5 minutes and I'm not spending hours with anxiety in a state of option paralysis. Great video, 👍.

Nice story. Well done. Keep it. :) Yeah - it's becoming more evident that huge efforts and production methods just aren't what it takes to have a fan base and keep them happy. On the other hand the story telling element is becoming about 10X easier this year. Notice? I'll see where you go with this one.

It's exactly how I feel I have that same tascam but the 8 track. I used to own a tascam tape 4track back in 89

This message is Appreciated Brother!!!!!

Loved this video. You seem awesome. Wishing you the best with your channel and YT career 🙏🏽

I like this guys style. Of course I subbed.

The thing is you can always transfer the tracks from the tascam onto your computer if you want to. I've messed about with audacity a fair amount in the past and that can be quite good to work with, but it does get tiring staring at a screen doing that stuff. A tascam type studio is a lot more enjoyable to work with.

I did enjoy it. Thanks for that. All I can say it - stick to a process that works for you. I record into DAW but that's recent. I produced three albums the old fashioned - in a bona fide studio with an engineer. However, I am tempted to get hold of your machine and try that.

Oh man, you hit close to home on this one. I can totally relate, and it sounds like we had a very similar experience.. almost to a T. I started out on a Tascam porta studio as a kid. Got sucked into a world of recording demos and experimental pieces and eventually started playing in bands in my teens. When we thought we had a few songs down we went into a professional recording studio in Virginia (which shall remain nameless) where we spent thousands of dollars on a few tracks we weren't totally satisfied with. Fast forward a bit and I ended up learning how to record with primitive DAWs on an old laptop in hopes of avoiding more studio time. 😅 I was able to record several albums that way and it was fun but you're right... it was a huge time suck in a lot of ways and I started to focus on editing more than getting better performances. Choosing to record with a DAW was mainly out of necessity but I think it comes with a lot of bad habits as well. After years of that I found myself bored and uninspired and felt like I was missing what I fell in love with to begin with. I eventually bought a Zoom H2 field recorder and a Tascam DP008 and started using those again and found myself actually wanting to make music again after a long break. I even found a second hand Zoom R24 that I'm learning on now and I can say I'm really happy with it so far. Yeah, not all of these multitrack recorders are super hi-fidelity, professional sounding machines, but it sure beats the stress of software and interface issues and getting lost in settings and parameters. It really has been great to get back to basics like you said. Not all of us have a degree in sound engineering and what's more important is that we enjoy what we're doing.. because if it's not fun anymore why do it? I appreciate your video, thanks for posting! All the best to you. 🤘

I absolutely HATED using DAWs. I grew up on tape. I'm just letting myself fall in love with digital recording - 16-track. Totally understand your approach: you have something to control with hardware.

I own this but because I have a computer set-up at home (Mac), and because of this, I do not use it often. HOWEVER, i do recommend this Tascam if you don't want to be mobile. But also you can use it as a creative inspiration because there is an intimacy in recording cozyed up on on couch, or camping, or crosslegged on the carpet. It's a gem. You have to play around with it to get used to the knobs and the recording steps. But do not get frustrated. After a few days of getting used to the format and the small size you can truly become a part of it. Once you get used to using it as a creative too, it will inherently lend itself to mix-downs of your recordings. There are limitations. You cant just move clips and beats around. But for many this can be a much more inspiring creative way to make music outside of your home computer set-up. And you can always do a final mix on you laptop later, or whatever. I paid a lot for it when it came out a few years ago, but it's about half that price now in 2023. Happy music making! - Frank Montoya at _The Acoustic Rabbit Hole_

Hey dude. Good video. I grew up the same way; recording with cassette players and 4 and 8 track tascam tape machines. They are a wonderful way to record because, as an artist You should be focusing on Writing and Performing great songs. Not focusing on how well you used the pc's parametric equalizers on your daw. I have been using an old Cubase Le daw that is very similar to old tape recorders. I'm like Rick Rubin when it comes to producing: you get your great sounds before you even record them. Then, once recorded- you don't mess with them. Just mix the song and it's done! I agree- you waste so much time messing with pc daws that you could be spending, becoming a better songwriter or performer. So many people who are good at recording on pc's? Their songs are horrible! Why? Instead of writing great songs? They're focused on messing with internal vst fake amps and instruments???? And their songs are crap? But their recordings are good??? People? What's the point in having a great sounding song that Sucks??? Focus on the Music. Right on brother! Good video!

This is so inspiring, thanks!

Great video. I have a dp-008ex. It can be a bit disorienting to record this way if you are used to DAWs and their strict adherence to bars and beats but the stuff I make on the DP is a lot more fun when I give myself permission to play around and experiment like you mentioned in this video.

