Become a Site Supporter and Never see Ads again!

Author Topic: Tascam DR100mkii Review  (Read 135041 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Online aaronji

  • Site Supporter
  • Trade Count: (9)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *
  • Posts: 3861
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #75 on: December 23, 2011, 09:04:31 AM »
^^^ Interesting!  What is the current consumption of the mics you used?

I'm an ignoramus about these things. Not quite sure what to look for but the spec sheet says:

"Phantom power requirements:  48V DC, 6.4 mA typical – both channels total"

It's a stereo mic.

Excellent!  Thanks!  My mics are spec'ed at 2.8 mA each, so I should be able to get run times similar to yours or a little better...

I ran a stereo mic XLR IN into the DR-100mkii with phantom power on. It got about 3 1/4 hours out of the fully-charged lithium battery.

That's not as good as I expected based on my run-time test with the internals. 

I don't think it's too bad, is it?...About 60% of the run-time of the internals seems pretty reasonable to me, although I guess it depends a lot on the needs of the internals vs. those of the externals (I would think the internals probably draw less current). 

I ran a stereo mic XLR IN into the DR-100mkii with phantom power on. It got about 3 1/4 hours out of the fully-charged lithium battery.

Thank you!!  Can you try with a pair of AA only and report results?  Thanks again.

Will do.

Thanks again!  Assuming that the difference in run-time between your mics and the internals with the Li-ion is consistent with that in the AAs, it should be another 1.9 hours or so.  More than five hours total without swapping batteries!  That sounds very good to me; I almost never need more than that...

stevetoney

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #76 on: December 23, 2011, 09:17:21 AM »

That's not as good as I expected based on my run-time test with the internals. 

I don't think it's too bad, is it?...About 60% of the run-time of the internals seems pretty reasonable to me, although I guess it depends a lot on the needs of the internals vs. those of the externals (I would think the internals probably draw less current). 

[/quote]

Right.  I agree with you.  My thoughts were that I had sometime ago done a comparison of power draw on a battery with and without phantom and I don't remember specifics of which mics or (I think it was an Oade m248 preamp) other than I got something like 5 1/2 without phantom on and 4 1/2 with phantom on.  Since I got 5 1/2 hours of runtime with the Li-ion powering the internals, I was thinking/hoping for something close to the same with phantom on, but no I think 3 1/2 is long enough for almost every show I'd attend and then when you have a couple of AAs as backup, you should never have a power issue.

Offline dogmusic

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 850
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #77 on: December 23, 2011, 09:26:08 AM »
Assuming that the difference in run-time between your mics and the internals with the Li-ion is consistent with that in the AAs, it should be another 1.9 hours or so.  More than five hours total without swapping batteries!  That sounds very good to me; I almost never need more than that...

Sorry, my news is not so good --- with a pair of fully charged ENELOOPS, I only got 40 minutes. I guess the phantom really draws a lot.

Now, these ENELOOPS are a few years old, so they may not be charging as well. I'll try again with some new AA's.

And I'll take Steve's suggestion -- run the Lithium down a couple times and see if I can stretch it.
"The ear is much more than a mere appendage on the side of the head." - Catherine Parker Anthony, Structure and Function of the Human Body (1972)

"That's metaphysically absurd, man! How can I know what you hear?" - Firesign Theatre

Online aaronji

  • Site Supporter
  • Trade Count: (9)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *
  • Posts: 3861
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #78 on: December 23, 2011, 11:59:37 AM »
^^^ That's too bad.  I am definitely curious to hear what happens with the new AAs, though.  For the majority of shows I see, the AAs would be there mostly as a backup anyway, but, still, 40 minutes is a little light!

Right.  I agree with you.  My thoughts were that I had sometime ago done a comparison of power draw on a battery with and without phantom and I don't remember specifics of which mics or (I think it was an Oade m248 preamp) other than I got something like 5 1/2 without phantom on and 4 1/2 with phantom on.  Since I got 5 1/2 hours of runtime with the Li-ion powering the internals, I was thinking/hoping for something close to the same with phantom on, but no I think 3 1/2 is long enough for almost every show I'd attend and then when you have a couple of AAs as backup, you should never have a power issue.

