Topic: TASCAM DR-40 - new 4-track

[sunjan]

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. 

My guess is that P48 draw will zapp the internals in less than 120 minutes.
The selling point of an all-in-one with phantom XLR would be the freedom from carrying extra boxes. If I'd need to buy/carry external power, there's nothing unique about it.
How about an all-in-one with a 2x9V battery bay, or a custom high-voltage li-ion battery (like the tinybox)? 

[Gutbucket]

How about an all-in-one with..  a custom high-voltage li-ion battery (like the tinybox)? 

The Microtracker and Korg do.

With all the gear that runs various multiples of 2 AAs, some one should manufacture a 3V(nomional) LI-ion that is packaged into an envelope the size of two AAs connected side by side, along one edge.  It's housing would look slightly figure-8ish viewed end on, so that it would slip into standard AA battery holders which often have short partial wall dividers between cells but rarely have completely seperated cell compartments. In addition to the standard LI-ion voltage regulation circuitry, it would need some sort of internal switching to automatically sense the short at one end of the pack and switch to using the terminals on the other end when inserted into the device.   Besides getting enough power density, that 'short sense circuit' is the only challenging part, but it's a feature that would make it safe, short-proof and user friendly.  Use two for devices that take 4AAs, 3 for 6AAs, etc.  Pop them out and recharge.

[noahbickart]

also no 88.2 kHz recording. This seems silly to me.

[Todd R]

Man tapers are a hard bunch to please. 

The microtrack comes out and everyone complains that it doesn't use AA batteries that are universal and field replaceable.  Now people see them in this Tascam and want an internal Li-ion solution.  Lots and lots of handhelds use only 1/8" inputs and people complain that they want a locking XLR input.  This one comes out, and nobody is interested.  People complain about poor battery life or low max input (this one has 15 hour battery life and takes 20dbV) and again, no love.

This probably isn't a recorder I'm interested in, but I would think it might fit the bill as a 2ch recorder, at least for some.  It takes a hot signal, has XLR inputs, and good battery life.  Most people don't seem quite satisfied with a handheld as an all-in-one solution, but if you want it for that, it'll do it.

As to battery life as an all-in-one, they say 15 hour battery life, presumably that is without phantom, so say it draws about 200mA. It uses 3x AA batteries, so considering that and a reasonably efficient DC-DC converter to get up to 48v, phantom power for a couple of condenser mics might add another 150ma or so -- all told, this should provide 6-8 hours of use even with phantom on.

For what we do, I think the DR2d is better as a 4ch recorder, but for a 2ch recorder, this seems like a good option, especially for the people who feel they are more comfortable with a recorder that offers locking XLR inputs.

[mandoman]

Man tapers are a hard bunch to please. 

And Dead Head tapers are even harder to please

[spyder9]

If it gets better battery life than the 100, then I think it will do ok.  The 100 is the only loser they've had in the last 5 years.  The 40 is almost a re-do, but with 4 channels. 

That said, Tascam should have added spdif to the 40.  The technology is not foreign to them, for the 2 channel P2 has been out since '05.  Makes no sense to me.  More I think about it, I bet the Ipad will get spdif before Tascam's handhelds.  Tascam's new product strategy is that pathetic.   

[cd2go]

all told, this should provide 6-8 hours of use even with phantom on.

I agree, but probably below 6 hours depending on mics and battery type. I have tested my Marantz PMD-661 (4 AAs) with both Energizer "Advanced" and "Ultimate" Lithium batteries and got just over 7 & 8 hours respectively @ 24/48 while running phantom with my DPA 4022 mics. I would be curious what the stock pres sound like for $200...

-james

[Nick's Picks]

as parts become better and cheaper every year, eventually someone will make one of these things that is on the quality line of the Sony D1...but for $199.

If the preamps on this were nothing special, but clean...i'd be content.

[Cheesecadet]

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!!!

Hallelujah to that!

[Nigel Tufnel]

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. 

My guess is that P48 draw will zapp the internals in less than 120 minutes.
The selling point of an all-in-one with phantom XLR would be the freedom from carrying extra boxes. If I'd need to buy/carry external power, there's nothing unique about it.
How about an all-in-one with a 2x9V battery bay, or a custom high-voltage li-ion battery (like the tinybox)? 

When I got my DR-40 I did a test with the internal AA batteries.  Continuous run time recording with the P48 turned on was 3 hours 15 minutes. Honestly I was surprised it lasted as long as it did.  Was expecting about 2 hours.

[easyed]

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 Sony PCM-M10 can be had for $229 from an authorized dealer if you shop.  I love mine.

Built in mics (on the Tascam or virtually any other of these hand held recorders) are not good for audience recording, but only for recording practice in your living room, or spoken word, or discussions around a conference table.

Built in mics?  It's like ordering a $100 dish at a fancy restaurant and thinking you've gotten a deal because it comes with a free side dish of dog turd.

[hoppedup]

Got a soundpro email today that says you can get this for $149.99 with instant $50 gift card. It says today only.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/TAS-DR-40

[cybergaloot]

OK, I've bought one as a secondary recorder. No way it will replace my beloved R-44 but I wanted XLR with P48 and 1/4 TRS inputs for various setups I have at times. We'll see how it works out but at $170 shipped, I can't argue too much unless it is total crap. The dual level recording is interesting depending on how decent the internal mics are.

[aaronji]

When I got my DR-40 I did a test with the internal AA batteries.  Continuous run time recording with the P48 turned on was 3 hours 15 minutes. Honestly I was surprised it lasted as long as it did.  Was expecting about 2 hours.

What mics were you using when you did that test?

OK, I've bought one as a secondary recorder. No way it will replace my beloved R-44 but I wanted XLR with P48 and 1/4 TRS inputs for various setups I have at times. We'll see how it works out but at $170 shipped, I can't argue too much unless it is total crap. The dual level recording is interesting depending on how decent the internal mics are.

Any thoughts on the sound?  Build quality? 

[cybergaloot]

OK, I've bought one as a secondary recorder. No way it will replace my beloved R-44 but I wanted XLR with P48 and 1/4 TRS inputs for various setups I have at times. We'll see how it works out but at $170 shipped, I can't argue too much unless it is total crap. The dual level recording is interesting depending on how decent the internal mics are.

Any thoughts on the sound?  Build quality?

It hasn't been delivered yet. Its somewhere between San Diego and Tallahassee. I expect it to show up sometime next week. The one I saw in the field seemed to be built well. I'll probably get the battery sled and remote later on.