Taperssection.com

Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: voltronic on May 08, 2016, 07:47:29 AM

Title: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 08, 2016, 07:47:29 AM
Tascam DR-70D Product Page (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/overview/)
Reference Manual (http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/e_dr-70d_rm_vb.pdf)
Tested Media List (http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_tested_media_list_20151006.pdf) (using a card from this list is strongly recommended)

DR-70D FAQ (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172795.0) (includes recommended settings, hardware info, list of known issues, etc.)
Modification Discussion Thread (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=174046.0)

Previous discussion threads:

Part 1 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=170230.0)
Part 2 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172109.0)
Part 3 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172830.0)
Part 4 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=173960.0)
Part 5 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=174900.0)
Part 6 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=175623.0)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 09, 2016, 07:07:07 AM
Checking in :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Chomps on May 09, 2016, 04:10:50 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 15, 2016, 01:36:21 AM
Just got my 7th USB battery for my [2] 70d's :P ;D Its a PNY AD10400, that I just got for a great deal at Wal-Mart, which is just a nice Naztech-style clone, but only has a capacity of 10,400mah! It should give me about 10 hours on my 70d with all 4 channels@24/96, BWAVs, MIC IN/Phantom on 1/2 and LINE IN on 3/4!

I'll let you know how I like this new PNY battery! It has a nice digital screen that shows power level, just like the Naztech's do! Here's a link to it!
https://www.pny.com/PowerPackAD10400?sku=P-B-10400-24-S02-RB
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 19, 2016, 09:41:17 AM
Just got my 7th USB battery for my [2] 70d's :P ;D Its a PNY AD10400, that I just got for a great deal at Wal-Mart, which is just a nice Naztech-style clone, but only has a capacity of 10,400mah! It should give me about 10 hours on my 70d with all 4 channels@24/96, BWAVs, MIC IN/Phantom on 1/2 and LINE IN on 3/4!

I'll let you know how I like this new PNY battery! It has a nice digital screen that shows power level, just like the Naztech's do! Here's a link to it!
https://www.pny.com/PowerPackAD10400?sku=P-B-10400-24-S02-RB

Just wanted to let yinz know that the new PNY AD10400 5v USB battery, runs my 70d for 15 hours on the dot ;D I ran the battery 3 times, and it ALMOST fills up my 64gb SanDisk SD Card, with just 3gb left! It goes 15 hours of the 15hrs:23min:28sec on my SanDisk sd card ;D That's all 4 channels@24/96, Stereo BWAV files, [mk4>PFA>70d]MIC IN/Phantom on 1/2 and [mk41>VMS02IB>70d]LINE IN on 3/4!

That's pretty kickass runtimes for a 10,400mah battery IMO! I got a couple hours MORE than I thought that I would!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 19, 2016, 12:22:43 PM
I just bought this exact 64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro from Amazon for $45+shipping a few weeks ago, and now its $10 cheaper! Its only $34.95 right now, which IMO is an incredible deal! Its a "standard" card for the 70d now since its on the Tascam approved list, and is probably the most bought size from us tapers since 64gb seems about perfect, so I would buy now if anyone is looking to get a HQ/Approved 64gb or 128gb SD card for their 70d 8)

How badass is it that our recording medium is now Shock Proof/Water Proof/Dust Proof/X-Ray Proof :o :o >:D 8) Let's see a DAT tape do that lol ;D A whole festie worth of 24bit WAVS on a stamp sized 1"x1" flat drive still kinda blows my mind! The equivalent in DAT/Cassette tapes would be about 30-45 DAT tapes per festie, which is quite a bit of bulk and weight, especially compared to the size of an SDXC or MicroSDXC card :o :o >:D

Anyway, Just thought I would share the link since this is by far the cheapest I have ever seen this card! The 128gb is about $10 cheaper as well! I linked it below too! And its verified to work with the 70d from someone here on ts.com!

64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-SDSDXPA-064G-X46-Flash-Memory/dp/B007NDL54C (http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-SDSDXPA-064G-X46-Flash-Memory/dp/B007NDL54C)

128gb SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NP63Y4K/ref=twister_B009RVUYAY (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NP63Y4K/ref=twister_B009RVUYAY)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 21, 2016, 05:05:38 PM
Amazon has the 70D for $212.06 right now (http://www.amazon.com/TASCAM-DR-70D-4-Channel-Audio-Recorder/dp/B00OY6718K) (price shown after you add to cart).

EDIT: B&H also selling for $213 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1086798-REG/tascam_dr_70d_4_channel_audio_recording.html) (again, must add to cart to see price).
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 22, 2016, 11:21:29 AM
I finally updated my firmware - can someone refresh my memory on what the change was regarding the "LOW" input setting.

I know they added another setting...but did anything change with the LOW input value?

I did get burnt this weekend by this decks most tragic flaw - the full off level control...so dumb - why have the knob turn the signal off?!!!

Really a pain when you find yourself nursing the lowside of the control...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 22, 2016, 12:29:24 PM
I finally updated my firmware - can someone refresh my memory on what the change was regarding the "LOW" input setting.

I know they added another setting...but did anything change with the LOW input value?

I did get burnt this weekend by this decks most tragic flaw - the full off level control...so dumb - why have the knob turn the signal off?!!!

Really a pain when you find yourself nursing the lowside of the control...

See the FAQ where I have the max of each gain range listed from Tascam's specs, and my measurements of the lower limits.  I did this for both the old and new firmware where they changed the gain settings.

The dead zone at the bottom of the pot is very annoying, and has been on the firmware update request for a while.  As usual, no response from Tascam when I've emailed about it.  Maybe others here would be willing to contact them also regarding this and the other things on the list that they could easily fix.  Unless they hear from multiple people about an issue, I don't think the 70D is going to get much attention with the 701-D out now.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 22, 2016, 12:41:50 PM
I finally updated my firmware - can someone refresh my memory on what the change was regarding the "LOW" input setting.

I know they added another setting...but did anything change with the LOW input value?

I did get burnt this weekend by this decks most tragic flaw - the full off level control...so dumb - why have the knob turn the signal off?!!!

Really a pain when you find yourself nursing the lowside of the control...

See the FAQ where I have the max of each gain range listed from Tascam's specs, and my measurements of the lower limits.  I did this for both the old and new firmware where they changed the gain settings.

The dead zone at the bottom of the pot is very annoying, and has been on the firmware update request for a while.  As usual, no response from Tascam when I've emailed about it.  Maybe others here would be willing to contact them also regarding this and the other things on the list that they could easily fix.  Unless they hear from multiple people about an issue, I don't think the 70D is going to get much attention with the 701-D out now.

                 1.01 Firmware            1.10+ Firmware

LOW          -21 to +11 dB                -7 to +21 dB

I think that blows...I rather liked the -21 setting...this explains why I was seeing more peaks this weekend...

I dont see why tapers of loud music would want the later version with more gain....

Wish I had stuck with my older firmware...can you back?

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: audBall on May 22, 2016, 03:00:38 PM
^ Personally, I'd rather not attenuate the signal below 0db on the LOW setting, although I do wish the updates began the setting at 0db. Firmware version 1.02 is still on the downloads (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/) page. You could try reinstalling it.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 22, 2016, 08:45:02 PM
Keep in mind that those lower limits are not official - those are my personal findings and may not be totally accurate.

What I did was take the headphone output of my interface and fed that to channel 1 on the 70D, set to MIC input.  I know that the impedances are all wrong, but I didn't care about the sound quality and I needed a variable level that wouldn't brickwall the 70D when set to MIC input, as that's the input setting I was most interested in measuring.

I played a 1kHz tone with the 70D gain pot to max, set the headphone output from my interface so the 70D was displaying about -3dB, and recorded while slowly adjusting the input gain pot down.  Files were later examined in iZotope RX since that's the program I have with the best metering.

If you want to double-check my math, I attached the text files where I recorded my numbers for this.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 23, 2016, 12:43:33 AM
Yea I forgot about that! DEF the one thing I wish was fixed in a FW update! The whole signal OFF thing is a silly option, no matter what field this is geared towards[DSLR crowd]. I haven't gotten burned by it yet, but it did make me unplug/plug everything back in a cpl of times because I didn't realize the knob was all the way to the left :P :( Now I just keep my gain pots/knobs at the 9 o'clock position when not in use!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 23, 2016, 09:36:41 AM
Yea I forgot about that!

I forgot too - I knew - but so rarely encountered the situation.

But with regard to the level changes on LOW between firmwares...

I was running my Avantone CK1 Omnis - split - about 25-30 feet from the stage - large-ish PA, classic JBL cabinets.

Sounding good - but I wouldn't call it loud.

I was on LOW - but was still getting more peaks than I was comfortable with - and I was already on the max low side of the knob without muting the channel.

Im thinking the older firmwares LOW setting would have handled this just fine...?

This was the first time I have run the Avantones since I got the DR-70D about a year and half ago - so I have no before and after firmware wise.

But this is the first time that I felt I was getting a level that I could NOT CONTROL with any combination of settings - short of engaging the mics 10db pad.

My setup below VVV
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 23, 2016, 02:02:58 PM
Different strokes...  I always found the old LOW range to have very limited usefulness for what I record because of that huge range below 0dB, and the new MID level has been perfect for me most of the time.  Lately I've been using the upper half of LOW more often, even with all of the classical / acoustic things I record.  It's my go-to for louder instrumental groups or big choirs, especially up close.

I guess I could see how you're missing the old low range, but wasn't it a bit unusual that it went that low in the first place?  Does any other recorder out there allow their input gain to adjust below 0dB without engaging a pad circuit somewhere else?  I would think that if what you're recording is that loud, then you'd expect to need inline pads / attenuators.  Still, a convenience for you that you didn't need them, until they changed the gain.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: aaronji on May 24, 2016, 08:09:57 AM
I was on LOW - but was still getting more peaks than I was comfortable with - and I was already on the max low side of the knob without muting the channel.

Tascam says that the maximum input is 0 dBu.  Given the sensitivity of those Avantones, you'll need SPL around 128 or 129 dB to generate that voltage, so you will be OK most of the time, but you may not have the headroom to which you are accustomed. 

I guess I could see how you're missing the old low range, but wasn't it a bit unusual that it went that low in the first place?  Does any other recorder out there allow their input gain to adjust below 0dB without engaging a pad circuit somewhere else?  I would think that if what you're recording is that loud, then you'd expect to need inline pads / attenuators.  Still, a convenience for you that you didn't need them, until they changed the gain.

Marantz PMD620 (0 dB, -12 dB, -24 dB) and PMD661 (0 dB, -6 dB, -12 dB, -18 dB) are two.  There are probably others.  I doubt it matters a whole lot if you have a less sensitive input (= low) and add gain to get medium/high or if you have a more sensitive input (= high) and attenuate for medium/low.  For loud music, especially with sensitive mics, that low setting is essential...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 24, 2016, 09:48:37 AM
I was on LOW - but was still getting more peaks than I was comfortable with - and I was already on the max low side of the knob without muting the channel.

Tascam says that the maximum input is 0 dBu.  Given the sensitivity of those Avantones, you'll need SPL around 128 or 129 dB to generate that voltage, so you will be OK most of the time, but you may not have the headroom to which you are accustomed. 

I guess I could see how you're missing the old low range, but wasn't it a bit unusual that it went that low in the first place?  Does any other recorder out there allow their input gain to adjust below 0dB without engaging a pad circuit somewhere else?  I would think that if what you're recording is that loud, then you'd expect to need inline pads / attenuators.  Still, a convenience for you that you didn't need them, until they changed the gain.

Marantz PMD620 (0 dB, -12 dB, -24 dB) and PMD661 (0 dB, -6 dB, -12 dB, -18 dB) are two.  There are probably others.  I doubt it matters a whole lot if you have a less sensitive input (= low) and add gain to get medium/high or if you have a more sensitive input (= high) and attenuate for medium/low.  For loud music, especially with sensitive mics, that low setting is essential...

The low setting - and the fact that the knobs turn the signal OFF at their lowest setting (when you're running out of headroom)...is a HUGE problem.

I recorded Wild Adriatic a few weeks ago with the old firmware - the loudest show I've seen in a loooong time! - so loud even Jerry Joseph would be impressed...a real ear-ringer and...no headroom issues.

The PA this past weekend wasn't even that loud...not even close.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on May 24, 2016, 01:11:06 PM
I've sort of lost track of some of this, but my recollection is that once you update the firmware, there's no going back? 

When you hit the dead spot on the pots, the meter still shows signal leading you into a trap of thinking you've got signal, but nothing is recorded?

Looking at the FAQ, it partly says: "Turning a gain pot full counter-clockwise until the stop will turn the channel input off.  It turns on at its minimum gain level when rotated clockwise past 8:00. (see Known Issues below)" 

I'm wondering if maybe the FAQ should have some red flags or some kind of huge warnings about these things if a) you can't go backwards on the firmware and b) the pots go get at full counterclockwise position, but the meter still shows signal???

It might also be worth pointing out in the FAQ that before upgrading the firmware, the higher gain range may not be appropriate for rockNroll with high gain mics based on some  user experience. 

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 24, 2016, 01:17:30 PM
I've sort of lost track of some of this, but my recollection is that once you update the firmware, there's no going back? 

When you hit the dead spot on the pots, the meter still shows signal leading you into a trap of thinking you've got signal, but nothing is recorded?

Looking at the FAQ, it partly says: "Turning a gain pot full counter-clockwise until the stop will turn the channel input off.  It turns on at its minimum gain level when rotated clockwise past 8:00. (see Known Issues below)" 

I'm wondering if maybe the FAQ should have some red flags or some kind of huge warnings about these things if a) you can't go backwards on the firmware and b) the pots go get at full counterclockwise position, but the meter still shows signal???

It might also be worth pointing out in the FAQ that before upgrading the firmware, the higher gain range may not be appropriate for rockNroll with high gain mics based on some  user experience.

The knob will control gain - until you go too far and then it's off...no meter...no signal...

There is no index or marking to let you know you're about to shut off the signal...

On a bigger knob - you might be able to work with this - but these knobs are too small for that fine control.

I knew I should have stuck with the old firmware!!!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on May 24, 2016, 01:32:27 PM
That's a serious problem.  It almost forces you into using attenuators.  Tascam ought to offer some utility to wipe the firmware and start over.

I pulled my 70d out just now.  The top two gain pots seem to physically reach the dead spot at a different spot than the bottom two.  I suppose it would be possible to use some hot glue to the case to limit the knobs from ever reaching the dead spot, but what a hassle. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: audBall on May 24, 2016, 01:37:21 PM
^^

You could try "Restoring the factory settings", according to the Reference Manual (page 34). That might revert to the original firmware version.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 24, 2016, 01:45:35 PM
^^

You could try "Restoring the factory settings", according to the Reference Manual (page 34). That might revert to the original firmware version.

Nope...just puts all the settings back to stock - no effect on firmware...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 24, 2016, 04:39:15 PM
I'm not sure if anyone has tried downgrading the firmware, but Tascam has all the old ones on the downloads page which tells me you should be able to try whatever you want.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 24, 2016, 04:59:42 PM
I'm not sure if anyone has tried downgrading the firmware, but Tascam has all the old ones on the downloads page which tells me you should be able to try whatever you want.

That's what I'm thinking, too...I'll report back...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 24, 2016, 09:22:14 PM
I'm not sure if anyone has tried downgrading the firmware, but Tascam has all the old ones on the downloads page which tells me you should be able to try whatever you want.

That's what I'm thinking, too...I'll report back...

Thanks for taking one for the team. ;D  I have always assumed that for devices like this, upgrading the firmware is essentially wiping and replacing the entire operating system that runs the thing, rather than an incremental patch.

Let us know what you find out.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 24, 2016, 10:00:30 PM
Marantz PMD620 (0 dB, -12 dB, -24 dB) and PMD661 (0 dB, -6 dB, -12 dB, -18 dB) are two.  There are probably others.  I doubt it matters a whole lot if you have a less sensitive input (= low) and add gain to get medium/high or if you have a more sensitive input (= high) and attenuate for medium/low.  For loud music, especially with sensitive mics, that low setting is essential...

Wow, I didn't know the Marantz recorders went that low.  Are those pad level settings?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 24, 2016, 10:27:24 PM
When you hit the dead spot on the pots, the meter still shows signal leading you into a trap of thinking you've got signal, but nothing is recorded?

Not sure what you're saying here.  When you hit the dead spot, the meter shows no signal because the channel has turned off, and you're recording silence.  If it was showing signal, that means you're not at the dead spot.

It might also be worth pointing out in the FAQ that before upgrading the firmware, the higher gain range may not be appropriate for rockNroll with high gain mics based on some  user experience.

Maybe, but I think before everyone has a total cow about this, someone else needs to verify my measurements and make sure my numbers are accurate.  As I said, those lower limits are not official, and are what I figured out through my own testing.  My basic math skills are known to be rather suspect at times. :P

The dead zone on the pots is a huge annoyance.  Again, everyone here needs to email Tascam customer support if they want to see any chance of this or other issues fixed.

If I had my way, I'd keep the 4 gain levels they went to in the newer firmwares, but lower them all by 10dB, making the max gain of the unit +53dB.  And this is coming from a classical recording person.  I say this for two reasons:
1. Once you get halfway through HIGH+, it's far too noisy to use for much of anything.  Jim Williams said on GS that that's when the input transistor noise dominates.
2. Anyone that truly needs +63dB of gain is probably doing so with a professional piece of equipment from Sound Devices, Zaxcom, Aeta, Nagra, Millenia, Benchmark, etc.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 24, 2016, 10:35:33 PM
I'm not sure if anyone has tried downgrading the firmware, but Tascam has all the old ones on the downloads page which tells me you should be able to try whatever you want.

That's what I'm thinking, too...I'll report back...

Thanks for taking one for the team. ;D  I have always assumed that for devices like this, upgrading the firmware is essentially wiping and replacing the entire operating system that runs the thing, rather than an incremental patch.

Let us know what you find out.

FWIW - You CAN revert firmwares!

I just went backward down the numberline...

Now running 1.02 - back to only 3 level choices.

Interestingly - you can keep all your firmware updates in the UTILITY folder - and load any you like.

So - you can still access the more recent formatting tools included in the newer frimwares.

I guess you really can have the best of both worlds!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 25, 2016, 06:23:57 AM
I'm not sure if anyone has tried downgrading the firmware, but Tascam has all the old ones on the downloads page which tells me you should be able to try whatever you want.

That's what I'm thinking, too...I'll report back...

Thanks for taking one for the team. ;D  I have always assumed that for devices like this, upgrading the firmware is essentially wiping and replacing the entire operating system that runs the thing, rather than an incremental patch.

Let us know what you find out.

FWIW - You CAN revert firmwares!

I just went backward down the numberline...

Now running 1.02 - back to only 3 level choices.

Interestingly - you can keep all your firmware updates in the UTILITY folder - and load any you like.

So - you can still access the more recent formatting tools included in the newer frimwares.

I guess you really can have the best of both worlds!

Really? I might have to try that! I thought you COULD revert, and I guess you just confirmed it ;D Have you tried recording with the older v1.02 firmware though? I still worry about getting the "Write Timeout" error if using an older firmware than v1.13[even though I NEVER had a problem with older firmware v1.02>v1.13 using my old PNY Elite SD cards], so maybe I'll test it out :) Thanks a bunch for the info! I have every FW version saved on my PC and UL'd to my MediaFire acct, so I'm going to try going back to v1.02 on one of my 70d's and see if I have any problems recording to my newer SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card for my newest 70d :)

And I agree, the channel just turning OFF at fully counter clockwise is just ridiculous and silly IMO! Who da F**K thinks of this crap at Tascam designing/R&D? Just LMK where to send an email and I'll fire a couple off to Tascam as well ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 25, 2016, 06:39:28 AM
FWIW - You CAN revert firmwares!

I just went backward down the numberline...

Now running 1.02 - back to only 3 level choices.

Interestingly - you can keep all your firmware updates in the UTILITY folder - and load any you like.

So - you can still access the more recent formatting tools included in the newer frimwares.

I guess you really can have the best of both worlds!


That's pretty cool.  Thanks for looking into that.

The only thing that people should be careful about is using versions 1.10, 1.11, and 1.12, especially using the Erase Format.  From the 1.13 release notes:
Quote
V1.13  fix
When using the erase format function, writing speed would slow and and Write Timeout error would occur sometimes.  This has been fixed.

I'd say for anyone out there wanting to switch firmware back and forth, that you avoid versions 1.10, 1.11, and 1.12, as the Erase Format routine in those versions may be suspect.  Those same 3 versions also have the updated 4 gain levels, so for people who need the old lower level, you would need to roll back to 1.02 anyway (which doesn't even have Erase Format).


I'm considering adding the following to the FAQ:

Under Current Firmware:
- Firmware versions may be swapped back and forth at will, though 1.10, 1.11, and 1.12 should be avoided due to potential problems with the Erase Format function.

Under Gain Pot Ranges:
5. Users who record loud concerts may consider reverting to firmware v1.02, as later updates have far less adjustment range below 0dB.  (See Known Issues below.)

Under Known Issues:
10. The HIGH+ gain range is very noisy through its upper half, and should be avoided for music recording.
11. The LOW gain range from firmware v1.10 on no longer has much adjustment below 0dB.  This may be problematic for recording continuously loud sources.

Under Firmware Update Requests:
10. Retain the four gain ranges (LOW, MID, HIGH, HIGH+) but lower their entire ranges by about 10dB.  This will make HIGH+ useful once again for quiet music or ambient recording, and LOW more useful for louder sources.
11. As an alternate solution to the above, add an adjustable input pad function.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 25, 2016, 07:27:36 AM
I think myself and moke had one of the few decks with 1.00 firmware...I guess there's no going back to that!

For sure - I never saw the write timeout error.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on May 25, 2016, 08:40:51 AM
Thanks for the info fellas! So where do I send an email about changing the INPUT OFF problem with the gain knobs going counter-clockwise ???
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on May 25, 2016, 08:57:27 AM
Good to know you can revert to earlier firmware. 

For the FAQ, if users should avoid particular versions of the firmware, I would mention the reason.  Eg, although it is possible to revert to earlier versions of the firmware, versions .....are not recommended due to user reports of write timeout errors after using the erase function in those versions.  Instead it is recommended that users stick with versions 1.01, 1.02 or version 1.12 or higher.  Just modify to reference the correct versions.

The 70d I have at the moment has the very first version on it.  Not sure if I should go up a version or not.  I've lost track of which versions did anything besides increase the gain anyway which I don't care about.

Maybe there should be a brief description of what is desirable in a particular firmware in the FAQ? 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: aaronji on May 25, 2016, 09:53:52 AM
Marantz PMD620 (0 dB, -12 dB, -24 dB) and PMD661 (0 dB, -6 dB, -12 dB, -18 dB) are two.  There are probably others.  I doubt it matters a whole lot if you have a less sensitive input (= low) and add gain to get medium/high or if you have a more sensitive input (= high) and attenuate for medium/low.  For loud music, especially with sensitive mics, that low setting is essential...

Wow, I didn't know the Marantz recorders went that low.  Are those pad level settings?

They are set via menu, if that helps.  As with most of these things, it is not entirely clear what goes on under the hood, although Doug told me once that the Marantz recorders do actually attenuate...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 25, 2016, 10:20:24 PM
I don't know if this has been suggested already, but I thought of a potential workaround for those that need lower levels than the newer firmware can give you: use the DUAL REC function, with the second stereo track 12, 18, or whatever dB lower you choose.  I do this all the time when I don't get a real level check and only have the one pair of mics going.  I activate DUAL REC and set it to -12dB, and there's my safety tracks. 

I'll be doing this tomorrow when I'm recording our 270 voice high school choir which can really crank, and they sometimes use a full orchestra or just a percussion section for parts of the concert.  Since I never have a chance to go to their dress rehearsals to set levels ahead of time, and their dynamic range is huge, I'm going to go LOW gain about halfway up with the DUAL REC at -12dB.  The safety track is pretty much mandatory for this concert.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on May 26, 2016, 06:25:33 AM
I was thinking about the odd position of the internal mics on this deck.

Its like a close spaced A-B.

So - you could mount the recorder close to a wall - and use the Boundry/PZM principle.

The mics are recessed nicely when the front of the deck is pressed against a flat surface - not sure what the tolerances are for that gap.

Obviously - not a practical setup...and would likely be very mono. Plus you have to operate the deck.

But - you never know...there might be some scenario where it's ideal..!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on May 26, 2016, 09:11:54 AM
Build a foam PZM-like baffle for it. Have a boundary layer surface built parallel to the mic surface; and also a dividing baffle that extends forward between the mics to baffle them from each other.  I know that Gutbucket built a dividing baffle for the R09 deck, and that it at least gave l/r isolation between the mics.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on May 31, 2016, 10:12:17 PM
I don't know if this has been suggested already, but I thought of a potential workaround for those that need lower levels than the newer firmware can give you: use the DUAL REC function, with the second stereo track 12, 18, or whatever dB lower you choose.  I do this all the time when I don't get a real level check and only have the one pair of mics going.  I activate DUAL REC and set it to -12dB, and there's my safety tracks. 

I'll be doing this tomorrow when I'm recording our 270 voice high school choir which can really crank, and they sometimes use a full orchestra or just a percussion section for parts of the concert.  Since I never have a chance to go to their dress rehearsals to set levels ahead of time, and their dynamic range is huge, I'm going to go LOW gain about halfway up with the DUAL REC at -12dB.  The safety track is pretty much mandatory for this concert.

The first 4 samples of this post are the large choir.  It turned out that I didn't need the -12dB safety tracks as I was able to get a thorough sound check beforehand, but it was reassuring having them.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=176324.msg2189688#msg2189688 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=176324.msg2189688#msg2189688)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: KOG on June 05, 2016, 10:57:23 PM
DR-70d Line (+4) Inputs?  Do the line inputs bypass the pre-amps?  Does the 701 offer any advantage for using line inputs?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 06, 2016, 02:42:37 PM
On another thread, I have asked for a comparison between the DR60D and the DR70D, in problems and audio quality.

Couldn't find any that has tried both, but one person person commented on some (not specified)  problems some users have had with the DR70.

It's a lot of threads to read, now on the 7th group. Can anyone tell on what have been the most usually reported problems and if they were cured?

The DR60 had a hum issue when using it with Canon cameras, which I don't know if the DR70 has.

From what I have read above, HIGH+ gain shouldn't be used because of noise. But what mics would use at such gain? Dymamic mics?

My application would be DSLR & video double system recording.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: H₂O on June 06, 2016, 02:50:21 PM
Issues with SD cards isn't an issue anymore as long as you use latest firmware (fixed some writting performance issue) and a card off the approved media list.

Alot of people where using slower cards or old cards, but regardless after enough complaints Tascam did fix something and come out with a list of cards they support (pretty standard in the photo industry)

The pre-amps are better then the 60d - no idea about the Canon issue - you may need to ask out on a DSLR Videography site as well.


Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 06, 2016, 06:18:38 PM
DR-70d Line (+4) Inputs?

Yes.  See the Specifications (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/specifications/), under "set to LINE".

Quote
Do the line inputs bypass the pre-amps? 

I don't think so, as mic/line is a software control in this unit allowing one to use either 1/4" or XLR connection for line input on the combo jacks.  It's not a hardware bypass.  But the preamps would likely have much less influence on the sound when set to line because of the lower level.  They'd have to be really bad to mess up a line source (and they're actually excellent, so fear not).

Quote
Does the 701 offer any advantage for using line inputs?

Doubtful.  The 701-D has higher-grade opamps but any difference is probably only heard if you're using them at MIC level.  There's an upgraded ADC as well that allows you up to 24/192 resolution, but the 70D conversion sounds just fine, and anyone who really needs 192kHz resolution (or thinks they do) is probably looking at something entirely more pro-grade than either of these recorders.  Unless you need the camera triggering and timecode input, the 701D is probably not worth the price difference over the 70D for what we're doing here.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 10, 2016, 05:38:27 PM
A friend of mine is in NY and he bought a DR70 for me at B&H.

Problem is the recommended Sandisk 64Gb was out of stock, so the salesman recommended this Lexar:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1090739-REG/lexar_lsd64gcrbna1000_pro_1000x_uhs_2.html

Will it work fine on the Tascam?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 10, 2016, 07:36:36 PM
A friend of mine is in NY and he bought a DR70 for me at B&H.

