@chico - thanks for listening! I appreciate the feedback - especially since (like most amateurs) I feel my weakest studio skill is recording vocals. Not that I'm Freddie M or Robert P, but I
can 'sing'...I just feel I could sound a lot better in my recording work if I
really knew what I was doing.
It doesn't help that my hearing is not musician-worthy: I have tinnitus so bad that Pete Townsend sends me sympathy cards. I can barely hear myself
speak, let alone sing - so staying on pitch is pretty elusive.
That's a tough deal on the ol' DP-02...lotsa times old gear is the perfect ticket, but can be hard to get info, d/loads, parts, etc for. For some reason (probably because of their vast and long history of product offerings), Tascam seems to be bad at this...but also usually pretty sturdy: I used 2488's for
years, including a 'neo I put countless hours on over nearly 15 years. I also had unfailingly perfect service from a series of Fostex MR-xx's, including an MR-16 that's one of those pieces of gear I'll never stop regretting having sold!
But - I'd advise: don't give up. Even with old gear (especially good gear), there's always people out there still enthusing over it, and often maintain the needed files (like '02 firmware?)...might take some searching, but I'mma sure it's out there. Good luck!
