lamlance - Mono or stereo audio is fine for many situations, but extra channels come in real handy when recording multiple people or live music. I would be more excited about the DR-60D if it had four phantom powered XLR inputs, but for the price it,s a good mix of features.
Tascam DR-60D : How Many Settings Is Enough? :-)
- Thread starter TheDingo
- Start date
lamlance - Mono or stereo audio is fine for many situations, but extra channels come in real handy when recording multiple people or live music. I would be more excited about the DR-60D if it had four phantom powered XLR inputs, but for the price it,s a good mix of features.
Channels 3/4 are far too noisy and the gain is far too low: the HIGH setting only offers 26dB of gain (versus the 52dB on Channels 1/2) and 3/4 are much, much, much noisier. I haven't done any significant testing but it's immediately clear to me that 3/4 would not be in any way usable with my Rode SVM (original model without +20dB boost) to record room ambience at a reasonable level of signal and noise. My original intention was to use 1/2 with a shotgun (Rode NTG3) and 3/4 with the SVM, with a mix to the camera for sync, but I now realise that another mic or preamp will be required. Having the extra two channels is better than nothing but to me, 3/4 are line inputs.
I can't complain too much: the DR-60D is excellent value at $350 but I really would have gladly paid $100 more for a little more quality.
Sorry, I think I need to clarify what I said about the noise on Channels 3/4: when using the recorder, the noise floor appears to be about the same when using 1/2 and 3/4 in the sense that with all gain levels set to HIGH, the self-noise starts to become noticeable when the input level dials are between 50% and 70% of full scale. However, as 3/4 are only amplified to 26dB rather than 52dB, the noise floor is about 25dB above 1/2, if that makes sense.
Unfortunately, I don't think 3/4 would work in any way with dynamic mics: using mid-sensitivity condensers (Rode SVM, NT4, VideoMic) with the preamps at maximum gain, I barely get level meter readings (i.e. it reads below -40dB) when recording a normal speaking voice at 1m. If I had the budget, I certainly would not hesitate in heading straight for the DR-680!
I bought the Tascam 60D specifically to use with a Sony 44B wired lav mic. It works great.
I previously had a Tascam DR-40, but the low output of the lav mic forced me to crank of the DR-40's preamps, which are pretty noisy. The 60D on the other hand had great preamps, and I'm recording with MED gain, and the levels at around 60% with very little noise.
My intention was to use Channels 3/4 with first generation Rode VideoMics (mono and stereo), which I believe to be of mid-to-high sensitivity for mics of this class. I was surprised to find that the gain was at least 15-20dB below what was required for these mics. Perhaps the levels would be usable with the later "Pro" versions with the +20dB on-mic boost but I can't think of too many mics that are quite so hot.
@Rick R: Seeing that you are someone in the know, could you recommend a small, battery-powered preamp that would adapt a VideoMic to Channels 3/4 of the DR-60D? Ideally, it would be plug-in powered and miniscule - something with the form factor of the FEL 3.5 SJ would be ideal, but without the $200+ price tag!
This is pretty much the same behavior as the DR-100 Mk2, which is why I recommend to NEVER use the HIGH setting if possible.
If the MEDIUM setting isn't loud enough, you need to add a good pre-amp/mixer to your audio chain.
I'm very sorry - I have found a problem with my DR-60D which invalidates any of my observations so far: it appears that my limiters have been 'stuck' i.e. they are limiting all the time. After turning all the limiters off, I have found that the gain on all channels is much higher but there is also (not surprisingly) a great deal more noise.
My new (not rigorously assessed) observations are: there is an enormous amount of gain available on Channels 1/2; using a Rode NT4 and the HIGH preamp setting, I can hear the conversations next door as if my neighbours were in the same room but the noise floor renders a recording at this level unusable. The noise floor starts to become perceptible on the monitors in the MID preamp setting with the input dials at about 50-60% of full scale; at this level, the preamp performance would surpass the Zoom H4n, although I have yet to determine exactly how significant the improvement is. As TheDingo said about the DR-100mk2, the HIGH setting is really of questionable worth - perhaps only for emergencies if you have good noise scrubbing plug-ins.
My assessment of Channels 3/4 has changed enormously as well: with a reasonably sensitive mic like the (original non-Pro) Rode VideoMics (mono or stereo), I would begrudgingly accept the gain levels for ambient recordings. The noise floor starts to become audible at about 30-40% on the HIGH preamp setting (the LOW setting is ridiculously low) so these channels are clearly not for nature recording but may be sufficient to catch a background mix in a not overly quiet environment when Channels 1/2 are on the main subject. In my experience, the gain level is much less than what is normal in a consumer camcorder that accepts external mics, such as the Canon HV30, HFG10 or Panasonic GS400, but the noise floor level is in the same order.
The limiter problem is also a concern: I am finding that if any of the limiters are left on, they will drop the gain on the next power-up until they are switched off; with or without mics attached. Whilst it seems likely to be a firmware bug, I really hope it isn't an anologue problem requiring a hardware fix e.g. power-up transients triggering preamp oscillations. Has anyone else experienced this?