Problem is the recommended Sandisk 64Gb was out of stock, so the salesman recommended this Lexar:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1090739-REG/lexar_lsd64gcrbna1000_pro_1000x_uhs_2.html

Will it work fine on the Tascam?

If buying a card new for the 70D, it is strongly recommended that you use a card on Tascam's list (http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_tested_media_list_20151006.pdf).  The card problems may have been fixed with the newer firmware, but it's silly to buy something that you aren't 100% sure is going to work.  Many of us here use other cards with the 70D, but that's typically because we owned them already and were fortunate that they worked without issue.  You may be rolling the dice on this one, unless someone else has used this exact card and can confirm it's good with this recorder.  I'd stay away and buy one of the SanDisk or Panasonic cards on the list.

Whatever you do, make sure you're purchasing from a major dealer (B&H, BestBuy, etc.).  Many, many fakes are out there, especially eBay but sometimes from sellers on Amazon as well.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 10, 2016, 09:06:12 PM
There's mostly Sankisk on that list. I found this other list, which seems to have more options. Who knows when was the last time Tascam renewed that list

http://www.mymemory.com/compatible-memory/Multitrack_Recorders/Tascam/Tascam+DR+70D_Memory_Cards

And I did buy the Lexars from B&H, they recommended it themselves.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 10, 2016, 10:14:05 PM
There's mostly Sankisk on that list. I found this other list, which seems to have more options. Who knows when was the last time Tascam renewed that list

http://www.mymemory.com/compatible-memory/Multitrack_Recorders/Tascam/Tascam+DR+70D_Memory_Cards

And I did buy the Lexars from B&H, they recommended it themselves.

We know then they last revised the list: 2015-10-06.  http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/ (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/)

And we know that they (more precisely TEAC Japan) tested these cards themselves with this recorder. 

In contrast, the list from the memory dealer you linked means absolutely nothing.  It is simply a list of currently available SDHC cards which they sell.  "Compatible with" means it's the correct card type and capacity; that's all.  They haven't tested any of those cards with the 70D.

B&H may very well be recommending a card that works fine.  I hope it works out for you.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 11, 2016, 05:34:35 AM
There's mostly Sankisk on that list. I found this other list, which seems to have more options. Who knows when was the last time Tascam renewed that list

http://www.mymemory.com/compatible-memory/Multitrack_Recorders/Tascam/Tascam+DR+70D_Memory_Cards

And I did buy the Lexars from B&H, they recommended it themselves.

We know then they last revised the list: 2015-10-06.  http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/ (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/)

And we know that they (more precisely TEAC Japan) tested these cards themselves with this recorder. 

In contrast, the list from the memory dealer you linked means absolutely nothing.  It is simply a list of currently available SDHC cards which they sell.  "Compatible with" means it's the correct card type and capacity; that's all.  They haven't tested any of those cards with the 70D.

B&H may very well be recommending a card that works fine.  I hope it works out for you.

Also, those prices are high too! They have a 32gb SanDisk Extreme Pro[on Tascams Approved 70d list] listed for almost $37! You can get a 64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card CHEAPER than that directly from SanDisk on Amazon ;) Here's a link to the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Cards[the link below is for the 64gb version, which I have successfully ran on my 70d's for MANY hours and highly recommend]!

64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NDL54C/ref=twister_B009RVUYAY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

And just for reference, the 32gb card that is only $23, compared to the $37 listed on your link ;)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NDL56A/ref=twister_B009RVUYAY?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I would def stick with the SanDisk Extreme/Extreme Pro[the model #SDSDXPA-016/32/64/128G SD cards on Amazon/etc] or something on Tascam's "Approved" card list that I posted again for you below, and buy directly from SanDisk on Amazon to avoid getting fake cards! As always, YMMV :) Anyway, here's the link for the Tascam 70D Approved card list again, that Voltronic posted above!
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_tested_media_list_20151006.pdf

I have PNY Elite SD Cards[32gb + 64gb] that I also got on Amazon, but early in 2015, directly from PNY, and have had flawless success with those as well, plus they're a little cheaper than the SanDisk Extreme Pro's. But since the 70d is such a steal price-wise, I figured that I would get the more expensive SanDisk Extreme Pro 64gb SD card[since its the best/fastest sd card on Tascams "approved" list for the 70d, which Voltronic has posted above] after needing a 2nd 64gb SD card for my new to me 2nd 70d, after buying a FAKE PNY Elite SD card from eBay a few months ago when I got my 2nd 70d! But I feel that if I went with another PNY Elite from Amazon again instead of using eBay, that my 70d's would probably work great with it. However, I didn't want to deal with yet another card that didn't work with my 70d's since the fake PNY Elite from ebay didn't work at all[kept getting "Write Timeout" errors], so I went with the SanDisk Extreme Pro because it was 100% verified to work with the 70d, since it was on Tascams Approved card list. So the extra $$ for the SanDisk Extreme Pro over the PNY Elite was well worth it to me! And the SanDisk Extreme Pro works great with BOTH of my 70d's[I tested it in both for MANY hours lol], so now I don't have to stress out while I'm recording and worry about running a non-approved SD card in my newest 70d and worrying if it would have a "Write Timeout" error or not. So the extra $$ was sooooo worth it to me ;D That said, the SanDisk Extreme Pro has been great and worked flawlessly so far, so I would buy another one of those in a SECOND over the cheaper PNY Elite ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: josh.d.h on June 11, 2016, 12:26:29 PM
I picked up a 10,000 mAh Anker (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013HSQXZC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1) battery and it ran for over 24 hours of recording. These were split into 5 hour recording sessions because that filled up my card, and it wasn't powering any phantom mics, but I was still very surprised at how well it did. The battery fits fairly well under the recorder, and since my plan is to sometimes use this under a camera on a tripod, it's about the perfect size.  Just my two cents!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 12, 2016, 05:02:17 PM
+T Nice work :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Sonus Captor on June 14, 2016, 10:46:06 AM
On the European Tascam website you can download firmware v1.14: http://www.tascam.eu/en/downloads/current/DR-70D
for the DR-70 whereas on tascam.com the latest firmware is v1.13.: http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/
That's odd.
I installed v1.14. No problems so far.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on June 14, 2016, 12:50:43 PM
Sonus,

Where are you located, if I might ask?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 15, 2016, 06:14:48 AM
On the European Tascam website you can download firmware v1.14: http://www.tascam.eu/en/downloads/current/DR-70D
for the DR-70 whereas on tascam.com the latest firmware is v1.13.: http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/
That's odd.
I installed v1.14. No problems so far.

Thanks for the update.  I'm going to wait to update the FAQ until the USA page has 1.14 as well.  Not sure why they would only have this on the EU site right now, but the two sites have never been all that consistent before.

Here's the list of changes from the release notes:
Quote
V1.14 fixes

When a file was deleted from the BROWSE screen, INVALID NAME or another message would
   sometimes appear. This has been fixed.
When the HOLD switch had been used to engage the hold function, if the power source was
   switched from USB bus power to the batteries in the unit, the remaining battery charge
   indicator would not update. This has been fixed.
Sometimes when the record button was pressed, the REC indicator would light but recording
   would not start. This has been fixed.
The start up time after the power is turned on has been shortened.
Operation stability has been improved.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on June 15, 2016, 08:35:33 AM
Another vote for only using recommended cards with this recorder.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScoobieKW on June 15, 2016, 11:18:19 AM
On the European Tascam website you can download firmware v1.14: http://www.tascam.eu/en/downloads/current/DR-70D
for the DR-70 whereas on tascam.com the latest firmware is v1.13.: http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/
That's odd.
I installed v1.14. No problems so far.

From the release notes.
V1.14 fixes


I had noticed the record button issue but thought it was operator error. I will be upgrading today.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: morst on June 17, 2016, 02:45:59 AM
Another vote for using ONLY cards from the approved list! That Panasonic 32 is cool. I got one and it's just dandy.

Also, I just wanna say "out loud" as a last-time Tascam customer: HOW THE HELL DO YOU MESS THIS UP?
 :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:
Quote
    Sometimes when the record button was pressed, the REC indicator would light but recording would not start. This has been fixed.

 :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

Quote
    The start up time after the power is turned on has been shortened.
    Operation stability has been improved.

Well, at least my unsaleable deck is becoming marginally more useful as they work out the bugs in this "paid beta" stage. Grrr. :o :( >:D :o
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ButchAlmberg on June 17, 2016, 07:18:41 PM
I know this likely belongs in the post processing forum but I'm hoping I'll get a faster response here. I recorded 3 channel earlier today (first time) with the DR-70D and ended up with two separate files, TASCAM_0186S12.wav and TASCAM_0186S34.wav.

1.  What setting did I have incorrect?
2.  Can I combine the third track with tracks 1 and 2 using SoundForge Pro (mac)?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on June 17, 2016, 07:49:48 PM
I know this likely belongs in the post processing forum but I'm hoping I'll get a faster response here. I recorded 3 channel earlier today (first time) with the DR-70D and ended up with two separate files, TASCAM_0186S12.wav and TASCAM_0186S34.wav.

1.  What setting did I have incorrect?
2.  Can I combine the third track with tracks 1 and 2 using SoundForge Pro (mac)?

Sounds like you wanted to record 3 mono files - instead you have 2 stereo tracks - with one silent channel.

So in the menu. change settings to - RECORD > FILE TYPE > MONO.

Then - with the unused channel BASIC > RECORD > OFF

That will yield 3 mono files. Pan and mix in post.

You can still use the third channel - probably just copy and paste the signal to the blank channel.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 17, 2016, 08:35:48 PM
You can still use the third channel - probably just copy and paste the signal to the blank channel.

The other way is to get rid of the half of the file you don't need.  I'm not sure about SoundForge, but in many programs there's also a function to split a stereo track into two center-panned mono tracks. 

This is very simple in Audacity:

1. Open your unintentional-stereo file in Audacity.
2. On the track name, click the down arrow and select Split Stereo to Mono.
3. Click the X to remove the track with silence.
4. File > Export.

If your Channel 1/2 track was also supposed to be two center-panned mono tracks, you do the first 2 steps the same but then:

3. Click one of the tracks in the header area (under the level and pan controls) to highlight that entire track.
4. File > Export Selection.
5. Repeat 3 and 4 for second track.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Sonus Captor on June 18, 2016, 02:13:27 PM
Hi m0k3. You may ask. I'm located in Germany.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 19, 2016, 02:35:49 AM
Man, I don't know WTF to do? I am leaving for Phish/St. Paul early Tuesday morning, but am DYING to update the FW to v1.14 :P ;D I should probably just wait and use the v1.13 for Phish, but I have [2] 70d's, so I'm going to put it on ONE of my 70d's and see if I have time to test it out 8)

Thanks for the update! I check the 70d website ALL THE TIME[daily], and have been waiting for a new FW lol :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 19, 2016, 10:07:30 AM
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=178109.0
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 21, 2016, 11:43:25 AM
OK folks, I just ran one of my 70d's on the v1.14 FW for around 4 hours flawlessly! I ran mk41>PFA>70d MIC IN/Phantom on Channels 3/4, BWAVs@24/96! No clue why the FW v1.14 is not on the Tascam US website yet ??? I left the v1.13 FW on my main 70d until I can get back from Phish/St. Paul Thursday or Friday to test the v1.14 FW out more extensively before I run it "live" ;)

But like I said, so far so good with the v1.14 FW during the 4 hours or so I tested it out earlier!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: johnmuge on June 21, 2016, 12:09:57 PM
That's great to hear Bean !!  Have fun at the shows, pull the heat !!!!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: audBall on June 21, 2016, 06:12:41 PM
Firmware version 1.14 was posted to the US site today.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on June 21, 2016, 08:56:03 PM
Hi m0k3. You may ask. I'm located in Germany.

thank you!
It seems that we have the update here stateside now.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 21, 2016, 11:36:35 PM
Firmware version 1.14 was posted to the US site today.

...Three full weeks after it was posted to the EU site.  And they still don't have any release notes for it on the US site!  Come on, Tascam...

I'll update the link on the FAQ page.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on June 22, 2016, 10:27:07 AM
Going back to cardgate, it is as if tascam EU and US operate as two different ventures or maybe they test the waters in one area before going full speed ahead everywhere?  Sometimes they are a puzzle. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 22, 2016, 10:29:36 AM
I think it's probably a case of one division not communicating with the other, large corporate disorganization.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Ronmac on June 22, 2016, 04:48:58 PM
Going back to cardgate, it is as if tascam EU and US operate as two different ventures or maybe they test the waters in one area before going full speed ahead everywhere?  Sometimes they are a puzzle.

Quite normal for most multi-national electronics companies.

They are often structured as distinct companies, acting as independent sales outlet for the mother Corp. They all get their products from the same source, but decide what products they want to carry, what warranty terms they offer, sales and service policies, etc. Their service operations are a function of, and report to, the sales departments.

I have no direct knowledge of Tascam's corporate hierarchy, but would be very surprised if it isn't structured this way. I have worked for Japanese electronic giants most of my career, and each was organized in that way to best match local distribution channels, regulatory compliance and taxation rules
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 24, 2016, 12:03:14 PM
Just wanted to let yinz know that I successfully ran FW v1.14 at Phish/St. Paul the other night :) I just put it on my 2nd 70d just 5 minutes ago, since it worked great the 4 hours straight I let it record at Phish :) I just started about 10 mins before PH came out and let it record straight until they were done for the night! At the beginning of each set and the encore, I just pressed the >> button to start a new track seamlessly! That method of starting to record before the band even comes out sure beats trying to hurry up and turn your deck on and then have to hit record when they come out 8) Instead, I'm already recording when the band comes out, and I just have to tweak levels for a second and I'm good to go the rest of the night since I have TONS of battery power!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Ronmac on June 24, 2016, 12:57:23 PM
Thanks for the update.

I downloaded and updated one of my decks yesterday and had no problem doing a short shoot outside. I love the faster startup time, and agree with you about "just let it roll", considering the card capacity and power available via external cells.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 24, 2016, 01:13:34 PM
Yeah it does start really fast now. Couple seconds faster than before it seems anyway! After PH tour is over, I'll run some more extensive tests with the v1.14 FW, but Ive tried it a few different times already, and it has worked great so far!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on June 24, 2016, 04:54:39 PM
But still no ability to gang two channels?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 24, 2016, 05:05:17 PM
But still no ability to gang two channels?

Nope just the 701D has the ability to gang channels as of right now! No biggie for me, but it sounds like a relatively easy fix via new FW!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 24, 2016, 05:21:55 PM
But still no ability to gang two channels?

Nope just the 701D has the ability to gang channels as of right now! No biggie for me, but it sounds like a relatively easy fix via new FW!

We've been saying that for quite a while now...

I haven't installed 1.14 yet but I'm guessing they haven't fixed the dead zone at the bottom of the gain pots.   I say again, we all need to email them to complain about these issues in order for them to consider fixing them.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 25, 2016, 07:03:15 AM
Anyone is using an external AC supply that is not the original Tascam one?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on June 25, 2016, 10:53:10 AM
Anyone is using an external AC supply that is not the original Tascam one?

I doubt it...it doesn't come with a power supply - and most USB batteries power the unit for longer than most of us can stay awake.

I've never heard any reference to anyone running with AC...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 25, 2016, 01:36:26 PM
Anyone is using an external AC supply that is not the original Tascam one?

I doubt it...it doesn't come with a power supply - and most USB batteries power the unit for longer than most of us can stay awake.

I've never heard any reference to anyone running with AC...

It will run from any 5V / 1A supply, so that would be pretty much any USB phone charger or a USB port on a computer (as well as the thousands of external cell phone batteries many of us use).  I sometimes power it from an old cell phone charger when doing card formatting or when I was testing large SD cards and running them for many hours.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 26, 2016, 12:08:25 PM
It's quite likely any external battery designed for cell phones is compatible with the Tascam, and should last more according to capacity.

Now what about internal rechargeable AAs?

Any brand or type in particular?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScoobieKW on June 26, 2016, 12:39:43 PM
It's quite likely any external battery designed for cell phones is compatible with the Tascam, and should last more according to capacity.

Now what about internal rechargeable AAs?

Any brand or type in particular?

I treat the internal batteries as more of a UPS. They don't have enough capacity to get me through a show with two channels of Phantom. The unit does however switch over to internal batteries if the external supply stops providing power. It also puts up a notice on the screen that you have switched to internals. At this point I can switch in a spare USB battery and continue.

I do find that I use wall power quite a bit when recording 4 track. Since the units power spec is the same as USB 2.0's power spec, 5V 1A, any USB charger with microUSB cable works well. Standards for the win.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 26, 2016, 01:11:15 PM
Thanks, that's what I also guessed about using an external USB charger as PS.

There are some better ones to pick from, also low in price.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: leehookem on June 26, 2016, 06:05:38 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331541674213?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=540700709758&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

A few of us have purchased this external.  Works great and blends in seamlessly with the recorder.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 27, 2016, 08:33:16 AM
I have already asked, but they do not seem to ship to Brazil, where I live. But his one does:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrathin-USB-12000-20000mAh-Portable-External-Battery-Charger-Phone-Power-Bank/361539787005?_trksid=p5411.c100167.m2940&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140131123730%26meid%3D88a791baa4134ecdab124a69dc2cd846%26pid%3D100167%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D13%26sd%3D331541674213

It seems to be similar, and it comes in 50Ah capacity, which is quite a lot.

From the batteries I have here, the Tscam only seems to work with an Anker Astro Pro, but it is a bit large.

It's a pity most recommended brands sold in the USA additionally charge two times the battery value for shipping.

So I have to find batteries coming from Asia, and they are not all reliable.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 27, 2016, 08:38:12 AM
For the AAs, I've already ordered some Sanyo Eneloop AA types, that are quite reliable.

That should protect me from any glitches in the external supply, I guess.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on June 27, 2016, 08:51:09 AM
Got this offer from Banggood today:

http://www.banggood.com/BlitzWolf-BW-P3-10000mAh-18W-QC3_0-Quick-Charge-Dual-USB-Port-Power-Bank-p-1062286.html?utm_design=18&utm_source=emarsys&utm_medium=mail_men187_email&utm_campaign=newsletter-emarsys&utm_content=Jaeka&sc_src=email_1892780&sc_eh=2c704d78febde2e11&sc_llid=271906&sc_lid=83040264&sc_uid=M1IAbnOgDQ&emst=M1IAbnOgDQ_271906_1892780_50

Blitzwolf seems to be a reliable brand.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 28, 2016, 03:25:02 AM
For the AAs, I've already ordered some Sanyo Eneloop AA types, that are quite reliable.

That should protect me from any glitches in the external supply, I guess.



Good idea ;) I keep some Energizer 2300mah NIMH AAs in my [2] 70d's at all times, so that the time/date are always accurate! It slows me down when I have to figure out the correct date/time when starting the 70D up and needing to record quickly! And then I just recharge them before showtime, so that they're full, and if anything happens to my USB batteries, I am covered! Running AAs in the 70D also allows you to "hotswap" USB batteries too! That way, you will literally NEVER run out of power! Just keep exchanging USB batteries in the 70D and you can run continuously forever, as long as you have AAs in the 70D ;D Pretty damn cool IMO!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 28, 2016, 12:40:44 PM
Since it's being discussed again, here's some pics of the popular eBay Power Bank battery (http://www.ebay.com/itm/20000mAh-UltraThin-Dual-USB-Portable-Power-Bank-External-Battery-Backup-Charger-/331541674213) mounted under my 70D with blu-tack.  The battery cable is a cheapo off eBay also, just like this one (http://www.ebay.com/itm/141137879899).  You want to look for a "left angle" on the miniUSB end for the cable to go this way.  XLR cables are custom "blacked out" GAKables.

I've mentioned this before in some other thread - the battery is not really 20,000 mAh.  From the item description:
Quote
    High capacity: 20000mAh.

    Note:nominal capacity: 20000mAh, battery, actual capacity: 12000-18000mAh

Not that it really matters in practice, though.  Mine runs for at least 10 hours powering 4 mics, and after that it still shows 50% capacity (if the indicators are to be trusted, which they're not).

As for rechargeable AAs, I use the Duracell Ion Core in my FP24.  They are re-branded Eneloop XX's (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?382339-Duracell-Ion-Core-AA-amp-AAA) but sell for much less where I am.  My local grocery store stocks them.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 28, 2016, 09:30:32 PM
I have looked EVERYWHERE online and in both 70D manuals, and cant find out how much voltage the 70D's PIP[Plug In Power] supplies to the mics through the EXT POWER 1/2 1/8" Mini jack? Is it the proper 9v PIP that most mics require ??? Or is it a smaller voltage than 9v ???

TIA,
Bean
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on June 28, 2016, 10:01:29 PM
I have looked EVERYWHERE online and in both 70D manuals, and cant find out how much voltage the 70D's PIP[Plug In Power] supplies to the mics through the EXT POWER 1/2 1/8" Mini jack? Is it the proper 9v PIP that most mics require ??? Or is it a smaller voltage than 9v ???

TIA,
Bean

I can't find it in the manual either, but I'm pretty sure PIP inputs on any portable recorders like the 70D is much lower than 9V.  Just because the mics we might be using with these inputs might require ~9V for best performance doesn't mean that's what we're getting, unless we use a battery box.

Here's a quote from the article Powering Microphones (http://microphone-data.com/media/filestore/articles/Powering%20mics-10.pdf) on microphone-data.com (PDF warning):
Quote
Plug-in Power
For microphones that are designed primarily for the domestic market and have an unbalanced output connection the system known as “plug-in power” provides a comparable supply configuration – perhaps 10-20mW at <5V.  In this case the feed is from the device that the microphone connects to – usually a recorder of some form, though computers and mobile phones use a similar arrangement. The problems of battery switching and condition no longer apply but the restrictions on output and cable driving are unchanged.

Someone measured the M10 PIP supply voltage at one point and I seem to remember it being around 3V.  I wouldn't expect the 70D to be much different.  Anyone here have the means to measure this?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on June 28, 2016, 11:09:43 PM
I have looked EVERYWHERE online and in both 70D manuals, and cant find out how much voltage the 70D's PIP[Plug In Power] supplies to the mics through the EXT POWER 1/2 1/8" Mini jack? Is it the proper 9v PIP that most mics require ??? Or is it a smaller voltage than 9v ???

TIA,
Bean

I can't find it in the manual either, but I'm pretty sure PIP inputs on any portable recorders like the 70D is much lower than 9V.  Just because the mics we might be using with these inputs might require ~9V for best performance doesn't mean that's what we're getting, unless we use a battery box.

Here's a quote from the article Powering Microphones (http://microphone-data.com/media/filestore/articles/Powering%20mics-10.pdf) on microphone-data.com (PDF warning):
Quote
Plug-in Power
For microphones that are designed primarily for the domestic market and have an unbalanced output connection the system known as “plug-in power” provides a comparable supply configuration – perhaps 10-20mW at <5V.  In this case the feed is from the device that the microphone connects to – usually a recorder of some form, though computers and mobile phones use a similar arrangement. The problems of battery switching and condition no longer apply but the restrictions on output and cable driving are unchanged.

Someone measured the M10 PIP supply voltage at one point and I seem to remember it being around 3V.  I wouldn't expect the 70D to be much different.  Anyone here have the means to measure this?

Thanks Volt, thats about what I figured! And yea, I too remember the M10 being around 3V PIP when someone measured it awhile back! But since the 70d is a bigger deck, and capable of supplying Phantom on the 4 XLR INS, I wasn't sure if they actually went out of their way on the PIP voltage too and amped it up to somewhere around 9 volts where it should be?!?!

Id love it if someone could test the 70D's PIP voltage one day when you get a chance! I'll test it if someone tells me how and I have what I need on hand 8)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: readymedia on July 03, 2016, 04:58:12 PM
Hello there!

Just logged in in this magic forum.

May someone did some MS recordings with the DR70D? I just played with Rode NT2-A @Fig8 (side) and Beyerdynamic MCE 86 II (mid) on my DR70D (Firmware 1.14)... The problem is: I can see (meters) but can 't hear the side signal in any monitor settings ("Moni" or "Rec") during recording or playback and the "Wide" parameter seems not to work properly (may because of lack of the side signal). If I play back the signal on my DAW (M->C; -Side->L; +Side->R) there no real stereo information in it. Any ideas?

Cheers, Andreas
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 03, 2016, 07:46:38 PM
Hello there!

Just logged in in this magic forum.

May someone did some MS recordings with the DR70D? I just played with Rode NT2-A @Fig8 (side) and Beyerdynamic MCE 86 II (mid) on my DR70D (Firmware 1.14)... The problem is: I can see (meters) but can 't hear the side signal in any monitor settings ("Moni" or "Rec") during recording or playback and the "Wide" parameter seems not to work properly (may because of lack of the side signal). If I play back the signal on my DAW (M->C; -Side->L; +Side->R) there no real stereo information in it. Any ideas?

Cheers, Andreas

Are you recording the RAW M/S files onto the 70D? Or do you have the M/S Decoding ON? Maybe you have the wrong two stereo channels decoding by accident 1/2 instead of 3/4 or vice versa? Ive never run M/S on the 70d, so I have no clue honestly :(
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 03, 2016, 08:12:42 PM
Hello there!

Just logged in in this magic forum.

May someone did some MS recordings with the DR70D? I just played with Rode NT2-A @Fig8 (side) and Beyerdynamic MCE 86 II (mid) on my DR70D (Firmware 1.14)... The problem is: I can see (meters) but can 't hear the side signal in any monitor settings ("Moni" or "Rec") during recording or playback and the "Wide" parameter seems not to work properly (may because of lack of the side signal). If I play back the signal on my DAW (M->C; -Side->L; +Side->R) there no real stereo information in it. Any ideas?

Cheers, Andreas

Hmm, it looks like they have changed this function in the new firmware.  I'm looking at pg. 27 of the manual where it describes mid-side and it doesn't say anything about a "wide" option.  It's nice they added this, although I prefer to record my M/S tracks raw and matrix them later.

Several things could have gone wrong:

Were the mics plugged into channels 1 and 2 or 3 and 4?  Did you mid-side settings reflect this?
Was the MID mic (Beyer) Ch 1 and SIDE mic (Rode) Ch 2?  If you're using the M/S matrix, it will not record properly the other way according to the manual.
Were you set to record your two channels a stereo track or as two separate mono tracks?
Was your NT2-A facing left or right?*
Did you hear signal at the time of recording through both channels, listening through headphones?
Are you sure something recorded onto both tracks?

One thing I notice is that you made a manual M/S matrix in your DAW where you've duplicated the mid track and flipped the polarity.  You only do that if you have NOT matrixed the M/S tracks at the time of recording (using the MONI option).  If you chose "REC" in the Mid/Side settings in the 70D, that means you have recorded the tracks decoded to normal L/R stereo, and you should NOT make a manual M/S matrix, but should just be treating it as a normal stereo recording.

*Your matrix is also backwards than the normal way - usually the mid side faces left and you keep that track in positive polarity, and then you duplicate that track and flip the polarity to make the R side track.  I'm not sure if that would have an effect or not, but if the onboard M/S in the 70D is expecting the mid mic to be in positive polarity facing left and you had it the other way, it's possible that could cause problems.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: c_m_f on July 03, 2016, 10:20:00 PM
I have a Tascam DR 44WL currently which isn't functioning properly and I have to replace ASAP and I don't want another 44WL....

I'm pulling my hair atm trying to decide between the 60mkii and 70D. The difference in price isn;t very significant and it seems like the 60 is more user friendly/functional but lacks the slim design of the 70D and the additional 2 XLR inputs, which I don't require currently but like the idea of having for the future. Arrgghh decision making anxiety  ???
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 03, 2016, 11:22:15 PM
I have a Tascam DR 44WL currently which isn't functioning properly and I have to replace ASAP and I don't want another 44WL....

I'm pulling my hair atm trying to decide between the 60mkii and 70D. The difference in price isn;t very significant and it seems like the 60 is more user friendly/functional but lacks the slim design of the 70D and the additional 2 XLR inputs, which I don't require currently but like the idea of having for the future. Arrgghh decision making anxiety  ???

I had the same dilemma.  Having 4 mic preamps onboard was one of the biggest things that made me go for the 70D.  While I would love to have the ganged gain controls of the 60D, I would still buy the 70D again because it's a much more flexible unit in terms of what you can do with it given those 4 combo inputs.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 05, 2016, 02:09:01 AM
I have a Tascam DR 44WL currently which isn't functioning properly and I have to replace ASAP and I don't want another 44WL....