That's what I was thinking too...

stevetoney

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #79 on: December 24, 2011, 07:31:19 AM »
I bought a new fresh set of NI-MH Energizers a couple days ago.  I cycled them once and got 5 hours run-time powering the internals.

stevetoney

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #80 on: December 24, 2011, 07:41:44 AM »
Sorry, my news is not so good --- with a pair of fully charged ENELOOPS, I only got 40 minutes. I guess the phantom really draws a lot.

Now, these ENELOOPS are a few years old, so they may not be charging as well. I'll try again with some new AA's.

And I'll take Steve's suggestion -- run the Lithium down a couple times and see if I can stretch it.

Since you got 3 1/2 out of the li-ion with p48, your rechargeables might have alzhimers.  I just got 5 hours out of a new pair of 2300 maH Energizers, but again that's powering the internals and not P48.

Offline dogmusic

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 850
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #81 on: December 24, 2011, 09:17:45 PM »
Here's some good news of sorts.

Over the last two days, I had run the DR100mkii with a bunch of different rechargeables. The best I got with one pair was 52 minutes.

Then I tried a stereo mic with less of a current draw then the first mic: 4.5 mA total vs. 6.4 mA total.

No big surprise: the batteries lasted longer. I got 1 hr 55 min. using the same Eneloops as my first test where they had lasted only 40 minutes.

Someone still might do better with newer rechargeables.

I'll try the Lithium tonight with that second mic and see how long it goes.

 BTW: One thing I hope they fix in a future firmware update is some kind of symbol on the display to show you're using phantom power.
"The ear is much more than a mere appendage on the side of the head." - Catherine Parker Anthony, Structure and Function of the Human Body (1972)

"That's metaphysically absurd, man! How can I know what you hear?" - Firesign Theatre

stevetoney

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #82 on: December 24, 2011, 09:48:01 PM »
Some more testing info.

-  The L/M/H switch is disabled when the XLR switch is in the Line In position.  Sweet!

-  When moving the L/M/H switch from one position to another, there's a 25db step gain change.

-  When moving the gain dial through the full range from 0 to 10, there's an equivalent gain change of 30db.

stevetoney

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #83 on: December 24, 2011, 10:39:21 PM »
I finally did some sound sampling today using my PSP-3 preamp and a stock PMD-661 for comparison.  I don't really know how much anyone can tell from these...I don't really think you can tell much to be honest other than the obvious.  My playback unit downstairs is a piece of shit, but it's the best I've got right now.  With the shit stereo, there's not enough detail to really be able to hear subtleties.  As I said earlier, I'll be taking the unit out in the field in a week, so that will be the true test.

Schoeps MK4 > M221b tubes > Tascam DR-100mkII using XLR In (XLR Switch on Mic In)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/0n4gdk

Schoeps MK4 > M221b tubes > Marantz PMD-661 using XLR In (XLR Switch on Mic In)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4ricbr

Schoeps MK4 > M221b tubes > AETA PSP-3 > using XLR In (XLR Switch on Line In)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/60ssbq

Directional Internal Mics on Tascam DR-100mkII
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qzbxu6

Omni Internal Mics on Tascam DR-100mkII
http://www.sendspace.com/file/np5gx7

Offline F.O.Bean

  • Team Schoeps Tapir that
  • Trade Count: (126)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 40690
  • Gender: Male
  • Taperus Maximus
    • MediaFire Recordings
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #84 on: December 24, 2011, 11:44:39 PM »
Damnn. Whatcha recording next week Steve?
Schoeps MK 4V & MK 41V ->
Schoeps 250|0 KCY's (x2) ->
Naiant +60v|Low Noise PFA's (x2) ->
DarkTrain Right Angle Stubby XLR's (x3) ->
Sound Devices MixPre-6 & MixPre-3

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/diskobean
http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/Bean420
http://bt.etree.org/mytorrents.php
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/j9eu80jpuaubz/Recordings

Offline Napo

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 305
  • Gender: Male
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #85 on: December 25, 2011, 01:37:49 AM »
I finally did some sound sampling today using my PSP-3 preamp and a stock PMD-661 for comparison. 

