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Author Topic: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion  (Read 76893 times)

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Offline illconditioned

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #135 on: February 02, 2018, 06:06:47 PM »
LOL.
That would be me a few years ago.

Since then I've reduced my hacking.
Have not reduced gear acquisition though ...


Please DO NOT mail me with tech questions.  I will try to answer in the forums when I get a chance.  Thanks.

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Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #136 on: February 03, 2018, 01:33:40 AM »
Since then I've reduced my hacking.

WHAT?? And, like, use equipment the way they came out of the box? That's INCONCEIVABLE!!!  ;D ;D ;D

Hacking is love. Hacking is life.  :headphones:

Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #137 on: February 03, 2018, 09:19:52 PM »
Did a quick test, 4 channels recording (all xlr/trs and one channel with phantom power). lcd light always on.

filled a 32gb card (15 hours and 23 minutes, 48khz/24bit) and still have some battery left   :o :o

so, that's a win in my book  :cheers:


Offline morst

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #138 on: February 03, 2018, 11:43:47 PM »
Malow, looks like you replaced the Remote connector with a power charging adaptor maybe?

And removed the "camera in" jack to make space for the second RCA?
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Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #139 on: February 03, 2018, 11:50:44 PM »
Malow, looks like you replaced the Remote connector with a power charging adaptor maybe?

And removed the "camera in" jack to make space for the second RCA?
yes, replaced the "remote" with a connector to charge internal li-ion batteries.

and removed "line out" and "camera in" to RCA line out only ("camera in" is not needed for me)

changing the subject, after a few power measurements, I discovered that the recorder does not "shut off" power to the preamps when a channel is set not to record

What this mean is, the channels set NOT TO RECORD still have power delivered to them

So, If you set to record only channel 1 and 2, and the 3 and 4 are set to xlr/trs, it will consume 20% more power from the batteries than if you set 3 and 4 to MIC

Same thing if you set to record 3 and 4 to MIC and disable 1 and 2. If you set 1 and 2 to xlr/trs, it will consume 20% more power than if you set to ext_stereo

so, you can get 20% more battery for free depending on how you use ;)
« Last Edit: February 04, 2018, 01:59:11 AM by malow »

Offline morst

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #140 on: February 05, 2018, 12:20:31 AM »
changing the subject, after a few power measurements, I discovered that the recorder does not "shut off" power to the preamps when a channel is set not to record

What this mean is, the channels set NOT TO RECORD still have power delivered to them

So, If you set to record only channel 1 and 2, and the 3 and 4 are set to xlr/trs, it will consume 20% more power from the batteries than if you set 3 and 4 to MIC

Same thing if you set to record 3 and 4 to MIC and disable 1 and 2. If you set 1 and 2 to xlr/trs, it will consume 20% more power than if you set to ext_stereo

so, you can get 20% more battery for free depending on how you use ;)
WOW! Great discovery!  :D
I assume this would apply to power use off a USB connection if that's where power was coming from? So not just a battery savings, but longer run times on the USB power as well?

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Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #141 on: February 05, 2018, 05:59:24 AM »
My tests where with internal batteries, not USB. But I believe the working principle is the same independent of source power. So, the same applies to USB power. Less consumption, longer run-times :)
« Last Edit: February 05, 2018, 07:16:01 AM by malow »

Offline morst

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #142 on: February 05, 2018, 08:05:04 PM »
My tests where with internal batteries, not USB. But I believe the working principle is the same independent of source power. So, the same applies to USB power. Less consumption, longer run-times :)
That is my assumption as well. Why would choice of power source affect that?
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Offline voltronic

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #143 on: February 06, 2018, 06:23:23 AM »
Malow, looks like you replaced the Remote connector with a power charging adaptor maybe?

And removed the "camera in" jack to make space for the second RCA?
yes, replaced the "remote" with a connector to charge internal li-ion batteries.

and removed "line out" and "camera in" to RCA line out only ("camera in" is not needed for me)

changing the subject, after a few power measurements, I discovered that the recorder does not "shut off" power to the preamps when a channel is set not to record

What this mean is, the channels set NOT TO RECORD still have power delivered to them

So, If you set to record only channel 1 and 2, and the 3 and 4 are set to xlr/trs, it will consume 20% more power from the batteries than if you set 3 and 4 to MIC

Same thing if you set to record 3 and 4 to MIC and disable 1 and 2. If you set 1 and 2 to xlr/trs, it will consume 20% more power than if you set to ext_stereo

so, you can get 20% more battery for free depending on how you use ;)

Just to be clear, are you finding this is the case even if phantom power is disabled for the non-armed tracks?  (As in, set to MIC instead of MIC+PHANTOM)
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Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #144 on: February 06, 2018, 06:50:59 AM »
Just to be clear, are you finding this is the case even if phantom power is disabled for the non-armed tracks?  (As in, set to MIC instead of MIC+PHANTOM)
yes. tested again now just to make sure.