I'm pulling my hair atm trying to decide between the 60mkii and 70D. The difference in price isn;t very significant and it seems like the 60 is more user friendly/functional but lacks the slim design of the 70D and the additional 2 XLR inputs, which I don't require currently but like the idea of having for the future. Arrgghh decision making anxiety  ???

I had the same dilemma.  Having 4 mic preamps onboard was one of the biggest things that made me go for the 70D.  While I would love to have the ganged gain controls of the 60D, I would still buy the 70D again because it's a much more flexible unit in terms of what you can do with it given those 4 combo inputs.

Agreed! I prefer a few functions of the 60dmkii more than the 70d, but that's about it! The 70d has 4 XLR INS and I think has better chips in it than even the mkii does? and the 70d sounds great IMO! Its really a no-brainer to me! Just pick up a new 70d and an "approved" card from Tascam's website, and you're good to go ;) The 70d problems of the past are just that, problems of the past lol ;) 8)

Here's a link to the Tascam Approved SD card list!
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_tested_media_list_20151006.pdf (http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_tested_media_list_20151006.pdf)

I highly recommend the "64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro" SD Card!
https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-SDSDXPA-064G-X46-Flash-Memory/dp/B007NDL54C?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0 (https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-SDSDXPA-064G-X46-Flash-Memory/dp/B007NDL54C?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0)

And here's the latest 70d Firmware v1.14 ;)
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_b70.zip (http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_b70.zip)

That said, my cousin wanted to get into recording his videos he and his brother do because obviously his camera's audio was horrible! So I suggested he run his $100 AT Stereo Shotgun mic>60Dmkii and then either into the camera's audio Input from the High/Low camera output, or just use a slate tone at the beg/end[head/tail] of the recordings, and just sync the AT stereo mic>60dmkii stuff in post, so I suggested he buy a 60dmkii because it has the 2 diff camera outputs[High/Low] depending on the sensitivity of the cameras audio input and he will NEVER need 4 XLR INS either, so for him getting his first recorder ever, and for $$ reasons, I had him get the 60dmkii over the 70D! It just depends on your wants and needs in the end!

But as a taper, there really isn't a reason NOT to get the 70d over the 60dmkii IMO, unless you absolutely need a certain feature of the 60dmkii that the 70d doesn't have ;) As always, YMMV! And if you are using a HQ camera that has HDMI INS or OUTS, you can get a Tascam 701D, that has a Timecode IN on BNC Connector, and HDMI INS/OUTS and have everything synced digitally and time coded!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 05, 2016, 02:14:11 AM
I still listen to some of my PFA>70d recordings in amazement, that a deck that only cost me $150 can sound THAT FN good lol 8) I remember paying around $800-$900 for my Sony D8 DAT deck in 1997, and it had HORRIBLE internal preamps, and was ONLY worth a damn as a digital deck! You HAD to run mics>preamp>ADC>Sony D8 or most DAT decks back then I guess, and it just blows my mind that a deck that only cost me $150 can sound better and more detailed than the pre>ADC>deck of the past combined haha ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: readymedia on July 11, 2016, 04:55:06 PM
Hello there!

Thanks for  the answers!

>>Were the mics plugged into channels 1 and 2 or 3 and 4? 
1- Mid, 2-Side;

>>Did you mid-side settings reflect this?
I set up 1&2 for MS in the Record menu.

>>Was the MID mic (Beyer) Ch 1 and SIDE mic (Rode) Ch 2? 
Yes, this way.

>>Were you set to record your two channels a stereo track or as two separate mono tracks?
Two separate tracks.

>>Was your NT2-A facing left or right?*
With the rode-dot to the left. Other side also to the right. Well, like this oIo (I ist the mid, oo is the Rode @Fig8), I tried to place both capsules nearly in the same place. Also not like this: http://www.uaudio.com/blog/mid-side-mic-recording/ I put the Rode (Fig8) under Sennheiser may in its middle...

>>Did you hear signal at the time of recording through both channels, listening through headphones?
I recorded it and pre-rehearsal it in different recordings: once just listen via "MONI" and then build the matrix in my DAW, and once hard coded  via "REC" to two mono tracks, and then paned it to the left resp. to the right.

>>Are you sure something recorded o nto both tracks?
Yes, The signals are visible in the DAW on all tracks, but well not really stereo. Just the side signal isn't audible while recording (I just can see the level meters moving...)

I'll try to make one more recording soon and upload the results, may then the problem can be solved.

Cheers, Andreas
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 11, 2016, 05:56:29 PM
It sounds like everything was set correctly.  If you're able, maybe you could post 2 sets of text tracks: one with M/S encoding by the 70D and the other simple mono tracks which would require matrixing in the DAW.

EDIT: I thought of one more obvious question I should have asked before:
Do other mics record to these same tracks on your 70D without any problems?  As in, a pair of omnis or cardioids?  And have you confirmed that there is nothing wrong with the NT2A?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 12, 2016, 06:10:31 PM
Here's my latest mk41>PFA>dr70d[internal preamps] recording 8)

Phish 2016-07-10 Syracuse, NY [Schoeps mk41>NBob KCY>Naiant PFAs>Tascam DR70D[24/96-LOW Gain]
16-Bit BT
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=587603&hit=1

24/96 BT
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=587605&hit=1

Id love to know what yinz think?!?! Thanks for the space, and Enjoy ;D

EDIT: I HAD to leave my Schoeps VMS02IB Preamp at home, due to my custom cables getting worked on! I'm not upset at ALL about just running the 70d preamps for Phish's usual excellent sounding system! >:D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 13, 2016, 03:02:54 AM
Question....will be running my 70 for the first time in the field at Phish this weekend.  Since I had nothing on the radar for some time I quit following the "dr70 is a piece of shit/card issues" threads months ago.  Checked here recently to see that they seem to be resolved which is fantastic but.....
1.  The card I bought that was on the approved list (Panasonic 32 gig) is no longer.
2.  Firmware has been updated 3 times. Currently have 1.11 installed. 
3.  I've made roughly 6 transfers using Tascam DA20 mkII>dr70 @16/44 with NO issues. 

Should I update to the new firmware and possibly risk some sort of problem because of the card not being approved and would there be a difference/ problem in the way the information is delivered to the recorder via mics>xlr cables as opposed to the mkII transfers I've done?
My sincere apologies if this is a mundane or idiotic question, I'm an older MD, D8, R09 taper used to nothing but 1/8th inch stereo inputs, not all this 4 channel, multiple option stuff you fancy kids are used to these days.  In my day a man had a set of microphones and a recorder and that's all and thats the way we liked it! ;p

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BbU4Cb4A4-o


Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScoobieKW on July 13, 2016, 08:58:11 AM

1.  The card I bought that was on the approved list (Panasonic 32 gig) is no longer.
2.  Firmware has been updated 3 times. Currently have 1.11 installed. 
3.  I've made roughly 6 transfers using Tascam DA20 mkII>dr70 @16/44 with NO issues. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BbU4Cb4A4-o

Upgrade. Upgrade. Upgrade.

The performance and reliability fixes go beyond the just fixing file system formatting.  As to the formatting issue, I noticed the write error problem was worse when I was writing 4 tracks of files as opposed to just recording two. Startup times, and occasional record presses with red light that didn't start the numbers are two other fixes worth upgrading for.

The 1.14 software is new to US release but has been released in Europe for at least a month longer.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 13, 2016, 09:35:08 AM
1.  The card I bought that was on the approved list (Panasonic 32 gig) is no longer.

Are you sure?  There's one 32GB Panasonic card on the list (http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/): RP-SDUC32GAK.  That list has been out since 10/6/2015, and the bottom section (where the Panasonic cards are) is the original list.  The newer version just added the top section.  So I'm pretty sure that 32GB Panasonic you see on the current list is the only one that has ever been there.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 13, 2016, 01:24:45 PM
Thank you guys for the feedback, just updated software to 1.14.  Not sure how but I missed that the Panasonic card I have is still on the approved list, thanks for pointing that out.
I'm only going to run 2 channels @ 24/48, nothing fancy.  I'll report back w/ the results.  Thanks again guys. :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 14, 2016, 01:03:32 AM
Ahhh...so sorry.  Do I want my Input Gain on Channels 1 & 2 set to Mic or Line?   Mic right since I'm using them :p 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 14, 2016, 06:43:43 AM
Mic.  But the input gain is a different setting.  You might want to check out the 70D FAQ linked in my signature where there's a list of commonly used settings, as well as a link to the manual.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 14, 2016, 07:47:56 PM
Mic.  But the input gain is a different setting.  You might want to check out the 70D FAQ linked in my signature where there's a list of commonly used settings, as well as a link to the manual.

Thanks for the reply, I've been going over the manual but some of it doesn't compute necessarily.  Got it set to Mic, Input Gain to Low and trying to figure out if when running 2 channels you record in Mono....a true Left & Right Signal>recorder right?  I think I have brain damage :p  We'll see what happens.  You guys are great, appreciate the help/patience and work that's been done to get this recorder figured out. 
Chris
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 14, 2016, 08:24:08 PM
Mic.  But the input gain is a different setting.  You might want to check out the 70D FAQ linked in my signature where there's a list of commonly used settings, as well as a link to the manual.

Thanks for the reply, I've been going over the manual but some of it doesn't compute necessarily.  Got it set to Mic, Input Gain to Low and trying to figure out if when running 2 channels you record in Mono....a true Left & Right Signal>recorder right?  I think I have brain damage :p  We'll see what happens.  You guys are great, appreciate the help/patience and work that's been done to get this recorder figured out. 
Chris

You've got everything right except the MONO setting - you want STEREO.  That will make whatever is going into channels 1 and 2 into a stereo track, and same thing for tracks 3 and 4.  Make sure you enable / disable the tracks you want (or don't want) to record.  This is under the BASIC menu.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 14, 2016, 08:25:47 PM
Also,... You need to assign the width of the panning in the stereo tracks. Make sure right is totally right, and left is left....
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 14, 2016, 11:12:06 PM
^^^^OK, I got it now.  Thanks again & again. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 15, 2016, 05:35:01 AM
Also,... You need to assign the width of the panning in the stereo tracks. Make sure right is totally right, and left is left....

M0k3, I thought the panning didn't matter unless writing MONO tracks? Meaning the panning doesn't affect your recordings when writing STEREO tracks ??? I just leave mine on HARD LEFT[Channels 1 & 3] & HARD RIGHT[Channels 2 & 4], and then always write STEREO tracks anyway...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 15, 2016, 05:41:24 AM

3.  I've made roughly 6 transfers using Tascam DA20 mkII>dr70 @16/44 with NO issues. 


I'm very curious about this ??? Ive never seen anyone transfer their DATs through an analog conversion like that! I'm just wondering why you would convert them like that, when xferring DATs digitally is cheaper than ever ;)

And please let us know how the 70D works out for you! I think its a BREEZE to run and I'm glad that it doesn't get all clogged up with a shitload of useless menu options we'll never use! Just a relatively bare bones deck that sounds pretty damn good on its own and is easy as hell to power and run ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 15, 2016, 10:32:13 AM
Also,... You need to assign the width of the panning in the stereo tracks. Make sure right is totally right, and left is left....

M0k3, I thought the panning didn't matter unless writing MONO tracks? Meaning the panning doesn't affect your recordings when writing STEREO tracks ??? I just leave mine on HARD LEFT[Channels 1 & 3] & HARD RIGHT[Channels 2 & 4], and then always write STEREO tracks anyway...

I've recorded in both formats enough now that they sort of blend together in my memory. You could very well be right.
Its something that I always check, and make sure of.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on July 15, 2016, 02:28:08 PM
Also,... You need to assign the width of the panning in the stereo tracks. Make sure right is totally right, and left is left....

M0k3, I thought the panning didn't matter unless writing MONO tracks? Meaning the panning doesn't affect your recordings when writing STEREO tracks ??? I just leave mine on HARD LEFT[Channels 1 & 3] & HARD RIGHT[Channels 2 & 4], and then always write STEREO tracks anyway...

I think its the opposite - Panning has no effect on MONO...only in play on STEREO.

I usually run STEREO - unless Im using some unusual mic setup...then you might want MONO tracks.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on July 15, 2016, 03:03:09 PM
Also,... You need to assign the width of the panning in the stereo tracks. Make sure right is totally right, and left is left....

M0k3, I thought the panning didn't matter unless writing MONO tracks? Meaning the panning doesn't affect your recordings when writing STEREO tracks ??? I just leave mine on HARD LEFT[Channels 1 & 3] & HARD RIGHT[Channels 2 & 4], and then always write STEREO tracks anyway...

I think its the opposite - Panning has no effect on MONO...only in play on STEREO.

I usually run STEREO - unless Im using some unusual mic setup...then you might want MONO tracks.

This is correct. Only when in MONO does the "pan" not matter.

Given that the M/S mode takes care of that usage, I can't see why anyone would want anything other than a hard pan. Crossfeed can be applied in post.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 15, 2016, 03:51:14 PM
This has been eating at me since I posted.   I didn't have a chance to fire mine up until right now. When I did, I only perused the menu settings, and changed them between stereo and mono, and checked the settings.  The panning is selectable in both stereo and mono.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 15, 2016, 04:09:23 PM
^^ ^ Agreed.  The panning control should only be active for mono tracks, say if someone were using this as a field mixer and recording an interview with a boom and a couple lavs all as iso tracks - I'm thinking of a mixer like the SD 302 which was probably designed for situations like this.  Someone doing a recording like this would know to record iso mono tracks, and would not use the stereo mode.  The 70D doesn't record a separate stereo downmix, unlike many pro recorders.

Selecting stereo mode should deactivate panning and lock the odd/even channels hard L/R respectively, since a proper stereo track would be hard-panned by definition.  Anything less than a hard pan would create a recording closer to mono, since you'd be feeding some of the L channel to the R and vice versa.

I think I'll add this to the FAQ as a "known issue".  I guess it's not really something that's broken in terms of functionality, but is something that could potentially mess up a stereo recording if you accidentally move it.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on July 15, 2016, 06:17:08 PM
^^ ^ Agreed.  The panning control should only be active for mono tracks, say if someone were using this as a field mixer and recording an interview with a boom and a couple lavs all as iso tracks - I'm thinking of a mixer like the SD 302 which was probably designed for situations like this.  Someone doing a recording like this would know to record iso mono tracks, and would not use the stereo mode.  The 70D doesn't record a separate stereo downmix, unlike many pro recorders.

Selecting stereo mode should deactivate panning and lock the odd/even channels hard L/R respectively, since a proper stereo track would be hard-panned by definition.  Anything less than a hard pan would create a recording closer to mono, since you'd be feeding some of the L channel to the R and vice versa.

I think I'll add this to the FAQ as a "known issue".  I guess it's not really something that's broken in terms of functionality, but is something that could potentially mess up a stereo recording if you accidentally move it.

It would seem to me that Panning is concept that only applies to stereo...

When you record in mono - you get 2 files (or 4)...there's no where to pan to...

Long ago - I used a mixer for 4 channel recording - when running stage mics - sometimes I would set them very far apart - but pan them together slightly so they weren't so LEFT RIGHT-ish...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 15, 2016, 06:31:49 PM
I had to answer this for myself, and hooked up a pair of mics.  I tried panning each mic to hard opposite to create mono-two-channel in stereo mode, but, stereo imaging remained.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 15, 2016, 06:50:19 PM
^^ ^ Agreed.  The panning control should only be active for mono tracks, say if someone were using this as a field mixer and recording an interview with a boom and a couple lavs all as iso tracks - I'm thinking of a mixer like the SD 302 which was probably designed for situations like this.  Someone doing a recording like this would know to record iso mono tracks, and would not use the stereo mode.  The 70D doesn't record a separate stereo downmix, unlike many pro recorders.

Selecting stereo mode should deactivate panning and lock the odd/even channels hard L/R respectively, since a proper stereo track would be hard-panned by definition.  Anything less than a hard pan would create a recording closer to mono, since you'd be feeding some of the L channel to the R and vice versa.

I think I'll add this to the FAQ as a "known issue".  I guess it's not really something that's broken in terms of functionality, but is something that could potentially mess up a stereo recording if you accidentally move it.

It would seem to me that Panning is concept that only applies to stereo...

When you record in mono - you get 2 files (or 4)...there's no where to pan to...

Long ago - I used a mixer for 4 channel recording - when running stage mics - sometimes I would set them very far apart - but pan them together slightly so they weren't so LEFT RIGHT-ish...

OK, I see how I'm making a false comparison here and somehow I got my thinking backwards.  On something like the SD 302, the panning for the 3 mono tracks is useful because that unit is outputting a stereo mixdown of the 3 inputs.  On the 70D though, there is no such mixdown.  Because of that, all of the signal from one input is going fully to one recording channel no matter what the pan says, as opposed to a stereo mix which would either send the signal to L or R only (hard-panned), split equally (center pan) or somewhere in between.

Or to use an example I have more direct experience with: My FP24 has L/C/R switches for each of its two input channels.  If the CH1 input is switched to "C", that input signal is routed equally to both output channels.  I have to set the two channels to L and R in order to get a stereo recording.


I had to answer this for myself, and hooked up a pair of mics.  I tried panning each mic to hard opposite to create mono-two-channel in stereo mode, but, stereo imaging remained.

OK, but doing that, I would expect that you'd still get stereo separation because you're still hard-panning; just backwards.  I think the way to test this is to center-pan each mic channel while recording in stereo mode.  That should result in a mono image because the CH1 mic signal would be split equally to both L and R tracks, and same thing would happen for the CH2 mic.  (see above)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Ronmac on July 15, 2016, 08:01:26 PM
I had always assumed that setting the pan position (L12 - C - R12) was for monitoring only, and that recording stereo files directed odd numbered inputs to the left channel and even number inputs to the right channel. Perhaps I have been wrong.

Off to check it out!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Ronmac on July 15, 2016, 08:15:24 PM
I believe I just confirmed my assumption that the "Record" pan actually controls the pan level in the monitors, not the relative pan of the stereo file that is recorded.

Reading the manual several times left me completely bewildered. Why they would describe the panning law in the record section and placing the control in the record menu makes no sense, to me. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on July 15, 2016, 10:09:09 PM
^yes....  i believe that it was established long ago in this thread (not sure what part of thread though) that the "pan" function is for monitoring only. 
it does not affect the actual recording.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on July 16, 2016, 11:48:34 AM
Tascams menus always leave me wondering why they are organized as they are.  The m10 menu is so much easier to use in my experience, but tascam keeps on giving us menus where I find myself having to hunt through multiple options to accomplish basic tasks. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 16, 2016, 04:13:14 PM
OK, I just did some testing.  The pan setting does NOT affect recording in STEREO or MONO modes, but it DOES affect the recording when the mode is set to 2MIX.  Pans set hard L and R results in a 2-track STEREO recording; pans center results in 2-track MONO, as the center panned signals are being split equally to both recorded tracks as I described above.

I completely forgot about the 2MIX option, which is a stereo downmix of all active recording channels.  Unlike other recorders that have a mixdown, in the 70D you only get the mixdown if you select 2MIX, whereas other more high-end recorders will record that mix in addition to all of your stereo / mono tracks.

TL:DR - PAN setting affects recording when in 2MIX mode only.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 16, 2016, 05:55:25 PM
Just made a major overhaul to the Menu Reference (formerly Recommended Settings) section of the FAQ.  This should hopefully be more useful now.

While going through everything I caught a couple documentation issues:

1. There are still no release notes for the latest 1.14 firmware on the Tascam US site, but they are on the EU site.
2. There is no documentation in the manual about the WIDE setting.  This replaces PAN in the BASIC menu when MIC > M/S MODE is set to REC or MONI.  It's likely anyone using this understands a M/S matrix and wouldn't need it explained, but it's a glaring omission from the manual.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 17, 2016, 12:47:32 AM
OK, I just did some testing.  The pan setting does NOT affect recording in STEREO or MONO modes, but it DOES affect the recording when the mode is set to 2MIX.  Pans set hard L and R results in a 2-track STEREO recording; pans center results in 2-track MONO, as the center panned signals are being split equally to both recorded tracks as I described above.

I completely forgot about the 2MIX option, which is a stereo downmix of all active recording channels.  Unlike other recorders that have a mixdown, in the 70D you only get the mixdown if you select 2MIX, whereas other more high-end recorders will record that mix in addition to all of your stereo / mono tracks.

TL:DR - PAN setting affects recording when in 2MIX mode only.

Thanks Voltronic 8) I always check to make sure mine are panned HARD Left/Right, but now I know it doesn't matter anyway, unless I'm doing a 2MIX recording, which I never see myself doing! The Tascam 701D, has the 4 inputs + L/R stereo mix, like Voltronic is talking about the pro decks having! If the 701D ever comes down in price, I'd like to grab [2] of those, so that I can cascade them, and the better screen and the better monitoring options! Not to mention the supposed better audio and different op-amps and the GANG function too! The 701D has basically everything we asked for in FW updates to the 70D lol :P ;D Thanks Tascam!!!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 17, 2016, 08:03:04 AM
The Tascam 701D, has the 4 inputs + L/R stereo mix, like Voltronic is talking about the pro decks having! If the 701D ever comes down in price, I'd like to grab [2] of those, so that I can cascade them, and the better screen and the better monitoring options! Not to mention the supposed better audio and different op-amps and the GANG function too! The 701D has basically everything we asked for in FW updates to the 70D lol :P ;D Thanks Tascam!!!

Here's the thing though: you'd have all of that functionality in one box and for less money with a Zoom F8, as opposed to two 701Ds.  The 701 is a pretty "meh" product for me value-wise, especially given Tascam's own DR-680. 

If you just want your 70D preamps upgraded to the level of the 701D, have the JWMod done for less than $150 total in parts, labor, and shipping both ways.

I'm sticking with my 70D until I can afford something higher quality and with 8 preamps, be that the F8, or if I really get lucky, a cheap SD 788!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: vanark on July 17, 2016, 09:33:36 AM
Bean wants two recorders so he can record on two different stages when needed.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 17, 2016, 10:09:43 AM
Bean wants two recorders so he can record on two different stages when needed.

Dang, you know me too well 8)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 19, 2016, 02:09:18 AM
You guys are great, night two coming soon  :)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=587743

The Phish from Vermont
Gorge Amphitheater
George, WA
July 15, 2016

Nakamichi CM-300's w/ Teac Omni Capsules>Tascam DR-70d @ Soundboard 8'
Transfer: Tascam DR-70>laptop>Audacity volume boost 3db>CD Wave>R8 Brain FLAC Level 8
Taped & Transferred by Chris McGrath (divisionbelled@gmail.com)

Set 1: Tweezer > Sample in a Jar, The Old Home Place, Wolfman's Brother, Bouncing Around the Room, Undermind, Kill Devil Falls, Lawn Boy, Ass Handed[1], Party Time, The Line, Tide Turns, Rift, Walls of the Cave

Set 2: Crosseyed and Painless > What's the Use? > No Men In No Man's Land -> Stash > Ghost[2] -> Chalk Dust Torture > Meatstick > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Cavern

Encore: Makisupa Policeman > Wilson > Good Times Bad Times

Tracks 1 & 16 of set one are kinda poorly thought out on my part.  I was/am over tired and old ;)
First time running this recorder, thanks to the crew at the Taperssection.com DR-70 thread for their patience & willingness to help me understand some of the
idiosyncrasies of this thing :)

[1] Debut.
[2] Trey on Marimba Lumina; Mike and Page on percussion.

Teases:
· Crosseyed and Painless quote in No Men In No Man's Land
· What's the Use? and Crosseyed and Painless teases in Stash
· What's the Use?, Crosseyed and Painless, and No Men In No Man's Land teases in Ghost
· No Men In No Man's Land, Crosseyed and Painless, and What's the Use? teases in Chalk Dust Torture
· Crosseyed and Painless and No Men In No Man's Land quotes in Also Sprach Zarathustra
· Crosseyed and Painless and What's the Use? quotes in Cavern
· Under Pressure tease in Crosseyed and Painless
· Makisupa Policeman quote in Wilson
· Ramble On tease in Good Times Bad Times

Setlist from phish.net, thank you.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on July 19, 2016, 03:27:29 PM
Probably a very stupid question: any recommended short usb cable to use for powering the DR-70 is on a bag and the battery is on a frontal pocket?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 19, 2016, 03:33:27 PM
Probably a very stupid question: any recommended short usb cable to use for powering the DR-70 is on a bag and the battery is on a frontal pocket?

Search eBay or Amazon for "micro usb left angle".  The full size USB side angle may not matter to you, but the micro end you want as a left angle so the cable will come out towards the front of the recorder.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 19, 2016, 03:55:09 PM
Probably a very stupid question: any recommended short usb cable to use for powering the DR-70 is on a bag and the battery is on a frontal pocket?

Search eBay or Amazon for "micro usb left angle".  The full size USB side angle may not matter to you, but the micro end you want as a left angle so the cable will come out towards the front of the recorder.

I have ALL left angle micro USB cables for my DR70D's, and with a LEFT angle Micro USB cable, it would actually exit towards the BACK of the 70D not the front, where the SD Card Slot/Batteries/Omni Mics are! A RIGHT angle Micro USB for the 70D would exit, as you said Voltronic, towards the front of the unit where the screen and buttons are, not a LEFT angle Micro tip ;)

I actually prefer the LEFT angle Micro Tip USB cables, because they still have enough clearance above the 4th XLR IN, and it neatly tucks behind the 70D when its in place :) I'll try to snap some pics soon of exactly what I'm trying to say! Anyway, here's a link to the Left Angle Micro USB>Right or Left USB A cables that I have ordered a few different times from this seller, for a total of like 7-8 cables total over 3 transactions, and I ALWAYS got my stuff within 2-3 weeks max! They sit nice and snugly in the 70D's USB input and I have not had a single problem with any of them so far :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381090437511?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And I got this decent USB splitter awhile back, so that I can power my 70D's for double the time 8)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172151661611?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

EDIT: I had my Left/Right angles wrong for the Micro USB ends! The cables that I linked above are actually RIGHT angle Micro USB tips, and NOT Left angle as I thought before! The RIGHT angle cables I linked above go ABOVE the 4th XLR IN of the DR70D, and do NOT touch the XLR housing or anything like that. Its just really close. Plus, the USB cable going above/behind the 4th XLR IN also leaves all of the other connections open, whereas a Left angle USB cable going towards the screen would block a connection or two I believe!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on July 19, 2016, 04:11:51 PM
Thanks bean. Always thinking about the little stuff. The USB splitter seems like a no brainer.

You might want to review your Left and Right, however.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 19, 2016, 04:54:50 PM
Probably a very stupid question: any recommended short usb cable to use for powering the DR-70 is on a bag and the battery is on a frontal pocket?

Search eBay or Amazon for "micro usb left angle".  The full size USB side angle may not matter to you, but the micro end you want as a left angle so the cable will come out towards the front of the recorder.

I have ALL left angle micro USB cables for my DR70D's, and with a LEFT angle Micro USB cable, it would actually exit towards the BACK of the 70D not the front, where the SD Card Slot/Batteries/Omni Mics are! A RIGHT angle Micro USB for the 70D would exit, as you said Voltronic, towards the front of the unit where the screen and buttons are, not a LEFT angle Micro tip ;)

I actually prefer the LEFT angle Micro Tip USB cables, because they still have enough clearance above the 4th XLR IN, and it neatly tucks behind the 70D when its in place :) I'll try to snap some pics soon of exactly what I'm trying to say! Anyway, here's a link to the Left Angle Micro USB>Right or Left USB A cables that I have ordered a few different times from this seller, for a total of like 7-8 cables total over 3 transactions, and I ALWAYS got my stuff within 2-3 weeks max! They sit nice and snugly in the 70D's USB input and I have not had a single problem with any of them so far :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381090437511?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And I got this decent USB splitter awhile back, so that I can power my 70D's for double the time 8)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172151661611?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

No, what you linked is a RIGHT angle on the microUSB end.  What I'm using (see picture below) is a LEFT microUSB.  The exact cable I bought doesn't seem to be available anymore, but look at the pictures for this listing which show the differences:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Left-right-angled-90-degree-Micro-USB-Male-to-USB-Data-Charge-Cable-/252231540963 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Left-right-angled-90-degree-Micro-USB-Male-to-USB-Data-Charge-Cable-/252231540963)

The way you determine "right" or "left" angle for these is if you imagine you're driving a car out of the USB jack into the cable.  Which way do you turn?  In the case of microUSB, you do this assuming the beveled edges of the connector are facing up, as is the case on the 70D.

