Topic: Tascam DR-60D - 4 Channel recorder

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Does anyone know which chip the DR-60D is using at the input?

As I am very much considering this unit for external audio on video recordings, some design touches are important. Another option would be the DR-680, which has more channels and seems to be well regarded.

Even if I couldn't find anywhere, my guess is the DR-60D limiter is placed like on the DR-680, after the ADC, which is not too good. The limiter should be on the first stage, linked to the mic preamp.

Has anyone tested what happens to the DR-60 sound when it peaks and the limiter should protect?

Both recorders seem to have a weak link on the battery power, and I see some of you are using external iPod batteries with the DR-60D.

Is there a Service Manual available on-line?

[willndmb]

Got my 10400mah external battery
Ran it out of te box with lights stating it had between 50-75% charge
Ran out of card space at 6hr 15 min at four channel 48v/pip on
Battery lights showed 0-25% charge left
No further testing by me as it will clearly go much longer then ill ever need

Edit and you can NOT use a card larger then 32gb
It will not format and gives you and instant error

[obaaron]

good to know..wish I would have grabbed the battery before the discount code expired!  Still grabbing one anyhow it's needed!

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Got my 10400mah external battery

What battery is that? A ravpower?

[2manyrocks]

The link to the battery was posted just a few posts back.  The opamps were discussed early in the thread on page 2.  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=161501.msg2030627#msg2030627  As I recall, a Tascam rep indicated they were different than the ones used in the DR 680. 

[Carlos E. Martinez]

If the chip used in the DR-60 is the 4580 with some transistors up front, then it's the same as the DR-680.

What Tascam seems to claim is that they used different transistors up front on the DR-60 than on the DR-680, but the chip seems to be the 4580 too.

[2manyrocks]

Here is the post on that:  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=161501.msg2030639#msg2030639

From my listening, the 60d is not a cut down DR680.  It is its own distinctive unit. 

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Someone's claiming it's a cut down?

Even in spite of what Tascam claims about the change of transistors, I don't think they would sound better or worst because of that. It's quite likely they are as you say: distinctive.

Most reviews I'm reading are praising the preamps, not complaining.

But I still say the DR-680 might be a better choice for video & film work, due to the number of channels available.

[willndmb]

yes, my battery is a ravpower
in my limited home testing i can not hear much difference between my m10 and dr60d going line in
so little that i sold my m10 and pe3 for $235 which covered my dr60d and battery purchase and upgraded me to 4 channels
i did decide to keep my littlebox so if I don't care for the mic pres I still have that and can run line in.
Hope to run mic in on thurs for rrfb

[adrianf74]

Million dollar question: has anybody here managed to calculate unity gain on this puppy?

[willndmb]

Million dollar question: has anybody here managed to calculate unity gain on this puppy?

well what I am wondering is if the different gain levels, low/mid/high add gain or just give you more on the dial.
For example, the max gain at low is 11db, mid is 36db, and high is 52db with the knob at full (5:30).  So with the knob at lowest (7:30) is the gain zero for all three and the knob just has a higher gain at smaller turn increments OR is the lowest setting at low 0, mid (for discussion) say 10db and high say 20db.
I am leaning toward the first, all zero and bigger amounts of gain at smaller increments because the difference between low > mid > high isn't the same
I guess I'll have to find time to send white noise at all three to see, if I ever care enough to do so

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Today I got acquainted with Fostex recorder I didn't know about: the Fostex DC-R302.

Has anyone considered it and/or compared it with the Tascam DR-60?

The Fostex is slightly wider than the Tascam, but it's thinner. Weight about the same.

The Tascam has four channels, but just two XLR balanced inputs. The Fostex has two channels, but three XLR mic inputs.

As I'm thinking of using TC on my video shootings, the extra channels on the Tascam would be handy though.

Fostex price is higher too, particularly now with B&H offer.

A mic preamp comparison would be interesting.

[StarkRavingCalm]

I took my DR-60D out for its first show last Friday.
Kung Fu at the Spot in Providence.
Otava MK-319s (OFTR) > DR-60D

Was lucky enough to get AC power so I cant speak to any battery life on the unit.

Really pleased with the results. "Seemed" to take a hotter signal than the DR-2D but I don't have the actuals to back up that statement. Just based on the levels I saw and the way it sounded when done.

I did receive a SDB feed and ran that on channels 3/4. That seemed to come in particularly hot and at one point I had the gain pot within a hair of being all the way down and it was still level with channels 1/2. I expected the levels to be much lower than that since the gain was almost all the way down.

The one thing I really need to figure out is when listening via headphones how to switch between channels.
Other than that, I am really pleased with it. Great to eliminate the Phantom Power boxes and extra XLR cables from my bag and reduce my footprint.

[hoppedup]

Tested this battery at home with DR-60D with phantom on: http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-High-capacity-Aluminum-Dual-Port-Ultra-fast/dp/B00AANQLRI

I stopped it at 11 hours and there was one bar lit on the battery pack.

So I ordered one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-High-capacity-Aluminum-Dual-Port-Ultra-fast/dp/B00EA1P8OI

I will be running this rig (and a backup) tonight and tomorrow night. I will report back on Sunday.

I am using this card with no issues: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/992490-REG/sandisk_sdsdxs_032g_a46_32gb_sdhc_extreme_class.html

[obaaron]

I need one of these batteries. Used mine again for Galactic and love it!