- What connection types are there(analog, digital, MIDI)?
Inputs: 2 XLR, 6 TRS jacks (that's symetric...), digital SPDIF coax & optical (Toslink, not ADAT), RBUS (Roland proprietary interface that allows for the addition of various expensive boxes...such as extra analogue inputs or ADAT), MIDI in and out if i remember correctly.

- what is the sampling rate (bits/kHz)?
Good question. The machine is 24 bits, they say, but the converters are only 20. BUT this gives you extra headroom at mixdown, i think. No higher than 48 khz, but you can go down to about 32 khz, which can be useful to create different pitches without the use of a pitch-shifter: record at 32 and playback at the regular 44.1 or 48 and you get that funny high-pitched voice you used to get when playing an LP at 45 RPM.

- What storage format is used (ZIP, MiniDisc, hard disc...)?
2 GB internal IDE hard drive. Now you think that's small, it isn't. You can record a whole album with virtual tracks and still have space left. If you want, you can replace this drive with a 40 GB i believe.

- What types of synchronization are supported?
You cannot set the SPDIF to use external or internal clock: so if you can't set the device you're connecting to digitally you can end up having problems. For example, if you use a TC Electronic G-Force as an effects loop, you can't do that digitally unless you add a third device in the loop, or the VS will try to lock onto the G-Force while the G-Force is trying to lock on to the VS. I added in a Minidisc player with optical and coax inputs and it worked fine.
As far as pure synchro goes, you have MIDI and i think various modes exist in the menus but i never needed them so i can't remember.

- How many tracks can be recorded/read simulaneously?...
8 in compressed modes, 4 in linear mode. However, the Roland compression is a 3 to 1 lossless compression-decompression so i'm not sure there is much point in using the linear mode. Use 'MTP' mode.
You can playback 16 and 2 mastering tracks exist, so you can bounce these 16 to a virtual couple of extra tracks.
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You have 8 outputs on RCA connectors that can be used as direct outs. You can freely assign signals to these, and you can send what you want to pretty much any track or output too. Same for the monitor outs and headphones. It's a powerful mixer.
I put 8/10 cos the analogue outs are not symetric (which they are on the 2480), and that's a shame. Also, would have been good to have 2 digital ins that can be used at the same time, here you must choose between optical and digital.

- Is the general configuration/setup simple? - Is the manual clear and sufficient?...
Takes some getting used to, hardest thing to understand is the routing (as for the 2480...which works differently again, eeek!).
But the manual has a very clear, step by step approach, so you can't go wrong.
Overall, it's an easy machine to use, i find.

- Are the typical functions easily accessible?
Yup. One button gives you access to input or channel settings. Other features also have dedicated buttons.

- Are the A/D and D/A convertors transparent?
Sound ok to me! I usually bypassed the pres and A/D's though, and came in digital. That does definitely improve the sound if you're using some high-end piece of gear to do it with...
I'd recommend a high-end pre and compressor with a digital out.

- are the effects and filtres good?
The EQ is not so efficient or nice, but the onboard effects (optional with the VS8F-2 and VS8F-3 cards -- the latter takes third party VS plug-ins) are very useable.

- Are the dynamics respected?...
You've got to be careful not to reach that 0dB mark, of course, but if you avoid that then all is well, and you can make some very decent recordings indeed.

The DP-01 has two 1/4 in. TRS mic inputs for dual mono or stereo recording. The DP-01 has a USB 2.0 jack for file backup and transferring files to a computer, There are analog RCA line outputs, a headphone out and S/PDIF line output, as well as each of the 8 channels having an effects send.

According to official specs the sampling rate is "CD quality 44.1kHz/16-bit." Problem is, no one with the capability to record at 24-bit would ever go slumming it in the 16-bit realm. Oh, how I wish I had read up more before buying. You will notice the difference.

It will record eight tracks uncompressed audio to an internal 40g harddrive, which is really nice. Each channel of the DP-01 has a 45mm volume fader, plus dedicated controls for pan, effects send, high EQ and low EQ. An LCD display shows meters, editing settings and locate points, though it is not a lighted screen so a desk lamp of some kind is a MUST to use this thing.

As far as knobs and faders, its like running a mixer and self-explanatory. Navigating the menus is a whole 'nother story. Some will find difficulty, other will adjust and learn the ins and outs. I don't have a lot of patience for overly complicated menus, especially on such a beginner bottom-run-of-the-ladder piece of equipment such as this so my opinion is that they could have streamlined it and given it a more user intuitive interface than a couple VCR style buttons. This thing is NOT a Portastudio. Getting started is pretty easy though, and the manual does help when it comes to editing/copying/pasting/saving/deleting functions.

The concerters aren't great. Maybe that is why Tascam just discontinued it because it won't be hard to replace it in their lineup of products.
There are no effects, because I skimped and bought just the DP-01 and not the DP-01FX, but I read the effects were terrible quality anyway.