That's a cool battery Y-cable.  I haven't run into a recording situation long enough that I've drained more than half of my cheap PowerBank batter yet, but I do have a spare battery and this would be handy to have just in case I need to hot-swap.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on July 19, 2016, 05:39:32 PM
The right angle usb, which I imagined did exist, is a good option.

But I see that, except for the mic input, I'm having the same problem I did with my Blackmagic Pocket camera: how to clamp the 1/8" plugs.

This is not a new problem, as since walkman times I've been making short adapters to proper sturdy connectors: 1/4" plugs and XLR sockets.

The ones I use on my BM camera are never unplugged, particularly the one for power.

Used as I am to lockable connectors, I'm thinking what could I do with the USB interface. That mini-usb is very frail and, different from cell phones, I think it's a bit more exposed to likely accidents on location, Like pulling the cable or something.

It happened to me two days ago, at home, when I had a battery connected to it and the battery fell down. The attached mini-usb bent a little, and I had to repair it. Nothing serious, but I had that type of accident with mini-usbs before. They are not reliable.

One thing I'm thinking of doing is having a cable just for power, with a plugged interface in between. Not sure yet what to use as interface.

Another thing I'm considering, this related to audio link with the camera, is finding an inexpensive way to wireless the sound to it. Particularly because of the slate beep for editing.

BTW: my wife made a DR-70 first version case. That's what got me thinking on the cables.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 19, 2016, 05:55:20 PM
A couple of us have used adhesive-backed velcro between the bottom of the DR70D and the battery, to make the battery and DR70D into a single unit.
In the images below, the battery is velcroed to the bottom of the recorder
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 19, 2016, 07:05:31 PM
Hmm, that battery looks awfully familiar. :)

Mine is attached with blu-tack, FWIW.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on July 20, 2016, 09:39:16 AM
A couple of us have used adhesive-backed velcro between the bottom of the DR70D and the battery, to make the battery and DR70D into a single unit.
In the images below, the battery is velcroed to the bottom of the recorder

Did you glue velcro strips to both battery and DR-70?

The problem with blu-tack is that it doesn't hold the battery, it will just secure it to the Tascam.

BTW, I removed the top camera rig, as probably some of you did too.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 20, 2016, 09:54:57 AM
Carlos,

I did "glue" it to both the battery and recorder.  I used the Velcro name brand velcro strips, with adhesive that is pre-applied at the factory.  *I used the soft loops side on the recorder, and the hooks side on the battery.
** I thought I had done it in this arrangement, but, am mistaken now that I've taken the battery off for the first time since the velcro was applied. I apparently got it done in the opposite of what I stated in the struck sentence. Duh  :facepalm: 
If the battery fails, or, becomes no longer available, the softer loops side will at least have function of padding and isolating the recorder from table tops, etc., and prevent scratching.

*/** edit: correcting myself
** corrected
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on July 20, 2016, 12:18:38 PM
I did "glue" it to both the battery and recorder.  I used the Velcro name brand velcro strips, with adhesive that is pre-applied at the factory.  I used the soft loops side on the recorder, and the hooks side on the battery.  If the battery fails, or, becomes no longer available, the softer loops side will at least have function of padding and isolating the recorder from table tops, etc., and prevent scratching.

The adhesive is strong enough to hold the battery if you are hanging the DR-70 from your shoulder?

That's why I thought of hot glue or something.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 20, 2016, 12:34:39 PM
The adhesive type used is absolutely strong. It will not ever be able to be removed.
Is it strong enough to hold the battery and recorder together? tenaciously so.
The adhesive requires a 24hour curing period without being disturbed, to create the best bond. But its integrity is superb. 
I also rigged my Sennheiser MKE2002 Binaural Artificial Head with the same adhesive velcro strips, apprx. 25 years ago, so that I could rig the mics in alternate fashion, and not just the Senn binaural protocol mounting.  The head is plastic, and, the velcro strips have not released, or otherwise caused any issues. There are strips behind and below the ears, and another at the rear base of the neck.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/MokePics2/Gude%20Head%20II/IMG002.jpg)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 20, 2016, 12:45:01 PM
here are a few more pics of the velcro'd battery/recorder arrangement.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Carlos E. Martinez on July 20, 2016, 12:49:24 PM
Excellent! The ones I found on eBay that will ship to my country with none or low shipping are not that many. This one seems fine:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C1510-3-RC-Receiver-ESC-6cm-x-20cm-Adhesive-Velcro-Tape-60mm-200mm-Body-Shell-/331489635818?hash=item4d2e526dea:g:F3EAAOSwpDdU7G86
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 20, 2016, 12:53:48 PM
This is what I used. I post this as general info, not knowing exactly where you are.
(http://images.tigersupplies.com/Products/LargeImages/V900760.jpg)

Its really important to make sure to clean the area to be used, to remove contaminants. And make sure to give it the required adhesive cure time before trying to pull apart the joined velcro components.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScoobieKW on July 20, 2016, 01:02:07 PM
I'm going to argue against bean's USB splitter cable.

1. It's not needed. The 4 AA batteries take over whenever the USB power input is disconnected.
While the AA batteries don't provide a full set of power with P48 turned on, they are more than sufficient to run during battery swaps.

2. It adds another set of connectors into the critical power chain. Keep it simple. Less cables, less mess, and less failure points.

On the other hand, looks like I'll a new battery and some double sided tape are in my future.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on July 20, 2016, 01:15:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v729/MokePics2/Gude%20Head%20II/IMG002.jpg)

I've always wondered what you looked like m0k3..   ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 20, 2016, 01:35:47 PM

The problem with blu-tack is that it doesn't hold the battery, it will just secure it to the Tascam.


I'm not sure what you mean by that.  Securing the battery to the 70D is exactly the goal here.  Three good-sized pieces of blu-tack have been securely attaching the battery to my 70D for months now, with many trips in and out of the bag.  It does not budge.  In fact, if and when I ever remove this battery, I'll have to pry it off with some force. 

The best thing is that it's not permanent, is easily removed, and will leave zero residue.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: davepeck on July 20, 2016, 05:19:02 PM
FYI, Adorama has the DR-70D for $185 after rebate today (and DR-60D MKII for $125):

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=178511.0
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: The Other Chris on July 20, 2016, 05:41:22 PM
Night 2  :)

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=587766

Phish
Gorge Amphitheater
George, WA
7-16-16

Nakamichi CM-300's w/ Teac Omni Capsules>Tascam DR-70d @ left corner of Soundboard 8'
Transfer: Tascam DR-70>laptop>C.E.P. volume boost>CD Wave>R8 Brain FLAC Level 8
Taped & Transferred by Chris McGrath (divisionbelled@gmail.com)
Audio enlightenment and all around good conversation provided by Geoff Cole ;)



Set 1:
Buried Alive, AC/DC Bag > The Moma Dance, Uncle Pen, 555, Sleep Again, It's Ice, Driver,
Sand, Horn, Halfway to the Moon, Bathtub Gin

Set 2:
Blaze On > Backwards Down the Number Line > Carini > Birds of a Feather, Wingsuit > Shade,
Mike's Song > Farmhouse > Weekapaug Groove, Shine a Light

Encore: Hold Your Head Up, Love You > Hold Your Head Up, Harry Hood > Tweezer Reprise

Notes: This show was webcast via Live Phish. Driver was played for the first time since August 3, 2013 (111 shows).
Love You was played for the first time since October 23, 2010 (216 shows).

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on July 20, 2016, 06:16:42 PM
^i caught the gorge streams......  first night was goofy crazy...  second night was tight tight tight....  thanks for capturing it man!!!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 21, 2016, 12:50:30 AM
Probably a very stupid question: any recommended short usb cable to use for powering the DR-70 is on a bag and the battery is on a frontal pocket?

Search eBay or Amazon for "micro usb left angle".  The full size USB side angle may not matter to you, but the micro end you want as a left angle so the cable will come out towards the front of the recorder.

I have ALL left angle micro USB cables for my DR70D's, and with a LEFT angle Micro USB cable, it would actually exit towards the BACK of the 70D not the front, where the SD Card Slot/Batteries/Omni Mics are! A RIGHT angle Micro USB for the 70D would exit, as you said Voltronic, towards the front of the unit where the screen and buttons are, not a LEFT angle Micro tip ;)

I actually prefer the LEFT angle Micro Tip USB cables, because they still have enough clearance above the 4th XLR IN, and it neatly tucks behind the 70D when its in place :) I'll try to snap some pics soon of exactly what I'm trying to say! Anyway, here's a link to the Left Angle Micro USB>Right or Left USB A cables that I have ordered a few different times from this seller, for a total of like 7-8 cables total over 3 transactions, and I ALWAYS got my stuff within 2-3 weeks max! They sit nice and snugly in the 70D's USB input and I have not had a single problem with any of them so far :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381090437511?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And I got this decent USB splitter awhile back, so that I can power my 70D's for double the time 8)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172151661611?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

No, what you linked is a RIGHT angle on the microUSB end.  What I'm using (see picture below) is a LEFT microUSB.  The exact cable I bought doesn't seem to be available anymore, but look at the pictures for this listing which show the differences:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Left-right-angled-90-degree-Micro-USB-Male-to-USB-Data-Charge-Cable-/252231540963 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Left-right-angled-90-degree-Micro-USB-Male-to-USB-Data-Charge-Cable-/252231540963)

The way you determine "right" or "left" angle for these is if you imagine you're driving a car out of the USB jack into the cable.  Which way do you turn?  In the case of microUSB, you do this assuming the beveled edges of the connector are facing up, as is the case on the 70D.

That's a cool battery Y-cable.  I haven't run into a recording situation long enough that I've drained more than half of my cheap PowerBank batter yet, but I do have a spare battery and this would be handy to have just in case I need to hot-swap.


Dang, thanks for the correction Volt :) Boy do I feel silly now lol! I was looking at the Left Angle from looking AT the 70D, and not looking OUTWARDS from the 70D :) Thanks for the claraification! I prefer the Right angle Micro tip USB then haha :) Just for the reason that it leaves ALL of the other connections open to use, because the USB cable is going ABOVE the 4th XLR IN, instead of upward towards the screen, and blocking some of those connections :) I'll post some pics soon! Instead of using velcro, I'm just using Scunci metal less hair ties to hold my USB batteries against my 70D's, so that I don't have to deal with gluing/or adding anything onto my [2] 70D's or my 6-7 taping USB batteries :)

I promise I will snap some pics of my 70D's soon, with DarkTrain Rt Angle Stubbies on all 8 XLR INS of both of my 70D's, and the Right Angle USB cable setup I have going on! :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 21, 2016, 01:01:06 AM
Probably a very stupid question: any recommended short usb cable to use for powering the DR-70 is on a bag and the battery is on a frontal pocket?

Search eBay or Amazon for "micro usb left angle".  The full size USB side angle may not matter to you, but the micro end you want as a left angle so the cable will come out towards the front of the recorder.

I have ALL left angle micro USB cables for my DR70D's, and with a LEFT angle Micro USB cable, it would actually exit towards the BACK of the 70D not the front, where the SD Card Slot/Batteries/Omni Mics are! A RIGHT angle Micro USB for the 70D would exit, as you said Voltronic, towards the front of the unit where the screen and buttons are, not a LEFT angle Micro tip ;)

I actually prefer the LEFT angle Micro Tip USB cables, because they still have enough clearance above the 4th XLR IN, and it neatly tucks behind the 70D when its in place :) I'll try to snap some pics soon of exactly what I'm trying to say! Anyway, here's a link to the Left Angle Micro USB>Right or Left USB A cables that I have ordered a few different times from this seller, for a total of like 7-8 cables total over 3 transactions, and I ALWAYS got my stuff within 2-3 weeks max! They sit nice and snugly in the 70D's USB input and I have not had a single problem with any of them so far :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381090437511?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

And I got this decent USB splitter awhile back, so that I can power my 70D's for double the time 8)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/172151661611?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

That's a cool battery Y-cable.  I haven't run into a recording situation long enough that I've drained more than half of my cheap PowerBank batter yet, but I do have a spare battery and this would be handy to have just in case I need to hot-swap.


Another thing I love about the 70D, is that as long as you have 4xAAs inside of the 70D, you can hot swap USB batteries VERY easily without missing any music! I tried it one day and hot-swapped USB batteries like 5-6 times, and it always went from USB>>AA>>USB>>AA>>USB/etc flawlessly, because I checked the file afterwards! Even if the message comes on telling you that it switched from USB>AA power and you don't see the levels moving, as long as you have enough AA juice, the 70D will keep recording flawlessly while the message is on, until you switch back to USB power :) Then the levels and time and everything come back on :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 21, 2016, 01:09:13 AM
I'm going to argue against bean's USB splitter cable.

1. It's not needed. The 4 AA batteries take over whenever the USB power input is disconnected.
While the AA batteries don't provide a full set of power with P48 turned on, they are more than sufficient to run during battery swaps.

2. It adds another set of connectors into the critical power chain. Keep it simple. Less cables, less mess, and less failure points.

On the other hand, looks like I'll a new battery and some double sided tape are in my future.

Agreed for the most part lol! But I figured for under $2, the USB Splitter couldn't hurt to toss in the bag ;) At festivals I sometimes record for 16 hours in a single day, times 4 days, so the USB Splitter will DEF get used at festies! Especially, since my biggest USB battery only gets around 12 hours ;) However, 2 x 10,000mah batteries[I get around 8 hours each normally] will go for OVER 20 hrs with the USB Splitter, which is perfect for me for one day at a long festie ;)

But, I LOVE that the DR70D is hot-swappable with AAs inside of it! I actually just posted about that above lol ;D And you're right, if you don't need that many hours of straight recording time, then the USB Splitter isn't necessary! BUT, if you do festies and stuff like I do, for $2, you can't go wrong :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on July 21, 2016, 12:51:51 PM
USB powering via common, affordable 5v external batteries really solves so many live recording problems.  The 60d looks like a real value at $125.  Seems like it was $349 when the first version was released. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: swordfish on July 26, 2016, 03:26:41 AM
I have a question about calibrating a Shure FP and a D70.

A while ago I bought an used FP24 and a D70, but I have to admit that I use normally a M10 to stealth with my Tinybox and the Mk41 or the AKG CK's I have.

I was able to test at home the AKG CK 62 ULS/ PFA using the +48 phantom power of the D70 and it worked fine, next weekend I plan to tape open, therefore I would like to find out how to calibrate the FP 24 with the D70.

I recall that I read here the M10 unity gain is at -20db(have a print out how to it)

Using firmware 1.13 ....how should I set the gain, low, mid, ???..... the location doesn't allow SPL over a 100dB.

Or should I upgrade the firmware to 1.14?

Pls bear with me, since the menus of these Tascam recorders are a nightmare for me....

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 26, 2016, 03:58:24 AM
I have a question about calibrating a Shure FP and a D70.

A while ago I bought an used FP24 and a D70, but I have to admit that I use normally a M10 to stealth with my Tinybox and the Mk41 or the AKG CK's I have.

I was able to test at home the AKG CK 62 ULS/ PFA using the +48 phantom power of the D70 and it worked fine, next weekend I plan to tape open, therefore I would like to find out how to calibrate the FP 24 with the D70.

I recall that I read here the M10 unity gain is at -20db(have a print out how to it)

Using firmware 1.13 ....how should I set the gain, low, mid, ???..... the location doesn't allow SPL over a 100dB.

Or should I upgrade the firmware to 1.14?

Pls bear with me, since the menus of these Tascam recorders are a nightmare for me....

Thanks in advance

If using the XLR INS like me:
Update to FW v1.14! Also, when running LINE IN from an external preamp into the 70D[XLR INS 1-4], it doesn't matter if you have the gain set at LOW/MID/HIGH/HIGH+, you still get the same amount of gain from the 70D! So I run my VMS>70d as follows: Gain=LOW, when LINE INPUT from my VMS02IB! I record louder material for the most part, so even when I'm running mk4/41>PFA>70d internal preamps, 90% of the time, I just need the LOW GAIN setting, even when running MIC+PHANTOM for my PFA>70d rig :)

I always leave my VMS@+20db, but even when running my VMS@+40db when recording quiet stuff, and running the Gain knobs@MAX, that's ALL the gain you get when running LINE IN! It DOESN'T matter what GAIN setting its at[LOW/MID/HIGH/HIGH+] when running LINE IN. If you need MORE gain than the LINE IN@MAX[very doubtful], then you can run the MIC IN setting of the 70d from the external preamp, and get more gain! But I have never needed to do that for any reason other than testing!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on July 26, 2016, 05:04:17 PM
I have a question about calibrating a Shure FP and a D70.

A while ago I bought an used FP24 and a D70, but I have to admit that I use normally a M10 to stealth with my Tinybox and the Mk41 or the AKG CK's I have.

I was able to test at home the AKG CK 62 ULS/ PFA using the +48 phantom power of the D70 and it worked fine, next weekend I plan to tape open, therefore I would like to find out how to calibrate the FP 24 with the D70.

I recall that I read here the M10 unity gain is at -20db(have a print out how to it)

Using firmware 1.13 ....how should I set the gain, low, mid, ???..... the location doesn't allow SPL over a 100dB.

Or should I upgrade the firmware to 1.14?

Pls bear with me, since the menus of these Tascam recorders are a nightmare for me....

Thanks in advance

Paging Voltronic...!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on July 26, 2016, 05:26:05 PM
I have a question about calibrating a Shure FP and a D70.

A while ago I bought an used FP24 and a D70, but I have to admit that I use normally a M10 to stealth with my Tinybox and the Mk41 or the AKG CK's I have.

I was able to test at home the AKG CK 62 ULS/ PFA using the +48 phantom power of the D70 and it worked fine, next weekend I plan to tape open, therefore I would like to find out how to calibrate the FP 24 with the D70.

I recall that I read here the M10 unity gain is at -20db(have a print out how to it)

Using firmware 1.13 ....how should I set the gain, low, mid, ???..... the location doesn't allow SPL over a 100dB.

Or should I upgrade the firmware to 1.14?

Pls bear with me, since the menus of these Tascam recorders are a nightmare for me....

Thanks in advance

The menu is really confusing, you're definitely right about that. 

First, I'm curious as to why you're connecting your FP24 to your 70D.  Unless you need very high gain with very low noise, it's much easier to just use the built-in preamps of the 70D.  I own both, but never use them together.  The 70D flies solo at all times. ;D


At any rate, to get a good level between the FP24 and 70D, the firmware difference between 1.13 and 1.14 shouldn't matter.

1. Decide how you want connect the two units.  You definitely MUST use the TAPE OUT (mini jack) on the FP24.  Do NOT use the XLR line outs: they are way too hot. 
On the 70D side, you could use the EXT IN 1/2 (mini jack) or CH 1 & 2 combo jacks with 1/4" or XLR connectors.

2. Whatever input you are going to, select that input source in BASIC > INPUT.

3. Set INPUT > INPUT GAIN to LINE.  (I think Bean is correct that the setting in BASIC > GAIN (Low / Mid / High / High+) doesn't matter once you select LINE, but you could set that to LOW just to be safe.)

4. Activate the SLATE switch on the FP24.  You should get signal on the channels of the 70D you are connected to.

5. Set the gain pots on the 70D so that both channels are reading -20 dB.  Be careful to match the channels.  Set one exactly to -20, then go just past it with the second channel, and lower slowly until the level reads -20 again.

6. Turn off the slate tone.  From here, do not touch the gain knobs on the 70D.  Set your mic levels using the gain knobs on the FP24 only.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: swordfish on July 27, 2016, 01:53:51 AM
Thanks for all the answers...I guess I will run the MK41 PFA D70 option for the first time in the field and use the AKG/M10 set as a back up...I tought about using the FP24 since it has larger knobs to adjust the gain....lol
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ButchAlmberg on July 27, 2016, 07:46:44 AM
Perhaps at some point you could run straight into the DR 70-D for a comparison.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 27, 2016, 06:48:50 PM
I recorded at my Grandparents this past Sunday, and taped the loud traffic going by about 25' away & some thunder! I ran mk41>PFA>70d and mk4>VMS>70d!

Here it is for anyone interested[including the ZIP file with everything in it] :)

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/xuygpy4fzv38b/Tascam_DR-70D_%26_Schoeps_VMS02IB_Preamp_COMP_Traffic_%26_Thunder_%5Bmk4_%26_mk41%5D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on July 29, 2016, 12:11:52 PM
Stupid questions that have probably been asked on here before but I'm still not clear on.

I've been running a DR60 for a couple of years and have that down cold. Pulled my 70 that I bought a few months ago out last night, stuffed a card into it and test recorded for a couple of hours on internal mics just to make sure the card played nice. That's all I've had time to do and I'm thinking about running it for a show tonight and won't have time to do a lot of testing. Hope someone can point me in the right direction.

1. Card formatted almost instantly. Took forever to format in the 60. Did I do something wrong?
2. Not sure which firmware is on there. Any reason I shouldn't (or should) update to 1.14 before I roll tonight?
3. I notice phantom is through the menu rather than physical switches like the 60. Any other major differences anyone can clue me in on to help with the learning curve?
4. Not planning on using them tonight (or maybe ever), but what's the opinion on the internal mics?

Should have been playing with this more rather that trying to get up to steam in a production environment, but its been a roller coaster year so far. Any quick tips are welcomed. Thanks, Dan
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScoobieKW on July 29, 2016, 12:21:00 PM
Versions before 1.13 are not stable and should be updated immediately.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on July 29, 2016, 12:34:25 PM
Versions before 1.13 are not stable and should be updated immediately.

So if the unit I have is 1.13 I should be good? I know 1.14 is brand new, any issues reported with that so far?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScoobieKW on July 29, 2016, 04:10:41 PM
Have not heard about any issus and the bug fixes in the changelog are worthy.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 30, 2016, 04:41:40 AM
Ive run 1.14 for 2 Phish shows, and a few other things, and also ran battery runtimes for MANY hours with v1.14, and Ive not had a SINGLE issue so far ;D 8) Its been a SOLID deck for me, even since last year when I got my 1st one and bought good PNY SD cards for it. Ive run v1.14 with my newest 70d and my new 64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card[approved list] and I couldn't be any happier at the moment! Best $150 Ive EVER spent on taping gear by far ;D 8)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 30, 2016, 05:00:33 AM
Stupid questions that have probably been asked on here before but I'm still not clear on.

I've been running a DR60 for a couple of years and have that down cold. Pulled my 70 that I bought a few months ago out last night, stuffed a card into it and test recorded for a couple of hours on internal mics just to make sure the card played nice. That's all I've had time to do and I'm thinking about running it for a show tonight and won't have time to do a lot of testing. Hope someone can point me in the right direction.

1. Card formatted almost instantly. Took forever to format in the 60. Did I do something wrong?
2. Not sure which firmware is on there. Any reason I shouldn't (or should) update to 1.14 before I roll tonight?
3. I notice phantom is through the menu rather than physical switches like the 60. Any other major differences anyone can clue me in on to help with the learning curve?
4. Not planning on using them tonight (or maybe ever), but what's the opinion on the internal mics?

Should have been playing with this more rather that trying to get up to steam in a production environment, but its been a roller coaster year so far. Any quick tips are welcomed. Thanks, Dan

My new 64gb SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card only takes about 30 seconds to ERASE FORMAT too, just like you mentioned! IMO, that means its a great card for the 70d and things are GOOD! Seems to me when the 70D takes forever to do the Erase Format, it seems like the card is slow or it doesn't jive well with the 70d!

I'm soooo glad that ALL of the 70d issues seemed to be worked out for everyone! I'd bet the farm that more and more tapirs start to trust the 70d, and will push sales up hopefully! I just wish Tascam had a better seal on the screen, because I'm sick of dust/dirt/lint getting under my screen! I have thought about gluing something around the screen on the black part of the 70D around the screen enclosure, but its prob not worth the effort or risk of me screwing it up and making it worse lol ;) Like I said above, its the best deal ever IMO on a deck! 4x XLR/1/4" Combo INS that actually sound pretty damn decent and writes up to 128gb SD cards, AND has the ability to do the safety recording at a lower level in case the main channels clip! Pretty cool feature if you ask me!

Anyway, did any of you guys check out my COMP from this past Sunday recording Traffic & Thunder? Id love to know what yinz guys think regarding the 70D preamps vs. my Schoeps VMS02IB KCY preamp recording louder stuff like traffic from about 25'-30' away. The noise certainly isn't as noticeable as it was when I was recording just birds at dawn[I already posted those samples last month]. The VMS02IB is DEF more quiet than the 70D preamps[as heard from the Birds/Nature recording I did last month. Also, the VMS02IB cost me around $900 including the custom BNC>Rt Angle Stubby XLRs I had made, so it BETTER be more quiet than my $150 70D preamps haha ;D But I think that it shows for louder material, the 70D preamps are MORE than adequate for concert taping. I fluff the 70d so much, Tascam should start paying me or giving me gear to try/test/keep lol ;D

Here's the link to the Traffic/Thunder samples. Enjoy!
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/xuygpy4fzv38b/Tascam_DR-70D_%26_Schoeps_VMS02IB_Preamp_COMP_Traffic_%26_Thunder_%5Bmk4_%26_mk41%5D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mfrench on July 30, 2016, 09:49:35 PM
I'm drawing a blank here. Need help.
Where are the directions found for loading the latest firmware onto the deck?  When I went from the original to 1.13, I recall that there was an instruction sheet provided.  Now, all I find is firmware revision notes, and the 1.14 d/l, which I've done. But I cannot open the firmware, nor, find an instruction sheet.


Never mind,... I found the old procedure sheet in a buried folder on my computer.

Old people and computers,.... what could possibly go wrong?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 31, 2016, 04:18:23 AM
I'm drawing a blank here. Need help.
Where are the directions found for loading the latest firmware onto the deck?  When I went from the original to 1.13, I recall that there was an instruction sheet provided.  Now, all I find is firmware revision notes, and the 1.14 d/l, which I've done. But I cannot open the firmware, nor, find an instruction sheet.


Never mind,... I found the old procedure sheet in a buried folder on my computer.

Old people and computers,.... what could possibly go wrong?

Here's the link for others, M0k3 :)

Firmware Update Procedure :)
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/e_dr-70d_rn_vb.pdf
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 01, 2016, 11:30:23 AM
OK, successful test run Friday night. Two impressions: I do not like having to turn on phantom power through the menu. I much prefer the physical switches on the 60. But I guess with the smaller form factor, something has to give. That being said, if the level meters are accurate, I much prefer them to the 60. A whole lot easier to read.

Maybe someone can help me with this: what is the proper way to send output to a camcorder from only one set of mics when you are recording 4 channels with 2 sets of mics? I've go through the menus and under "monitor", the only option is "mix". On the 60, you could set it to "mix", "1-2", "3-4" etc.

Am I stuck with "mix" or maybe this is being caused by me having the record mode set incorrectly, or what? Any ideas?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 01, 2016, 01:00:53 PM
Sorry, you can't do a custom monitor mix on the 70D; it's a stereo mixdown of all armed channels.  See Known Issues in the FAQ.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 01, 2016, 01:22:34 PM
Sorry, you can't do a custom monitor mix on the 70D; it's a stereo mixdown of all armed channels.  See Known Issues in the FAQ.

Thanks Volt. I take it that would go for the camera out jack as well? There does appear to be a setting for "cam" which I assume has something to do with the output level?

I guess I'll just have to use the output as a scratch track and then use Plural Eyes in post. Dammit  :smash: lol.

Maybe they will fix that in a future firmware update in the future. I did update mine to 1.14 prior to use. That was a fairly painless process.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 01, 2016, 02:14:48 PM
CAM knocks the output level down -30dB compared to line level.  Although the line out is adjustable, so I'm not really sure if the CAM level is -30 from whatever you set your line output level to, or if it's simply -30 dB, period.  I don't own a camera with an extremal audio jack to test this.

To make your life easier in post, you might want to record some slate tones at the beginning and end of the concert next time.  You'd need to do that anyway to set a good level for your camera (again, see FAQ).

I actually prefer phantom to be a software control, but I with the menu structure overall wasn't so convoluted.  The manual makes you really hunt for what you need also.  I made the menu quick reference in the FAQ for myself as much as everyone else.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: willndmb on August 01, 2016, 02:20:39 PM
CAM knocks the output level down -30dB compared to line level.  Although the line out is adjustable, so I'm not really sure if the CAM level is -30 from whatever you set your line output level to, or if it's simply -30 dB, period.  I don't own a camera with an extremal audio jack to test this.

