Topic: Tascam DR-60D - 4 Channel recorder

[ArchivalAudio]

Why? 

In my mind they serve pretty different functions.  One is a handheld, the other is not.  One is two track, the other 4.  One has phantom, the other doesn't.  In choosing what recorder to buy size is obviously a factor, but the functions of these two put them in entirely different camps for me.  Just for interest's sake I'm curious, but personally think the vastly different functionality of the two would be more to consider than the size.

M10 to a DR-2d would be a much more appropriate comparison to me.

only for size.... maybe a DR -680 an M-10, FR2-LE Dr2-d, etc....

[achalsey]

That makes sense.  Would be kind of fun to get all the popular, available devices in one shot.  handhelds M10s/R09s up through like a Tascam HS-P82.

[hoppedup]

DR-60D with Sony PCM D50, Tascam DR-07, DR-05

[audBall]

Would be kind of fun to get all the popular, available devices in one shot.  handhelds M10s/R09s up through like a Tascam HS-P82.

We need a couple of sluts for that.   

[willndmb]

M10 w/tinybox
Overall the m10 is about 4x smaller then the dr60d

[ArchivalAudio]

nice photos, even though the DR-60 is bigger than some units it's still a nice size for a XLR phantom and 4 channel recorder. maybe not the smallest, but compact. at $200 it's a steal.
I like th efor factor with controls and knobs on the front/top surface, compared to other smaller more compact decks.
I think I may need one.

[Ozpeter]

I think I may need one.

When I go into gear shops and the assistant comes up to me and asks if there's anything I'm looking for, I always reply, pretty truthfully, "I'm looking for something that I didn't know I needed"!

Nice photos above.

The 60D is neck-hangable, if that's handy for you, unlike most.

[willndmb]

I think I may need one.

The 60D is neck-hangable, if that's handy for you, unlike most.

you can also remove the top mount fast and easy with a flat head screwdriver of prob even a coin
That would knock the size down a half inch prob

[ArchivalAudio]

^^^ exactly. I'd remove the camera mount unless I needed it .

[2manyrocks]

started out the day about 10am with an M10 and the DR 60d running side by side until about 3 pm.  The 60d hungrily ate 3 sets of alkaline batteries on phantom power.  Each set came out hot to the touch.  The M10 was running on batteries that have been in it for how long, and kept going.   I was using an external battery box on the m10. 

I need to listen to the recordings with fresh ears, but I think I'm hearing hiss on the Tascam's medium recording setting going into my camcorder.  The audio on the Tascam itself seems okay.   

First impression, if I could only have one unit, for $200 stick I'd still buy the M10.  I can put the M10, a BB, and two mics in my camera case with my camera and extra lens with no problem.  Not sure how to carry the Tascam.  I took it in the factory box today after reading that someone broke the ear mounts when they put it in their camera bag. 

[willndmb]

started out the day about 10am with an M10 and the DR 60d running side by side until about 3 pm.  The 60d hungrily ate 3 sets of alkaline batteries on phantom power.  Each set came out hot to the touch.  The M10 was running on batteries that have been in it for how long, and kept going.   I was using an external battery box on the m10. 

I need to listen to the recordings with fresh ears, but I think I'm hearing hiss on the Tascam's medium recording setting going into my camcorder.  The audio on the Tascam itself seems okay.   

First impression, if I could only have one unit, for $200 stick I'd still buy the M10.  I can put the M10, a BB, and two mics in my camera case with my camera and extra lens with no problem.  Not sure how to carry the Tascam.  I took it in the factory box today after reading that someone broke the ear mounts when they put it in their camera bag.

where you feeding the dr60d anything while recording?
There are reviews on youtube showing the noise when nothing is feed to it but when send a signal the noise can't be heard

[2manyrocks]

I was recording a variety of duets, trios, large ensemble, you name it into the DR 60d and running a signal out of the 60d into the camcorder.  Maybe the 10' cable between the 60d and the camera was too long?  I wanted a shorter cable, but didn't see the one I wanted in stock when I ordered the 60d. 

Or maybe I didn't have the output gain from the 60d and the input gain on the camera set just right?