Schoeps MK4 > M221b tubes > Tascam DR-100mkII using XLR In (XLR Switch on Mic In)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/0n4gdk

Schoeps MK4 > M221b tubes > Marantz PMD-661 using XLR In (XLR Switch on Mic In)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4ricbr

PMD-661 better on the bottom end (bass)?
CA-11's>CA-9200>M10

Offline F.O.Bean

  • Team Schoeps Tapir that
  • Trade Count: (126)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 40690
  • Gender: Male
  • Taperus Maximus
    • MediaFire Recordings
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #86 on: December 26, 2011, 12:38:22 AM »

That's not as good as I expected based on my run-time test with the internals. 

I don't think it's too bad, is it?...About 60% of the run-time of the internals seems pretty reasonable to me, although I guess it depends a lot on the needs of the internals vs. those of the externals (I would think the internals probably draw less current). 

Since I got 5 1/2 hours of runtime with the Li-ion powering the internals, I was thinking/hoping for something close to the same with phantom on, but no I think 3 1/2 is long enough for almost every show I'd attend and then when you have a couple of AAs as backup, you should never have a power issue.
[/quote]

I am in the same boat Steve! The DR2D powers up for around 5hrs w/ 2300mah Energizer rechargeables. I wont be using it at festioes, just local shows so it will DEF run long enuf for ANY PBurgh shows :P ;D 8)

**Sorry for the slight highjack**
Schoeps MK 4V & MK 41V ->
Schoeps 250|0 KCY's (x2) ->
Naiant +60v|Low Noise PFA's (x2) ->
DarkTrain Right Angle Stubby XLR's (x3) ->
Sound Devices MixPre-6 & MixPre-3

http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/diskobean
http://www.archive.org/bookmarks/Bean420
http://bt.etree.org/mytorrents.php
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/j9eu80jpuaubz/Recordings

Offline dogmusic

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 850
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #87 on: December 27, 2011, 01:11:29 PM »
Some better battery life news.

I ran my Beyerdynamic 930's into the XLR of the DR100mkii, using rechargeable Eneloop AA's, with phantom power on, 24/96, and got just under 1 hr 40 min recording time.
"The ear is much more than a mere appendage on the side of the head." - Catherine Parker Anthony, Structure and Function of the Human Body (1972)

"That's metaphysically absurd, man! How can I know what you hear?" - Firesign Theatre

Offline Sebastian

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Taperssection All-Star
  • ****
  • Posts: 1588
  • Gender: Male
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #88 on: December 27, 2011, 01:27:56 PM »
Some better battery life news.

I ran my Beyerdynamic 930's into the XLR of the DR100mkii, using rechargeable Eneloop AA's, with phantom power on, 24/96, and got just under 1 hr 40 min recording time.

Is that with or without the Li-ion internal battery?

Offline mterry

  • Trade Count: (10)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 3055
  • Gender: Male
    • recordings
Re: Tascam DR100mkii Review
« Reply #89 on: December 27, 2011, 02:26:35 PM »
Ran mine last night 24/96, p48 off, xlr in coming out of a V2. First of all, love the layout and size over my 661. My only qualm with the design is that its easy to bump the level adjustment wheel. Of course, if i pay attention it wont matter, but after a bottle of wine last night.....you get the picture.

I got about 2 hours with the internal battery. Did not bring AAs. There was one bare left, so probably another 30next minutes. I had the back light set on 30 seconds, and did a bit of adjustment. So you can probably get some more time of you lower the timer. I was hoping for a longer battery life ......however, its a great little recorder.

As far as noise coming from the machine....since i had p48 off there was none. Quiet as could be...
"That's deplorable, unfathomable, improbable!"

"Then we played Davidson, and they wore us out. Davidson controlled us - other than Kentucky - as well as any team all year long"
- Bill Self on PTI (2/28/11)

DPA 2012 > Apogee Mini-Me > Tascam DR-100mkIII

 

RSS | Mobile
Page created in 0.096 seconds with 40 queries.
© 2002-2024 Taperssection.com
Powered by SMF