To make your life easier in post, you might want to record some slate tones at the beginning and end of the concert next time.  You'd need to do that anyway to set a good level for your camera (again, see FAQ).

I actually prefer phantom to be a software control, but I with the menu structure overall wasn't so convoluted.  The manual makes you really hunt for what you need also.  I made the menu quick reference in the FAQ for myself as much as everyone else.
if it is like the 60 then it is -30 from the start/finish points.
I can't recall off the top of my head but let's say the lowest/highest line out is -40/0db then the lowest cam out is -70/-30db
For me the cam out on the 60 was still hot and I had to drop it down along with the input on my cam.
If you are a big video person you will most likely pref the 60 overall based on options IMO
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 01, 2016, 03:21:50 PM
Thanks for the info guys. For most of the video I do, I have a SBD feed to my M10 (then room mics to the 60 or 70) so I adjust the output of the M10's headphone jack with the volume control (crude, but works) to match the input I need for the camcorder.

I guess a little trial and error is in order for the 70........Thanks again!!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Perry on August 01, 2016, 04:05:09 PM
I finally broke down and bought a DR-70 during the Adorama sale. I upgraded to FW 1.14 as soon as I got it out of the box and spent a week getting comfortable with the menu system and performing test recordings around the house. Got the 20,000Ah Ebay battery and an angled USB cable that fits like it was designed for this setup. Bought the Amazon Basics camera case (I think this will work perfectly) and I'm almost finished building some chopped mic cables.

I spent a week reading through this thread before I pulled the trigger. Many thanks to everyone who helped suss out the card issues and other idiosyncrasies, especially voltronic.

I'm gonna let Hayes Carll break in this deck on Wednesday!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 01, 2016, 04:13:31 PM
 :coolguy:

As long as you can deal with the quirks, I think you'll be very happy with the 70D.  As I've said several times, I'm sticking with mine until I can afford a 788, or maybe the F8 if it proves to be worthy for classical recording over the long term.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Perry on August 01, 2016, 06:04:04 PM
I've been using the DR-44WL for the last year, it has many of the same issues as the 70D. The 44WL is just as picky about what cards you feed it- write errors and glitchy recordings. I've been using an approved 32G card in the 44WL with no problems. The same card appears on the 70D list so I moved it from the 44WL to the 70D, performed the Erase Format and let it write until it was full-- 24/96, 4 channels @P48 with no discrepancies noted. I always backed-up the 44WL with an M10 and will likely do the same with the 70D, at least until my confidence is higher.

Still saving for an F8 though...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 02, 2016, 04:51:24 AM
I've been using the DR-44WL for the last year, it has many of the same issues as the 70D. The 44WL is just as picky about what cards you feed it- write errors and glitchy recordings. I've been using an approved 32G card in the 44WL with no problems. The same card appears on the 70D list so I moved it from the 44WL to the 70D, performed the Erase Format and let it write until it was full-- 24/96, 4 channels @P48 with no discrepancies noted. I always backed-up the 44WL with an M10 and will likely do the same with the 70D, at least until my confidence is higher.

Still saving for an F8 though...

I ran an M10 as backup to my VMS>70d, but stopped doing so after a YEAR of never needing to use then M10 source ;) So I sold my last M10 and bought a 2nd 70d. No issues at all with either of my 70d's, and I've owned the one for over 1.5 years :) Plus they have XLR INS w Phantom Power and the M10 doesn't! I do miss the super small size of the M10, but I only record openly these days, so the bigger size of the 70d isn't an issue for me at all! You'll hopefully relax a little like I did and see that you don't need the M10 as a backup since v1.13/1.14 FW came out, and you have an "Approved" SD Card ;)

I do love the F8's much nicer screen and layout and build, but IMO it doesn't sound any better than the 70d/701d! As always, YMMV! That said, I still think the F8 has HQ preamps and sounds great and is a great deck, especially for having 8 x XLR INS w Phantom, the ability to do a "Safety Track" like the Tascam's do, where it writes another file at a -db level of your choice to avoid clipping, and all of that plus a kickass screen with many options for UNDER $1k, so best of luck saving up for it :) I'm sure you'll be very happy with it! Just don't forget to run a backup SD card with your F8, since Ive heard of other tapers having issues where it had a write error to the 1st/Main SD card, but wrote fine to the backup SD card? Maybe they fixed it or that's fixable through a FW update tho? Still a badass deck overall! If I didn't need [2] separate decks, Id probably have an F8 right now, instead of [2] 70D's :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 02, 2016, 05:01:01 AM
:coolguy:

As long as you can deal with the quirks, I think you'll be very happy with the 70D.  As I've said several times, I'm sticking with mine until I can afford a 788, or maybe the F8 if it proves to be worthy for classical recording over the long term.

Yeah, Id save up for an SD788 or all-in-one something like that, that has ultra quiet preamps and stuff built in! Just caps/mics>HQ deck w low-noise pres. But I am perfectly happy with my 70D's at the moment, and for once I'm happy with my rig and how it sounds, and don't feel like I need to "upgrade" to another 2nd external preamp! I even want to get [2] new 60v/Low Noise PFAs made this fall, so that I can run 4 channel w just the PFA's for an even smaller setup, since I don't record quiet stuff and the 70D preamps are more than adequate for most things! That said, my VMS02IB still isn't going anywhere, yet anyway lol ;) ;D But if Schoeps ever came out with a 4 channel all-in-one deck, Id probably sell everything[except for one 70d haha] and save up for it :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 09, 2016, 09:54:41 PM
Here's a few recent recordings I made! I ran 4 channels! mk4>VMS02IB>dr70d and mk41>PFA>dr70d if anyone wants to hear the 70d preamps compared to the Schoeps preamp :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dumpstaphunk 8.6.16 mk4>vms>dr70d
16Bit
https://archive.org/details/dumpstaphunk2016-08-06.mk4.vms02ib.dr70d.flac16
24Bit
https://archive.org/details/dumpstaphunk2016-08-06.mk4.vms02ib.dr70d.flac24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dumpstaphunk 8.6.16 mk41>pfa>dr70d
16Bit
https://archive.org/details/dumpstaphunk2016-08-06.mk41.pfa.dr70d.flac16
24Bit
https://archive.org/details/dumpstaphunk2016-08-06.mk41.pfa.dr70d.flac24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turkuaz 8.6.16 mk4>vms>dr70d
16Bit
https://archive.org/details/turkuaz2016-08-06.mk4.vms02ib.dr70d.flac16
24Bit
https://archive.org/details/turkuaz2016-08-06.mk4.vms02ib.dr70d.flac24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turkuaz 8.6.16 mk41>pfa>dr70d
16Bit
https://archive.org/details/turkuaz2016-08-06.mk41.pfa.dr70d.flac16
24Bit
https://archive.org/details/turkuaz2016-08-06.mk41.pfa.dr70d.flac24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Chris K on August 11, 2016, 06:56:33 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331541674213?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=540700709758&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

A few of us have purchased this external.  Works great and blends in seamlessly with the recorder.

Thanks for the tip! Grabbed two of these.

So after 2 years of fairly consistent use, I finally updated firmware from 1.01 to version 1.14.  Wonder if I will even notice a difference.  :P
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 11, 2016, 07:41:34 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331541674213?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=540700709758&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

A few of us have purchased this external.  Works great and blends in seamlessly with the recorder.

Thanks for the tip! Grabbed two of these.

So after 2 years of fairly consistent use, I finally updated firmware from 1.01 to version 1.14.  Wonder if I will even notice a difference.  :P

The biggest and best difference for the newer firmware is the addition of the MID gain range.  If you only record really loud concerts then you may not use it much, but it's definitely the sweet spot for me.

Menu items are also slightly changed (though still a bit nonsensical), and pretty much everyone here reports 1.13 and 1.14 firmware as very stable and reliable.

The big negative in newer firmware is the several degrees of "dead zone" at the bottom of the gain pots (see Known Issues #9 in the FAQ (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172795.0)).  This change was made a while back when Tomuo was on the board, and I remember asking him about it over PM.  I seem to remember him saying that they made that change on purpose after users complained about not being able to quickly kill a channel, such as an off-camera lav mic. 

So if that's true (and my memory may be suspect), the "dead zone" functions as a poor man's channel mute button.  Frustrating for music recording, but maybe more convenient for sound-for-film people.  IMO, they could have made everyone happy by having full-counterclockwise mute the input, with just a slight clockwise movement activating the channel.

EDIT: Now I'm doubting my memory even further.  Does anyone know if the original firmware had that dead zone also, or did it come in with FW 1.10 or 1.11?  In any case, it's annoying and I wish they'd fix it.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 11, 2016, 08:13:51 PM
OK, I found the statement from Tomuo about this - not in a PM, but in a public post.

Quote from: Tomuo
Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 4)
« Reply #65 on: July 23, 2015, 02:41:00 PM »
Quote from: Life In Rewind on July 23, 2015, 09:24:45 AM


    The gain should just stop being reduced when the knobs hit minimum. Isn't that the whole point of the 4 gain ranges!?

    That feeling that the knob has stopped is a valuable physical index - we need that!

    TASCAM please fix this!!!


Oh man, on the DR-60D we had someone say we were going to get sued because it worked that way. (full anti-clockwise = minimum gain, not off).
The thinking is that input might be from a wireless microphone receiver, and the person at the mic end might be off-camera or off-set. (bathroom break, private phone call),
and the DR-60D would still record some of that channel, creating a privacy problem because the recordist can't instantly turn off the input.

I believe the DR-70D works the same way as many high end field recorders in this area.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: audBall on August 11, 2016, 08:27:45 PM
IMO, they could have made everyone happy by having full-counterclockwise mute the input, with just a slight clockwise movement activating the channel.

Or simply just made it a menu option like many of the other settings on the recorder.

I believe the DR-70D works the same way as many high end field recorders in this area.

What other recorders do this? I don't have much experience outside of the DR70D, M10, PMD-661, and the JB3 (from my Pleistocene taping days).
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 11, 2016, 08:51:57 PM
IMO, they could have made everyone happy by having full-counterclockwise mute the input, with just a slight clockwise movement activating the channel.

Or simply just made it a menu option like many of the other settings on the recorder.


Maybe, but the last thing this thing needs is even more functions buried in the menu.

I believe the DR-70D works the same way as many high end field recorders in this area.

What other recorders do this? I don't have much experience outside of the DR70D, M10, PMD-661, and the JB3 (from my Pleistocene taping days).

I don't think professional field recorders actually work that way either.  I know on SD recorders, for example, you can selectively mute inputs while still keeping them at their set trim levels.  That just seems like the logical way to do it.  It would be a major PITA to do it the "Tascam" way to keep re-setting levels between takes on a film set.  Tascam could in theory do this on the 70D with a two-button shortcut, such as pressing the data knob along with the corresponding channel button.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 11, 2016, 10:29:05 PM
IMO, the menu isn't confusing at all! The M10's menu was more confusing to me personally! But yeah, the dead zone is annoying for sure, but thankfully, it hasn't affected me yet :)

And Volt, I agree, Pressing the Menu knob + plus corresponding channel, would be a quick and easy fix! An even easier fix would be for Tascam to change the LOW Gain range, to allow for hotter signals, just like they did with adding the MID Gain option! Just lower the Low Gain range a little bit to allow for hotter signals and DONE, right?!!!!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on August 12, 2016, 08:20:21 AM
Anyone else starting to have trouble removing XLRs? - my channel 4 has felt "stuck" on my last 2 outings...

Both times were with the same set of cables - so I haven't eliminated the possibility of it being related to a cable.

Didn't really take note of it the first time - but the second time it got my attention.

Required a good tug to free it...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Perry on August 12, 2016, 10:31:28 AM
Anyone else starting to have trouble removing XLRs? - my channel 4 has felt "stuck" on my last 2 outings...

Both times were with the same set of cables - so I haven't eliminated the possibility of it being related to a cable.

Didn't really take note of it the first time - but the second time it got my attention.

Required a good tug to free it...

I had that problem too- it turned out to be the connectors on the cheap cables I was using. I had to struggle with them for 5 - 10 seconds to remove them every time. Last week I built two cables using chopped Neutrik connectors, no problems now.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ButchAlmberg on August 12, 2016, 10:44:56 AM
I've been having an issue disconnecting cables as well. Not sure if it's the cable or the connector on the recorder.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 12, 2016, 10:52:48 AM
Never a problem for me, all my cables have Neutrik connectors.  If this happens with other cables / connectors, maybe you could try lubricating the release switch?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on August 12, 2016, 11:08:04 AM
In my case its a pair of SHURE XLR cables that came with their cheaper PG-48 vocal mics. I guess they would fall into the category of "cheap" - even though they seem to have decent connectors (better than most Switchcraft knockoffs). They were unused - so I figured they'd be ok for a board feed. (and I leave them setup at the theatre in question)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 13, 2016, 02:22:21 AM
I ONLY use Rt Angle Stubby XLR's from DarkTrain on both of my DR-70D's[I have Rt Angle Stubbies for ALL 8 XLR INS on both of my 70D's :)], and they are ALL Neutrik connectors! I haven't had that problem at ALL using the Neutriks, so it might be worth the $$ to upgrade to some better or custom cables, with HQ connectors ;) I had to rip an XLR out of an Aerco MP2 NYE/2007, and the XLR connector on the Aerco MP2 had to be replaced. But I was using HQ Audio Magic cables, so the Aerco was the problem on that one! Anyway, what I'm getting at, is to use some quality connectors, and hopefully your issues go away :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 15, 2016, 12:34:31 PM
Volt, didn't you have someone's ear at Tascam regarding firmware update suggestions?

No being able to select which source to send to the monitor/cam outputs and being stuck with a mix is beyond ridiculous. Worked just fine on the 60; why they would limit this on the 70 is beyond me. I went to the 70 for the 4 channel XLRs, but only being able to get the mix to cam out is really starting to piss me off, and I'm sure it is with a lot of other people too. Recorded Unknown Hinson Friday night using two sets of cards; individually, both sources sound great but the mix that got sent to the camera sounds like ass.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 15, 2016, 02:43:43 PM
Nope.  I can't even get a response at all from customer service, after about 6 or 7 emails.  I haven't tried for a few months though, so maybe I'll give it another shot.

I think you've done a great job of describing a major flaw with a feature that directly affects the target market for this recorder of DSLR users.  It's been on my issues list for a long time, but like I said no one at Tascam responds to any emails from me.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 16, 2016, 01:23:29 AM
Volt, didn't you have someone's ear at Tascam regarding firmware update suggestions?

No being able to select which source to send to the monitor/cam outputs and being stuck with a mix is beyond ridiculous. Worked just fine on the 60; why they would limit this on the 70 is beyond me. I went to the 70 for the 4 channel XLRs, but only being able to get the mix to cam out is really starting to piss me off, and I'm sure it is with a lot of other people too. Recorded Unknown Hinson Friday night using two sets of cards; individually, both sources sound great but the mix that got sent to the camera sounds like ass.

Hmm, weird! I kinda had a similar incident recently! I just taped Dumpstaphunk/Turkuaz last weekend[8.6.16], and separately, my two sources sound great [mk4>vms02ib>70d[3/4] & mk41>pfa>70d[1/2]. But matrixed together 50/50, the mix sounded like ass IMO[just opening as an Audio Montage in WaveLab v6.11 like Ive done a million times before], so I scraped mixing the two sources together and left them separate!

BUT, I am not sure if it's because my mics weren't aligned vertically to the sound source[probably phasing issues from that], or because the 70D has a delay or phasing issue somewhere? I have everything set fine in the settings, but it seems when I mix my 2 DAUD sources from the 70D, they have that same weird phasing/cancellation issue it seems? And its not WaveLab v6.11 doing it!

I just got that new SRS Dina/DIN combo mount, which keeps all 4 of my caps aligned vertically to the sound source, so I'll definitely report back once I tape something new and try to matrix those 2 sources together! I'm HOPING that its just the phasing issues because of running one of my rigs about 4"-5" farther back from the front rig on my Vark Bar, and NOT the 70D reversing phase or something ??? I'm going to re-check my settings too, but I know for a fact that I don't have phase/delay/limiter/etc ON. That stuff is ALWAYS OFF in my settings!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 16, 2016, 08:57:51 AM
I think it's just the fact that running two different sets of mics with a 50/50 split just cancels some stuff out. Might work better if I was running a set of omnis and a set of cards instead of 2 sets of cards, but whatever, it's still kind of defeating the purpose. Maybe Tascam thinks everyone is just sending a scratch track to the cam that they are going to replace in post, but I never do that if I get a clean audio track to begin with.

Very weird that there are a hundred combinations for output on the 60 but no options on the 70. Bastards. Lol
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on August 16, 2016, 09:17:35 AM
we might want to start a coordinated e-mail campaign. If 100 people write the same e-mail, perhaps they'll listen.

I too would love to have control of the analogue output. It would be so easy to do an on the fly matrix to an outboard m10 in addition to the 4 individual tracks on the 70d.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Ronmac on August 16, 2016, 10:55:48 AM
I'm all for new firmware upgrades (I own two units), but let us not forget this is a $200 deck. We can hope.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 16, 2016, 11:01:01 AM
I'm all for new firmware upgrades (I own two units), but let us not forget this is a $200 deck. We can hope.

This should be pretty simple.....as I said before, the DR60 does this out of the box and the 70 should be the next step up. Besides, attaching this to a camera is it's intended use. Not having this functionally more or less cripples this
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 16, 2016, 11:05:20 AM
we might want to start a coordinated e-mail campaign. If 100 people write the same e-mail, perhaps they'll listen.

I too would love to have control of the analogue output. It would be so easy to do an on the fly matrix to an outboard m10 in addition to the 4 individual tracks on the 70d.

Next question: who do we write to?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 16, 2016, 11:11:43 AM
we might want to start a coordinated e-mail campaign. If 100 people write the same e-mail, perhaps they'll listen.

I too would love to have control of the analogue output. It would be so easy to do an on the fly matrix to an outboard m10 in addition to the 4 individual tracks on the 70d.

Next question: who do we write to?

http://tascam.com/contact/support/
I just sent an email to operational support. Fire away folks.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 16, 2016, 11:18:30 AM
we might want to start a coordinated e-mail campaign. If 100 people write the same e-mail, perhaps they'll listen.

I too would love to have control of the analogue output. It would be so easy to do an on the fly matrix to an outboard m10 in addition to the 4 individual tracks on the 70d.

Next question: who do we write to?

http://tascam.com/contact/support/
I just sent an email to operational support. Fire away folks.

Did I word this correctly? Feel free to copy and paste:

Support Reference Code: 76X3NFCB
Support Request Type: Operational Support
Product: DR70
Your Question:
Not so much of a question as a request. On the DR60, you can choose which source you send to the output (1-2, 3-4, mix, etc). On the 70 however, all you get is mix. Can the firmware be updated to allow you to choose which source you can assign to the outputs? Thanks, Dan
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 16, 2016, 11:28:59 AM
If we're sending coordinated emails, may I suggest that we all add the other things that are on the FAQ issues list?  I'm not fluffing my FAQ page here; that's a list of the top annoyances I've compiled from everyone here, with maybe just 1 or 2 if my own.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 16, 2016, 12:03:07 PM
If we're sending coordinated emails, may I suggest that we all add the other things that are on the FAQ issues list?  I'm not fluffing my FAQ page here; that's a list of the top annoyances I've compiled from everyone here, with maybe just 1 or 2 if my own.

Great idea! Squeaky wheel grease and all......
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 16, 2016, 09:48:16 PM
If we're sending coordinated emails, may I suggest that we all add the other things that are on the FAQ issues list?  I'm not fluffing my FAQ page here; that's a list of the top annoyances I've compiled from everyone here, with maybe just 1 or 2 if my own.

Yeah, great idea Volt! Id just be happy if they changed the Channel=OFF counter-clockwise issue!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 16, 2016, 10:06:45 PM
I'm out of town for a few days and it's a PITA doing it on my phone, but what I plan on doing when I'm back is copy-pasting the Known Issues and Firmware Update Requests into emails to Tascam customer service and tech support.  That's what I did several times before with no response from anyone.  If others start doing something similar, maybe they start to take notice.  Otherwise it seems like I'm this one annoying guy who find a bunch of problems and likes to complain.

Honestly I really like the 70D and it's a reliable workhorse for me.  Everything on the list short of the crappy limiter could theoretically be fixed with firmware updates, particularly given the Blackfin DSP chip that runs the unit.  They just have to see that it's worth their time and money to assign engineers and programmers to make it happen.  That's why we need to be many wheels intelligently squeaking together.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 17, 2016, 10:26:53 AM
I'm out of town for a few days and it's a PITA doing it on my phone, but what I plan on doing when I'm back is copy-pasting the Known Issues and Firmware Update Requests into emails to Tascam customer service and tech support.  That's what I did several times before with no response from anyone.  If others start doing something similar, maybe they start to take notice.  Otherwise it seems like I'm this one annoying guy who find a bunch of problems and likes to complain.

Honestly I really like the 70D and it's a reliable workhorse for me.  Everything on the list short of the crappy limiter could theoretically be fixed with firmware updates, particularly given the Blackfin DSP chip that runs the unit.  They just have to see that it's worth their time and money to assign engineers and programmers to make it happen.  That's why we need to be many wheels intelligently squeaking together.

I really like the thing too. The metering is much better than the 60, and the form factor is much better also. I feel a little better about the menu-controlled phantom power off/off deal once I realized that once they are on, the unit prompts you to confirm rather than having to turn them on individually. Really, the non-selectable output is the biggest problem I got, and frankly I'm surprised it's like this given the target market and the fact that it is selectable in it 60.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 18, 2016, 03:34:14 AM
I'm out of town for a few days and it's a PITA doing it on my phone, but what I plan on doing when I'm back is copy-pasting the Known Issues and Firmware Update Requests into emails to Tascam customer service and tech support.  That's what I did several times before with no response from anyone.  If others start doing something similar, maybe they start to take notice.  Otherwise it seems like I'm this one annoying guy who find a bunch of problems and likes to complain.

Honestly I really like the 70D and it's a reliable workhorse for me.  Everything on the list short of the crappy limiter could theoretically be fixed with firmware updates, particularly given the Blackfin DSP chip that runs the unit.  They just have to see that it's worth their time and money to assign engineers and programmers to make it happen.  That's why we need to be many wheels intelligently squeaking together.

I really like the thing too. The metering is much better than the 60, and the form factor is much better also. I feel a little better about the menu-controlled phantom power off/off deal once I realized that once they are on, the unit prompts you to confirm rather than having to turn them on individually. Really, the non-selectable output is the biggest problem I got, and frankly I'm surprised it's like this given the target market and the fact that it is selectable in it 60.

So what exactly does the 60d do differently with its output, that the 70d doesn't? Sorry about the probably newb question, but I have only scrolled thru my cousins new 60d's menu ONCE, and I don't know what you guys are talking about? So you can just send 2 channels of your choice to the 60d's output, instead of a mix of all 4 channels?

That way, I know what I'm talking about when I send Tascam some emails >:D :cheers:
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 18, 2016, 09:41:05 AM
Bean, I don't even know if this is complete. I swear there may be another menu for the camera out, but I don't have access to the unit to check right now. Pages 39-40 of the manual describe it. As you can see, you've got some choices.

http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/799/e_dr-60d_om_va.pdf

I use a camcorder a lot, and it's great just to be sending one set of mics to the cam rather than just a mix of everything.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 18, 2016, 06:29:30 PM
OK, I just sent an email to Tascam Operational Support (again).  For everyone's copy-paste convenience, here is what I sent.  Feel free to edit or duplicate as you wish.  The lists are simply copied from the DR-70D FAQ thread.

Quote
I have been using the DR-70D for nearly two years in a variety of audio recording applications.  Over the course of that time, I have been in contact with many other users of this unit, and together we have compiled a list of issues and/or problems with its function.  Nearly all of these issues could be addressed with a firmware update.  Below is a list of issues we have found, as well as suggestions for future firmware updates to address them.  Please note that some of these functions being requested already exist on other Tascam recorders such as the DR-60D.

Known Issues:

1. Poor metering display.  Only the highest dB level of all active channels is shown numerically at the lower-right corner.
2. It is difficult to accurately match levels between channels because of issue #1, and there is no way to gang channels together to link level adjustments.
3. Limiter adds 12dB noise and should be avoided.
4. No menu settings can be accessed while recording.  Especially problematic is the inability to adjust the CAM / LINE output level while recording.  The only changes that can be made while recording are limited to the 4 gain pots, headphone level, and insertion of SLATE tones.
5. Monitoring is restricted to either a 2 channel stereo mixdown or the CAM input.
6. CAM / LINE output is a 2 channel stereo mixdown, even if all 4 channels are recording.  This cannot be adjusted.
7. Slate tones only can be generated while recording.
8. Engaging HOLD locks all settings from being changed, INCLUDING the gain pots (which are digitally controlled).  If you move a gain pot while hold is engaged and then release the hold, the gain will quickly jump to the new position.
9. There is a dead zone at the bottom of the gain pot range: the pots must be turned past 8:00 for the channel to turn on at its minimum gain setting.


Firmware Update Requests:

1. Improve level monitoring readout - a large, onscreen dB gain level of one channel that appears briefly when moving a gain pot would be very helpful, and/or a per-channel numeric input level readout.
2. Add an option for ganged level controls for stereo pairs of inputs or for all four at once.  For example, in ganged 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 mode, either level control 1 or 2 would adjust both channels 1 and 2 simultaneously and either level controls 3 or 4 would adjust channels 3 and 4 simultaneously.  Similarly, in ganged 1 x 4 mode, any of the level knobs would adjust all of the channels simultaneously.  Alternatively, since level control is all digital, there could be a second menu option to have certain gain knobs disabled in gang mode to prevent accidental movement...say in 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 only knobs 1 and 3 are active and in 1 x 4 only knob 1 is active.
3. Fix the limiter implementation to make it usable without adding significant noise (as much as can be remedied digitally).
4. Allow certain menu functions to be accessed while recording, such CAM / LINE level adjustment.
5. Monitor channels 1/2 or 3/4 as separate stereo pairs or allow per-channel monitoring (currently can only monitor a mixdown of all recording channels, or the stereo CAM input).
6. Assign selected channels to CAM / LINE outputs rather than a stereo mixdown (see #5).
7. Allow Slate tones to be generated without recording. This would be useful for level-matching cameras, external recorders, and other devices before recording begins.
8. Improve the gain pot movement / hold switch disengage behavior.  Option 1: hold switch does not affect gain pots.  Option 2: if a gain pot is moved during HOLD and then hold is released, the level of the moved channel will not change until that gain pot is moved a second time.
9. Use the full range of gain pot movement to eliminate the dead zone at the bottom of the range.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on August 18, 2016, 09:52:25 PM
^^^^^^

Looks great, to which e-mail did you send this?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 18, 2016, 10:04:33 PM
I used the contact form linked here:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=177544.msg2199106#msg2199106 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=177544.msg2199106#msg2199106)

I received an automated response with a reference number.  If I don't get a reply again, I'll try emailing their support address directly without the web form.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on August 18, 2016, 11:42:09 PM
Try the old school method of sending a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested.  Then see when they sign for the letter and how long it takes for them to reply. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 20, 2016, 02:04:35 AM
Thanks a bunch Volt 8)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: vanark on August 20, 2016, 10:07:52 AM
Try the old school method of sending a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested.  Then see when they sign for the letter and how long it takes for them to reply.

Why is a reply required? They have no obligation to reply to users' feature requests. Nothing in that list makes the unit unusable. I think folks forget it is a $200 deivice.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jbell on August 20, 2016, 10:24:51 AM
My thoughts exactly!!  If you want better features buy sound devices.

Try the old school method of sending a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested.  Then see when they sign for the letter and how long it takes for them to reply.

Why is a reply required? They have no obligation to reply to users' feature requests. Nothing in that list makes the unit unusable. I think folks forget it is a $200 deivice.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 20, 2016, 11:11:26 AM
^ ^^  Here we go with this again.  You might remember that I was one of the people saying "it's only a cheap recorder, what do you expect" a while ago.  What made me change my tune is finding out that some of the things we're asking them to fix are already built into their other recorders in similar price brackets.  They could certainly fix a lot of things with firmware, if they wanted to. 

As far as receiving a reply goes:  I think a certified letter is overkill.  I just would like someone to at least reply to customer service emails acknowledging that they will take a look at these issues.  I don't expect Sound Devices level of service.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: vanark on August 20, 2016, 11:26:15 AM
It costs them money to make fixes, even if they are in other recorders. I'm not saying any of the features you want wouldn't be useful or an improvement, but I also think the 70D is good enough for what you paid.

