Problems with my new Tascam HD P2

S

stringz

Active member
Not sure if I'm doing something wrong here.
I am coming out of my SQN at line level into the XLR inputs of the Tascam. So I've set the switches on top of the recorder to "line" and I get nothing. When I swtch the input to "mic" on the recorder the signal comes through (obviously extremely loud).

Can't think what I might be doing wrong here. Any suggestions.
 
Ok so the only way I can get a useable signal going line out of my mixer is to keep the recorder set to mic level, switch on the -20db pads and then turn down the input trim to about 2 on the dial (for a reference of -20dbfs).

By doing this, am i therefore using the recorders built in pre-amps, which I wanted to avoid by using my mixers superior pres?
Should I also be looking to get a in line pad out of my mixer?

Or should I just go line in through the RCAs, which I also don't like the idea of seeing as I do a lot of run and gunning?
 
Yep. That's one place where Tascam really screwed up when they designed the HD-P2. The "Line" switch actually deactivates the XLR inputs. Line in only comes through the RCA ins. This is a real shame, too, since it was designed to look and feel a lot like the DA-P1 DAT recorder, which allowed for line in through the XLR.
 
It says above the XLR inputs "mic/line", which sort of insinuates that by toggling the line/mic switch on top of the machine that you can choose.
 
stringz said:
It says above the XLR inputs "mic/line", which sort of insinuates that by toggling the line/mic switch on top of the machine that you can choose.
Click to expand...

Oh, I am well aware of that. The first time I ever used one of those machines, I learned that lesson. I was used to the DA-P1, and so the machine felt very familiar and I had little trouble navigating it, until I tried to take a board feed at a concert. The labeling that you mentioned would lead one to believe that it was the same in the HD-P2 as in the DA-P1. But the only way to get a line signal in via the XLR connections is to activate the pad.
 
C2V said:
Oh, I am well aware of that. The first time I ever used one of those machines, I learned that lesson. I was used to the DA-P1, and so the machine felt very familiar and I had little trouble navigating it, until I tried to take a board feed at a concert. The labeling that you mentioned would lead one to believe that it was the same in the HD-P2 as in the DA-P1. But the only way to get a line signal in via the XLR connections is to activate the pad.
Click to expand...


And if you are going in line level through the XLR by activating the pad are you then using the Tascams preamps? Does this make going line out of my SQN a waste of time? Should I just go mic level out my mixer? I don't want to do that at all!
 
C2V said:
Yep. That's one place where Tascam really screwed up when they designed the HD-P2. The "Line" switch actually deactivates the XLR inputs. Line in only comes through the RCA ins. This is a real shame, too, since it was designed to look and feel a lot like the DA-P1 DAT recorder, which allowed for line in through the XLR.
Click to expand...


So your saying that line out from an SD mixpre mixer,(or any mixer for that matter) - to line in - on the Tascam, will not work? & I have to go RCA in to get it to function properly?

I have the HDP2 & am planning to pick up the Mixpre. That just doesnt make sense to me. It is clearly indicating line in/mic in on the XLR inputs & the manual is suggesting the same.

I researched this device extensively both on & off this forum for the last year & have never heard of this issue. (including from users who put a mixer infront of it).

First time i've ever heard of this.

I might just go and rent a mixer in the next week to test this out for myself.

In the mean time, could anyone else who has put a mixer infront of the Tascam HDP2 share their experience with this.

Appreciated,

Steve
 
Steve2012 said:
I have the HDP2 & am planning to pick up the Mixpre. That just doesnt make sense to me. It is clearly indicating line in/mic in on the XLR inputs & the manual is suggesting the same.

I researched this device extensively both on & off this forum for the last year & have never heard of this issue. (including from users who put a mixer infront of it).

First time i've ever heard of this.

I might just go and rent a mixer in the next week to test this out for myself.
Click to expand...

Here's how I learned of this flub:

The first time I ever experienced an HD-P2, I was mixing a concert that was tied to a radio show (not broadcasting live, though). So we record the concerts for later air. One of the crew members brought in an HD-P2, and knowing my way around the DA-P1 like the back of my hand, I felt I was on familiar ground and set it up to roll. But with the MIC/LINE switch set to line, and the board hooked up by XLR, there was no signal coming in.

