Topic: Tascam DR-60D - 4 Channel recorder

[kleiner Rainer]

I ran a test to see how long the Eneloop 1900 mAh batteries last with an ME-66 drawing phantom power from the Tascam DR-60D. I get a respectable 3 hours 45 mins roughly. However, the problem is with the battery indicator. For more than half the time, I'm running on 1 (out of 3) on the battery scale. From the time this 1 changes to a blinking battery sign to it saying BATTERY LOW (at which point recording stops) is barely a couple of seconds. (I had a video camera aimed at the Tascam display to record all this.) So the battery indicator is essentially useless. My battery type is set to Ni-MH.

Anyone else see this issue?

Yes. And I wrote an explanation why this is so:  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=138990.msg1801890#msg1801890

Greetings,

Rainer

[shayok]

I would say that the Tascam firmware can still be tweaked to be more helpful. From the point that the BATTERY LOW indicator came on (at which point it saves the file and stops recording), the recorder stayed on for 24 mins. Some of those 24 mins could be given to the user to voluntarily stop recording and change batteries. Of course, it may not be 24 mins with a battery of a different brand or age, so I guess no matter what Tascam did, someone would be unhappy. But it's better to give the user more control than less.

[gatorglenn]

>>5.24x3.67x3.07

Thanks,
Glenn

[Ozpeter]

That update seems chiefly to add a function required by the EU to force standby when running on external power. Consider whether that is something you want to do.

[adrianf74]

Yes. And I wrote an explanation why this is so:  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=138990.msg1801890#msg1801890

Thanks Rainer.  I'd never read that e-mail before but it makes perfect sense to me.  I've always wondered why my 2000mAh Eneloops showed 1/2 battery within an hour or two of use but always worked well beyond that.   For the 60D, I'll still use a USB battery as my primary and the 4xAA's as "backups" to that. 

[kleiner Rainer]

That update seems chiefly to add a function required by the EU to force standby when running on external power. Consider whether that is something you want to do.

No. They extended the "Auto power off" to the external power input. And the best: you can switch the "Auto power off" off 

BTW this was added in update V1.10. There is also an update V1.20

Greetings,

Rainer

[Ozpeter]

BTW this was added in update V1.10. There is also an update V1.20

You are of course quite correct, now that I look a bit harder.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Has the "hum" problem happening with some video cameras been discussed here?

My information was that it was an issue on one batch of units, but that Tascam had solved it. Is that so?

[willndmb]

Has the "hum" problem happening with some video cameras been discussed here?

My information was that it was an issue on one batch of units, but that Tascam had solved it. Is that so?

Yes
I had huge issues and another member had it too
tuned out on mine to be a cable > camcorder issue and I have "fixed" it, at least in home tests. I have not had a chance to run live yet at a show or anything
long story short, if your camera has adjustable "gain" set it very low
My camera was perfect sound wise even with a bad cable running from the m10 and/or little box but as soon as I had it hooked to the dr-60d i had issues and had to drop the level on my camera from 75 to 40 (along with get a new cable)

[StarkRavingCalm]

One thing I am still unclear on is how to switch between channels on LineOut.
I didn't see anything in the manual for it and when I have used headphones I cant tell if it is Ch. 1/2 or Ch 3/4 or a Mix.

Does anyone how to do this or if it is even possible?

[willndmb]

One thing I am still unclear on is how to switch between channels on LineOut.
I didn't see anything in the manual for it and when I have used headphones I cant tell if it is Ch. 1/2 or Ch 3/4 or a Mix.

Does anyone how to do this or if it is even possible?

I have never done it but check out page 40/41 http://www.tascam.eu/en/docs/DR-60D_Manual.pdf

this, along with a few others things I read made me wonder if you can change them WHILE recording
i would assume you can because if you had 4 channels running you might need or want to hear 1, 2, 3/4 in different configs

[StarkRavingCalm]

One thing I am still unclear on is how to switch between channels on LineOut.
I didn't see anything in the manual for it and when I have used headphones I cant tell if it is Ch. 1/2 or Ch 3/4 or a Mix.

Does anyone how to do this or if it is even possible?

I have never done it but check out page 40/41 http://www.tascam.eu/en/docs/DR-60D_Manual.pdf

this, along with a few others things I read made me wonder if you can change them WHILE recording
i would assume you can because if you had 4 channels running you might need or want to hear 1, 2, 3/4 in different configs

Ok, so I did she this but thought the Monitoring they were referring to was the meters on the display.
Reading this again, I think they are one and the same in this context.

If you say you want to see Ch 1/2 that what you will hear in headphones.
Since I have it set to Mix because I want to see meters for Ch 1/2 and Ch 3/4, I am getting Mix in the headphones too.
Makes sense but peak meters can be deceiving so it would be nice to switch between them on-the-fly.

The manual does seem to state that you can switch on the fly;

Selecting the monitored signal
1.
When the Home Screen is open and the unit is stopped, paused,
in recording standby or recording, press the
MONITOR SELECT
button to open a pop-up menu where you can select which
signal to monitor.

Will try to test at home or on an opening band at my next outing.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Yes
I had huge issues and another member had it too
tuned out on mine to be a cable > camcorder issue and I have "fixed" it, at least in home tests. I have not had a chance to run live yet at a show or anything
long story short, if your camera has adjustable "gain" set it very low
My camera was perfect sound wise even with a bad cable running from the m10 and/or little box but as soon as I had it hooked to the dr-60d i had issues and had to drop the level on my camera from 75 to 40 (along with get a new cable)
[/quote]

From what I have read it looked like a ground loop, that came up when DR-60 and camera shared the same battery, or when the DR-60 was screwed to the camera.

In situations different from that, like when just using a cable and non-shared ground or metallic parts, there was no hum.

AFAIK you wouldn't solve the problem with camera gain setting.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Has anyone tried the Energizer XP 18000A battery on the D60?

http://www.laptopmag.com/review/accessories/energizer-xp18000a.aspx

The output options includes an USB port. The other ports would allow me to power a Blackmagic camera and an external monitor at the same time.

[Carlos E. Martinez]

Probably not what I'm looking for, but this package looks ideal for powering the DR-60:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/ZINEN-Large-capacity-10000mAh-mobile-power-bank-bateria-externa/1517441136.html?s=p

This one too looks very smart, and it's sun rechargeable:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/30000mAH-Solar-Charger-2-Port-External-Battery-Pack-For-Cellphone-iPhone-4-4s-5-5S-5C/1672400635.html