You guys had a Tascam rep here as a conduit and you drove him off. He may have been a bit thin skinned for TS, but his reaction was pretty normal (IMO) for the real business world. Maybe an organized campaign will make your voice be heard, but I suggest you make sure not make it an angry, insulting one. Not that you have, but when people start talking about sending certified letters and expecting (demanding?) a response, I think the campaign is being set up to be a disappointment.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 20, 2016, 12:50:27 PM
It costs them money to make fixes, even if they are in other recorders. I'm not saying any of the features you want wouldn't be useful or an improvement, but I also think the 70D is good enough for what you paid.

You guys had a Tascam rep here as a conduit and you drove him off. He may have been a bit thin skinned for TS, but his reaction was pretty normal (IMO) for the real business world. Maybe an organized campaign will make your voice be heard, but I suggest you make sure not make it an angry, insulting one. Not that you have, but when people start talking about sending certified letters and expecting (demanding?) a response, I think the campaign is being set up to be a disappointment.

Yes, I'm quite happy with the 70D given what it costs, but there are a few things that, even considering the price, don't quite work as they should and could be fixed through firmware changes.  I acknowledge that this will cost money, so the chances of that happening is not the greatest.  Tascam does release new firmware periodically though, so my thinking is that if we get to them in one of those development cycles they might consider looking at some of these issues.  It doesn't hurt to ask.

"Us guys" did not drive off the Tascam rep.  Please don't lump me or some of the other recent commenters here together with the 3 or 4 people who insulted and drove away Tom Duffy (the Tascam rep).  I was one of the people trying to keep the peace, and I took quite a bit of crap for it from some others here, being called a corporate apologist, etc.  I have reached out to Tom privately a few times since that incident, and he is very firm that he's not coming back to TS, which is unfortunate.

I completely agree that any such campaign for firmware revisions needs to be civil and non-threatening.  If you read the letter I sent to Tascam above, you'll see that it is very matter-of-fact and is not making any sort of demands; merely pointing out issues and suggesting fixes.  What other people choose to do is their business.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on August 20, 2016, 12:52:58 PM
My recollection is Voltronic has tried to get a response from Tascam for quite a while, apparently to no avail.  What is the harm in sending a certified letter to see if it elicts a response?  If tascam would simply give an answer, any answer, it would be one thing, but no response? 

Preface the letter by saying I've tried to bring this to your attention by email, but haven't received any response.  Therefore, I wrote to you because your 70d would be ever so much better if you would address the following....

Knowledgeable customer feedback should be valuable to Tascam.  The very least an intelligent company would do is at least say thank you for bringing this to our attention.  But no response doesn't speak well, IMO.

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 20, 2016, 01:04:19 PM
BTW, I just learned that Tom was not a customer service rep with Tascam.  A quick search (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-duffy-08bb6a47) shows that he was actually an engineer with Teac from 1991-1999, and since 1999 has been a Teac / Tascam engineering manager.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: vanark on August 20, 2016, 01:26:55 PM

I completely agree that any such campaign for firmware revisions needs to be civil and non-threatening.  If you read the letter I sent to Tascam above, you'll see that it is very matter-of-fact and is not making any sort of demands; merely pointing out issues and suggesting fixes.  What other people choose to do is their business.

Not exactly true. What other people choose to do can impact your business. See: driving off Tom rather than working with him.

So, when someone starts talking about sending certified letters, I think they are crossing into the antagonistic territory and it is wise to voice an opinion that that is not the appropriate approach. Yes, they can do what they want. But to think their actions won't cause Tascam to lump all of the requests in with it (ie, read my "you guys" label), then you are not being realistic.

volt, I think your approach has been level. I also think Tascam's response to the SD card glitch issue was weak, but the over the top response from a segment of TS'ers, while within their right, did not achieve anything and in fact cut off the only direct access you had to the Tascam service team. If folks are going to go down that path again and expect this device to be everything they ever wanted in a 4 channel recorder, I think that is ill-advised.

A coordinated campaign? Absolutely. It may get you heard at the right time in a development cycle. Sending certified letters to see how long it takes them to respond? Unrealistic and confrontational, IMO.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on August 20, 2016, 02:59:25 PM
 As valiant as Voltronic's efforts have already been,  it may not matter whether you try email, mail, or a carrier pigeon when customer service just doesn't respond. 
 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on August 20, 2016, 10:24:39 PM
Driving off Tom was really stupid. And it makes us all look bad.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 21, 2016, 01:12:15 AM
BTW, I just learned that Tom was not a customer service rep with Tascam.  A quick search (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-duffy-08bb6a47) shows that he was actually an engineer with Teac from 1991-1999, and since 1999 has been a Teac / Tascam engineering manager.

Hmm, very interesting! Its a shame he was scared away so easily, because it seems he had the knowledge to actually do the FW updates!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 24, 2016, 08:52:00 PM
Well, no response to my email.  I'm trying again but without the web form, and going to custser@teac.com through regular email.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 25, 2016, 04:44:04 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on August 26, 2016, 09:33:28 AM
Congrats. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 26, 2016, 12:45:57 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

That's great news. I gots nothing back :shrug:
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: capnhook on August 26, 2016, 05:57:12 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

Good job voltronic.  Many of your suggested firmware enhancements could be easily implemented.

Let's hope the next TASCAM employee ain't so thin-skinned....

 :smash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3qQ61eMji8
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: capnhook on August 26, 2016, 06:00:25 PM
(Full Disclosure:  My TASCAM DR-22WL performed perfectly last weekend, with one of the 32Gb cards on the "approved list".  Thanks TASCAM, great machine.)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 26, 2016, 06:10:16 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

That's great news. I gots nothing back :shrug:

Did you use the contact form on the website or email them at the customer service address directly?  I remember a while back they had a message on their site saying that contact form was having issues.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 26, 2016, 06:15:48 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

Good job voltronic.  Many of your suggested firmware enhancements could be easily implemented.

Let's hope the next TASCAM employee ain't so thin-skinned....

 :smash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3qQ61eMji8

 ???  You didn't notice that's the same thing I just posted?  Or were you just showing solidarity through early-90s music references?   :cheers:

Either way, glad to know we share a sense of humor spoken through one-hit-wonder bands...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: capnhook on August 26, 2016, 07:05:08 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

Good job voltronic.  Many of your suggested firmware enhancements could be easily implemented.

Let's hope the next TASCAM employee ain't so thin-skinned....

 :smash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3qQ61eMji8

 ???  You didn't notice that's the same thing I just posted?  Or were you just showing solidarity through early-90s music references?   :cheers:

Either way, glad to know we share a sense of humor spoken through one-hit-wonder bands...

Solidarity, man!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 27, 2016, 01:22:58 AM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

Good job voltronic.  Many of your suggested firmware enhancements could be easily implemented.

Let's hope the next TASCAM employee ain't so thin-skinned....

 :smash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3qQ61eMji8

 ???  You didn't notice that's the same thing I just posted?  Or were you just showing solidarity through early-90s music references?   :cheers:

Either way, glad to know we share a sense of humor spoken through one-hit-wonder bands...

Solidarity, man!

Haha nice 8) I remember that song, and probably will until the die I die haha ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on August 27, 2016, 01:32:29 AM
^i must have missed that part of the 90's...  thankfully.   ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 27, 2016, 01:55:38 AM
^i must have missed that part of the 90's...  thankfully.   ;)

Yeah you should be thankful, because I never liked the song that much to begin with, but Ive heard it sooo many times on the radio, that I will probably know some of the lyrics forever lol ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: intpseeker on August 27, 2016, 03:24:36 PM
A post question.

Using my DR70-d, I took the 2 channels of soundboard and 2 channels of split omnis (outside gig), exported each separately as 16/44 stereo files. Then opened one in Audacity and pasted the other into that
project, I then used mix and render on those four channels, and got a very nice two channel matrix with very little muss or fuss.

My question: Is it possible to create a matrix using 60 or 70% of the soundboard. (I'm assuming my first effort was a 50/50 mix.)

Thanks!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 27, 2016, 03:48:08 PM
A post question.

Using my DR70-d, I took the 2 channels of soundboard and 2 channels of split omnis (outside gig), exported each separately as 16/44 stereo files. Then opened one in Audacity and pasted the other into that
project, I then used mix and render on those four channels, and got a very nice two channel matrix with very little muss or fuss.

My question: Is it possible to create a matrix using 60 or 70% of the soundboard. (I'm assuming my first effort was a 50/50 mix.)

Thanks!

Turn down the omnis in the mix?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: intpseeker on August 27, 2016, 09:57:07 PM
A post question.

Using my DR70-d, I took the 2 channels of soundboard and 2 channels of split omnis (outside gig), exported each separately as 16/44 stereo files. Then opened one in Audacity and pasted the other into that
project, I then used mix and render on those four channels, and got a very nice two channel matrix with very little muss or fuss.

My question: Is it possible to create a matrix using 60 or 70% of the soundboard. (I'm assuming my first effort was a 50/50 mix.)

Thanks!

Turn down the omnis in the mix?

Oh! OK.

I thought there was a place in Audacity or Soundforge to choose the %ages.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 27, 2016, 10:10:33 PM
A post question.

Using my DR70-d, I took the 2 channels of soundboard and 2 channels of split omnis (outside gig), exported each separately as 16/44 stereo files. Then opened one in Audacity and pasted the other into that
project, I then used mix and render on those four channels, and got a very nice two channel matrix with very little muss or fuss.

My question: Is it possible to create a matrix using 60 or 70% of the soundboard. (I'm assuming my first effort was a 50/50 mix.)

Thanks!

Turn down the omnis in the mix?

Oh! OK.

I thought there was a place in Audacity or Soundforge to choose the %ages.

No, just raise / lower the channel fader.  I wouldn't worry about percentages; just follow your ears.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: intpseeker on August 28, 2016, 12:20:31 PM
A post question.

Using my DR70-d, I took the 2 channels of soundboard and 2 channels of split omnis (outside gig), exported each separately as 16/44 stereo files. Then opened one in Audacity and pasted the other into that
project, I then used mix and render on those four channels, and got a very nice two channel matrix with very little muss or fuss.

My question: Is it possible to create a matrix using 60 or 70% of the soundboard. (I'm assuming my first effort was a 50/50 mix.)

Thanks!

Turn down the omnis in the mix?

Oh! OK.

I thought there was a place in Audacity or Soundforge to choose the %ages.

No, just raise / lower the channel fader.  I wouldn't worry about percentages; just follow your ears.

Thanks, that worked well!

Another question. I never considered phasing initially, but after producing the first matrix and then reading a little about creating one (I know, backwards), all four tracks were perfectly lined up, when
I looked at the first kick drum spike. Is that alignment a function of the DR70D, or the fact that I was two feet to the right of the soundboard, so there was no phasing?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 28, 2016, 01:30:06 PM
I think maybe you got lucky, and it's nothing to do with the recorder.  You should take your questions over to the post production area; you'll get more and better responses.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on August 28, 2016, 01:32:57 PM
A post question.

Using my DR70-d, I took the 2 channels of soundboard and 2 channels of split omnis (outside gig), exported each separately as 16/44 stereo files. Then opened one in Audacity and pasted the other into that
project, I then used mix and render on those four channels, and got a very nice two channel matrix with very little muss or fuss.

My question: Is it possible to create a matrix using 60 or 70% of the soundboard. (I'm assuming my first effort was a 50/50 mix.)

Thanks!

Turn down the omnis in the mix?

Oh! OK.

I thought there was a place in Audacity or Soundforge to choose the %ages.

No, just raise / lower the channel fader.  I wouldn't worry about percentages; just follow your ears.

Thanks, that worked well!

Another question. I never considered phasing initially, but after producing the first matrix and then reading a little about creating one (I know, backwards), all four tracks were perfectly lined up, when
I looked at the first kick drum spike. Is that alignment a function of the DR70D, or the fact that I was two feet to the right of the soundboard, so there was no phasing?

Did you zoom in on the kick spike? - If you were any distance from the stage, you should have some delay - but it might not be obvious until you're zoomed in pretty tight.

In Audacity, use the Time Shift tool to slide tracks into sync.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 29, 2016, 12:23:03 PM
I just received an email back stating that they are forwarding my list to the R&D department in Japan for review.

Now I'm sure all our firmware wishes will come true.   ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z38cpa5KFYs)

That's great news. I gots nothing back :shrug:

Did you use the contact form on the website or email them at the customer service address directly?  I remember a while back they had a message on their site saying that contact form was having issues.

Website. I did get this automated response:

2016-08-16 08:08:28
Hello Dan Harris,
Thank you for contacting TASCAM.
This message has been automatically generated in response to the request
you submitted to our support system with Support Reference Code: 76X3NFCB

Below is a copy of the message that you submitted:

Support Reference Code: 76X3NFCB
Support Request Type: Operational Support
Product: DR70
Your Question:
Not so much of a question as a request. On the DR60, you can choose which source you send to the output (1-2, 3-4, mix, etc). On the 70 however, all you get is mix. Can the firmware be updated to allow you to choose which source you can assign to the outputs? Thanks, Dan

We will contact you again at this email address.
If you have any additional questions, please reply to this message with a
copy of the Support Reference Code in the subject line.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 29, 2016, 02:19:39 PM
^ Yeah, that's the only response I've ever gotten from the website form also.  Maybe you could try the email address I used.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: morst on August 29, 2016, 04:59:19 PM
Support Reference Code: 76X3NFCB
Support Request Type: Operational Support
Product: DR70
Your Question:
Not so much of a question as a request. On the DR60, you can choose which source you send to the output (1-2, 3-4, mix, etc). On the 70 however, all you get is mix. Can the firmware be updated to allow you to choose which source you can assign to the outputs?

YEAH! Speaking of which, when the DR70D records a 4-channel fileset composed of two stereo pairs, is there a way to play back either stereo WAV file separately in the field? I would like to be able to check individual signals in headphones. I think there is not, and the manual doesn't say much except the vague: "A project is a group of files used for recording/ playback" on page 10.

Since as far as I can tell, you can only hear the mix, I guess it's best to make a test recording at soundcheck where you start by setting all 4 levels, then temporarily turn down each pair before stopping the recorder to check the audio!?? Honestly, I am not usually able to use headphones for anything useful when rock & roll is occurring, I can only monitor things via playback to find out if there is low level noise, or peak distortion in the signal...


BTW, I just learned that Tom was not a customer service rep with Tascam.  A quick search (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-duffy-08bb6a47) shows that he was actually an engineer with Teac from 1991-1999, and since 1999 has been a Teac / Tascam engineering manager.
:facepalm:
That somewhat explains his lack of interest in customer service as such.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 29, 2016, 08:15:52 PM
Support Reference Code: 76X3NFCB
Support Request Type: Operational Support
Product: DR70
Your Question:
Not so much of a question as a request. On the DR60, you can choose which source you send to the output (1-2, 3-4, mix, etc). On the 70 however, all you get is mix. Can the firmware be updated to allow you to choose which source you can assign to the outputs?

YEAH! Speaking of which, when the DR70D records a 4-channel fileset composed of two stereo pairs, is there a way to play back either stereo WAV file separately in the field? I would like to be able to check individual signals in headphones. I think there is not, and the manual doesn't say much except the vague: "A project is a group of files used for recording/ playback" on page 10.

Since as far as I can tell, you can only hear the mix, I guess it's best to make a test recording at soundcheck where you start by setting all 4 levels, then temporarily turn down each pair before stopping the recorder to check the audio!?? Honestly, I am not usually able to use headphones for anything useful when rock & roll is occurring, I can only monitor things via playback to find out if there is low level noise, or peak distortion in the signal...

I guess that depends on if it keeps a "project" of tracks as one unit for playback in the way it does for recording.  I'm not sure how that would even work, maybe the file naming system?  Clearly the manual is not helpful, so you might want to try it at home and see what happens.  Maybe put one set of mics in front of the TV in one room, and another set in front of the stereo in the other room.  You'll find out pretty quickly if you're hearing both things together or not.  Maybe try it with both mono and stereo tracks to see if it behaves any differently.

Lately I've been recording only two tracks, but using Dual Rec to make a -12 dB safety.  I never play back anything until it's been dumped to the computer, but I can't imagine it would play back the higher gain tracks together with the -12 dB tracks.

BTW, I just learned that Tom was not a customer service rep with Tascam.  A quick search (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-duffy-08bb6a47) shows that he was actually an engineer with Teac from 1991-1999, and since 1999 has been a Teac / Tascam engineering manager.
:facepalm:
That somewhat explains his lack of interest in customer service as such.

Oh, so we're back to this again?  Sure, I'll play.  It also explains his lack of patience with conspiracy theories and threats of legal action.  :smash:
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 29, 2016, 09:23:23 PM
Just want to weight in on the "non approved card" thing. I've read it with interest, this is my story.

Got a call yesterday about a show that a local band was doing a reunion thing. Got to town, 30 min to make show. Grabbed shit, and a 32b mini-micro SD card and an adaptor that I planned on using for video.
The Tascam ran out 1st. Shoved the unknown card in and hit record. Listening to it now. Not advocating unknown cards; I upgraded my 70 to 1.13 before I ran my 1st show. Just thinking maybe they did something about this to make the unit more "forgiving" with cards in one of the updates. Or maybe I got lucky. Will pull card and update later. That 70 sure seems to like the ADK LD mics for sure :smash:
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on August 29, 2016, 09:56:04 PM
It's been said many times before: there may be lots of cards that work great in the 70D even if they aren't approved.  Tascam only tested a handful, but those are the only ones you can be sure will work well.

Who knows if the firmware update did anything for card compatibility?  What it did address was supposedly faulty formatting, and that alone could lead to recording errors, even with approved cards.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on August 29, 2016, 10:29:12 PM
My experience just leads be to believe that this is a solid deck that they may have rushed to market and them tried to patch up as they went along. Look at the 60. That was pretty bold to put out there and there has still only been one firmware upgrade to my knowledge. Damn.....if I knew I wouldn't brick my unit I would load that 60 firmware to my 70.......wonder if it would restore the monitor functionality or brick the unit....
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on August 29, 2016, 11:38:16 PM
This just seems like arguing with my "wife." He might have been in the wrong to leave in a huff, but we lost what seemed like a really useful line into Tascam. Without it, we can't even get more than an automated response.

Please don't drive industry people away, even if they act poorly.

Support Reference Code: 76X3NFCB
Support Request Type: Operational Support
Product: DR70
Your Question:
Not so much of a question as a request. On the DR60, you can choose which source you send to the output (1-2, 3-4, mix, etc). On the 70 however, all you get is mix. Can the firmware be updated to allow you to choose which source you can assign to the outputs?

YEAH! Speaking of which, when the DR70D records a 4-channel fileset composed of two stereo pairs, is there a way to play back either stereo WAV file separately in the field? I would like to be able to check individual signals in headphones. I think there is not, and the manual doesn't say much except the vague: "A project is a group of files used for recording/ playback" on page 10.

Since as far as I can tell, you can only hear the mix, I guess it's best to make a test recording at soundcheck where you start by setting all 4 levels, then temporarily turn down each pair before stopping the recorder to check the audio!?? Honestly, I am not usually able to use headphones for anything useful when rock & roll is occurring, I can only monitor things via playback to find out if there is low level noise, or peak distortion in the signal...

I guess that depends on if it keeps a "project" of tracks as one unit for playback in the way it does for recording.  I'm not sure how that would even work, maybe the file naming system?  Clearly the manual is not helpful, so you might want to try it at home and see what happens.  Maybe put one set of mics in front of the TV in one room, and another set in front of the stereo in the other room.  You'll find out pretty quickly if you're hearing both things together or not.  Maybe try it with both mono and stereo tracks to see if it behaves any differently.

Lately I've been recording only two tracks, but using Dual Rec to make a -12 dB safety.  I never play back anything until it's been dumped to the computer, but I can't imagine it would play back the higher gain tracks together with the -12 dB tracks.

BTW, I just learned that Tom was not a customer service rep with Tascam.  A quick search (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-duffy-08bb6a47) shows that he was actually an engineer with Teac from 1991-1999, and since 1999 has been a Teac / Tascam engineering manager.
:facepalm:
That somewhat explains his lack of interest in customer service as such.

Oh, so we're back to this again?  Sure, I'll play.  It also explains his lack of patience with conspiracy theories and threats of legal action.  :smash:
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 29, 2016, 11:51:18 PM
Just want to weight in on the "non approved card" thing. I've read it with interest, this is my story.

Got a call yesterday about a show that a local band was doing a reunion thing. Got to town, 30 min to make show. Grabbed shit, and a 32b mini-micro SD card and an adaptor that I planned on using for video.
The Tascam ran out 1st. Shoved the unknown card in and hit record. Listening to it now. Not advocating unknown cards; I upgraded my 70 to 1.13 before I ran my 1st show. Just thinking maybe they did something about this to make the unit more "forgiving" with cards in one of the updates. Or maybe I got lucky. Will pull card and update later. That 70 sure seems to like the ADK LD mics for sure :smash:

I have been using PNY Elite 32gb and 64gb SD Cards in my oldest DR70D, since I got it back in like April 2015, with a flawless record up to this point! So it's def possible to get a 100% solid and reliable NON-APPROVED SD card! However, I would honestly avoid MicroSD cards in an adapter, at least with my experience! Before I sold both of my M10's in the last 1.5 years, i had a BUNCH of Micro and SD cards. Well, just about EVERY MicroSDHC Card that I tested did horrible in my tests with my 70D back in the Summer 2015, but they have had several FW updates since then, so maybe MicroSD cards are more "universally acceptable" to the 70D now?!?! It's very possible! Just giving you a heads up about MY experience with Micro SD cards ;)

And even though my PNY Elite SD Cards have worked amazing so far, I STILL want to get [2] 128gb Sandisk Extreme Pro SD Cards[They're ON the approved list BTW], because my 64gb Sandisk Extreme Pro has worked killer so far, and I want to be able to run STRICTLY 24/96, even at festies, so [2] 128gb SD Cards are a MUST have IMO! 8)

My experience just leads be to believe that this is a solid deck that they may have rushed to market and them tried to patch up as they went along. Look at the 60. That was pretty bold to put out there and there has still only been one firmware upgrade to my knowledge. Damn.....if I knew I wouldn't brick my unit I would load that 60 firmware to my 70.......wonder if it would restore the monitor functionality or brick the unit....


I highly doubt that 70D FW would work on the 60D! However, you might never know until you try? >:D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: morst on August 30, 2016, 02:01:02 AM
OMG, get this:

The trashcan page lists this as an official "option" for the DR70D (which DOES have a mini-jack REMOTE input on the left side!):
http://tascam.com/product/rc-10/

it looks like it enables playback of either pair JUST LIKE I WAS JUST ASKING!??!

Quote
RC-10 is a wired remote control for TASCAM DR-40 handheld recorder.

Damn.....if I knew I wouldn't brick my unit I would load that 60 firmware to my 70.......wonder if it would restore the monitor functionality or brick the unit....
Try renaming it and seeing if it takes it?!

Please don't drive industry people away, even if they act poorly.

Tell me more.  :banging head:

I guess it's on the consumer to pussy-foot around the international conglomerate so we don't piss off the one person who deigns to attempt to cut through their corporate BS? Hah. Tools and toadies.

It costs them money to make fixes, even if they are in other recorders. I'm not saying any of the features you want wouldn't be useful or an improvement, but I also think the 70D is good enough for what you paid.

Thanks for hanging out with me at work while I made the money I spent on the deck. Thanks also for investigating my receipt file so you can say that.
Quote

You guys had a Tascam rep here as a conduit and you drove him off. He may have been a bit thin skinned for TS, but his reaction was pretty normal (IMO) for the real business world. Maybe an organized campaign will make your voice be heard, but I suggest you make sure not make it an angry, insulting one. Not that you have, but when people start talking about sending certified letters and expecting (demanding?) a response, I think the campaign is being set up to be a disappointment.

My BBB claim not only demanded a response, but yielded the OFFICIAL APPROVED CARD LIST that we all must rely on until it is updated again!?! (hah!)
Quote
Documents
2015-10-06 12:00:00 DR-70D Tested Media List - 49.04 KB dr-70d_tested_media_list_20151006.pdf

I think it's TOTALLY fair to talk about certified letters and even poison frog darts on this discussion forum (see northern midwest team board, a couple years ago, it was a recurring theme as a possibility to silence talkers near the mics!?!!!) Doesn't mean you have to do it, and it doesn't reflect on YOU if someone else does. Paranoid lately? :-p
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 30, 2016, 02:15:20 AM
Good point about the RC-10 Remote! Wonder if using the RC-10 with the DR-70D works like it seems to with the DR-40? Does anyone have an RC-10 that they can try that with? Because according to the pic you just posted, at least regarding the DR-40, it looks like you can select between the 1/2 and 3/4 inputs instead of the MIX of all 4 inputs like on the 70D!

If anyone has an RC-10 to try that with, please do so and report back here ;D 8) It does seem like an EASY fix via FW, to me at least!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: dogmusic on August 30, 2016, 11:31:58 AM
Wonder if using the RC-10 with the DR-70D works like it seems to with the DR-40?

The DR-70D manual p. 36 shows what functions are available with the remote. Unfortunately, they're not the same as with the DR-40.

Below is the remote menu for the DR-70D plus the remote uses. Looks like you can toggle between CAMERA & MIX:

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: morst on August 30, 2016, 02:51:28 PM
The DR-70D manual p. 36 shows what functions are available with the remote.
Hey I don't know if I noticed that there's not only an Owner's Manual, but a Reference Manual!? Page 36 of the REFERENCE manual has the remote info you mentioned. P36 of the Owner's manual is in French!  :bigsmile:

Ref man:
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/e_dr-70d_rm_vb.pdf

Owners man:
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_om_vb.pdf
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on August 31, 2016, 01:23:07 PM
The DR-70D manual p. 36 shows what functions are available with the remote.
Hey I don't know if I noticed that there's not only an Owner's Manual, but a Reference Manual!? Page 36 of the REFERENCE manual has the remote info you mentioned. P36 of the Owner's manual is in French!  :bigsmile:

Ref man:
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/e_dr-70d_rm_vb.pdf

Owners man:
http://tascam.com/content/downloads/products/867/dr-70d_om_vb.pdf

Yes, and IMO, the reference manual is a MUST read, as well as the Users Manual ;)

I never even thought of looking in the manuals though :( Thanks for the heads up! Holding in the ENTER button on the 70D brings up the MON SELECT[Cam/Mix], so it seems it would be a quick/easy/cheap fix to add the 1/2, 3/4, Cam, Mix monitoring, to just hold in the ENTER button to toggle between Channels 1/2, 3/4 or CAM or MIX! So hopefully that will come true in a future FW update!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 09, 2016, 03:36:19 AM
Hello all, I was asked by a few different tapirs to snap some 70D right angle stubby XLR & Left Angle Micro USB + Battery pics for them, so I thought Id snap a bunch and make my own thread! Here's a few since this is the 70D thread haha :) Oh and all of the Rt Angle Stubby XLRs were made by DarkTrain FWIW 8)

Here's a link to the original size pics plus some that I didn't shrink if anyone is interested!
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzaK8joEP_fMdGY3MlhXczdHUWc&usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzaK8joEP_fMdGY3MlhXczdHUWc&usp=sharing)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 09, 2016, 03:38:26 AM
Few more :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on September 09, 2016, 10:30:11 AM
^is that a KCY that's u-turned on the VMS??
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: mrnewyorsch on September 10, 2016, 01:58:21 AM
Hello everyone.
I'm preparing for a feature film whose production quality I hope to be theater grade for festivals.
I own a Rode NTG3B shotgun microphone and a Tascam DR70-D recorder. Though I am very satisfied with this recorder and have shot a documentary using it with very nice results, so far delivery has basically been to the internet and I'm concerned about the display quality on large, well calibrated systems.
My plan as of now is to pick up a field mixer like a Sound Devices 302 from ebay, and run the signal through that to the recorder, thereby boosting sound quality without breaking the budget.
Might anyone have experience or knowledge as to why that would be a good or a bad idea?
Thanks.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on September 10, 2016, 07:11:46 AM
Hello everyone.
I'm preparing for a feature film whose production quality I hope to be theater grade for festivals.
I own a Rode NTG3B shotgun microphone and a Tascam DR70-D recorder. Though I am very satisfied with this recorder and have shot a documentary using it with very nice results, so far delivery has basically been to the internet and I'm concerned about the display quality on large, well calibrated systems.
My plan as of now is to pick up a field mixer like a Sound Devices 302 from ebay, and run the signal through that to the recorder, thereby boosting sound quality without breaking the budget.
Might anyone have experience or knowledge as to why that would be a good or a bad idea?
Thanks.