So one of the crew flipped the switch to MIC and we got heavily distorted audio (no surprise there). I activated the -20dB pad and that cleaned it up, except that one channel started cutting in and out as we recorded that night.

The unit got sent back to TASCAM for service, and the tech explained that the inputs had been fried, and that line-level signal was not to be used with the XLR ins. A little more conversation about the labeling on the machine did not change the tech's answer.

I read the manual. Nowhere does it refer to line-level signals used with the XLR inputs. But with the pad activated, it works. Maybe they've fixed this (it's been a couple years), but that's what I experienced and decided then and there that the HD-P2 was no longer a purchase option for me.
 
C2V said:
Here's how I learned of this flub:

The first time I ever experienced an HD-P2, I was mixing a concert that was tied to a radio show (not broadcasting live, though). So we record the concerts for later air. One of the crew members brought in an HD-P2, and knowing my way around the DA-P1 like the back of my hand, I felt I was on familiar ground and set it up to roll. But with the MIC/LINE switch set to line, and the board hooked up by XLR, there was no signal coming in.

So one of the crew flipped the switch to MIC and we got heavily distorted audio (no surprise there). I activated the -20dB pad and that cleaned it up, except that one channel started cutting in and out as we recorded that night.

The unit got sent back to TASCAM for service, and the tech explained that the inputs had been fried, and that line-level signal was not to be used with the XLR ins. A little more conversation about the labeling on the machine did not change the tech's answer.

I read the manual. Nowhere does it refer to line-level signals used with the XLR inputs. But with the pad activated, it works. Maybe they've fixed this (it's been a couple years), but that's what I experienced and decided then and there that the HD-P2 was no longer a purchase option for me.
Click to expand...


Well my recorder is brand new and has the same issue and I'm really hacked off. In none of the research I did, did this come up. Only when I searched this particular issue (once I had bought the recorder) did I find a few posts on other forums relating to it.
Why oh why does it say "line/mic" above the XLR inputs if it only takes a mic level signal?
 
The thing that's weird to me is that even on prosumer camcorders you can plug in via XLR at either Line or Mic level, so why have they made it such a big deal on prosumer digital audio recorders. At least if there's an audio problem with the camera there's always the excuse that the audio was a bit of an after thought but what can possibly be Tascam's excuse?
 
C2V said:
I read the manual. Nowhere does it refer to line-level signals used with the XLR inputs.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response C2V. Upon reading it a little more closely, there is clearly a contradiction in it.

In one section of the manual it states:
MIC/LINE - XLR input jacks for either line level or mic.

In the other section it states:
The input switches (LINE/MIC) switch between the XLR and RCA jacks.

Both are on page 9 of the manual.

I'll pick up a mixer in the next little while & do a test but I've got this really bad feeling....


Steve
 
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UPDATE:

Tested Tascam HD-P2 today with Sound Devices Mixpre-No line in through XLR-
Line in is transfered to RCA. Only way to use XLR is pad it down through mic in and adjust the gain, (or go XLR to RCA).



Steve
 
I'm also the owner of a Tascam HD-P2. I use it with a SD 302 in front and sorry if I don't see why you are all complaining about that issue!...

The only advantages of XLR inputs are related to balanced audio and secured cable connections trough the XLR push in/out connector and lets state the obvious... None of these really matter in this case!

If you are mixing in front you are running a pair of short cables (XLR to RCA), which will never suffer from induced HUM because of it's size, and next...
...Your connection between your HD-P2 and your mixer will always be safe in a good Portabrace!

So I'm sorry if I'm missing something here!...
 
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naavt said:
I'm also the owner of a Tascam HD-P2. I use it with a SD 302 in front and sorry if I don't see why you are all complaining about that issue!...

The only advantages of XLR inputs are related to balanced audio and secured cable connections trough the XLR push in/out connector and lets state the obvious... None of these really matter in this case!

If you are mixing in front you are running a pair of short cables (XLR to RCA), which will never suffer from induced HUM because of it's size, and next...
...Your connection between your HD-P2 and your mixer will always be safe in a good Portabrace!

