Looking For External Digital Audio Recorder

P

paul31003

Active member
I purchased the Tascam DR-100 a while back and have been using it off and on and I haven't been very impressed with it at all. I've used it with wireless mics as well as a dedicated shotgun mic and I find that I'm having to boost up the levels entirely in order to get decent sound. I thought perhaps a limiter was on at first but there was not. Admittedly, I'm accustomed to the audio XLR docs on pro and prosumer camcorders, as they're always reliable for good sound. But I've never had to boost the gain all the way as well as turn up my levels extremely high (in the shotgun's case, all the way) to get decent sound, as in the case of the Tascam. Perhaps I'm giving the Tascam too much credit---I just assumed it was a good audio recorder based on the reviews. Perhaps I'm not using it correctly, though I've read the manual thoroughly.

Either way, I wanted to see if there were any recommendations for a good external audio recorder, perhaps the next step up from the Tascam.
 
Can you state the mics and wireless systems your using as well as the format settings for the DR-100. Any other info may help give us a clue also. Are you trying to record a very low level sound source? Like most budget portable DARs, the pre-amps are kind of noisy... but less so than most cameras.
 
Sure, Rick. I use a Sennheiser wireless mic system (g2) and a Sony ECM-NV1 shotgun. I have the Tascam set at "XLR" as the mics are plugged via XLR. Gain HAS to be set to HIGH; otherwise the level's still too low. For the shotgun, I've got 48v phantom power on. 48kHz 16-bit. Trying to record sound bites with wireless and NATS sound with shotgun (not simultaneously though---thus audio capture set to Mono to capture in both channels).

The thing I'm really surprised with is the shotgun. I would get great sound and range with it when it went through my V1U. With the Tascam, gain and level's boosted all the way and it's still very low.
 
I had heard that the preamps in the H4N were pretty lousy; especially when paired with Shotguns mics like the Rode NTG2. The few times I used that set up (on other peoples shoots with the their equipment) we pretty much were riding the top of the levels.

I shopped around and was recommended the Roland R-26, which has more powerful preamps.

So far I have been pretty happy with it. I certainly have to up the levels with the Rode NTG2 - but maybe like at 60% or sometimes up to 70% - but not up 90% to 100% like with the H4N. I guess the DR-100 has similar preamps to the H4N - and it seems shotguns are more susceptible to weaker preamps. In truth I haven't used it too much though, only a couple of tests and 1 music video (where audio recording was not really necessary) and I'm not a 'sound-guy' by any means.
 
My thoughts... You could put money into a new recorder, or you could continue to use your current recorder and add a high quality mixer as a front end to the DR100. Something like a used Sound Devices 302 would be a huge step up in control/monitoring/quality.

Good Luck!

Dave
 
Thats a good idea. One point though is that many of the people using small external recorders are probably DSLR users, and they often attach the recorder to some sort of portable rig or cage (in this scenario assuming that there is no sound guy). Are there any small mixers that could be incorporated into portable rigs?
 
Might I suggest putting together an audio bag which contains your mixer/recorder/radio mics. It can be worn over the shoulder, around the neck, hung from the tripod, set on a stool.
 
A Phantom Power issue I suspect. The G2/3 has an unbalanced output and partially shorts-out phantom power, lowering the power significantly.. produces noise.. and drains the battery pretty freakin' fast too..
As an experiment, try the wireless by itself, with the recorder's Phan. Pwr. OFF. Make sure the transmitter's sensitivity and receiver's AF output are set optimally. Same with the mic by itself, unplug the wireless, engage Phantom Power, and try the mic. If all is well, you need to make some changes.
I can't find any specific specs on the ECM-NV1. Does this require Phantom Power? And/or can it run on an internal battery? If so, use battery pwr. Otherwise, if battery power is not an option, you will need to make a custom cable for the wireless, use an iso transformer that blocks voltage.. or use an external Phantom Power supply for the mic and disable the recorders Phan. Pwr.
Unfortunately on most budget equipment, Phan. Pwr. can only be switched globally.
 
Yah Rick, that's exactly what I do. I don't ever run the Sennheiser wireless simultaneously with the shotgun. When using the battery-powered G2 system, I have phantom power off. When using the phanton-powered shotgun, I have phantom power on.
 
Simon, I'm going to take a look at the Roland. Yah, I'll boost the gain and levels entirely when using the shotgun, and I'm still getting about a half-level.
 
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