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Russiana007
Active member
Thanks you for founding this bog. I notice this also but could not fix. I think 60d is still boggy. I am glad you save us.
mrmccormack
Active member
Got mine a week ago, still testing, but so far very happy with it, I have Zoom H1, H2, H4 and Roland R08
Will post some samples soon.
Rob
Will post some samples soon.
Rob
I compared 7 to 8 normalized to -3db the background noise of the 60 is a bit less, but had the impression a bit duller than the SD Micpre?
I have just purchased the Tascam RD60D 11/4/13.
Despite the fact that it is a beautiful piece of electronics, on my 5th use (with the same mic cable each time) the XLR input clip stuck and I was unable to remove the XLR.
When I finally did get the XLR out the clip was bent and I’m afraid that putting another XLR in will be locked in permanently.
As I bought this from USA, Tascam Australia will not repair it. I have been told by Tascam USA that since I don’t live in the USA they will not repair it and send it back to me.
If I had bought this recorder from Australia (by the way it’s not yet available in Australia) and then traveled over seas for a job and had a problems with it, Tascam would not authorise the repair unless I sent it back to Australia, leaving me high and dry with out a recorder?
(This is a big concern as I do travel on video projects)
If video is a hobby, you may consider this a great piece of equipment, though probably too expensive for a hobbyist.
But unfortunately I can no longer consider nor recommend this as a professional product. Due to the likelihood that the XLR input clips could get stuck at any time and render the DR-60D useless.
It’s a shame about the inferior XLR input clips.
Despite the fact that it is a beautiful piece of electronics, on my 5th use (with the same mic cable each time) the XLR input clip stuck and I was unable to remove the XLR.
When I finally did get the XLR out the clip was bent and I’m afraid that putting another XLR in will be locked in permanently.
As I bought this from USA, Tascam Australia will not repair it. I have been told by Tascam USA that since I don’t live in the USA they will not repair it and send it back to me.
If I had bought this recorder from Australia (by the way it’s not yet available in Australia) and then traveled over seas for a job and had a problems with it, Tascam would not authorise the repair unless I sent it back to Australia, leaving me high and dry with out a recorder?
(This is a big concern as I do travel on video projects)
If video is a hobby, you may consider this a great piece of equipment, though probably too expensive for a hobbyist.
But unfortunately I can no longer consider nor recommend this as a professional product. Due to the likelihood that the XLR input clips could get stuck at any time and render the DR-60D useless.
It’s a shame about the inferior XLR input clips.
Ricky1974 - Pity to hear about your dilemma. Did you purchase it new? I'm not familiar with out out-of-country warranties work, but I would expect Tascam and other companies would anticipate traveling professionals to need occasional repairs and honor them under warranty. Gear breaks, but if you can't get it repaired, especially under warranty, then it does loose its "professional gear" status. Good luck with your situation.
swaneon
Well-known member
here are some "tests"
i don't know if you will find them useful---you'll have to equalize the audio
All use avantone ck-1 about 8-10 inches away---my sanken should arrive this week
No low pass or padding at all. and editing
Mix Pre D into 661 via AES
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wuok9m4kootl19u/661AES.WAV
Mix Pre D into 661 via XLR
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejcupo548i7qjpk/661XLR.WAV
Marantz 661 without anything else
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9llnpefnm8pda2u/661Bare.WAV
Tascam DR-60d on LOW gain setting
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmbm1wxhtwq2lbn/Tascam_LowGain.wav
Tascam DR-60d on MID gain setting
https://www.dropbox.com/s/31zy1vqaouiikvt/Tascam_MidGain.wav
Tascam DR-60d on HIGH gain setting
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vhmr1j62lwlstim/Tascam_HighGain.wav
i don't know if you will find them useful---you'll have to equalize the audio
All use avantone ck-1 about 8-10 inches away---my sanken should arrive this week
No low pass or padding at all. and editing
Mix Pre D into 661 via AES
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wuok9m4kootl19u/661AES.WAV
Mix Pre D into 661 via XLR
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejcupo548i7qjpk/661XLR.WAV
Marantz 661 without anything else
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9llnpefnm8pda2u/661Bare.WAV
Tascam DR-60d on LOW gain setting
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rmbm1wxhtwq2lbn/Tascam_LowGain.wav
Tascam DR-60d on MID gain setting
https://www.dropbox.com/s/31zy1vqaouiikvt/Tascam_MidGain.wav
Tascam DR-60d on HIGH gain setting
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vhmr1j62lwlstim/Tascam_HighGain.wav
Thanks, davidp158,
yes I bought it brand new.
I have been specifically told by Tascam in Australia and the USA that they will not cover, nor repair it in Australia. So to get it fixed I need to travel to the USA.
So, yes, I agree "it does loose its "professional gear" status".
yes I bought it brand new.
I have been specifically told by Tascam in Australia and the USA that they will not cover, nor repair it in Australia. So to get it fixed I need to travel to the USA.
So, yes, I agree "it does loose its "professional gear" status".