Thank you so much for this. I totally agree with you!

Thank you

1986 i bought a TASCAM Porta Studio 1. I have been chasing better and better ways to record music all these years and had a similar "Light Bulb" moment recently as I was perusing a Sweetwater catalog at a 8 track TASCAM recorder... I haven't pulled the trigger on it yet... but I will. Thank you for sharing...

Im on board. I havent done much in like forever, but half of the problem is thinking everything has to be tweaked through a DAW, part of the issue is as you say you just want to press record and record without having to worry about post production. Some of the early days there was hardly any of that nonesense and much of it is legendary. Mostly about mic positioning and studio ambience and the rest in performance. I've gotten into reaper as a DAW because it's close to that ( I also used Audition in it's early days, previously known as Cool Edit before Adobe bought it ) but I am also thinking of getting one of these litte Tascams.

I have this little really cool recorder, the same one, and I love it!!! But recently I like using Garageband on an old E-Waste iMac, A giant iMac, heavy, free, off the local E-Waste dump pile - BUT i bought the AmpliTube ToneX and it plugged right into the old iMac, no driver to load, it is really fun.

heey man thank you so much for your motivational talk i see my self realy in the same situation of being perfectional about my song that i make it helped me playing more open minded and ejoying the music i play THANK YOU!

Yes I liked this .. I did get a Daw & because I live in a remote area very poor wifi etc & also because of my advancing years & declining eyesight .. I decided to go back to computer & computer free recording .. Inspired by lot's of folks I started down that long road of becoming my own sound engineer lol .. My wife was the 1st to point out that my ruf demo's on an old cassette player sounded better ,, in the search for unity gain I had forgotten to Perform the Song & so my perfect clean recordings had no Soul .. So now I am back to Basic's & the only drawback is that due to neighbours I have to live in headphones .. Keep at it Jordan I like your style .. from an old Muso in Ye olde backwoods of Englande ..

Thank you! back to basics is the way to go

This is great, I started off with a 4-track Portastudio in the 90s, everything about it made sense, there was a clunky analog understanding. Just recently bought a DP008EX, bit more to get to grips with, but, totally understand your point, click and go, noodle at will! 👍

I started with a 2 cassette deck karaoke machine. I would tape over the cassette holes to record over whatever came on them. Then I would layer tracks by swapping two different cassettes. The quality degradation was hilariously bad but that wasn’t the point. I just wanted to write music and this method allowed that. digital recording has been distracting to the point of hinderance! I’ve used voice memos on my phone to capture ideas and perfect areas before sharing with the other band mates. It’s been perfect for that. now days I want a more refined sound without using DAW and it’s been a struggle to find anything with just the right balance of high tech and low tech. you perfectly described my feelings about this! I’m probably gonna buy this now.

Great video and totally agree with you.... cheers.

PS- I also started with a 4 track portasudio in mid80’s, bought a Casio CZ 100 at the same time, brought them home, unboxed them, with no musical skills created a soundscape track with one of my poems within 2 hours that my mates thought was great. Such intuitive machines, so simple to use. I regretted selling that Tascam for years, and have bemoaned the lack of my ability to recreate the experience without expense beyond my reality. Hence the DAW attempts, and my subsequent surrender. I’d given up for a long time, then fell across a review on the dr600, which got me thinking again!

Just came across this video and really made me think about the motivation and creative process, back when I didnt have any audio interface or daw, I had a loop pedal with an SD cart, I could just record a few things over each other and take the recording out if I liked it. Then garageband happened and I learned using daws, made everything way complex, wish I could go back to the simple creative time.

I am the 6th watching this ;-) and I like your down to Earth talk, so you got a new subscriber. More shaving videos please lol.

You are so underrated. Instant sub.

I always got uninspired while if front of a screen. I can relate. Sometimes the best tasting recipes are the simplest 👍🏼

I have Studio One by Presonus and I like it, but I can’t stand worrying about buffer sizes, dealing with trying to minimize latency, processing speed, RAM, updates, etc…I use a Tascam DP-24. It’s all I need.

You should make new videos each time you shave. You are a good story teller buddy. I'm a guitarist and i just opened the way to using synths (I'm waiting my Korg monologue to arrive). I'm eager to take advice on how to incorporate these synth gear with my guitar and bass playing and play dawless for that reason.

I'm trying to go d-a-w-less as well , thank you for this inspiring vid , btw I thought if you kept shaving all the way to a baldie it would've been badass . Thank you .

I have one of those. Still trying to get it to work.

