Tascam DR-100 noise on XLR

S

staticmotion

Member
Hi to you all,

just bought myself a DR-100, after reading a lot of good reviews. But now I'm testing the device and find there is a lot of noise on the XLR input when the gain is set to high. But even in the medium level, there is a lot of noise. So when recording with my shotgun mic I get a lot of noise extra


I recorded 1 minute, without a microphone connected (xlr selected but no xlr cable in the dr-100) and when I checked the file in Audition there was a lot of noise even though there was no input. So appearently the DR-100 creates a lot of noise by it self.

Is this normal (don't think so) or is there something wrong with my recorder?

View attachment DR-100_XLR_noise.zip

This file is the first second medium gain and the second second high gain.


Hope someone can help me.

TIA
 
You can expect noise when there's no mic connected. Many devices do this.

The big test is with a mic connected, but pushing the amplification to, or past, 75% is going to add much more noise in cheaper pre-amps. And which mic are you using?
 
Hi Alex


It happens with a microphone connected also. I use a Superlux PRA 118s on phantom power but when I swith to gain high, on my headset I already hear the massive amount of noise.

When i try the same on the Line-in then there is much less noise, so it seems the XLR-preamp of the tascam is very noisy.
 
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I'm seeing a noise floor of about -60dBFS. Unless your recording very quiet nature sounds or other material at very low levels that should not be a big problem in normal field production.
Switching to line level is a non-factor. And as Alex stated "You can expect noise when there's no mic connected". I have never used a Superlux mic, that could be contributing some noise.
You may be hearing HP amp noise as well or a monitor system cranked beyond normal PB levels.
FWIW, many high-end R-R recorders had about the same noise floor, (w/o noise reduction) usually many tracks of it.
 
Superlux mics are not very quiet. They are pretty low quality, unfortunately, and noise is to be expected. Couple that with the Tascam pre's.....

So if your problem is in the signal chain, couple things to look at:

1. a pre or a mixer with pre's to take the heat off the Tascam.
2. Try a different mic

This assumes your gain staging is set properly and you are not inducing noise from overdriving a pre-amp somewhere in your signal chain.
 
Also, You can't judge the recording by listening with headphones. The headphone output amp adds noise. The recording will (usually - should) have less noise.

Grant
 
Thanks for all the input.

I'm aware that you can't judge the recording on a headphone, but its strange to hear so much noise (when the mic is connected) and I switch to gain high. Its in the recordings also.
I'm also aware of the fact that the Superlux is a budget-mic. But then again I am on a budget. I compared it to the Rode NTG2, a well known budget-mic and it sounded pretty simular, but the superlux had a higher audiolevel, thats why I chose the Superlux.

So I gues I have to find a preamp. I've seen de MixPre-D but that one is over budget, and the JuicedLink al have mini-jack out. Can anyone recommend a preamp with XLR in/out but on a nice budget?


Thanks
 
staticmotion said:
Thanks for all the input.

I'm aware that you can't judge the recording on a headphone, but its strange to hear so much noise (when the mic is connected) and I switch to gain high. Its in the recordings also.
I'm also aware of the fact that the Superlux is a budget-mic. But then again I am on a budget. I compared it to the Rode NTG2, a well known budget-mic and it sounded pretty simular, but the superlux had a higher audiolevel, thats why I chose the Superlux.

So I gues I have to find a preamp. I've seen de MixPre-D but that one is over budget, and the JuicedLink al have mini-jack out. Can anyone recommend a preamp with XLR in/out but on a nice budget?


Thanks
Click to expand...

The problem isn't output level between the Superlux and the NTG-2. It's self-noise, of which the Superlux generates considerably more. Put that through a pre-amp and you amplify the mic's self-noise along with the desired signal. Push it too far in a pre-amp that isn't the quietest and you add and amplify the pre-amp's noise on top of it. The more you push the gain, the more you amplify the noise.

As far as a less expensive pre-amp, look at the Sound Devices MM-1.
 
Yep, I understand, apmplify your track and you also amplify the noise.

I'll look into the Sound Devices MM-1.

One last question:
What mic would you recommend in combination with the DR-100?
 
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staticmotion said:
Yep, I understand, apmplify your track and you also amplify the noise.

I'll look into the Sound Devices MM-1.

One last question:
What mic would you recommend in combination with the DR-100?
Click to expand...

Getting an external pre-amp will help, but it won't solve the self-noise of your mic. If you're running with a pre-amp, you don't really have to worry about the ___ mic + DR-100 combination, since the internal pre-amps are pretty much out of the equation at that point.

That said, the NTG-2 is a great mic for the money. If you're using it with an external pre-amp, you'll be in a good spot. It does have a lower output, though, and that can be problematic with the DR-100's internal pre-amps. The Audio Technica AT-875 is another entry-level shotgun that gets god marks around here, and has a hotter output.

If you are venturing beyond hobbyist/enthusiast, it may be time to look at expanding upward all the way around. I'd look at getting a higher-end mic an an external mixer/pre-amp first, then look at a better recorder later. The NTG-3 is a splendid shotgun. The MixPre-D seems pricey, but the results are worth more than the price of admission. This may not be an immediate solution on a tight budget, but something to look at long-term.

If, however, you are looking for a more immediate solution on a tight budget, I'd look at the NTG-2 and the MM-1. That will at least get you a cleaner signal chain, and the MM-1 is a solid piece of gear that can last you a long time.
 
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