Topic: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 3)

[stevetoney]

So what's the consensus on build quality? The features are great and the quirks can be worked around, but this looks like a playskool version of a fr2-LE....is it really that cheap feeling? The price is right, but I don't want to drop even 500 on a modded unit and have it start to fall apart, can it live in a gear bag getting bounced around a bit?

I have a DR100MKii and now I have a DR70D.  In my opinion they're entirely worth what you pay for them.  You shouldn't expect a pro grade piece of gear for this amount of money.  What I found with my DR100MKii is that it held up fine and after three years of use it's still working fine.  That's the good news.  But it's plastic and I just kept in in the bottom of my gear bag.  Now it looks like shit.  It's been through a war and back and there's no way I can sell it now. 

But that's not Tascam's fault...that's my fault.  I knew it was plastic from the first day I bought it and by keeping it in my bag exposed to cable ends XLRs, clamps, etc.  it suffered the consequences of my poor decision not to protect it better.

I've owned a SD744 and three SD702s on separate occasions.  They're metal and don't get nicked up like that.  I don't have to put them away and they still looked brand new a couple years later.  They also cost ten times more than the Tascam.

So, when I bought the DR70D, I made sure and put it away in a protective case from the day I got it.  That's all you have to do to make sure it'll survive. 

This is good advice for any of gear that's mostly plastic or ABS constructed.

[pohaku]

The construction is decent.  It doesn't feel particularly cheap and flimsy to me.  It feels and looks more finished and solid than the DR-40 I recently purchased.  Of course it is not pro gear, so don't expect SD construction or even Sony construction.  But if you treat it nice (as noted above), I would expect it to hold up rather well.

[MakersMarc]

Thanks for weighing in all.

[voltronic]

Here's my testament to the quality of the internal pres with a 250-voice high school choir from last week, using a 4-mic array.  Included in the DB link is a complete second chain of MK4 / MK8 > CMC 5U > FP24 > M10.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172679.msg2144032#msg2144032

Per the recent discussion, this was recorded with LOW gain, but with the gain knobs all the way up (CM3s) or almost all the way (X-Qs).  This concert was the first time I have ever used anything but HIGH gain.  Actually I started it that way, but after the first piece was hitting -6dB peaks with HIGH gain but knobs set very low, I decided to be safe and switch to LOW.  The sample included in the link was then peaking at around -16dB, right where I wanted to be.

For something completely different, here's a Civil-War period band at a dress rehearsal of the choir I sing with, same exact setup as above, but different venue - much smaller but much more boomy room.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gp36bit7bmuc1l6/AACrqgu0QZ4CTDrZbXN_x83ta/Street%20Marches%20MIX.mp3?dl=0

Details on that with more samples if you're interested:
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/remote-possibilities-acoustic-music-location-recording/930912-three-mixes-boojum-jnorman-case-study-2.html#post11020078

[Cheesecadet]

I may unfortunately need to seek my JWmod DR70D to pay off some unexpected bills.  I may already have an interested party, but thought I would throw this out here as well as a possible teaser.  Please let me know if anyone may be interested.  Unit is mint/like new and would come with everything I received in the original packaging along with the Tascam factory wall wort which was a separate purchase.  Price wise I am thinking around $440 shipped if there is anyone who may want to jump in line in case the first one falls through.

Wife had an unexpected surgery and now have some unexpected bills.  :face palm:

I thought I would post in this thread before going to yard sale to gauge the interest since many of you have followed this mod along the way.

PM me if interested

[2manyrocks]

Bummer, but hope your wife has a full recovery. 

[Cheesecadet]

Yeah kinda sucks.  It is a great deck. Only recorded 5-6 shows with it thus far and a couple friends acoustic in their living rooms.  If I can keep it I will, but thought I would see if there was any interest here and then make up my mind. 

[Mike D (VT)]

Who is running what (other than internals) for batteries?
Any personal experiences with these
http://www.amazon.com/BP-6AA-External-Battery-Portable-Recorder/dp/B0065GF5W6

[Jhurlbs81]

Can anyone comment on runtimes off internal alkalines? N-MH recharables?

[voltronic]

Can anyone comment on runtimes off internal alkalines? N-MH recharables?

I ran off internal alkalines by accident once, thinking I had selected external power and didn't.  I was only running my CM3s (3.5 mA each), and the 70D shut down after about 1:40.  Haven't tried the AA rechargeables I use with my FP24, as I always use an external USB power pack with the 70D. 

Check the FAQ (link in my sig) for powering requirements and a couple recommendations for external batteries.  I have the 12,000mAh RavPower and it's rock solid with the 70D.  I charge it up after every two concerts of around 2 hours runtime (powering 4 mics) but I imagine it will last much longer.

[Mike D (VT)]

I ran off internal alkalines by accident once, thinking I had selected external power and didn't.  I was only running my CM3s (3.5 mA each), and the 70D shut down after about 1:40.  Haven't tried the AA rechargeables I use with my FP24, as I always use an external USB power pack with the 70D. 

Check the FAQ (link in my sig) for powering requirements and a couple recommendations for external batteries.  I have the 12,000mAh RavPower and it's rock solid with the 70D.  I charge it up after every two concerts of around 2 hours runtime (powering 4 mics) but I imagine it will last much longer.
[/quote]

Thanks for all the info in your FAQ section. My Busman DR-70D will be here soon, and I will definitely check back into your FAQ at startup.
That RavPower 12k mAh battery is the cat's ass. Makes the OEM Tascam unit seem like it's from the 80s.

[voltronic]

I think I discovered why that one concert ran off of the internal batteries even though the RavPower was connected.  It wasn't that I forgot to select USB Power (at least not initially).  I set everything up very early, like an hour before the concert and then walked away until about 10 minutes before start time.  During that time the 70D had powered itself down due to inactivity.  When I powered it back on, I never hit the button on the RavPower to wake IT back up as well, I just assumed since it was connected I was running off the external.  Not the case, the external battery was turned off. 

So, lesson learned - make sure the external battery is actually ON, and make sure the little USB icon is on the 70D's screen before relaxing and enjoying your concert.

[Chomps]

Marking this thread. Should have my unit this week.

[jmerin]

Marking this thread. Should have my unit this week.

Awesome! Glad you are pulling trigger

[willndmb]

Is there anyone who has a 70d that has/had a 60d too?
Would be interested in a comp