The 302 is not needed unless you need to crank the gain from your shotgun mic really high.  The 70D preamps are just fine for this kind of work, and they only start to fall short when you get to the HIGH+ gain range where they become noisy.  If you keep the gain lower than that (which most work would have you do 90% of the time) then you won't have any issues. 

The 302 preamps may also be slightly more transparent, but unless you're recording classical or other acoustic music in quiet, controlled environments, you'll never notice the difference.  I have a Shure FP-24 (SD MixPre) and I never use it with the 70D even for classical recording, although my 70D is modded which improved things over stock.

So to sum up: While the 302 preamps are a bit better quality, you'll never hear it because of what you're recording.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 10, 2016, 12:45:19 PM
^is that a KCY that's u-turned on the VMS??

Yeah! Totally NOT optimal, but otherwise, my 711 Binder falls apart and I get cutouts/etc :( It's ROCK solid the way it is in the pics tho. I am getting it re-done this fall with this Series 712 Binder connector, so that my "U-Turn" isn't necessary anymore!
https://www.binder-usa.com/products/partsdetail/89227
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jbell on September 10, 2016, 12:55:13 PM
I had a right angle KCY extension made for my VMS and it works great!! 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: caymanreview on September 10, 2016, 01:54:53 PM
got any pics of that right angle kcy?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 10, 2016, 04:34:08 PM
I had a right angle KCY extension made for my VMS and it works great!! 

Yep, that's my goal too 8)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on September 12, 2016, 07:37:58 AM

The 302 is not needed unless you need to crank the gain from your shotgun mic really high.  The 70D preamps are just fine for this kind of work

So to sum up: While the 302 preamps are a bit better quality, you'll never hear it because of what you're recording.

Totally disagree. If you are making a feature film and, presumably getting paid for it, use the de facto industry standard which is Sound Devices. Sound Devices preamps are designed and built for this type of work. Best tool for the job.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 12, 2016, 08:42:01 AM

The 302 is not needed unless you need to crank the gain from your shotgun mic really high.  The 70D preamps are just fine for this kind of work

So to sum up: While the 302 preamps are a bit better quality, you'll never hear it because of what you're recording.

Totally disagree. If you are making a feature film and, presumably getting paid for it, use the de facto industry standard which is Sound Devices. Sound Devices preamps are designed and built for this type of work. Best tool for the job.

I agree! If I were doing voice/film work[especially getting PAID to do it], Id probably want quieter preamps than the 70D has! For louder concert taping, it's a different story! I think the 70D preamps are fine for concert taping, however, Id be a lil nervous relying on the 70D pres for doing quiet voice work. I ran mk4/41>PFA[+48v]>70D recording birds/nature awhile back[I posted samples on ts.com], and I could still hear a good bit of noise even in LOW gain mode! Maybe it was the PFA and not the 70D? Not 100% sure since I don't typically record such quiet stuff, but it was more noise than would be acceptable on a film IMO! But like Goodcooker said, the SD pres are really quiet, and used on MANY films in existence already, so Id go with the SD since its already a proven/quiet portable preamp! As always, YMMV ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on September 12, 2016, 08:50:11 AM

The 302 is not needed unless you need to crank the gain from your shotgun mic really high.  The 70D preamps are just fine for this kind of work

So to sum up: While the 302 preamps are a bit better quality, you'll never hear it because of what you're recording.

Totally disagree. If you are making a feature film and, presumably getting paid for it, use the de facto industry standard which is Sound Devices. Sound Devices preamps are designed and built for this type of work. Best tool for the job.

I don't doubt that professionals use the equipment that is marketed to them, but are they correct to do so?

We tapers have long been pioneers in finding inexpensive solutions to professional problems.

Many tapers actively dislike like the sound of SD preamps, others swear by them; the preamps on the "toy" d70d have earned acclaim, especially for the price.

The specs are plenty good for "what we do," (Rode NTG3 Signal-to-Noise Ratio= 81 dB,
Tascam dr70d Signal-to-Noise Ratio= 92 dB).

For me, I'd much rather spend that money on a better transducer. You could buy a used mk41, an nbob and a pfa for about what you spend on a 302. (and would be *tiny* for film work.)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on September 12, 2016, 09:37:43 AM
Isn't the most important "PRO" feature for film - timecode?

Sounds like, at minimum, he should using the new ZOOM F4...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on September 12, 2016, 05:18:10 PM
There are several considerations at play.  Budget is one.  Quiet preamps another.  Not having zipper noise on the gain pots is another.   Powering requirements. 

I'm guessing it was maybe 1 1/2 years ago that the least expensive timecode recorder available was the Roland R-88 around $1,900.   Now we have the F8 at $1,000 and the DR701D at $700?  F4 is coming at $649. 

Then you have to look at how well any of them sync to the camera equipment, how that is implemented (bnc, hdmi, etc)  and what the cameras cost. 

I think the most interesting competition will be to see how the 701d fares against the F4 for folks doing small video production.  I also think the multimillion dollar production folks are going to stick with what they know works....for the time being. 





Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on September 12, 2016, 06:08:26 PM
There are several considerations at play.  Budget is one.  Quiet preamps another.  Not having zipper noise on the gain pots is another.   Powering requirements. 

I'm guessing it was maybe 1 1/2 years ago that the least expensive timecode recorder available was the Roland R-88 around $1,900.   Now we have the F8 at $1,000 and the DR701D at $700?  F4 is coming at $649. 

Then you have to look at how well any of them sync to the camera equipment, how that is implemented (bnc, hdmi, etc)  and what the cameras cost. 

I think the most interesting competition will be to see how the 701d fares against the F4 for folks doing small video production.  I also think the multimillion dollar production folks are going to stick with what they know works....for the time being.

I wouldn't include the 701D with the others you're listing, as its timecode is input-only.  The F4 and F8 have timecode functions like the real pro-level stuff.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on September 12, 2016, 06:30:42 PM

The 302 is not needed unless you need to crank the gain from your shotgun mic really high.  The 70D preamps are just fine for this kind of work

So to sum up: While the 302 preamps are a bit better quality, you'll never hear it because of what you're recording.

Totally disagree. If you are making a feature film and, presumably getting paid for it, use the de facto industry standard which is Sound Devices. Sound Devices preamps are designed and built for this type of work. Best tool for the job.

Well if you're making the reliability argument, then the 70D should be eliminated as well and a SD recorder or equivalent should replace the whole kit.  If something is going to fail it's most likely going to be the recorder itself, so if this is paid work where you want the highest reliability, don't buy a 302 - just rent or buy a 7-series recorder.  Putting the 302 in front of the 70D in no way increases the reliability of your project.

Again, I own a SD preamp, and in my experience that there is no audible benefit to inserting it ahead of the 70D unless it's a quiet concert recording where you need to really crank the gain.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jbell on September 14, 2016, 06:01:56 PM
Here it is! 

got any pics of that right angle kcy?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on September 14, 2016, 06:32:10 PM
^that's a slick cable!!  darktrain??
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jbell on September 14, 2016, 06:39:19 PM
Yep it was made by Darktrain!!  I always leave it in the VMS to make it easy to connect and disconnect my KCY 250/5 Ig cable. 

^that's a slick cable!!  darktrain??
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 15, 2016, 05:55:52 PM
Very nice JBell 8) Thanks for the pic! I'll take ALL of the gear pr0n that I can get ;D

After seeing your nice/neat cable, it really motivates me to get my KCY cables fixed/modded asap ;D My 711 Binder at my VMS is all FUBAR'D and has to be held in place with velcro and nylon zip ties :P
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jagraham on September 24, 2016, 06:46:19 PM
Sorry if this has been covered, but I've got a quick question/observation/concern. I've recorded a few shows the past week and I'm trying to figure out if the low levels are a result of low batteries or something that's to be expected. I'm running Nak CM-100s/300s with CP-1 and CP-2 caps. Both are run via XLRs into the DR70d, one set of XLRs goes into the 3-4 inputs and the other terminates to a miniplug into the 1-2 ext in. The Naks are powered by 12V alkaline batteries. I've got an older set of batteries and a newer one, which I'm going to test soon to see if they happen to be low.

Here's what happened... I recorded several sets of different types of music and the pairs with both the older batteries AND the GAKables XLR > miniplug ran way lower than the pairs with the XLR > XLR pair of cables. This occured with both the card and omni caps, as I swapped them from one show to another. I even ran the pair with older batteries and the XLR > mini on high gain one time and it still was way lower than the other pair. At first I assumed it was that the omni caps were less sensitive but now I'm worried I've let the batteries get too low. Any input here is appreciated...

That said, I have something positive to report! I happened to run a matrix at the Agent Orange/Counterpunch show this week where I ran the mono SBD > ext input 1-2. I accidentally ran it as mic in, and while the levels clipped on the drum hits, the sound actually came out OK! I thought that would be near impossible. So it's good to know the recorder can handle a hot signal, even on the mic setting.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on September 25, 2016, 12:31:58 PM
Sorry if this has been covered, but I've got a quick question/observation/concern. I've recorded a few shows the past week and I'm trying to figure out if the low levels are a result of low batteries or something that's to be expected. I'm running Nak CM-100s/300s with CP-1 and CP-2 caps. Both are run via XLRs into the DR70d, one set of XLRs goes into the 3-4 inputs and the other terminates to a miniplug into the 1-2 ext in. The Naks are powered by 12V alkaline batteries. I've got an older set of batteries and a newer one, which I'm going to test soon to see if they happen to be low.

Here's what happened... I recorded several sets of different types of music and the pairs with both the older batteries AND the GAKables XLR > miniplug ran way lower than the pairs with the XLR > XLR pair of cables. This occured with both the card and omni caps, as I swapped them from one show to another. I even ran the pair with older batteries and the XLR > mini on high gain one time and it still was way lower than the other pair. At first I assumed it was that the omni caps were less sensitive but now I'm worried I've let the batteries get too low. Any input here is appreciated...

That said, I have something positive to report! I happened to run a matrix at the Agent Orange/Counterpunch show this week where I ran the mono SBD > ext input 1-2. I accidentally ran it as mic in, and while the levels clipped on the drum hits, the sound actually came out OK! I thought that would be near impossible. So it's good to know the recorder can handle a hot signal, even on the mic setting.

Whats your settings on the DR-70D?

I find I have to use the MID input level setting for these mics - unless Im close and the show is loud.

At my theatre - recording the country band from 30 feet - I use MID

Of course verify that you have the mic's pad OFF. ( the little switch down in the barrel under the cap)

But for sure - low batteries will create low output - I just had this happen yesterday - was getting next to nothing out my TEACs...even on mid, tapping the mic - just about nothing.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jagraham on September 25, 2016, 01:07:02 PM
^ This occured on all settings. I typically use the MID level for everything. I even had it on HIGH for the country show yesterday and levels were lower than the other pair of mics on MID. I'll be testing the batteries today and report back. I guess I was hoping that the ext in miniplug on the DR70D would create an inherently weaker signal.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on September 25, 2016, 06:35:06 PM
^ This occured on all settings. I typically use the MID level for everything. I even had it on HIGH for the country show yesterday and levels were lower than the other pair of mics on MID. I'll be testing the batteries today and report back. I guess I was hoping that the ext in miniplug on the DR70D would create an inherently weaker signal.

You will see 6dB lower level when you unbalance the signal in the mini plug cable.

 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on September 26, 2016, 02:32:59 AM
Sounds like your Nak batteries are low too!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Jonmac on September 26, 2016, 05:37:10 AM
Isn't the most important "PRO" feature for film - timecode?

Sounds like, at minimum, he should using the new ZOOM F4...
You can't use a Zoom F4 for film work.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on September 26, 2016, 11:45:08 AM
^ This occured on all settings. I typically use the MID level for everything. I even had it on HIGH for the country show yesterday and levels were lower than the other pair of mics on MID. I'll be testing the batteries today and report back. I guess I was hoping that the ext in miniplug on the DR70D would create an inherently weaker signal.

You will see 6dB lower level when you unbalance the signal in the mini plug cable.

I got the same problem with my 300's/DR60. So going from 2 XLR's out from the mics > 1/8' will unbalance the signal thus the 6 db loss?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScottT on October 04, 2016, 04:30:28 AM
Anyone encounter a 'dead' channel?

I took my DR-70d out for the first time this weekend.  At a festival on Friday night I used 1&2 for a stereo pair (maiden voyage of the ADK TL's that I recently purchased from goodcooker) and recorded the same signal at -12dB on 3&4.  That went fine, but when I press record for the first band on Saturday I've got nothing on channel 2.  I switched all the mics and cables around to isolate the issue, and everything works fine on channels 1, 3, and 4.  I ended up running the stereo pair on 3&4 and was able to record that at -12dB on 1&2, which leads me to believe there's no phantom power on 2.  Why it worked Friday but failed 18 hours later is a mystery which warrants further investigation on my part.  I just got home last night but figured I would post to see if someone else had seen this behavior with the deck. 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: capnhook on October 04, 2016, 09:39:09 AM
If it was your first time out, I would first suspect "new device syndrome "

A piece of new gear (if it is going to fail) will either fail soon after first use, or hardly ever at all.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on October 04, 2016, 10:49:33 AM
...warrants a return to the dealer or a warranty claim if you want to go through that.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScottT on October 04, 2016, 11:32:42 AM
I suspect it is a 'lemon'.  I don't hold out a lot of hope of being able to fix it myself.

I purchased the deck a couple months ago but didn't use it until now because I've been too busy (hadn't seen a show since Memorial Weekend).  It's now outside the vendor's return policy but Tascam's warranty is still in effect.  I'll just have to get the device to an authorized repair shop - fortunately there's one not too far from my office.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on October 04, 2016, 06:19:00 PM
Anyone encounter a 'dead' channel?

I took my DR-70d out for the first time this weekend.  At a festival on Friday night I used 1&2 for a stereo pair (maiden voyage of the ADK TL's that I recently purchased from goodcooker) and recorded the same signal at -12dB on 3&4.  That went fine, but when I press record for the first band on Saturday I've got nothing on channel 2.  I switched all the mics and cables around to isolate the issue, and everything works fine on channels 1, 3, and 4.  I ended up running the stereo pair on 3&4 and was able to record that at -12dB on 1&2, which leads me to believe there's no phantom power on 2.  Why it worked Friday but failed 18 hours later is a mystery which warrants further investigation on my part.  I just got home last night but figured I would post to see if someone else had seen this behavior with the deck.

Let's pump the brakes a second on a bad channel.  The 70D has phantom power is enabled / disabled on a per-channel basis.  While scrolling through the menus after your first recording, you could have accidentally disabled phantom power on Ch 2 or disarmed the channel for recording.  All it would take is a quick press and slight turn of the Data knob, when you thought you were just scrolling down the menu.

Another possibility: If you had phantom enabled when you last powered down the unit, then next time you power on it will ask you to individually confirm phantom power for all of the channels that previously had it enabled.  You could have accidentally selected Yes for Ch 1 and No for Ch 2.  The buttons for the two choices are not near each other, but it could happen.

Something similar happened to me two weeks ago.  Even though I have never once used it intentionally, I had somehow accidentally engaged a 120 Hz low cut on Channel 1.  Of course, I had no idea until I exported the recording to my computer and listened.  All it takes is a stray press or tweak of that Data knob...

So, what I would check:
1. BASIC > RECORD - Confirm both Ch 1 & Ch 2 set to ON.
2. BASIC > GAIN - Confirm both Ch 1 & Ch 2 set to the same gain range.  (This obviously wouldn't cause nothing to be recorded, but it could make it sound nearly inaudible depending on what you were recording).
3. INPUT > INPUT GAIN - Confirm both Ch 1 & Ch 2 set to MIC+PHANTOM.
4. Make some test recordings.

Only after you have done all of that would I start to suspect a channel gone bad.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Perry on October 04, 2016, 06:50:03 PM
^^^Good advice^^^
Been there myself...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScottT on October 05, 2016, 01:00:29 AM
So, what I would check:

Thank you for typing that out.  I knew I would need to spend some time troubleshooting before undertaking any warranty repair/replacement, and having the written steps in front of me made it easy.
I had previously left 3&4 as the Mic+Phantom channels, but I went through the menus and switched back to 1&2.  I made sure they were On with matching Low gain, and hooked up the microphones.  1&2 are currently working fine!  Hopefully it was just a case of operator error or a one time glitch.  Thanks again to everyone - this forum is invaluable...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: yug du nord on October 05, 2016, 01:08:15 AM
^rookie.
 ;)

.............as a fellow owner of the 70D...  it's a nice deck...  but goofy. 
definitely takes some trial and error to run it with success.
hope all is well man!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ScottT on October 05, 2016, 09:12:28 AM
^rookie.
 ;)

.............as a fellow owner of the 70D...  it's a nice deck...  but goofy. 
definitely takes some trial and error to run it with success.
hope all is well man!

Hey Guy!  I definitely feel like a rookie with the new deck and my not-as-successful-as-they-should-be attempts at mixing 4 channels.  I've used SoundForge for almost 20 years and learning a new program has been a challenge.  It doesn't help that my days are full with the regular job, running the horse ranch, and 3 hours commuting - I barely have time to sleep!  I hadn't seen a show since Memorial Weekend but now I've got two festivals and UM Halloween in October.  When it rains it pours...  You should check out our new farm if you're ever in the area - we love it!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on October 05, 2016, 07:02:57 PM
Anyone encounter a 'dead' channel?

I took my DR-70d out for the first time this weekend.  At a festival on Friday night I used 1&2 for a stereo pair (maiden voyage of the ADK TL's that I recently purchased from goodcooker) and recorded the same signal at -12dB on 3&4.  That went fine, but when I press record for the first band on Saturday I've got nothing on channel 2.  I switched all the mics and cables around to isolate the issue, and everything works fine on channels 1, 3, and 4.  I ended up running the stereo pair on 3&4 and was able to record that at -12dB on 1&2, which leads me to believe there's no phantom power on 2.  Why it worked Friday but failed 18 hours later is a mystery which warrants further investigation on my part.  I just got home last night but figured I would post to see if someone else had seen this behavior with the deck.

Be sure you have "RECORD" set to "ON" in the menus for that channel.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jagraham on October 05, 2016, 10:25:54 PM
^ That was the first thing I thought. Obvious but easy to make error.

So my battery issue is resolved I guess... I tested the older pair of batteries on my meter and it's the first time I've seen anything visibly low. Per the meter, they registered at around 70%, which seems like there should still be some recording time left but between that reading and the low levels on the recorder, I figured it was best to just toss them. I think the problem was a mix of the input and the batteries (and I didn't mention the sources with the lower levels all had a longer cable). Just hope it didn't affect the sound too much.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on October 10, 2016, 02:57:38 AM
^rookie.
 ;)

.............as a fellow owner of the 70D...  it's a nice deck...  but goofy. 
definitely takes some trial and error to run it with success.
hope all is well man!

Hey Guy!  I definitely feel like a rookie with the new deck and my not-as-successful-as-they-should-be attempts at mixing 4 channels.  I've used SoundForge for almost 20 years and learning a new program has been a challenge.  It doesn't help that my days are full with the regular job, running the horse ranch, and 3 hours commuting - I barely have time to sleep!  I hadn't seen a show since Memorial Weekend but now I've got two festivals and UM Halloween in October.  When it rains it pours...  You should check out our new farm if you're ever in the area - we love it!

My biggest issues with trying to matrix 4 DAUD sources is, PHASING! If all 4 of your capsules are EXACTLY on the same vertical plane, then you SHOULD be good to go! That's why I got THIS combo bar from SRS!
http://www.shapeways.com/product/J5WZFJ324/dina-din-combo?optionId=60350415

I haven't had a chance to try out the SRS combo bar yet, but I'm HOPING that having all 4 caps aligned vertically to the sound source, will help my phasing issues! It technically should, but being so far away from the sound source does some weird things to a wave lol! I normally ran one of my DAUD rigs about 4" higher and 4" farther back than my 1st pair, and I really noticed some phasing issues on a recent day of recording[8.6.16 Dumpstaphunk & Turkuaz FWIW]! That's why I wanted to get that SRS DINa/DIN bar ASAP! I just haven't taped since that show :(
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ButchAlmberg on October 19, 2016, 10:19:03 PM
I've been using a SanDisk Ultra Plus 16GB (48MB/s) for about 18 months without a hiccup. I want to get a couple more for my gear bag but it doesn't seem to be available any longer. Has anyone purchased an SD card recently which has proven to be compatible with the DR-70D?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: morst on October 24, 2016, 03:10:21 AM
My biggest issues with trying to matrix 4 DAUD sources is, PHASING! If all 4 of your capsules are EXACTLY on the same vertical plane, then you SHOULD be good to go! That's why I got THIS combo bar from SRS!
http://www.shapeways.com/product/J5WZFJ324/dina-din-combo?optionId=60350415

I haven't had a chance to try out the SRS combo bar yet, but I'm HOPING that having all 4 caps aligned vertically to the sound source, will help my phasing issues! It technically should, but being so far away from the sound source does some weird things to a wave lol! I normally ran one of my DAUD rigs about 4" higher and 4" farther back than my 1st pair, and I really noticed some phasing issues on a recent day of recording[8.6.16 Dumpstaphunk & Turkuaz FWIW]! That's why I wanted to get that SRS DINa/DIN bar ASAP! I just haven't taped since that show :(

You still have the difference in hypotenuses to deal with. More than one set, if you consider the house alignment between woofer & tweeter.

Not to be a wet blanket,  but the less sources you mix, the closer you can get 'em without adjustment.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jagraham on October 24, 2016, 02:06:36 PM
I've been using a SanDisk Ultra Plus 16GB (48MB/s) for about 18 months without a hiccup. I want to get a couple more for my gear bag but it doesn't seem to be available any longer. Has anyone purchased an SD card recently which has proven to be compatible with the DR-70D?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0DF-0005-00042 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0DF-0005-00042)

I just recently got one of these and it's working fine. It's on the list.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on October 24, 2016, 02:50:19 PM
I've been using a SanDisk Ultra Plus 16GB (48MB/s) for about 18 months without a hiccup. I want to get a couple more for my gear bag but it doesn't seem to be available any longer. Has anyone purchased an SD card recently which has proven to be compatible with the DR-70D?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0DF-0005-00042 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0DF-0005-00042)

I just recently got one of these and it's working fine. It's on the list.

Just curious - as cheap as memory is these days, why would you go with anything less than say, 32 gig?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: ButchAlmberg on October 24, 2016, 05:03:41 PM
I was en route to a show one weekend. I knew I had an unapproved card so stopped at Walmart to get something from the approved list. The 16g was all they had. It's worked great for over a year now but I just feel that I should have a backup.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: AdamSenior on October 25, 2016, 12:18:20 PM
Hi All—My current TASCAM DR-70D issues have brought me to your forums—I hope you're able to help. I've tired to read through this thread but tend to get lost in some of the technical elements.

I'm an experienced "videographer" yet audio recording has never been something I needed to worry about. This has changed this week as i'm going to be recording several interviews. With this in mind I took some advice from the internet and proceeded to purchase the following to go along with me Canon 70D:
TASCAM DR-70D
Rode NTG2 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
BeachTek SC35 3.5mm Stereo Output Cable
+ SD card/Batteries etc.

After setting this up and going through many many tutorials and tips—the noise level from my Rode is so low and I'm presented with a hiss-even when in a silent room.

I'm at a loss here as I'm not technically savvy enough to know what the real issue is, though I've exhausted my knowledge base and I'm looking for some advice as the interview is this Friday so I'm clutching at straws.

I think the items I purchased should work well, as BHPHOTOVIDEO has this setup as one of their filmmaker kits.

One thing I did read was this.

"The GAIN with almost all low cost audio preamps is where you are going to introduce noise, as most units can only produce a low ­noise signal up to about HALF of their maximum gain. So ideally you want to feed your TASCAM unit a hot signal that is either LINE level or something from a hot mic. If your mic produces a weak signal you might want to add something that will cleanly amplify the mic signal BEFORE being fed to your TASCAM DR­70D recorder. ( like a Triton Audio FETHEAD inline mic preamp that runs on phantom power from your DR­70D )

This makes me worried as I assumed my equipment purchase would provide considerably better quality to what I'm working with now.

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I'm in a pinch.

Thanks in advance.

Adam.


Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on October 25, 2016, 06:10:24 PM
Hi Adam - welcome to TS!

First off, you have probably found that the menu structure is pretty confusing, as is the manual to some extent.  For a quick reference on how to adjust everything, take a look at the DR-70D FAQ (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172795.0).


Did you omit a preamp from your gear list?  The NTG2 is a mono mic and has an XLR output, so I'm assuming your preamp has a stereo 3.5mm output?  I'm confused by why you would be using that cable otherwise.  Without knowing that or your settings on the 70D it's hard to pin down your low level issues.

I also think that paragraph you quoted, while true in theory, is not as true as it once was.  You do not need a preamp for this setup.  The 70D should be fine on its own for what you're doing unless the subject you are recording is quite a long ways away.  Here's what I'd do:

Ditch the battery in the mic, run an XLR cable straight to the 70D, and enable phantom power.  For dialogue, I'd start with MID level gain range, but you might need to go up to HIGH.  Avoid HIGH+, as that is where the 70D preamps do finally start to get noisy.  See the FAQ if you don't know how to change these settings.

Good luck!

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Craig T on October 25, 2016, 10:00:23 PM

Did you omit a preamp from your gear list?  The NTG2 is a mono mic and has an XLR output, so I'm assuming your preamp has a stereo 3.5mm output?  I'm confused by why you would be using that cable otherwise.


3.5mm cam in/output to/from the Canon?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on October 27, 2016, 07:31:32 AM

Did you omit a preamp from your gear list?  The NTG2 is a mono mic and has an XLR output, so I'm assuming your preamp has a stereo 3.5mm output?  I'm confused by why you would be using that cable otherwise.


3.5mm cam in/output to/from the Canon?

I was just about to chime in with the same answer. Feeding the camera input may be the source of the noise if you don't have your gain structure correct. I use my Dr60d to feed my Canon vid cam all the time. I have to run the output from the deck at about 80% and the input on the camera at 35%. This usually gives me good levels with amplified music. Another feature that the DR60d has that I don't think the 70 does is an adjustable camera output. I guess on the 70 you have to use the line level out.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: 2manyrocks on October 28, 2016, 11:19:37 AM
Concur completely with Voltronic and Goodcooker's answers.  Don't use the HIGH + setting and be careful about setting the relative levels of gain between the 70d and your camera. 

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 15, 2016, 08:04:24 AM
And start using the 70D's XLR INS, and ditch that NTG2 battery inside the mic body! Using the 70D's PHANTOM POWER, start at LOW gain, and start working towards the HIGH gain, until you get adequate settings ;) Like others have said, the HIGH+ Gain option is pretty noisy!

And the 70D can only get as quiet as your mic allows ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: xjsb125 on November 19, 2016, 09:58:23 PM
I have a question in regards to mounting the unit to a tripod. I usually run a Canon XH-A1 on a 7' tripod as a static shot. The camera is too heavy to mount on top of the 70D. I don't want to run a cold shoe post from the top of the camera to the 70D in the instances where it's fully extended to 7'. Do you guys have any suggestions for mounting/clamping this to a tripod, so I can have access to it in a lower position?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on November 19, 2016, 10:54:20 PM
I have a question in regards to mounting the unit to a tripod. I usually run a Canon XH-A1 on a 7' tripod as a static shot. The camera is too heavy to mount on top of the 70D. I don't want to run a cold shoe post from the top of the camera to the 70D in the instances where it's fully extended to 7'. Do you guys have any suggestions for mounting/clamping this to a tripod, so I can have access to it in a lower position?

When I am doing the same thing with my DR60d I use a superclamp and extension arm to mount the deck to the stand at eye level when I have my camera up over people's heads.

Superclamp https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546371-REG/Manfrotto_035_035_Super_Clamp_without.html (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546371-REG/Manfrotto_035_035_Super_Clamp_without.html)

Extension arm https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546373-REG/Manfrotto_042_042_Extension_Arm_with.html (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546373-REG/Manfrotto_042_042_Extension_Arm_with.html)

The only problem I had is lots more exposed cables than usual when running the deck from a bag. I put my preamp and 5V battery that runs the deck in a Crown Royal bag and hang it from one of the knobs. The cable that feeds the camera from the deck and the mic cables get gathered up and velcroed to the stand.