EDIT: now with a removable backup recorder. cause, why not? ;)

(using power from dr-70 internal batteries, and i added a line-out 3.5mm plug inside the front cover)
« Last Edit: February 06, 2018, 01:06:51 PM by malow »

Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #145 on: February 13, 2018, 01:51:44 AM »
After realizing that recover files from the card if any problem happens are almost impossible, i decided to put the backup recorder fixed on the DR-70D.

very happy with this device. the only thing that bugs me is that the right build-in mic is a bit louder than the left. to match them i have to set one lower than the other :(


Offline malow

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #146 on: February 18, 2018, 11:22:38 AM »
ok, last modification i think... added one AA battery inside for the backup recorder (instead of using li-ion from recorder), made a new front cover with connectors and a cut-out for direct SD card access. i think it's enough for now ;)



« Last Edit: February 18, 2018, 11:25:53 AM by malow »

Offline Neilyboy

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #147 on: March 17, 2018, 07:23:38 AM »
Impressive mods man!. Love the internal battery modification!
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Offline Idle Wind

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #148 on: October 07, 2019, 01:57:54 PM »
It seems to me that this mod is coming down to the question - "would you prefer to have a modded unit or a non-modded unit?" - which allows for all personal preferences and prejudices and reasons for satisfaction, logical or not, and can't be argued with.  I admire the tenacity, ingenuity and hard work put in by those testing and comparing, however!  It could well have thrown up evidence of major differences, had they been present.

That's a fair assessment.  I think the sample size is far too small and the testing far too limited and compromised to make any kind of definitive judgement though.

Having owned a ton of Oade modified gear, I have to say that if your ears like it, it was worth it, specs notwithstanding. Pleasing audio doesn't always relate to specs. You can go nuts trying to justify your mod. I'm pretty sure, for example, that I trade some detail for warmth. I could go with the flow and run a v2 behind my 4022s to bring out the detail, but I tried it and didn't like it for anything for bluegrass. I have zero doubt that the v2 out specs the 148, no offense to Doug. Specs weren't the point to his build I don't think. Same deal with an ad2k vs. a mods m1. Just liked the sound, damn the specs.

Well, I just ran the two samples (mod / non-mod) through the Foobar A/B/X Comparator tool which does a volume matched, blind A/B testing where you have to pick which is which, and I scored a perfect 8/8 (8 tries, 8 correct), and I preferred the mod version, so pass me the snake  oil, I'm doing the mod to  my 70d as soon as I can find someone to do it.  It made a  difference to my 59 year old ears that I was able to pick out 8 out of 8 times in blind testing on my office computer rig (SPDIF out to Music Hall 15.2 DAC to Swan M200 monitors).  That's good enough for me.
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Offline voltronic

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Re: Tascam DR-70D - modification discussion
« Reply #149 on: October 07, 2019, 06:07:47 PM »
It seems to me that this mod is coming down to the question - "would you prefer to have a modded unit or a non-modded unit?" - which allows for all personal preferences and prejudices and reasons for satisfaction, logical or not, and can't be argued with.  I admire the tenacity, ingenuity and hard work put in by those testing and comparing, however!  It could well have thrown up evidence of major differences, had they been present.

That's a fair assessment.  I think the sample size is far too small and the testing far too limited and compromised to make any kind of definitive judgement though.

Having owned a ton of Oade modified gear, I have to say that if your ears like it, it was worth it, specs notwithstanding. Pleasing audio doesn't always relate to specs. You can go nuts trying to justify your mod. I'm pretty sure, for example, that I trade some detail for warmth. I could go with the flow and run a v2 behind my 4022s to bring out the detail, but I tried it and didn't like it for anything for bluegrass. I have zero doubt that the v2 out specs the 148, no offense to Doug. Specs weren't the point to his build I don't think. Same deal with an ad2k vs. a mods m1. Just liked the sound, damn the specs.

Well, I just ran the two samples (mod / non-mod) through the Foobar A/B/X Comparator tool which does a volume matched, blind A/B testing where you have to pick which is which, and I scored a perfect 8/8 (8 tries, 8 correct), and I preferred the mod version, so pass me the snake  oil, I'm doing the mod to  my 70d as soon as I can find someone to do it.  It made a  difference to my 59 year old ears that I was able to pick out 8 out of 8 times in blind testing on my office computer rig (SPDIF out to Music Hall 15.2 DAC to Swan M200 monitors).  That's good enough for me.

That's quite surprising, considering that this was two different performances that happened some time apart.  I tried to be consistent, but it's hardly a scientific comparison.  Glad you heard the improvements that I did, though.
I am hitting my head against the walls, but the walls are giving way.
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Team Classical
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