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Product information

Item Weight

6.1 pounds

Product Dimensions

16.5 x 11 x 5 inches

ASIN

B004KCL5LW

Item model number

DP-03

Customer Reviews

4.2 107 ratings

4.2 out of 5 stars

Best Sellers Rank

#105,873 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
#248 in Portable Studio Recorders

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer

No

Date First Available

July 30, 2004

Compatible Devices

Personal Computer

Hardware Interface

USB, SDHC, Secure Digital Card, USB 2.0

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CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

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CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

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Product Description

The DP-03 is the latest Portastudio in TASCAM’s 37-year progression of making recording simple and affordable for musicians. The 8-track digital recorder captures your music at CD quality to affordable SD/SDHC cards, and a 2GB card is included with the recorder. With built-in microphones, effects, mastering and CD burning, the DP-03 provides everything musicians need to record and share their music. A pair of stereo condenser microphones is built into the front panel of the DP-03, helpful for capturing a rehearsal, live performance or songwriting ideas. Also included are a pair of high-quality XLR microphone preamps with phantom power for condenser microphones. 1/4” line inputs are also available, and an instrument-level switch allows you to record a guitar or bass without a direct box. A three-button footswitch, the RC-3F, is available for control and punch in. Routing the inputs to one of the eight tracks is simple, and you can record two at a time until you fill up all eight. A tuner and metronome are built-in for tight-sounding tracks, each with its own dedicated button for quick access. Track can be edited with commands like copy/paste, silence, clone track and undo. Bouncing is also available, even bouncing all eight tracks down to one or two. There’s even the option to import a recording through USB or audio CD. Each track has its own send to a stereo reverb processor as well as two-band shelving EQ. Once you’ve perfected your mix with the 45mm faders, pan knobs, reverb and EQ, record it to the dedicated stereo master track. Your mix can be processed with mastering effects like EQ and limiting for a tight, modern sound. When you’re satisfied, transfer your mix to a computer over USB 2.0 or burn an audio CD.

Top Brand: Tascam

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	This Item Tascam DP-03 Digital Portastudio	Recommendations Tascam DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Multitrack Recorder - Bundle with 2X Tascam VL-S5 5" 2-Way Professional Studio Monitor	dummy CASEMATIX Customizable Recorder Hard Case Compatible with Tascam MiNiSTUDIO Creator US-42B USB Audio Interface, US-42, DP-008EX, DP-006 Digital Pocket Studio Multi Track Recorders - Case Only	dummy Zoom R20 Multi Track Tabletop Recorder, with Touchscreen, Onboard Editing, 16 Tracks, 6 XLR Inputs, 2 Combo Inputs, Effects, Synth, Drum Loops, and USB Audio Interface.	dummy Tascam DP-006 Digital Pocketstudio 6-Track Portable Multi-Track Recorder	dummy Tascam DP-32SD 32-Track Digital Portastudio Multi-Track Audio Recorder,8 XLR Inputs, effects, Mastering, Color Screen
	Buying options	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart	Try again! Details Added to Cart
Price	—	$253.08	-12% $25.49 List: $28.99	$449.99	-15% $169.00 List: $199.00	$699.00
Delivery	—	Get it May 17 - Jun 4	—	Get it as soon as Friday, May 3	Get it May 1 - 3	—
Customer Ratings	4.2107	4.5329	4.5265	4.3149	4.41,181	4.5204
Sold By	—	eshopkawa	6ave	Firemall LLC	Audio Recording Solutions	ProSoundGear-Com
hardware interface	usb, sdhc, usb2.0, secure digital	usb2.0	usb	usb	usb	sdhc
memory capacity	2 GB	2 GB	—	—	4 GB	32 GB
battery quantity	—	3 aa	—	2 aa	4 aa	—
weight	6.1 pounds	0.61 kilograms	0.75 pounds	4.52 pounds	1.57 pounds	13.67 pounds
mic form factor	Built-In	Built-In	Built-In	Built-In	Built-In	Microphone System
model number	DP-03	DP-008EX	DT-MD2TSCM-MZ	R20	DP-006	DP-32sd

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

107 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers like the sound quality, quality and value of the voice recorder. They mention that it has nice mics that record excellent audio, it's a brilliant piece of technology and that it gives great revordings. They appreciate the tuner and the knobs for panning and reverb. However, some customers differ on ease of use.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

28 customers mention25 positive3 negative

Customers like the sound quality of the voice recorder. They say it has nice mics that record excellent audio, and it's easy to use. They also say it creates great quality recordings in the comfort of their own space. Some say it'll be an efficient way to produce high quality recordings, and the recordings are crystal clear.

