Tascam DR-07

J

JordanBlock

Well-known member
Anyone gotten their hands on the DR-07 and willing to share their thoughts? I'm thinking of picking one up for use as a backup 2-track recorder.
 
I use this as my backup/backpack recorder- I find it quite useful and easy to use... I never use it hand-held with the internal mics because it's just too noisy, but if you put it on a mini tripod it sounds okay. I've even used it on a boompole to grab insect sounds up in a tree.

I mostly use it with a DIY mini Jecklin disk setup & a pair of PIP mics:
http://sound.flyingmonkeystudio.com/2009/02/more-diy-toys/
The mics, the disk & the recorder fit in a minicam buttpack & I drag it around with me whenever I leave the house (you never know what you'll find, eh?).


I've also tested it with the Rolls MiniMix MX34 (2 channel mixer with balanced XLR inputs & Phantom power- 1/8" output)... The line-in sounds fine, but if I'm going to go to all the trouble to use my better mics I might as well use my FR2.
 
Thanks, John.

I think I'll pretty much be using it like you are; backup and backpack recorder. I'm also looking at Zoom's H2, which I've used in the past, but I'm really not a fan of the pseudo-buttons they used on it.

I like your mini-Jecklin setup, I think I'll have to put something like that together to play with.
 
These are now $99 at b&h. Is it worth buying? I had an h4n but it was too bulky. Would this be a decent replacement, in terms of the onboard mics?

Thanks.
 
I think I paid like $150 for mine, and I'd pay that again. There's definite handling noise if you're holding the thing in your hand, but slap it on a tripod and it's fine. I've used the internal mics to record some theatrical rehearsals and the like and got way better than expected results.
 
Definitely worth $99... If only for the "sacrificial" nature of an under $100 recorder- I put it in a car that was being crushed for a stunt the other night without a worry! It came through unscathed. I found an old-style construction-worker's cellphone holder at one of the big-box stores that works quite well. The mic's stick out of the sides at the top & the rest of the recorder is protected. It even has a belt clip- so you can use it in "stealth" mode.
 
I just picked a couple up yesterday to use with my Rode Video Mics. I've been waiting for the Zoom H1 to come out and noticed the price drop on these and went to the local Guitar Center and grabbed 'em.

Did a quick test:
With the Rode Video Mic they work just fine, do what they're supposed to and sound clean enough to me. Noise floor seemed a little higher than other recorders but should be easy to filter. If you have a loud enough signal I don't think it would even be a problem unless you're super picky or have German Shepard ears.
The on board mics are a totaly different story. Forget hand held, just forget it, not gonna happen unless you LOVE the VERY LOUD SOUND of things being rubbed! No lab testing but to my ears on a quick listen the sound quality on the on board mics seemed crappy, very high noise floor, weird frequency phasing across the spectrum. Just wouldn't use it.
Build quality seemed OK, plastic but pretty heavy, maybe that equals easy to break??? Don't know...yet...
Controls are easy and self explanitory, interface/OS is easy to navigate. Don't need a manual for this one. Very straight forward. Love the Rec button, flashes red when armed and turns on the headphone monitor out; continuous red when rolling.
Input seems to have a pretty wide range to handle any type of signal. Three internal/software range settings Hi/Mid/Lo with a pot on the side to control gain. For the Rode Video Mic I set it to mid and the pot to between 7-10 depending on how loud the source was.

Gonna use it on a 7D shoot weeked of the 28th for a 15 page short. I'll let you know if there are any quirks or any dramatic changes in my opinion.
 
Thanks for all of that info. I am looking for something that is good handheld, and it sounds like this one may not be it. That said, I doubt there is any perfect recorder with no handling noise. The cost savings may not actually be worth it. Not sure.
 
Zoom h1 is now available at b&h, which is forcing me to decide. I was decently happy with h4n, but for its size. Hmm.
 
Would anyone be willing to post some of the handling noise from this device? Also! Can anyone recommend a less noisy device? Thanks.
 
thegoldfi said:
Would anyone be willing to post some of the handling noise from this device? Also! Can anyone recommend a less noisy device? Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'll see what I can do later, but trust me, there is NO circumstance where the handling noise is going to be acceptable / unnoticeable.
 
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