[willndmb]

home tests
AKG ck61 >
1) TB > DR-60D w/channels 3/4 > Canon r300
2) TB > M10 > Canon
3) TB > Canon
wasn't able to run a dual test at the same time but that doesn't matter for my test of going into a camcorder

DR-60D def has a "hiss" in the background of softer and more quite parts.
louder and more constant music (recorded from computer speakers playing iTunes) seems ok
as stated above the audio recordings do not have the hiss at all, it is 100% related to the camera/line out jacks

M10 could have slight hiss, not sure if it did or if I was just used to hearing it from the DR-60D samples

Gain on DR-60D
good news, you can not hear the clicking as you adjust the gain like shown in many youtube videos

bottom line on my fast home test is that unless you want 4 channels or NEED to have better control over your levels going to a camcorder the M10 will beat the DR-60D on battery life and noise
for the size the DR-60D is compact overall and with 48v it is the smallest all in one I have personally held

EDIT - just saw this
http://www.uniquesquared.com/blog/pro-audio/tascam-dr-60d-review/
"Some users have described problems with the camera’s audio when sampling in post. Specifically, the noise generated from the DR-60D when attached to the bottom of DSLR cameras. However the audio recorded on the DR-60D’s SD card remains noise-less and sounding great. Chalk it up to the inherent problem with running audio through a camera that sees audio as an afterthought. This seems to be a general problem with DSLR’s than it is with the DR-60D."
Not sure I see it as a camera issue since the M10 > canon seem muchhhhh better if not fine

[obaaron]

hmmm....design flaw?  Wonder if this may be a reason for such a heavy discount?!! 

[2manyrocks]

My one experience yesterday was disappointing hiss out to the camcorder (user error on my part still not ruled out), but the internal audio on the 60d didn't seem hissy.   If user experience is that the audio feed to a DSLR is hissy, that means having to replace the audio in video editing instead of having an immediately useable mix right on the camera, IMO.   

Agree with willndmb that the reason for the 60d would be the 4 channels + phantom power in one box + built in feed to camcorder (with hiss being possible issue given my one limited experience thus far). 

Think we need a head to head controlled audio test of DR-680 v. Dr 60d using same mics maybe on a piano. 

I also want to do a test to see how well the 60d and the Canon HF M500 maintain sync over longer periods of recording. 

I had the 60d sitting on the padded seat next to me yesterday laying face up towards me.  Not quite sure how best to mount it.  Thinking about some kind of yoke mount (attach to bottom and top of 60d like a yoke for support) to go on my super clamp.  (M10-no problem mounting on a swivel camera mount--easy, easy, easy).

The 60d rectangular boxy size is at once good and not so good.  It's good for access for the physical controls.  It's not so good from the standpoint how to carry it or mount it to my thinking.  Or at least it's unusual compared to the shape of other recorders to which I am accustomed, and that is forcing me to have to re-think these issues in actual use.   It doesn't lend itself to laying there quite like a 680.    I don't see mounting it to a tripod with a camera on top for my purposes.   I'd like to be able to mount it so I can tilt the viewing screen to however I'm sitting. 

Got to address the battery life some way. 

Slate button seems to have a slight delay before it actually makes the beep on the audio.  Negative is that you've got to edit out the beep if it's in the middle of a longer take.  I haven't quite figured out whether it's best to let the camcorder and the DR60d run for a long time with slates at the beginning and end or taking multiple shorter takes.  The multiple shorter takes make for more confusion in editing to my thinking. 

Having used a Dr2d, the menu is familiar.  For someone who hasn't used a Tascam with a similar menu before, I could see the possibility for user confusion.

The physical control surfaces appear laid out well, IMO. 

DR-680 seemed to have an edge in being able to gang channels 1 and 2 together.  Not sure if this is even possible on the 60d.  I had to adjust gain several times yesterday (kids all over the place volume wise), and it's not so easy to adjust channels 1 and 2 together quickly at the same time that I'm seeing so far. Although the ability to use dual tracks is there, that's another set of files to keep up with.   

Other suggestions and perspectives very much appreciated.