New DP32 user here, but I've worked with all-in-one machines for many many years, and for a good number of those with the Akai DPS24...an astonishingly good machine (still!) that I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful back and forth relationship with Akai on, but one that is bound to fail at some point given it's age. "Solid state" recording on the SD cards has been absolutely glitch-free so far and my overall impression of the machine is that it's a very robust unit that should hold up very well indeed. My plan is to use the machine mainly as a "capture device", recording tracks that can then be sent to PC (quite easily and quickly I should add) for mixing and mastering. I have also been running through some mix scenarios and no doubt, basic mixing inside the machine should also be good for "quickies", although a lack of automation and the limited effects capabilities will mean some figuring of "workarounds".
The appeal here is that, for the price they get for the DP32, you get an awful lot in a relatively small and portable package. Even after the (very) short time I've had the machine, it's clear that it should serve very well, either on it's own or in conjunction with a computer, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it in the least. In answer to the specific questions:
" I read a couple of reviews and one guy stated that he had two of these and both only lasted him around 2 years before they suffered internal faults. So I'm really looking for something that will last for my investment."
I didn't realize these models (DP24 and DP32) had been around that long. In any case, over the many years I've been doing this, I've seen a lot of these kinds of "reviews", and it'a always tough to know exactly what the person did and even their background/experience. That's not to say that any one person is making things up, just that you really need to find a consensus or a "trend" before coming to conclusions.
" My old zoom mrs 1266 has lasted me 14 years and is still working although now starting to show its age. Its easy to replace the hdd and cd writer also which makes it user friendly. "
I don't even know how old my Akai DPS24 is at this stage, but it still works perfectly, although of course, the type hard disc drive it uses is waaay out of date and replacing that drive (there IS a compatible HDD list) would most likely mean finding used or refurbished drives somewhere. As a VERY early user, I became sort of a defacto "Akai support tech", answering questions for them for years and doing some demo work. I saw a LOT of "problems" and, while not all were user-error-related, the vast majority were. Initial impressions of the DP32 are that it's a similarly robust (although simpler) machine. I would be really surprised if the DP32 failed early *IF* the user were reasonably careful with the unit...but that is of course just a guess.
"However I've heard the tascam has no drum tracks and fx can only be added one at a time and its hard to add fx afterwards. "
The "porta-studio" (so-called "all-in-one") market is all but dead at this point, being both limited as to what manufacturers are even involved, and the complexity/capability of the machines themselves. Having looked around at what's out there, it seems clear that the internal drum capabilities of those machines that have them isn't going to "make" anyone's recordings. Considering exactly how important the quality of good drum tracks is to a finished recording, and how easy it is to get studio-quality drums and then transfer them into one of these machines, it seems strange to shortchange yourself on the entire machine for the ability to have poor internal drums. Loops, samples, real drums (if you have the ability to get them), drum software, MPC-type hardware solutions, "regular drum machines" with good samples and well-programmed, drum software...whatever, should all produce solid results....but yes...you will need "something else" besides the recorder. Think about it, when you hear an otherwise nice recording (even for "home recordings"), don't cheesey drum tracks all but ruin the experience?
On the effects, yes, a single "ambient" type effect (reverb, delay, chorus etc.) IS a real limiter, and I haven't figured any workarounds for this yet, mostly because I would only do basic mixes inside the machine. I've only had the machine for a day so far, but I will check the "usual" type ways to have at this. Typically, this would involve "printing" a source track with effects to free up the internal fx for a different effect on a different track. I'll have to try some things when I get a chance, but I would guess(?) that doing this as a "bounce-with-effects" OR by simply doing a mix with all the tracks except the source track being "effected" muted and then migrating the resulting track+effects back into the multitrack pool. With a total (mono + stereo) of 32 tracks for simultaneous playback, the track count certainly shouldn't be a problem for the typical "4 piece" plus pop/rock type production. Also (and as David pointed out), there is a second fx send for external effects devices.
I'm also not understanding what the problem is with adjusting levels, but that seems fairly straightforward as it had better be for a multitrack recorder! This all may not be applicable to you if you've moved on, but for anyone looking in, I say...read the manual to understand exactly what the machine's capabilities are and then make the jump if it fits your needs. There doesn't seem to be anything out there currently being manufactured that's even close, but no machine is going to be "the right machine" for everyone., As David said...it's "horses for courses"!
