Topic: TASCAM DR-40 - new 4-track

[dogmusic]

Another new contender in the handheld digital 4-track recorder market:

http://tascam.com/product/dr-40/

[hi and lo]

Maximum Input Level
-3dBV (MIC) / +20dBu (LINE)

Not bad...

[dogmusic]

Unfortunately, only one mic/line-in, i.e., have to use built-in mics for second pair of tracks.

But only $199.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005N3ME4O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pixacomcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B005N3ME4O

[flintstone]

Only 3 AA cell internal battery.  Tascam claims 15 hours battery life, but not while providing 48V phantom power to mics.

Also announced, the BP-6AA, an external battery that holds (you guessed it) six AAs. 

Flintstone

[stevetoney]

How loudly does this community have to yell before these guys will hear us...

DIGITAL SPDIF INPUTS on a reliable low cost handheld pu-LEEZE!!!

[carpa]

So it has balanced line in /mic inputs. But does it provide any phantom power?

[mattmiller]

So it has balanced line in /mic inputs. But does it provide any phantom power?

"A pair of great-sounding TASCAM microphone preamps welcome condenser microphones with phantom power"

[mandoman]

Wow, first Roland, now Tascam. Cool! I really like the 'dual record' feature on my dr-2d, where another file can be recorded at lower volume. It is nice to see that carried over. Also nice to see the battery life improved over it's predecessor. It also looks like you can monitor and adjust input gain on all 4-channels on the fly, something you couldn't do on the older unit. I think Tascam is listening!

I wonder how good those internal cards will be? Probably not great in a $199 handheld. It would be really cool if those internal mics could be modded to something better, than you'd have the ultimate all in one.

[refrain]

First Roland and now Tascam, both look like Zoom's H4n features set, the Tascam even looks very similar with better built materials (at least it looks that way)... 4 tracks (the roland has 2 extra omnis), XLR+internals or pip externals, is this a trend?
And when it was released the H4n was some how, a copy of the D50 with XLR 48v... Who's next? Edirol stopped, now that Roland assumed the market, Olympus? they like to built small, way too small... perhaps Fostex? they never entered this market... or even Marantz...
I would like to hear noise preamps comparisons on this 2 new decks... once they hit the market... even internal mics, because for me, this decks are all about all in one recorder, for using the internals plus a extra pair whenever is required... not to go around with 4 external mics...

One thing, Tascam has covered every possible angle on this market... they have almost 10 recorders, very similar, a big mess... it's like saying we've invented home recording 30 years ago, but we slept during the last 10, but now we're back on track... let's flood it...

[DigiGal]

First Roland and now Tascam, both look like Zoom's H4n features set

Is it just me that has a hard time qualifying any of these units as 4-track.     Who really wants this feature set.

Don't mean to be a downer but geez, why don't manufactures actually deliver some true 4-track units like the Edirol now Roland R4/R44 & Sound Devices 744.  Tascam's got their DR 680 too but that's more than 4-track.

[Ozpeter]

$199??  That's ridiculous, assuming it works as well as it looks.  Given the phantom inputs and the rest of the feature set, doesn't this make the M10 look a bit expensive now?  Or, for that matter, the H2N (same price)?

[bgalizio]

Unfortunately, only one mic/line-in, i.e., have to use built-in mics for second pair of tracks.

But only $199.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005N3ME4O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pixacomcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B005N3ME4O

The inability to do line and external mic makes the dr-2d a better choice for most of us. I really like that recorder and wonder why more people aren't running it.

[rastasean]

How loudly does this community have to yell before these guys will hear us...

DIGITAL SPDIF INPUTS on a reliable low cost handheld pu-LEEZE!!!

x2


If the dr40 could be used with line in and xlr in AND control individually 4 channels, I'd be happy too.
 It seems like the manufacturers know what they are doing but why can't they release something just a little be above the current products.

[DavidNJ]

Wow, first Roland, now Tascam. Cool! I really like the 'dual record' feature on my dr-2d, where another file can be recorded at lower volume. It is nice to see that carried over. Also nice to see the battery life improved over it's predecessor. It also looks like you can monitor and adjust input gain on all 4-channels on the fly, something you couldn't do on the older unit. I think Tascam is listening!

I wonder how good those internal cards will be? Probably not great in a $199 handheld. It would be really cool if those internal mics could be modded to something better, than you'd have the ultimate all in one.

Except that the Roland is $499, can be used as a USB interface, and probably has a few more features and probably better preamps.

However, at $200 the DR40 will redefine that part of the market, especially for videographers. You can have the unit on camera using its mics (in a DSLR shoe) and still have two lavs connected.

Now...if they had an HDMI recorder for $400...

[dogmusic]

and probably has a few more features

6 tracks