Topic: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder for DSLR cameras

[F.O.Bean]

This past Monday I ran 4 channels into the deck.

I had a pair of DPA4061's > Tinybox > into channels 1/2.  Channel 1 was panned Left @ 12, channel 2 was panned Right @ 12.

The second set of mics were my Peluso CEMC6's for channels 3/4.  Channel 3 was panned left @ 12, channel 4 was panned right @ 12.

Thanks for the feedback Cheese.  Helps to clarify. 

So Jon, your channels were peaking at the same level on left and right channels 1 and 2 because you have the same input routed to channel 1/2.  You need to switch pan for channel 2 from left 12 to right 12.  No changes need to be made to the pan setting for channel 3/4.

I would not ever use center pan unless I was running 3 mice and wanted one as a center channel.  I don't ever see myself doing that since I have 4 mics though.

OK, that makes sense.  Thanks.

Thanks I will make my changes tonight.

That's exactly how I would do it too. Steve explained it better than I could. But no matter how many mics or channels you're running, Channel 1 Left, Channel 2 Right, Channel 3 Left Channel 4 Right, Channel 5 Left Channel 6 Right, Channel 7 Left Channel 8 Right, and so on and so on

[Life In Rewind]

Ran the DR70-D yesterday afternoon. 290 seat theatre - 7 piece band, country music.

I was about 30 feet from the stage, running the Audix M1280s. Ran 3/4 mic in, saved as a stereo wav file. Channel pan at max (12)
Regarding the low levels - I ran on "low" mic input setting - and I had the levels cranked all the way up.
Never saw the peak light. I had decent levels - but I didn't like having to run max knob.
Second set, I switched to "High" and ran levels about 10 o'clock - a few peaks lights on some bigger drum hits.
That seemed like a more "normal" situation.

So - I could see how levels might seem low, depending on what you are recording.

The "Low" mic input might be reserved for the loudest of the loud - or when you are very close.

Ate up my batteries - I changed at intermission. Looked like I was down to about 1 bar after an hour or so.

[Life In Rewind]

Another thing I notice is the lack of any info on the built-in mics...not one word about them in the manual.

...figured it out though, - The built-in mics are only available on channels 3/4. Also noticed, if you change it on 3, 4 will be changed too.(I guess since they are stereo/linked channels)

[stevetoney]

Another thing I notice is the lack of any info on the built-in mics...not one word about them in the manual.

I spent quite a bit of time with the manual and also found it to be lacking.  There are two manuals...the one manual is almost worthless, but the manual that's called the Reference manual is OK.  It's not the worst manual ever written, but there's alot going on in the menu and setup for these four channel recorders.  Tascam could have done a much better job explaining what some of the settings are for, like that Pan setting on the input like we discussed yesterday.  Once again, if I could rate Tascam as a whole, they make good bang for buck products, but their customer support is near the bottom of the industry.

[stevetoney]

I was about 30 feet from the stage, running the Audix M1280s. Ran 3/4 mic in, saved as a stereo wav file. Channel pan at max (12)
Regarding the low levels - I ran on "low" mic input setting - and I had the levels cranked all the way up.
Never saw the peak light. I had decent levels - but I didn't like having to run max knob.
Second set, I switched to "High" and ran levels about 10 o'clock - a few peaks lights on some bigger drum hits.
That seemed like a more "normal" situation.

So - I could see how levels might seem low, depending on what you are recording.

The "Low" mic input might be reserved for the loudest of the loud - or when you are very close.

Ate up my batteries - I changed at intermission. Looked like I was down to about 1 bar after an hour or so.

Life In Rewind...don't forget that in addition to Low-High on your gain settings, there's another menu on the input where you can select between Line - Mic - and Mic + Phantom.  As far as I can tell, the only difference between Line and Mic is 20db in input sensitivity (I basically look at it as shifting the scale on the meters by 20db).  Sounds like you got the levels you want when you went to 'high' gain, but you could also switch the other setting between line and mic.

[Ozpeter]

Ate up my batteries - I changed at intermission. Looked like I was down to about 1 bar after an hour or so.

I think it's safe to assume that if you are using phantom power with most modern recorders, it's going to be necessary to use external power unless it's a short recording.  Perhaps the ready availability of power packs for phones, coupled with the provision of USB power inputs, leads the designers to not try too hard for low power consumption.

[jmerin]

A good usb pack : This is the one that I have and it should give you a lot of time. I will run a test on the length tomorrow morning and report back

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009V5X1CE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Life In Rewind]

Ran again yesterday...AUD on 1/2 and tried to take my board feed on 3/4, but ended up with the internals mics...boo!

So - the menus will take a bit experimenting.

Todays lesson was - always tap those built-in mics to make sure they arent on!

I did set record to "mono" - So I should have 4 wav files per set.

The manual implies that "Pan" is only active in stereo mode.

I'll post a few samples later

[2manyrocks]

With so much of it controlled by menu vs physical switches that would have cost more, I could see this happening by accident.

[stevetoney]

With so much of it controlled by menu vs physical switches that would have cost more, I could see this happening by accident.

I think routing on all of the multi-channel recorders are controlled almost exclusively from the menu.  If you want the functionality of a mixer, with channel strips of pan knobs and buttons, you're going to sacrifice size.  And I wouldn't want mixer function buttons and knobs on the outside of my recorder that could be easily bumped out of position.

That said, I do insist on basic mixing functions on the menu if I'm going to have a multi channel recorder.  You need the capability for custom routing of inputs to different outputs, expecially on the recorders with more than four channels. 

[Jonmac]

I'm glad I bought the Zoom H6 now, it's much easier to use and far better battery life, 6 hours with 2 phantom powered mics, on
NiMh rechargable batteries.

[Life In Rewind]

If you can stand to listen to gospel/country - here's a few samples from yesterday. (I work for this country show doing sound and lights, this is from our holiday show.)

These are Audix M1280s about 30 feet back in a 280 seat theatre - about 12 feet high, more or less PAS. Recorded at 24/44, and > 16 bits via Audacity


This Little Light
http://rovingsign.com/dr70d/thislittlelight16.mp3
http://rovingsign.com/dr70d/thislittlelight16.flac

Blind Man
http://rovingsign.com/dr70d/blindman16.mp3
http://rovingsign.com/dr70d/blindman16.flac

Joy To The World
http://rovingsign.com/dr70d/joy16.mp3
http://rovingsign.com/dr70d/joy16.flac

[2manyrocks]

thanks for these.  Nothing like real world recording to hear what it can do.  Seems pretty clear to my ears. 

[Cheesecadet]

Below you will find a blind test comparison link shortly for you all to check out.  They are the raw 24/96 files from the following rigs:

DPA4061 > Tinybox > Sony PCM -M10

vs.

DPA4061 > Tinybox > Tascam DR-70D

I have dual outs of my Tinybox so this will be a direct comparison. Somebody on here asked for this a week or two ago.

They will be marked as a sample A and B. They are the unaltered master files. Levels volume between the two sources is very close but not exactly the same so take that into consideration while listening.

The sample tune is Colorado Wildfire by Dead Winter Carpenters

Here is the download link:

http://we.tl/QAqTAEY9rj

[2manyrocks]

I'm going with A because I can pick out an audience member near the end that's harder to pick out on B.  But A and B sound very, very close to me.