"Very easy to use. Great sound quality with nice effects for vocal recordings. A lot of features for the price...." Read more

"...mentioned, the built in mike have a semi pro sound mike to them.. pretty good especially when I'm recording my tri cone, really catches the full..." Read more

"...The first song I have done on has a better final sound after the mixdown than the Fostex's did...." Read more

"...this does everything I want it to and most importantly, it makes us sound 10 times better than we really are!!!..." Read more

27 customers mention22 positive5 negative

Customers like the quality of the voice recorder. They mention it has great capability, is an amazing machine, and a brilliant piece of technology. The master function is great and does the job perfectly. The CD to the recorder is an extremely useful feature, and produces quality results. Overall, most are satisfied with the product's performance and recommend it to others.

"...CD and/or transfer songs from a CD to the recorder is an extremely useful feature...." Read more

"...For the small size of this unit it is definately overstuffed with features! A plus in my book...." Read more

"...User friendly and a variety of additional functions like the metronome, equalizer, reverb, tuner. The SD card and CD writer is also a plus...." Read more

"...I started out recording basic tracks, and everything worked great, and I really thought this was an amazing little unit...." Read more

11 customers mention11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the value of the voice recorder. They say it's a good product for the price, with a lot of features.

"...A lot of features for the price. The ability to burn an audio CD and/or transfer songs from a CD to the recorder is an extremely useful feature...." Read more

"...this recorder.. "it is what it is" and what it is is a very good recorder for the money" Read more

"...somebody interested in doing their own CD’s for fun this is well worth the money...." Read more

"Does everything I expected it to do! Good product for the price......... Good for recording things quickly...." Read more

4 customers mention4 positive0 negative

Customers like the tuner of the voice recorder. They say it gives great recordings, the master function is great, and has no problem with over modulation. They also love the knobs for panning and reverb.

"...cables coming out of it, but its straight forward.. have no problem with over modulation.. but again the manual is confusing but its actually easy..." Read more

"...variety of additional functions like the metronome, equalizer, reverb, tuner. The SD card and CD writer is also a plus...." Read more

"...doing the time in out data you gotta start again.the machine gives great revordings, master function is great...." Read more

"...Love the knobs for panning and reverb and it looks great. I would highly recommend this 8 track for anyone who wants to create at home." Read more

4 customers mention4 positive0 negative

Customers like the versatility of the voice recorder. They mention it's great for teachers, makes them almost professionals, and fires up their minds.

"...This unit has literally fired up my mind and my abilities to create due to how easy it is to use...." Read more

"...Great tool for teaching people how to play.." Read more

"Love this little device - makes me almost a professional!!!..." Read more

"Great for the teacher..." Read more

24 customers mention15 positive9 negative

Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the voice recorder. Some mention that it's easy to create with, the instructions are great for anyone, and keeping it simple. However, others say that it is a bit complicated to beginners, hard to understand setup, and the instruction manual is pretty detailed.

"Very easy to use. Great sound quality with nice effects for vocal recordings. A lot of features for the price...." Read more

"...very difficult to obtain. The Tascam has a very high learning curve (compared to the Fostex's) but I'm slowly getting it...." Read more

"...looks comical with all the cables coming out of it, but its straight forward.. have no problem with over modulation.. but again the manual is..." Read more

"...literally fired up my mind and my abilities to create due to how easy it is to use. The things I love about this are almost too many to mention...." Read more

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Dan P

Tascam DP-03 Review

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

Very easy to use. Great sound quality with nice effects for vocal recordings. A lot of features for the price. The ability to burn an audio CD and/or transfer songs from a CD to the recorder is an extremely useful feature. I've had the unit for a few weeks, and I'm still experimenting with the features/functions. I'm using an external condenser microphone, although the built-in mics are not bad at all.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Felicia L Wesley

Nice equipment

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2023

Verified Purchase

I loved it when I was creating music. However, I moved to creating music with the and computer software.