Me too, I still use a Boss Br 8 the original digital studio in a box with higher quality outboard gear,Simple!

I totally relate. I have through the Daw to the other side and it drained all my creativity. I am considering a Tascam but a model or 2 up from that one. Great video

I have the DP 008ex I love it.its got a hifi sound about it.

I get it and remember putting tape over the bottom of cassette tape’s to record I have the dp008ex 8 track version love it

I have learned the semi hard way that capturing the moment quickly in a focused, closed eco system that's dead reliable and straight forward out ways any advantage a DAW can offer. I never really liked the results on my fairly up end system with a zillion plugins and virtual filler. A million things in your way that might go wrong before you even hit the red button. My creativity can't afford that lag time. I like to fire off an idea in real (reel) time and capture a great idea when it comes then and there. No impediments. Like you I have gone down the rabbit hole of compressors and deessers and whatever for ages and maybe I learned a thing or two along the way but did not like the results. Never sounded like this great million dollar effort to me or the guys in my orbit. I always thought a run of the mill well done demo tape from the eighties had a certain impact and live quality I can't get from a DAW. I was about to plunk down for this awesome ad/da converter and a Mac this year but said u know what.......I will instead go with a vintage Les Paul and a Tascam DP. Money well spent. I think these portastudios actually sound better to my ear. There cheap, effective, versatile, reliable, have lots of features, get the job done and sound awesome.

I bought a new DAW about two years ago and still have not used it. It was intended to be a step up from an old DAW I'd been using for years, but once I got it all setup I just froze. The technology was so advanced from what I'd been used to that it just overwhelmed me to think of having to learn a whole new system. I just walked away from recording altogether. It's been so discouraging and depressing. When it comes to today's recording technology, I feel like a lost ball in high weeds. I miss the simplicity of the old days.

Absolutely Agree, to much focus on the process with a DAW and Computer ... PeaCe

Reaper goes hand in hand with my Tascam.....

Same here. I bought my first Tascam cassette 4 track in about ‘88/‘89. In fact I’ve still got it! But then the bands I was in eventually used studios where reel to reel was out and DAW was in. But engineers did all the magic there, we just played and sang our parts, and for whatever reason DAW just never chimed with me for my own (home) recording. Tried them all. From freebies like Audacity, to complimentary packages that came with gear (like Cakewalk and Cubase LE), to bought like Logic Pro for the iMac. Hated them all. I just don’t like them. I don’t know why. The only thing I can think of is it feels as though it’s taking away the “hands on” craft. I also get headaches staring at computer screens too long, so that became frustrating. With a hardware multitrack you have to use the sensory organs that really are key to making good music - the ears. You don’t rely on an algorithm or cheats like copy/paste/splice to pull a song together and using electronic wizardry to make it sound good. You build it by trial and error and by getting it, playing it, singing it right. I now use a little Boss BR80, for grabbing initial ideas, and sometimes layering on these, but then I use a Zoom R16 for recording proper. I recently bought a Zoom R20, because it seemed like a half way house between a hardware MTR and a DAW, and you know what? First impressions are, I don’t like it. Again, it’s taken away too much of the “hands on” I like and frustratingly over complicated what should be a joyful process. So I think I’ll be flogging it and sticking with the R16. Maybe expand to an R24 at some point for more tracks. Great video by the way.

The thought of using a DAW is killing my enthusiasm for recording music. The one album I made with my old garage band was done on a single USB microphone plugged into Audacity. It turned out great. I might keep a DAW for live recording a band with multiple mics for minimal edits (like overall volume of instruments) afterwards and get something like a Tascam for recording at home. Somehow we have to avoid all of the knob twiddling and just make music. Indigo the raw sound anyways.

I love my Zoom R8.

simplicity inspired! Nice! I understand! ": )

I have one of those little tascams. I prefer my old tascam porta07 with the metal tapes but the digital tascam is a great little studio.

🖤

Great video and advise btw. I couldn't agree with you more. You must have a faster workflow. I'd be a disaster with a DAW. I'd be tweaking for hours and never hit the record button. 😂

Dude....... YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES....... ON THIA FRIDAG AFTERNOON, I FINALY HAD AN EPIPHANY FROM UR VIDEO!!!!! Yes u nailed the fuck out of it. I heard every word u said. That is was milled me creatively

I thought i was the only one that thought DAW ssuxked ass. Thank you

Great chat! Are you still using the Tascam? I love my DP008EX as an alternative to building a PC, but lately I notice it is degrading some of my recordings, especially from low-end inputs like bass and synth. Do you hear anything similar from your box?