Topic: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 2)

[Rally_AK]

I'm using the latest firmware. I'm trying to get my hands on a couple different 128GB cards to test out.

I wish Tascam would update their approved cards list, at least with some SDXC cards since they're supposedly supported.

[Gutbucket]

Do those manufacturer tested/approved cards lists ever get updated?  I've never seen it happen for any Tascam or Edirol/Roland recorder.

[intpseeker]

While having some work done by Chris at Busman Audio he had this to say:

"I have modded a few of the DR70s with great success.  The mod gives better sound less noise and more headroom.
 It also allows the signal to run a bit hotter. 
I think this is a better alternative than the DR680 if you don’t need the 6-8 channels of the DR680.

I will do a tapers section special for $150. Normally $175. I will be posting about that as well."

[voltronic]

^ Sounds very interesting.  I wonder how similar this would be to the Jim Williams mod.

[intpseeker]

^ Sounds very interesting.  I wonder how similar this would be to the Jim Williams mod.

Chris said he would have the info up on his site shortly and would be posting here once he did.

I'm sure he would share what caps/chips he was swapping out.

[Rally_AK]

Cool, definitely interested to hear what he's got in store for the 70D.

[Rally_AK]

Has anyone here run a SBD matrix with the 70D yet? I plan to for Keller Williams tonight and I'm wondering what the SBD levels should be set at.

After reading a few pages back that the 70D brickwalled with the Line Out levels from the FP-24 I'm thinking that setting the SBD at -5dB is a good place to start. Any thoughts?

[Rally_AK]

The 70D had no problem running line levels from the board last night, worked like a champ and tapes turned out great! Love having a couple extra channels, running matrix's on the UA-5 was always hit or miss.

[Cheesecadet]

The 70D had no problem running line levels from the board last night, worked like a champ and tapes turned out great! Love having a couple extra channels, running matrix's on the UA-5 was always hit or miss.

Did you use the delay on the deck for your mics?

[Rally_AK]

Yep, set them as close as I could by pacing off the distance to the PA but had to make a minor correction in post to line everything up.

Also ran my DR100 as backup off the line out of the 70D. It's nice having an adjustable slate tone generator, makes it easy to calibrate the levels between the two units.

[voltronic]

The 70D had no problem running line levels from the board last night, worked like a champ and tapes turned out great! Love having a couple extra channels, running matrix's on the UA-5 was always hit or miss.

Did you use the 70D's XLR inputs or the 3.5mm stereo mini jack?  Also, do you know if you were getting straight line level from the board or they had the output padded down for you?

[voltronic]

My 70D arrived yesterday and I just got to play with it today.  Some things I noticed about it that others haven't mentioned yet:
1. While monitoring through headphones, there seems to be a slight delay between adjusting a channel level knob and that level change taking place.  It has already been established that the gain is controlled digitally, but I wonder if the delay I'm noticing is in the processing of the gain adjustment or in the processing of the 4 > 2 channel monitor mixdown.
2. Disappointed that channels 1/2 or 3/4 cannot be monitored separately, but this is a pretty minor thing.  Add it to the firmware update wishlist I guess.
3. Upon connecting to my computer (running Windows 7) to transfer the sample tracks I recorded, it would show up for a few seconds and then would be inaccessible, and the unit would power down.  I found that it was the cable that was the issue - but this was a new, quality Monoprice USB 2.0 cable.  A cheap $2 microUSB cable I had on hand worked fine.
4. Someone mentioned the lack of a per-channel phase invert, but this is in fact an option if you hunt through the menus.

Because of the difficulty Rally_AK experienced with his SD card, I decided to try recording 4 channels of 24/96 straight away.  No problems whatsoever, and I did gain adjustments, clapped, snapped, etc.  The card I am using is a cheap 16GB Class 10 Transcend that is several years old.

I can also report the RAVPower 12000mAh battery works seamlessly with the 70D.  I also picked up a little right-angle microUSB cable which works nicely in the bag.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0SC-000Y-00068
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200860&cm_re=right_angle_micro_usb-_-12-200-860-_-Product

Speaking of, I spent some time reconfiguring my gear bag, which is this cheap but excellent Amazon bag (see pics below):
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Large-Gadget-Orange-interior/dp/B00CF5OHZ2/ref=pd_cp_p_0/177-0194371-0303366. 
After some consultation with Ted on new cables, I went with chopped but straight-out connectors because I didn't want the cables to be specific to one device.  The channel 3/4 cable I asked to be made with an 18" fanout instead of the normal 12" and that was the right call - everything works out perfectly and nothing is being stressed. My only issue is that now I have two pairs of 25' cable which do not fit in the bag, so I'll have to haul the cables separately.  No biggie.

[Rally_AK]

The 70D had no problem running line levels from the board last night, worked like a champ and tapes turned out great! Love having a couple extra channels, running matrix's on the UA-5 was always hit or miss.

Did you use the 70D's XLR inputs or the 3.5mm stereo mini jack?  Also, do you know if you were getting straight line level from the board or they had the output padded down for you?

I was using the XLR ins. The board outputs were set at around -5dB. I ran my knobs at 1 o'clock leaving me about 5dB of headroom. No inline pads/attenuators were used.

[2manyrocks]

Voltronic, how do you plan to use the 70d for choir recording?  Figure you have something in mind to move up from your m10.

[F.O.Bean]

Voltronic, thanks for the pics. Now I have everything I need for the 70D, BUT the 70D and the USB batteries I just got a new bag Thursday myself for running both rigs. And I already ordered custom cables for all 4 XLR ins from Darktrain I might just keep my 2nd M10 and buy the 70D out of pocket in a couple weeks