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

My digital gear was getting long in the tooth... Now a days my recording needs aren't great.. I'm a busker now and play early electric/acoustic blues. without me knowing it, my Son bought me a DR-40 at the same time I purchased the 03 for short money. More on the 03 later. The instruction manual with the 03 is confusing.. did better by flying by the seat of my pants. The housing is just Ok but its sits in one place. The screen is as small as the screen of the 03's. The slider have a good feel as do the little knobs. It has only 2 eq adjustments.. high and low.To get from point A to point B in adjustments, sometimes you have to jump thru hoops.But my needs are simple. As many others have mentioned, the built in mike have a semi pro sound mike to them.. pretty good especially when I'm recording my tri cone, really catches the full essence. The same with my other acoustics. Miked, I can't find a sweet spot between over modulated or not.. it has a limiter but to my ears , speakers and head phones it took away the "presence" (subjective). Reverb is kinda sweet but I don't use reverb. Because I am solo, its maybe a bit unfair, my needs are simple, but I have utilized the other options and they all did what they were supposed to do. The phones output isn't great but adequate. Miking it sounds pretty good both dynamic and condenser. I haven't used the CD recorder as yet. Its a pretty good unit, get it on sale as I did, its a good buy... its no piece of junk.. in fact if your in a band its probably a great buy. Now to the 03.. I love this little thing. looks comical with all the cables coming out of it, but its straight forward.. have no problem with over modulation.. but again the manual is confusing but its actually easy to utilize what I need. Could be my imagination but the "internal mikes" sound better then the 40's ..
The output from the phones/output is greater with no clipping... its easy to see when I bring the signal to my pc program. With all this said, maybe if I was in a band and took advantage of auto punch etc maybe it deserves a 5 star.But if your a solo, you might consider the DR-40. . even though it looks a little comical with all the connections sitting on my bench... but size isn't everything.
***UPDATE***************** Its been sometime now since I received it and my feelings have changed somewhat. Now making changes to parameters etc is easy and more logical then I thought. The one caveat is recording a CD... geesh, have to jump through many hoops to record. Wish there was more eq to work with but the sound is great now that I realize that each instrument I record needs to be controlled differently. I don't pay much attention to input bars in the window. Wish each track had its own compressor as it does reverb and pan but for my recordings compression isn't a priority. I guess I was expecting to much.. My last set up was a mixing board feeding adat. If you lose electricity, forget about what you have on the card.. at least with my recorder, as many have said.. get a larger card. but all in all especially since the price drop I highly recommend this recorder.. "it is what it is" and what it is is a very good recorder for the money

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Joe

Tascam DP-03 Portastudio

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2013

Verified Purchase

My job severely gets in the way of me using this item. All day at work my mind is full of ideas for my songs and I can't wait to get home to the DP-03. I am technologically challenged and I often find owner manuals written in a way that kills any interest I may have had in past products. This unit has literally fired up my mind and my abilities to create due to how easy it is to use. The things I love about this are almost too many to mention. The size is wonderful. It will fit in almost any moderately protective covering. For the small size of this unit it is definately overstuffed with features! A plus in my book. As for dislikes, I don't have any so far... I would reccommend this product to novice level recording musicians to advanced level recording musicians.

4 people found this helpful

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Jeff Matthew

A brilliant piece of technology

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

A brilliant piece of technology. Enjoying every minute of recording my music. User friendly and a variety of additional functions like the metronome, equalizer, reverb, tuner. The SD card and CD writer is also a plus. Easy to lug around in a small bag (that would be nice to have from the supplier, a TASCAM bag custom made for the device and the cables etc).

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amazonian65000

Works Great for a While, CD Burner Is Junk

Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2013

Verified Purchase

I bought this unit because I wanted to record my original songs and liked that it has a built in CD burner.

