Tascam DR-60D : How Many Settings Is Enough? :-)

Yes, it will be interesting to hear the preamp quality in due course, although I doubt if there will be a huge surprise with this. The photos on the Tascam website show that it uses the same 4580 op amps as the DR-680, but, of course, this is only part of the story: Tascam's own specs for the DR-60D vs DR-680 (92db vs 97db; and 0.02% vs 0.007% distortion) and, of course, the price suggest very strongly that preamp s/n performance will be pretty similar to the DR-100mkii (as Rick also suggested, above). Still, could be very useful. Roland
 
iancarlson3000 said:
I like JuicedLink and I own one of their boxes. They're genuine and good engineers. However, the Tascam box is very compelling for it's price and I agree that JuicedLink will have to price their stuff more competitively to compete. Consumer electronics is a highly competitive market, but they've fulfilled a niche that has been somewhat sheltered from that in the past.
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That echos my thoughts. I think JuicedLink is a great product, but at the end of the day I don't want to be recording solely on a DSLR camera. The Canons aren't even usable with a pad cable running in as the audio still sounds awful (though at least the waveforms match, making a PluralEyes pass insanely easy), though on more than one occasion I was more than happy to use the audio recorded to a hacked GH2 coming in from a Sescom pad cable via the DR-100. Even so, there's nothing quite like a 24-bit uncompressed audio track.

Throwback said:
the price suggest very strongly that preamp s/n performance will be pretty similar to the DR-100mkii
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I have been very happy with what I have gotten out of my DR-100 (not even the Mark II). Switching the mic gain to M instead of L really cuts out most of the noise, and with proper usage of Sennheiser G3 wireless lavs, I've gotten great results. Though I'm shooting with the C100 primarily now, I rent my Tascam out all the time, and the form factor just appeals to me, so I pre-ordered.

These are all DR-100 audio.



 
Gary Huff said:
...
These are all DR-100 audio.
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Hmmm,

The first one doesn't sound good to me at all. Very peaky, mid range focused? strange almost distorted.

The second just sounds dull.

The last one sounds pretty good but the music is all in the left and the voices are mostly in the right???

So I think this probably says that the DR100 is pretty decent since the range is obviously not a recorder flaw but booming micing and post.

I assumed that the voices were all that was recorded with the DR100, the music was quite clear and balanced (sonically) in all three.
 
I forgot about the first one. One of my early attempts at actually trying to do some audio post.

The other two or more along the lines of straight off the recorder.

Last one sounds pretty well balanced to me.
 
Tascam has been doing affordable multi track recording for a long time...I love their products. I record all my music on a 2488 MK2, great features and wonderful price. As long as you choose good placement and good mics, excellent quality can be achieved.
 
"Tascam has been doing affordable multi track recording for a long time"
- A long long time. I got my first multi-track Teac R-R in 1971 which had... Simul-Sync.
 
Rick R said:
"Tascam has been doing affordable multi track recording for a long time"
- A long long time. I got my first multi-track Teac R-R in 1971 which had... Simul-Sync.
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I have a Tascam 40-4 in my basement that I still use for the occasional digitizing of any 1/4" tapes I encounter. (This was the slightly newer big brother of the Teac 3340 that you're probably referring to.) There is a label on the back indicating that I last realigned it in (don't tell anyone) 1981.

- Greg
 
Right you are Greg, an A-3340... Wasn't even the 'S' series, which had some improvements over the original, like a pinch-roller release. I used to have to unscrew the pinch-roller cap and remove it to scrub for edit points. And in the 'Simul-Sync' mode, the PB frequency response was compromised to make things even more difficult. But it ran at 15ips and use the large 10.5 inch reels.
 
What I really like about the Tascam unit is the big 1/4-20 bolt than can be loosened and tightened easily without a tool, even when everything is mounted. That way I can replace the batteries very quickly just by loosening the screw and rotating the camera. The JL I have makes this process cumbersome with the allen bolt.

Sometimes little workflow stuff like this can make or break a product.
 
Hi

For Gary: The third one sounds really nice. I would probably have tried playing around with a de-esser Plug-in on it. But that is me looking to pick it apart critically. Really very nice!
 
This thing is awesome, but it looks really big.

It's about the size of the DSLR body. That's pretty nuts.

seeing it mounted side by the side with the dslr makes way more sense than underneath.

It's very nice though, definitely a welcome addition at this price point.

Wish they used the rechargables they have the the dr100 though
 
Just to say the manual is now available for download on the Tascam site, via the DR-60d page. Roland
 
hoping the DR-40 preamps will beat my DR-40 preamps

hoping the DR-40 preamps will beat my DR-40 preamps

I'm impressed with the Tascam DR-60, and may replace my DR-40 with one. I don't know if the DR-60 preamps will perform any better, but I do prefer the form factor and features of the DR-60.

If Tascam offered a unit with preamps superior to the JuicedLink and BeachTek offerings, they could have brought it to market for more than the $350 street price of the DR-60. I'm kind of surprised it took Tascam this long to offer a DSLR recorder, as they have been producing portable recorders longer than just about anyone. I fear the preamps on the DR-60 won't be much of an improvement over my DR-40, but the form factor and feature set may warrant buying one.
 
Blit said:
For Gary: The third one sounds really nice. I would probably have tried playing around with a de-esser Plug-in on it. But that is me looking to pick it apart critically. Really very nice!
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The third clip I didn't do post on, but I'm pretty sure nothing was done to the audio. That should be straight out of the DR100.

I just got my DR-60D in on Friday. I primarily got it because I typically rent out the DR100 on DSLR shoots, and I felt the form factor is perfect for that sort of thing. Plus, I always want an external recorder for times I might need to untether a camera from the audio capture (say from a sound board) or might need two more XLR inputs.

I can shoot something with it if people are interested in how it sounds.
 
Gary Huff said:
The third clip I didn't do post on, but I'm pretty sure nothing was done to the audio. That should be straight out of the DR100.

I just got my DR-60D in on Friday. I primarily got it because I typically rent out the DR100 on DSLR shoots, and I felt the form factor is perfect for that sort of thing. Plus, I always want an external recorder for times I might need to untether a camera from the audio capture (say from a sound board) or might need two more XLR inputs.

I can shoot something with it if people are interested in how it sounds.
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I would like to hear how it sounds and your thoughts on it.
 
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