Topic: Tascam FR-AV2 new compact 32bit float recorder.

[AB52]

Just finding this thread. I picked up an FR-AV2 with the intention of using it for stealthing with a pair of MK4>CMC1L. I recorded my first show with it and the audio sounds great; on par with my MixPre6 II. I didn't get the bluetooth dongle in time so was only able to interact on the device itself, which was a pain since feeling around for buttons in a pocket isn't useful when all the buttons are the same shape/size.

Overall, the unit is relatively large. Not exactly the most discrete device.

How did you set up the mics?  Thank you.

[mepaca]

I just recorded a classical guitarist with this recorder and an m/s pair of Sennheiser mkh 8040/8030 mics.
The recording sounds stupendous. The recorder allows the option to monitor in m/s, a big advantage over
the Zoom F3 for m/s recordists.

[Gutbucket]

I just recorded a classical guitarist with this recorder and an m/s pair of Sennheiser mkh 8040/8030 mics.
The recording sounds stupendous. The recorder allows the option to monitor in m/s, a big advantage over
the Zoom F3 for m/s recordists.

Nice!

Hopefully Zoom takes notice and modifies M/S monitoring and playback options on their F-series recorders with firmware updates to provide adjustability of Mid/Side ratio and the level of the M/S pair in the mix.

[commongrounder]

I just recorded a classical guitarist with this recorder and an m/s pair of Sennheiser mkh 8040/8030 mics.
The recording sounds stupendous. The recorder allows the option to monitor in m/s, a big advantage over
the Zoom F3 for m/s recordists.

Nice!

Hopefully Zoom takes notice and modifies M/S monitoring and playback options on their F-series recorders with firmware updates to provide adjustability of Mid/Side ratio and the level of the M/S pair in the mix.

Agreed!
Admittedly the v2.0 firmware for the F3 is mature and stable, but I think Zoom is missing out on sales now due to the lack of Mid-Side support. Even just monitoring would be nice. I still use my Mid-Side mic rig with my F3, though, despite the inconvenience. A firmware feature update is long overdue.

[mepaca]

The F6 and the F8 variants do have good m/s capabilities and routing features. They should put it in the F3
since a lot of video and films sound people could  use that feature.

[Ozpeter]

And in the H1 XLR!  Its menu system is so similar to the H4e but it strangely lacks the MS bit totally.  I have a Sennheiser MS mic preamp which I bought in the mid eighties - kinda rare beast now - can run on batteries but it's bigger than the H1 XLR!

[Gutbucket]

The F6 and the F8 variants do have good m/s capabilities and routing features. They should put it in the F3
since a lot of video and films sound people could  use that feature.

Don't want to go too OT in this FR-AV2 thread and not sure about F6, but although F8 is able to monitor M/S, its implementation is weak, with no adjust Mid/Side ratio nor the level of the M/S pair in the mix

[spyder9]

I have a FR-AV2 for sale in the Yard if anyone is looking.

[tjj5036]

Anyone using this with a Babynbox? I'm not sure which input source to use: EXT or Line. Don't seem to be getting a signal on Line.

[TheJez]

Anyone using this with a Babynbox? I'm not sure which input source to use: EXT or Line. Don't seem to be getting a signal on Line.

If you connect your source to the XLR/TRS inputs, you must choose MIC or LINE, depending on the input level. If you connect your source to the EXT mini-jack input, you must select EXT.
In all my ignorance, I'm not sure why you'd need the Babynbox. The Tascam has an excellent pre-amp and can deliver 5V pip on the EXT input. If that is sufficient for your mics then you might be able to drop the NBox...

[Gutbucket]

^ Nbox/babyNbox provides 1) high polarization voltage for capsules and 2) unbalanced output, allowing use into small recorders that don't have phantom power and XLR input.  It replaces the microphone amplifier bodies which require phantom power and produce a balanced output.  Could alternately use standard mic-bodies into the XLR inputs of FR-AV2.  But this solution makes for a very compact stereo mic arrangement by eliminating the mic bodies.

[tjj5036]

I hear ya'll on not needing the Babynbox but I'm coming from a stealth setup of MK4/MK41 > Babynbox > PCM-A10 so swapping out the A10 with the FR-AV2 is a good first step. I'm intrigued by the idea of swapping out the Babynbox with a set of CMCs but I'm looking at BH&H (always dangerous) and it looks like a compact set of CMCs start around 1K each, specifically the CMC1 series like the CMC1L. Depending on that configuration you'd need to either go MK4 > CMC -> Cables -> FR-AV2 which might get clunky in a hat or MK4 > Cables -> CMC -> FR-AV2 which would require the KCs and those are like another $400 each. Those cables must be made from the blood of christ or something because that seems insanely expensive. But minimally, unless something popped up in the yard sale, that's another 2K just to replace the Babynbox+cables and I don't want to drop that kind of cash just yet.

[grawk]

swapping to kc cables and cmc6 bodies would also make the rig bigger and more challenging to get into a venue

[DavidPuddy]

I hear ya'll on not needing the Babynbox but I'm coming from a stealth setup of MK4/MK41 > Babynbox > PCM-A10 so swapping out the A10 with the FR-AV2 is a good first step. I'm intrigued by the idea of swapping out the Babynbox with a set of CMCs but I'm looking at BH&H (always dangerous) and it looks like a compact set of CMCs start around 1K each, specifically the CMC1 series like the CMC1L. Depending on that configuration you'd need to either go MK4 > CMC -> Cables -> FR-AV2 which might get clunky in a hat or MK4 > Cables -> CMC -> FR-AV2 which would require the KCs and those are like another $400 each. Those cables must be made from the blood of christ or something because that seems insanely expensive. But minimally, unless something popped up in the yard sale, that's another 2K just to replace the Babynbox+cables and I don't want to drop that kind of cash just yet.

You could see about getting your nbob cables terminated with Naiant PFAs

[caymanreview]

What cards are everyone running? From the approved list?