So I'm sorry if I'm missing something here!...
Click to expand...

The first issue is that TASCAM has labeled their XLR connections as Mic/Line, which they are not. That alone is deceiving and, in cases like the one I experienced, can actually lead to damage to the unit.

Second, balanced does matter. No, a 6" RCA run isn't going to be a big deal and will work just fine in an Audio Organizer or on a sound cart... but balanced still matters as it is a more stable connection and it adds flexibility for longer cable runs when needed.
 
C2V said:
The first issue is that TASCAM has labeled their XLR connections as Mic/Line, which they are not. That alone is deceiving and, in cases like the one I experienced, can actually lead to damage to the unit.

Second, balanced does matter. No, a 6" RCA run isn't going to be a big deal and will work just fine in an Audio Organizer or on a sound cart... but balanced still matters as it is a more stable connection and it adds flexibility for longer cable runs when needed.
Click to expand...

Apart from being apparently defending something that I'm not because I just don't receive any fee from Tascam from doing it, I have to say that you are absolutely right on your first statement and, for that, a respected dealer will solve any issues you might have from the misleading label on the recorder and the somewhat tricky manual instructions on that matter.

On the second though, I have to once more agree with you but... With a minor repair.
Of course balanced matters. I will even say that it will matter A LOT! But for that matter, everyone knows that a good 6" non balanced cable will not make ANY difference in sound whatsoever comparing it to a balanced one.
Of course the story is different once you run long cables, but did I understood the first post wrong?
I think he first talked about putting a mixer in front of the recorder and that's why I've written what you have read.

Everyone has his own preferences and no recorder is perfect (even a Cantar), but I can tell - from testing on location - that no other recorder in this price tag comes even close to the HD-P2 (exception perhaps made to the old Fostex FR2 which costs about twice the price if you add TC capabilities).
 
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Steve2012 said:
So your saying that line out from an SD mixpre mixer,(or any mixer for that matter) - to line in - on the Tascam, will not work? & I have to go RCA in to get it to function properly?

I have the HDP2 & am planning to pick up the Mixpre. That just doesnt make sense to me. It is clearly indicating line in/mic in on the XLR inputs & the manual is suggesting the same.

I researched this device extensively both on & off this forum for the last year & have never heard of this issue. (including from users who put a mixer infront of it).

First time i've ever heard of this.

I might just go and rent a mixer in the next week to test this out for myself.

In the mean time, could anyone else who has put a mixer infront of the Tascam HDP2 share their experience with this.

Appreciated,

Steve
Click to expand...

FWIW, I've always used my HD-P2 with an SD302 in front of it. Even though I've got the Oade Brothers pre-amp upgrades, I use the Tape Out/Mix Out on the SD302 to feed the RCA inputs on the HD-P2. Using Full Scale Tone to set the levels on the HD-P2 (which end up being around '5'), I get super clean sound and never end up clipping... From all that I've read, the pre-amps on the Sound Devices are better/cleaner than the ones on the Tascam which is why I ended up going this route...
 
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When I called Tascam about this they said the would look into it and call me back which they never have and that is on two occasions.

Why is it such an issue. The least they could do is take out the word "line" from above the XLR inputs.
 
Same problem. Line out from SD mix pre D to HD-P2. Have to turn on the -20dB pads or possibly fry the inputs on the HD-P2. Turn down the Hd-P2 input volume to about 2 1/3.

Or use mic out on your SD mixer and set the input of the HD-p2 about 8 to show -20 on the HD-P2 meter for tone from the SD mix pre.

Seems better to use the former, so the mixer is doing most of the preamplication, but with a 416 mic it sounds very clean on mic out to mic in. So maybe either way works fine. It also sounds clean with plugging the 410 directly into the xlr input with the switch on mic. For one channel, that might be the easiest thing to do. But I want to dual record the audio to my macbook pro as well.

Or get xlr to rca converters. Didn't try that myself.


Could use the AES3 digital outs to the digital in on the Hd-p2, except the HD -p2 has sp-dif digital inputs and from what I read they are not compatible.
 
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