In the beginning, I thought this thing was awesome.

I started out recording basic tracks, and everything worked great, and I really thought this was an amazing little unit. But as a I became more familiar with all the features of this recorder, and began to utilize them to make more sophisticated songs is when the problems started.

The first problem was with the CD burner itself. This thing seems to have problems mounting CDs. I've tried many brands to little avail. If you're able to mount a CD, cross your fingers because there's a good chance you'll get a "writing failed" message. I also began to find that with my more sophisticated songs the CDs I would burn would skip. Brand new, unblemished CDs just burned- the songs would skip. Not huge skips, just mini skips in different spots in the song each listen.

After about six months with the unit I began to encounter the "SD write busy, please power off" message. This would happen about two minutes into the recording of a track. So not only would I lose what I'd been recording on that specific track, but because of the nature of this unit, anything I'd recorded during that particular session would be lost as well. The DP-03 doesn't write what you record onto the SD card until the unit is powered off. So if you make the mistake of unplugging the unit without powering off you will lose everything you recorded during that particular session.

The "SD write busy" message started happening periodically during my recording at first, but now happens every time I record a track for more than two minutes at a time which essentially makes it useless. Then next step for me per the user's manual is to contact Tascam about my problem. I'll let you know how it turns out.

For the first six months I would have given this item a four star review as it really worked well for my purposes. But at this time I have to give it one star. Shop around.

55 people found this helpful

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Amazon カスタマー

PC苦手な方にお勧め

Reviewed in Japan on May 27, 2020

Verified Purchase

昔PORTA-2　を使ってたのでテープがSDに変わっただけですので助かりました

One person found this helpful

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S. Peel

Easy to use, great quality.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

I bought this as a replacement for my ageing Zoom MRS4. I had found the MRS4 difficult and unintuitive to use, with everything controlled by menus. Using this Tascam machine was like a breath of fresh air in comparison. Want to pan left or right? There's a knob to turn. Want to adjust the EQ? There's an EQ button and some knobs again. The ease of use reminded me of my old Tascam Porta 07 tape four-track (now that's going back in time a fair bit!) and I had no difficulty setting up to record my first pieces.
The sound quality is impressive. Basically, what goes in is what comes out, as a perfect replica. I was unable to tell the difference between the recording and the source sound. I haven't used the built in microphones much but when I have, they sound pretty good with vocals.
With the ability to record all 8 tracks and then bounce them down to one (for mono) or two (for stereo) without having to keep tracks free to put the bounced tracks on, it gives you a lot of flexibility. EQ can be adjusted at any stage very easily, as can the very usable built in reverb.
I should point out I have not used the CD writing function yet, so I can't comment on that, but all other functions have fulfilled or exceeded my expectations so far. If you've never used multi track recording devices before you may not find it quite as easy as I'm making out, but if you have, you will have no problem. The manual is NOT unclear as some reviewers make out - the problem is that many people reviewing this item don't understand some of the concepts and principles of the multi track process. I recommend this machine to anyone who wants to make slick, professional sounding recordings.

10 people found this helpful

日名川　茂

使いやすさ、コンパクト

Reviewed in Japan on September 4, 2019

Verified Purchase

きれいで、操作もアナログパクって爺さんにはいいです。

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sandra Wakelin

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great value lots to do with it fantastic

Willow

I like this machine but rarely use it now I have ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

I like this machine but rarely use it now I have an iMac and great software. This would be fine for recording yourself at home, creating simple demos or recording a student during an instrumental or singing lesson for example. It crashes now and again which is annoying and the tray for the CD is flimsy and needs careful handling, but otherwise it's good and creates a reasonable reproduction of live music.

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Tascam DP-03 Digital Portastudio

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Compatible Devices	Personal Computer
Brand	Tascam
Hardware Interface	USB, SDHC, Secure Digital Card, USB 2.0
Microphone Form Factor	Built-In
Memory Storage Capacity	2 GB
Item Weight	6.1 Pounds
Microphone Operation Mode	Stereo

Tascam DP-03 Digital Portastudio

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