Tascam MPGT1 MP3 Guitar Trainer

TASCAM MPGT1 Details ^top

TASCAM's MP-GT1 is the first MP3 player designed for musicians. Based on the award-winning CD-GT1mkII, this fun mobile guitar trainer includes enough memory to store up to 240 songs. Guitar parts can be slowed down, looped and even eliminated to help you learn new riffs. Play back MP3s using Variable Speed Audition, which slows down the speed without changing the pitch, and sections can be seamlessly looped while practicing tricky passages. Songs can even be pitched up or down to match the tuning of your guitar, so you don't have to re-tune for every song.

The guitar input lets you rock along with thick overdrive and multi-effects, including a guitar canceller so you can play along with your favorite bands. A tuner, metronome, and rechargeable battery are also built-in. All of this is packed into an MP3 player smaller than a stomp box, so stuff it in your backpack, gig bag or back pocket and hit the road.

The MP-GT1 uses a high-speed USB connection to load up MP3s and charge the built-in battery (an optional power supply is also available). Zip through your MP3 collection using a data wheel, dedicated buttons and a graphical LCD display. A rechargeable 9-hour lithium ion battery is built into the unit, and an optional power supply is also available.

Put 240 songs in your gig bag with the MP-GT1, the first MP3 player for musicians.

240-song memory capacity (based on average 4-minute MP3 encoded at 128kbps)
Variable Speed Audition changes the speed of the MP3 playback without changing the pitch
Pitch control in 1% steps so you don't have to re-tune
Seamless looping for practicing tricky passages
High-impedance 1/4" guitar input
Guitar multi-effects include overdrive, distortion, delay, flange, reverb and more
Guitar Cancel effect eliminates the guitar part from the recorded song so you can play along
Built-in tuner, oscillator and metronome
1/8" Headphone output
Built-in rechargeable battery with 9-hour reserve
128x64 graphic LCD display
USB jack
Auto Power Off and Hold function

TASCAM MPGT1 Documentation ^top

MP-GT1 Owner's Manual (pdf)

MP-GT1 Quick Start Guide (pdf)

Review of TASCAM MPGT1

RATING:

Sound Quality	10
Features	8
Ease Of Use	10
Value	10
Reliability	10
Overall	10

This is an EXCELLENT bargain...and as you'll see when you get yours....it's a bargain at ANY price!! Styled (and with functionality) similar to an iPod (except the aluminum and steel case would probably hold up well in Bagdad), this gizmo completely eliminates the hassle of setting lots of gear up just to rehearse or learn a song. I took off 1pt because while you can go Fwd and Bwd by the fractions of a second, it is sensitive enough that pressing the Fwd Bwd button can easily send you back to the beggining of the tune, instead of a fixed increment (10 sec?). I also took off a point because they should make unit to accept SD memory cards. It has 1Gb onboard, and while you wouldn't use it for an iPod...you might want to store more than the 200 tune capacity.

-Rox
-St. Louis, 01/14/08

See all reviews of TASCAM MPGT1.