TASCAM Pocketstudio 5

The unit is fairly uncomplicated, being a low-end recorder, therefore there isn't much there to get confused about. Hence, it's easy to use: I was able to plug and play with it, with relatively little trouble. It's on a par with the Boss BR recorders (which I've owned), and slightly easier to use than the Zoom MRS recorders, (which I've also owned)... much easier to use than the Yamaha AW recorders, but not as feature packed, either. I purchased version 1.01, but Tascam's website is very straightforward: upgrading to the latest (2.04) was a breeze.

The main reason I rate it so high is that you can plot a standard midi file on the CompactFlash card, and then run with it while recording, adjusting tempo and everything. This means I can create my rhythm tracks using TabTrax (or whatever you prefer that's actually user-friendy), then export to midi, and easily get it over to the PocketStudio. This is MUCH BETTER than anything else out there, except for the Digitech GNX4, but that costs about 3 times as much. Other recorders, like Boss and Zoom, have proprietary drum machines that are tremendously difficult to work with if you're looking to create a custom drum track.

There are two ways to view this question, the obvious and important question, given that it's a recorder, is how accurately it records what you put in. It does an excellent job; only 44.1KHz, but I think CD quality should suffice for 99.999 percent of the population. Another way to view the question is how good are the built-in effects. In a word: they stink. Good for taking notes and nothing more. If you want something halfway decent sounding, get a cheap Digitech multi-effects pedal... then you'll be in business.

Very nicely built, but no opinion: recorders generally sit at home, and if I took i to a gig, I would be very careful with it. It's sturdy but not meant to be stomped on or anything!

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The VALUE of this thing, (easily had for around $100 or even less if you're patient), is unbelievable). I've owned tons of recorders, and only two are on the market that really work well with standard midi files for the drum machine. This one, and the Digitech GNX4... this is like the poor man's version of the Digitech: this has 4 channels and crappy effects patches and only allows 128MB cards: but it's really inexpensive. The Digitech has 8 channels, very good efects, and can take bigger cards... but it costs tree times as much.

Bottom line... if you can affor it, get the Digitech... if money is an issue, get this. Skip the rest (unless you're doing high and mighty suff requiring 16 or 24 channels or some such...)

I bought this to record ideas, and do not bother with the midi functions, i also did not buy this for its effects. I bought this soly for the recording. the recording is simple, and so are the main functions, EQ,reverb, panning, and the effects if you want them. As allways if you dont read the manual then you are stupid, i didn't appreciate having to print out all 50 pages, though it is easy to follow and keeps it simple. comes with a power adaptor, 32 mb card and hedphoneand mic (though i think you need a much better mic than this for recording) mixing down is very simple, it is easy to create mp3's and to back up info on the computer. 32 mb is not enough (allows a song of about 3-4 minutes with 4 tracks even then you may not have enough space to mix it down to an mp3)so i am going to get a 128 mb card as soon as i can.

this is a digital recorder, it will put out pretty much exactly what you put in. when recording, if you want a good sound then i have found (with every recorder i have owned) it is best to use a high quality mic (not a normal singing mic). as if the mic is no good then the sound will be no good. likewise, the headphones/speakers you listen to it with are also important, as again if these are of low quality then the sound you get will be no good. pretty obvious really. due to living in a flat with paperthin walls, i often end up pluging straight into the guitar input. once i Eq and add reverb the sound is acctable for archiving song ideas (but i wouldn't record a demo like this on any machine). The effects are not for me, very digital, i tend only to use the vocal effects which can make things interesting and i don't know about the drumb effects.

When i was looking for a recorder i also considered the zoom pocket studio, but it looked and felt flimsy, (especially the sliders), but of course this wont take much abuse either, its plastic. i have only had it for about 2 months, and so far it has been fine.

i haven't delt with them

This recorder has allowed me to record ideas when and where i get them, which is brillint. i dont use the other features much, so i can't really comment on those, If it where stolen i would proabbly buy it again. I just wish the onbord mic was better, then i wouldn't have to bring mine around with me. Useing a good mic and good headphones i can get pretty good sound out of this, I only have trouble recording distortion, (which i have allways found difficult). I would prefer to have seperate inputs for each track (and not have them specified for specific functions) as i will be recording drumbs (miced up) soon and i know that this will be dificult with only 2 imputs (and you are not suposed to put mics into the guitar input anyways) so this could be a problem.

The PS5 is a portable four track, two stereo input digital recording device with built in mp3 and 64-voices-midi playback.
Main functions are fairly easy to use, the navigation within the menu structure is ok overall. There are 100 midi song styles, each consisting of 5 arrangebal parts (intro, verse a, fill a-b, verse b ...) wich can be used as background accompaniment. Limited editing possibilities for playback of standard midi files. Over 100 rather easy usable effects for vocals, guitar and so on (2 effect generators for the inputs plus reverb, pan, eq for overall playback/mixing). The manual could be better; I got two handbooks, one for the firmware 1.x and one for the changes in version 2. I got firmware 2.04 with the device and updated to 2.07 without problems.

Easy to use punch-in/out recording. No editing or controlling software for the computer, you can just backup the unreadeble song data and the mixed down mp3-file and interchange midi (up to 20+) and mp3 files. No virtual tracks, no uncompressed recording, no midi-out, no midi-sequencer, no direct recording or plaback to/from the computer via usb, no XLR input, mic input is made for Hi Z mics, so for good results with standard mics you may need a seperate mic amplifier. No storage cards bigger then 128 MB (44 minutes 4-track-recording plus mix). USB1 interface.

At this point of time I just tried to sing with it, accompanied by midi. Internal the tracks are stored as 16 bit 64 Kbps mp3 files, and for this the resulting mix down sounds astonishingly good. Vocal effects are not so great, but I don`t need anything but reverb and the reverb is ok. The inputs are optimized for line-in and instruments, resulting in terrible overloadings when using a standard (Low Z) mic with the mic-in-setting. This also happens with low input volumes, it allmost seems as if the input volume controller is behind the AD-converter :-) If you don`t want to use a seperate mic amplifier you can switch the setting to line-in, but then you need a rather good mic and have to be very loud to get good recording levels. No disturbing noises.

Midi sounds are ok, not comparable to a good keyboard, but better then most computer midi sounds.

But all in all, if you somehow get your voice into the device, the sound quality is amazingly good if you see the PS5 as the toy it is.

It doesn`t look like a tank and I don`t think that the input jacks would tolerate rough treatment. It can be operated by batteries, but only for 2 hours with 6(!) AAs.

When I bought it, I first thought it had a defect because of the inputs hardly usable for standard mics. When a second device behaved in the same way I mailed to tascam. At least they were honest enough to tell me that the problems results from the very limited controll range of the inputs.

One thing I really dislike is that the PS5 almost seems to be crippled intensiously to get a not-too-good device. Many limitations seem to me unnecessary. Why for example limiting the storage to 128 MB while telling that future firmwares might use more? And even with 128 MB a not-to-long 4-track song could be recorded uncompressed.

Furthermore I think a good customer support begins with a honest advertising. But many major limitations are not mentioned on the package description or even Tascam`s website. For example you can record directly to mp3, but there seems to be an undocumented 99 minutes limit.

All in all the PS5 is a nice toy with many possibilities, but many limitations too. The list price of 650 Euro is absurd but I don`t think that many devices are sold for that price. It can be nice for training purposes or as a replacement for an inexpensive 4 track tape recorder. The worst disadvantage in my opinion is the bad mic input. Even been disappointed by many limitations I would perhaps buy it again, simply because I don`t know any comperable device with midi playback.