The Impact branded stuff is a little cheaper...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: xjsb125 on November 20, 2016, 09:00:35 AM
I have a question in regards to mounting the unit to a tripod. I usually run a Canon XH-A1 on a 7' tripod as a static shot. The camera is too heavy to mount on top of the 70D. I don't want to run a cold shoe post from the top of the camera to the 70D in the instances where it's fully extended to 7'. Do you guys have any suggestions for mounting/clamping this to a tripod, so I can have access to it in a lower position?

When I am doing the same thing with my DR60d I use a superclamp and extension arm to mount the deck to the stand at eye level when I have my camera up over people's heads.

Superclamp https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546371-REG/Manfrotto_035_035_Super_Clamp_without.html (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546371-REG/Manfrotto_035_035_Super_Clamp_without.html)

Extension arm https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546373-REG/Manfrotto_042_042_Extension_Arm_with.html (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/546373-REG/Manfrotto_042_042_Extension_Arm_with.html)

The only problem I had is lots more exposed cables than usual when running the deck from a bag. I put my preamp and 5V battery that runs the deck in a Crown Royal bag and hang it from one of the knobs. The cable that feeds the camera from the deck and the mic cables get gathered up and velcroed to the stand.

The Impact branded stuff is a little cheaper...

Excellent, thank you!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on December 04, 2016, 10:41:07 AM
Whats the deal again with the Mono/Stereo/2Mix and the hard panning of channels, if you want to run 4x mono channels?

Isn't the Hard Left/Right PANNING only effective when you're in Stereo/2Mix mode?

Someone is asking me this question, but I cant remember, and I cant find the posts where we discussed it ???
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on December 04, 2016, 10:53:40 PM

Isn't the Hard Left/Right PANNING only effective when you're in Stereo/2Mix mode?


Yes, except with the panning being adjustable in 2MIX it no longer has to be a "hard" pan; set it as you like.

Personally, I still can't understand why anyone would want to record an on-the-fly stereo mixdown (2MIX) unless you're also able to do separate ISO tracks as in the high end pro recorders.  I'd consider such a mix a scratch mix only.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: noahbickart on December 05, 2016, 11:48:26 AM
I just wish you could choose which stereo pair (1/2 or 3/4) would be sent to the aux and headphone outs. If you could do that, you could have full 4 channel analogue out on two 1/8 inch jacks.

As it is, you can't give a good patch (or run a backup) when running 4 channels. For me, a 50/50 mix of whatever 2 Schoeps pairs I'm using (usually mk41v & mk22) is going to be inferior to both.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on December 05, 2016, 01:22:56 PM
I just wish you could choose which stereo pair (1/2 or 3/4) would be sent to the aux and headphone outs. If you could do that, you could have full 4 channel analogue out on two 1/8 inch jacks.

As it is, you can't give a good patch (or run a backup) when running 4 channels. For me, a 50/50 mix of whatever 2 Schoeps pairs I'm using (usually mk41v & mk22) is going to be inferior to both.

Exactly. And what grinds my gears is the fact that you can select exactly what you want to output on the DR60. Makes no sense
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on December 05, 2016, 07:59:14 PM
^^ ^ Agreed to all of that; the mixing features on it are not really useful.  One of many things that could be fixed by a simple firmware update.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on December 06, 2016, 11:28:12 AM
^^ ^ Agreed to all of that; the mixing features on it are not really useful.  One of many things that could be fixed by a simple firmware update.

And I do believe that several of us have reached out to Tascam about this. It really does confuse me as to why they would have shipped this deck like this in the 1st place. To me, it's a step up from the 60; one would think that based on their target consumer that this would have been a no-brainer. I much prefer running the 70 as apposed to the 60. Except for this because I like to send an output to a camcorder.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: deleuze3 on December 08, 2016, 08:15:51 AM
I have a question to have the best sound possible.
Here is my settings.

I plug the tascam dr 70 in my camera Canon T3i. The canon t3i has the audio volume 1 dot above "0". (the magic lantern is "0dB digital and 0db analogic")

I plug the condenser microphone (ATM41HE) into the tascam.
On the tascam, i set it to "MONITOR SEL : MIX"
The OUTPUT LEVEL +12dB
the OUTPUT GAIN is set to CAM.
i use the HIGH gain.
i record at BWF 24bits, 48khz.

On the t3i, the audio levels are about -12dB
On the tascam, the audio levels are about -16db

On another forum, they told me that if i crank the output level to +12dB (the max) and i don't have a loud enough volume, i should use the "LINE" instead of the "CAM" and use a SESCOM attenuator of -25dB.

1) Are my magic lantern settings are ok ?
2) does the output gain to "cam" can do a good job too or should i buy a sescom cable ? (i've heard that on "line", the noise floor is -75db, and on cam the noise floor is at -55dB?, so it gives more latitude in post if it's on "line")
3) when i crank up the output level all the way to +12db, do i lose quality in the process ? Should i crank up the knob instead ?

Thanks in advance,
have a good day.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: deleuze3 on December 13, 2016, 06:48:17 AM
Is the forum still active, alive and well ?
Have a good day
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on December 13, 2016, 01:26:16 PM
Is the forum still active, alive and well ?
Have a good day

Yes - but you'll find the vast majority of us are "audio-only" guys...hence that lack of feedback on your question.

And - it sounds more like a camera question than a recorder.

For the best sound - record on the DR-70 - and replace your camera sound with the DR-70 tracks in post-production...seems like thats the whole idea of this recorder...otherwise - just get a mixer.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: deleuze3 on December 14, 2016, 10:35:05 AM
thanks for the reply, "life in rewind".
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on December 14, 2016, 04:08:41 PM
I have a question to have the best sound possible.
Here is my settings.

I plug the tascam dr 70 in my camera Canon T3i. The canon t3i has the audio volume 1 dot above "0". (the magic lantern is "0dB digital and 0db analogic")

I plug the condenser microphone (ATM41HE) into the tascam.
On the tascam, i set it to "MONITOR SEL : MIX"
The OUTPUT LEVEL +12dB
the OUTPUT GAIN is set to CAM.
i use the HIGH gain.
i record at BWF 24bits, 48khz.

On the t3i, the audio levels are about -12dB
On the tascam, the audio levels are about -16db

On another forum, they told me that if i crank the output level to +12dB (the max) and i don't have a loud enough volume, i should use the "LINE" instead of the "CAM" and use a SESCOM attenuator of -25dB.

1) Are my magic lantern settings are ok ?
2) does the output gain to "cam" can do a good job too or should i buy a sescom cable ? (i've heard that on "line", the noise floor is -75db, and on cam the noise floor is at -55dB?, so it gives more latitude in post if it's on "line")
3) when i crank up the output level all the way to +12db, do i lose quality in the process ? Should i crank up the knob instead ?

Thanks in advance,
have a good day.

I can't answer your questions directly about the DR70d since I've never used one but I can make a suggestion to maybe switch to the DR60d. It has adjustable camera and line outputs (both with a physical recessed knob) and works like a charm when paired with either my Nikon DSLR or my Canon video camera. I get usable good quality audio on my video tracks and don't have to worry about adding separate audio in post.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: deleuze3 on December 14, 2016, 05:10:59 PM
thanks goodcooker for your answer.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: refrain on December 14, 2016, 05:13:44 PM
Please help,

After almost 2 years with no problems at all using the Dr70D, 2 track or 4 track with external mics in several situations, field recording, concerts, recording for CD release, etc, with a brief stop of 2 weeks, otherwise the recorder is always working.
I had a project of field recordings and preparing the equipment, I turn on the recorder with my usual XY setup (2 oktavas mouted on a rode zeeplin), I noticed that even with 48v phantom power engaged, I had no monitoring, checked the settings, check the cables, changed them, nothing, tested the built-in mics and still nothing, changed the card, checked the firmware, and no arming of tracks or even monitoring from externals or bulit-in mics...

Didn't had any problems with it, no physical damage, no drops, nothing that could prompt this...  one morning, after turned on, just didn´t feel like working...

Anyone had similar problem? I really like the recorder, its clean and honest, but its quite frustrating, had several audio recorders, and none showed this kind of behaviour, even the brands that some people always say they're crap, like the Zoom´s.
Its quite incredible something like this happen, had a DAP-1 for more that a decade, and always ready for work... but these is just plain nonsense... factory reset? It turns on, and everything looks alright, but no monitoring, no rec track arming,

Anyone? similar context? Plaese help

thanks in advance,
Carlos Santos
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: iamhammered on December 15, 2016, 01:45:28 AM
NEW CONFIRMED SD CARD THAT WORKS FLAWLESS

http://www.microcenter.com/product/447223/32GB_SDHC_Class_6_Flash_Memory_Card

I took mine out for 2 test drives and ZERO problems! I know its only 32GB but even still for $5.99.  I will be stocking up!

Peace
T
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on December 15, 2016, 08:55:08 AM
NEW CONFIRMED SD CARD THAT WORKS FLAWLESS

http://www.microcenter.com/product/447223/32GB_SDHC_Class_6_Flash_Memory_Card

I took mine out for 2 test drives and ZERO problems! I know its only 32GB but even still for $5.99.  I will be stocking up!

Peace
T

Lots of people have had cards that worked fine and then all of a sudden not so much.

Confirmed means tested and confirmed by Tascam and placed on the list - not anecdotal usage in the field.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: iamhammered on December 15, 2016, 12:15:52 PM
I was just sharing some info. Did you get burned? If so I want to hear about it.


NEW CONFIRMED SD CARD THAT WORKS FLAWLESS

http://www.microcenter.com/product/447223/32GB_SDHC_Class_6_Flash_Memory_Card

I took mine out for 2 test drives and ZERO problems! I know its only 32GB but even still for $5.99.  I will be stocking up!

Peace
T

Lots of people have had cards that worked fine and then all of a sudden not so much.

Confirmed means tested and confirmed by Tascam and placed on the list - not anecdotal usage in the field.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on December 15, 2016, 01:17:07 PM

No I haven't been burned but I use a different Tascam deck. You are new so you might not have been aware of the flare up that happened on this board regarding this deck, it's early adopters and problems with memory cards.

The official answer from Tascam is to use a card from their approved list to avoid problems. New members may not be aware of the previous problems with this deck and may take your comment to be validated truth when it is only a few runs without a glitch.

On the other hand you may be able to use these discount cards till the end of time without a hiccup. Hope so!

Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: iamhammered on December 15, 2016, 02:45:53 PM
10-4!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on December 15, 2016, 09:29:22 PM
Please help,

After almost 2 years with no problems at all using the Dr70D, 2 track or 4 track with external mics in several situations, field recording, concerts, recording for CD release, etc, with a brief stop of 2 weeks, otherwise the recorder is always working.
I had a project of field recordings and preparing the equipment, I turn on the recorder with my usual XY setup (2 oktavas mouted on a rode zeeplin), I noticed that even with 48v phantom power engaged, I had no monitoring, checked the settings, check the cables, changed them, nothing, tested the built-in mics and still nothing, changed the card, checked the firmware, and no arming of tracks or even monitoring from externals or bulit-in mics...

Didn't had any problems with it, no physical damage, no drops, nothing that could prompt this...  one morning, after turned on, just didn´t feel like working...

Anyone had similar problem? I really like the recorder, its clean and honest, but its quite frustrating, had several audio recorders, and none showed this kind of behaviour, even the brands that some people always say they're crap, like the Zoom´s.
Its quite incredible something like this happen, had a DAP-1 for more that a decade, and always ready for work... but these is just plain nonsense... factory reset? It turns on, and everything looks alright, but no monitoring, no rec track arming,

Anyone? similar context? Plaese help

thanks in advance,
Carlos Santos

Sounds like you were pretty thorough in your testing.  The one item I didn't see was checking the power source.  Did you try internal AA batteries vs. external powering?

When you say "checked the firmware", do you mean that you re-installed the latest firmware?

The only other thing I might try is a complete refresh to factory settings.  Do that by going to OTHERS > SYSTEM > INITIALIZE.  Then confirm you have the latest firmware and reinstall if necessary.  If you still do not get any results, then it's probably time to call Tascam tech support.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on December 15, 2016, 10:52:07 PM
Please help,

After almost 2 years with no problems at all using the Dr70D, 2 track or 4 track with external mics in several situations, field recording, concerts, recording for CD release, etc, with a brief stop of 2 weeks, otherwise the recorder is always working.
I had a project of field recordings and preparing the equipment, I turn on the recorder with my usual XY setup (2 oktavas mouted on a rode zeeplin), I noticed that even with 48v phantom power engaged, I had no monitoring, checked the settings, check the cables, changed them, nothing, tested the built-in mics and still nothing, changed the card, checked the firmware, and no arming of tracks or even monitoring from externals or bulit-in mics...

Didn't had any problems with it, no physical damage, no drops, nothing that could prompt this...  one morning, after turned on, just didn´t feel like working...

Anyone had similar problem? I really like the recorder, its clean and honest, but its quite frustrating, had several audio recorders, and none showed this kind of behaviour, even the brands that some people always say they're crap, like the Zoom´s.
Its quite incredible something like this happen, had a DAP-1 for more that a decade, and always ready for work... but these is just plain nonsense... factory reset? It turns on, and everything looks alright, but no monitoring, no rec track arming,

Anyone? similar context? Plaese help

thanks in advance,
Carlos Santos

Sounds like you were pretty thorough in your testing.  The one item I didn't see was checking the power source.  Did you try internal AA batteries vs. external powering?

When you say "checked the firmware", do you mean that you re-installed the latest firmware?

The only other thing I might try is a complete refresh to factory settings.  Do that by going to OTHERS > SYSTEM > INITIALIZE.  Then confirm you have the latest firmware and reinstall if necessary.  If you still do not get any results, then it's probably time to call Tascam tech support.

Good suggestion Volt! That's what I would try too! Bummer you're having issues :( Also, what SD Card are you using?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: refrain on December 16, 2016, 08:33:13 PM

Thanks Volt, yes I did initialized it to factory settings and re-installed the latest firmware (DR-70D_b70.114)... but the same... I tried 2 different sets of eneloops, and external power from USB (computer) and the same result... I used the card that always have used, a Sandisk Ultra 8gb (30mb/s) and also a Kingston 4gb (class 4) and still nothing...  It turns on, but no monitoring from any input... even starts recording, but no signal, its like the preamps controller just gave up... I dont know...

I'll have to send it back to the reseller for repair, but its quite a thing because I bought it in Europe from a big online store, Thomman, and they'll take 3 to 4 weeks to check it and perhaps send it back to Tascam's.... for further checking..
In the meanwhile I manage a borrowed Dr70D from a friend, same card, same batteries, and everything went smooth... 

Don't know... thinking going Zoom F4 if this turns out bad... more expensive, but better preamps, kind of mixer onboard, XLR out, nicer screen, a bit bigger... I really like the size and portability of the Dr70D, but I'm not trusting Tascam again...I don't know when it it will happened again... :-(

Thanks for the advice Volt and F.O.Bean



Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on December 17, 2016, 10:25:11 AM

Thanks Volt, yes I did initialized it to factory settings and re-installed the latest firmware (DR-70D_b70.114)... but the same... I tried 2 different sets of eneloops, and external power from USB (computer) and the same result... I used the card that always have used, a Sandisk Ultra 8gb (30mb/s) and also a Kingston 4gb (class 4) and still nothing...  It turns on, but no monitoring from any input... even starts recording, but no signal, its like the preamps controller just gave up... I dont know...

I'll have to send it back to the reseller for repair, but its quite a thing because I bought it in Europe from a big online store, Thomman, and they'll take 3 to 4 weeks to check it and perhaps send it back to Tascam's.... for further checking..
In the meanwhile I manage a borrowed Dr70D from a friend, same card, same batteries, and everything went smooth... 

Don't know... thinking going Zoom F4 if this turns out bad... more expensive, but better preamps, kind of mixer onboard, XLR out, nicer screen, a bit bigger... I really like the size and portability of the Dr70D, but I'm not trusting Tascam again...I don't know when it it will happened again... :-(

Thanks for the advice Volt and F.O.Bean

That's really unfortunate; sorry to hear you're having trouble.  As far as service, I'm not sure why you would have to go through Thomman for repair; I would think Tascam would have you send it to a service center directly.

And yes, the Zoom F4 does look really attractive, but personally when I upgrade I'm going to save a bit more money towards an F8, unless a really screaming deal on a SD 788 falls into my lap.

As far as not trusting Tascam or any other manufacturer, I think to really buy yourself true peace of mind you need to go to one of the fully professional recorders from Sound Devices, Aeta, Zaxcom, etc.  Some of what you're paying for is the high reliability and robust support.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: morst on December 17, 2016, 07:25:54 PM
NEW CONFIRMED SD CARD THAT WORKS FLAWLESS

The official Tascam TESTED MEDIA LIST is on the downloads page, and does not show any Samsung cards at all.
http://tascam.com/product/dr-70d/downloads/



Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: iamhammered on December 17, 2016, 10:20:52 PM
I know its not on the list I am just saying I have had great success with it. Sorry I even posted it.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: goodcooker on December 17, 2016, 11:00:58 PM
I know its not on the list I am just saying I have had great success with it. Sorry I even posted it.

Don't get butthurt about it. You probably haven't read the previous threads about this recorder and the problems people had early on.

Only reason I posted about it at all is that I wouldn't want a new user to come along, read your comment in the most recent thread and think that the card you linked and claimed "confirmed" and "flawless" meant that Tascam had tested it...not that you have taken it out for a spin a few times and not gotten burned.

Happy Taping! :cheers:
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on December 18, 2016, 05:41:42 AM
Yeah that always scare me when I hear another DR70D horror story :( I mean, if one of mine shit the bed, I'd probably be PISSED, and just use the backup 70D that I have! But i would ALWAYS wonder if I was going to get burned again, just like you are :( I do like the look of the F4 too, because it has that extra 5/6 input, but like Volt said, its STILL a ZOOM, just like my 70D is JUST a Tascam! If you want something really reliable, you might have to spend BIG $$ to get it!

That said, my 70D is JUST as reliable as my 722 was[up to this point anyway after owning a 70D for almost 2 years!] and WAY more reliable than my D8 DAT was lol! I've oddly seen a few 70D sources patch some REALLY highend decks this year, so that always gave me a laugh when I saw a lowly DR70D patch an SXR4 & SD7xx & Aeta all this year alone ;D So I think if you buy a HQ SD Card[SanDisk Extreme Pro] that's in Tascam's "approved list", then you SHOULD be good to go! I mean what deck is 100% reliable? NONE, that's how many ;) I'm sure every recorder and model in existence has flawwed at least ONCE in the lives of all of those decks/models produced! Even an SD 7xx has FUC*ED UP before!! I ran a Sony M10 as a backup to my VMS>DR70D source for OVER a year, and didn't need the M10 backup source ONCE! Not a SINGLE time. My 70D was that successful[*knock on wood* lol]. I am buying a 128gb SanDisk Extreme Pro here in the next couple of days though, so that ALL of my 70D SD Cards are SanDisk Extreme Pro's from the "approved" list :) I'll feel a little safer that way for sure :)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: brainz11203 on January 12, 2017, 09:58:10 PM
Wedding Videographer here, the issue I'm hving is when it comes to the toast. When I set the mixer to line level to record the DJs feed I have no issue but sometimes when a person is giving a toast even at max on the knob the signal is low. I'm not sure if I should set the gain to MID or high so I have more wiggle room on the high end. Or just just one side to mic level. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 14, 2017, 11:51:39 PM
Wedding Videographer here, the issue I'm hving is when it comes to the toast. When I set the mixer to line level to record the DJs feed I have no issue but sometimes when a person is giving a toast even at max on the knob the signal is low. I'm not sure if I should set the gain to MID or high so I have more wiggle room on the high end. Or just just one side to mic level. Any suggestions?

I would certainly try MID gain level if LOW is too low, before I started worrying about it ;) MID should hopefully give you enough gain. If not, then try HIGH! I think the HIGH+ gain mode is the one that's pretty noisy?! But I would have no problems running MID or HIGH if I needed that much gain!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 04, 2017, 10:24:12 PM
I've been running battery runtime tests with my new +60v PFA's on all 4 channels of my DR-70D@24/96, and 24v Phantom Power instead of 48v Phantom! Anyway, just to put yinz guys fears at ease about this, I thought that I'd post about it!

I remember awhile back that someone was worried that they would shut their DR70D OFF/DOWN, if they held the Power/Hold button in the DOWN position too long[in the Hold OFF position], while the deck was recording! Well, I have been playing around with it, and that's 100% IMPOSSIBLE TO DO while recording, at least on the v1.14 FW! If I'm rolling/recording, I can take the DR70D OFF HOLD, and hold it in the DOWN position for as long as I want to, and the DR70D WILL NOT shut off or down UNTIL I hit stop first and STOP RECORDING, then it will shut down or OFF!

So there's NO WORRY of turning your DR70D OFF while taking it OFF OF HOLD, while you're still recording, and having it in the completely DOWN position on the Power/HOLD button! Like I said, as long as you're RECORDING, it's 100% IMPOSSIBLE to shut your DR70D OFF, unless you hit STOP FIRST ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jbell on February 04, 2017, 10:32:07 PM
^Thanks thats good info bean!! 
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Gordon on February 06, 2017, 03:51:35 PM
Yea I forgot about that!

I forgot too - I knew - but so rarely encountered the situation.

But with regard to the level changes on LOW between firmwares...

I was running my Avantone CK1 Omnis - split - about 25-30 feet from the stage - large-ish PA, classic JBL cabinets.

Sounding good - but I wouldn't call it loud.

I was on LOW - but was still getting more peaks than I was comfortable with - and I was already on the max low side of the knob without muting the channel.

Im thinking the older firmwares LOW setting would have handled this just fine...?

This was the first time I have run the Avantones since I got the DR-70D about a year and half ago - so I have no before and after firmware wise.

But this is the first time that I felt I was getting a level that I could NOT CONTROL with any combination of settings - short of engaging the mics 10db pad.

My setup below VVV


So I'm considering getting a 70d for the rare 4 channel shows I do.  Just started reading up and saw this post.  It got me wondering, where you running mic in or line?  external pre or using the 70d pre?

I'll be running my littlebox in front  of the 70d and getting the gain from the littlebox.  So essentially I need to run gain at "unity".  I'm guessing I would need to therefor run the gain as far over as possible without turning the channel off.  This feature and your post really worries me!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: jbell on February 06, 2017, 04:37:40 PM
Kind of a pain, but I wouldn't worry about it.  Hopefully they will fix it in future firmware updates
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on February 06, 2017, 04:53:22 PM
I've never had an issue, but I don't run a pre. The pre's in the 70 seem just fine.....
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Gordon on February 06, 2017, 05:13:39 PM
so regarding this

Quote
no way to gang channels together to link level adjustments

does it literally not change both if you move both?  or just not pair them together so you have to move both and hope they match?  if the later I'm used to that with the knobs on the littlebox.


edit:  Think I answered my own question


Quote
For example, in ganged 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 mode, either level control 1 or 2 would adjust both channels 1 and 2 simultaneously and either level controls 3 or 4 would adjust channels 3 and 4 simultaneously.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: lsd2525 on February 06, 2017, 09:05:56 PM
so regarding this

Quote
no way to gang channels together to link level adjustments

does it literally not change both if you move both?  or just not pair them together so you have to move both and hope they match?  if the later I'm used to that with the knobs on the littlebox.


edit:  Think I answered my own question


Quote
For example, in ganged 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 mode, either level control 1 or 2 would adjust both channels 1 and 2 simultaneously and either level controls 3 or 4 would adjust channels 3 and 4 simultaneously.

Gordon, I know we're  a couple of hours apart but I'm up your way a lot, If you want to take mine out for a test drive before you pull the trigger, let me know. I upgraded to the .14 release before I ran mine, and I couldn't be happier. Been rock solid so far. I'll me glad to letyou try it out
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 06, 2017, 10:44:45 PM
Yea I forgot about that!

I forgot too - I knew - but so rarely encountered the situation.

But with regard to the level changes on LOW between firmwares...

I was running my Avantone CK1 Omnis - split - about 25-30 feet from the stage - large-ish PA, classic JBL cabinets.

Sounding good - but I wouldn't call it loud.

I was on LOW - but was still getting more peaks than I was comfortable with - and I was already on the max low side of the knob without muting the channel.

Im thinking the older firmwares LOW setting would have handled this just fine...?

This was the first time I have run the Avantones since I got the DR-70D about a year and half ago - so I have no before and after firmware wise.

But this is the first time that I felt I was getting a level that I could NOT CONTROL with any combination of settings - short of engaging the mics 10db pad.

My setup below VVV


So I'm considering getting a 70d for the rare 4 channel shows I do.  Just started reading up and saw this post.  It got me wondering, where you running mic in or line?  external pre or using the 70d pre?

I'll be running my littlebox in front  of the 70d and getting the gain from the littlebox.  So essentially I need to run gain at "unity".  I'm guessing I would need to therefor run the gain as far over as possible without turning the channel off.  This feature and your post really worries me!


You'll be fine Gordon ;) If you're getting your gain from the LittleBox, then you'd just run Line IN & LOW Gain settings! No matter WHAT Gain setting you have on the 70D [LOW/MID/HIGH/HIGH+], when running LINE IN, it doesn't matter! You'll basically ALWAYS be in LOW Gain mode when set to Line In ;) When I run my VMS02IB->DR70D, I have NEVER been too close to turning that channel/input off, by putting the gain knob fully counter-clockwise, and I doubt that you would too, especially since you have gain control on your LB ;)

IMO, the 70D is the PERFECT little 4 channel deck, with just what you need to record/tape and get the job DONE, instead of having a BUNCH of options that NEVER get used, like on most pro decks! I mean, my old SD722 was BADASS, but I NEVER used 90% of the options on it, which is a waste of $$ IMO! We kept asking for and wanting a TINY little 4 channel deck with 4x XLR INs, that was cheap and reliable, and sounded GOOD stock! Well, we got it with the 70D/701D!!!

Gordon, if you get a Tascam Approved SD Card and install the latest FW[v1.14], then you should have NO issues running the 70D! I was like you when I first got my 70D, and ran the LittleBox->70D! Well, after a bunch of times running that combo, and running the PFA side by side, I decided that I DIDN'T NEED my old LittleBox after all! The 70D preamps sound just as good or better than the LittleBox Preamps IMO!

And now that I have [2] +60v PFA's, I plan on leaving the VMS02IB at home way more often, because IMO, the 70D STOCK preamps are MORE than adequate to get the job done, even in quiet acoustic & bluegrass shows! SO I can leave my SUPOER heavy VMS02IB at home and still run 4 channels of HQ audio, just straight into my 70D! Running 4 channels of +60v PFA's and getting HQ audio being powered by a SINGLE 5v USB Battery, well it doesn't get much better and easier than that! As always, YMMV ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 06, 2017, 10:47:17 PM
so regarding this

Quote
no way to gang channels together to link level adjustments

does it literally not change both if you move both?  or just not pair them together so you have to move both and hope they match?  if the later I'm used to that with the knobs on the littlebox.


edit:  Think I answered my own question


Quote
For example, in ganged 1 x 2 or 2 x 2 mode, either level control 1 or 2 would adjust both channels 1 and 2 simultaneously and either level controls 3 or 4 would adjust channels 3 and 4 simultaneously.

The 70D DOES NOT have "Ganged Channels". ONLY the 701D has Ganged Channels!

And don't hold your breath on anymore 70D FW updates! It seems that EVERYTHING that we ask for on the 70D, comes out as a new FW update on the 701D :P ;D I'm really contemplating selling my 2nd 70D and buying a 701D as my main deck! My good friend has one and loves it! I just wonder if as much dust/lint gets under the 701D screens as it does the 70D screens ???
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Idle Wind on February 07, 2017, 05:27:42 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on February 07, 2017, 06:11:33 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 08, 2017, 04:36:06 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.


Exactly! You can do that and do it in post, or do the panning L/C/R on the 70D since it has built in mixing options ;)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Walstib62 on February 08, 2017, 04:41:22 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.


Exactly! You can do that and do it in post, or do the panning L/C/R on the 70D since it has built in mixing options ;)

Mixing down to stereo on the fly in the field is a horrible idea . Record 3 mono files or l/r stereo and the center as a mono.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on February 08, 2017, 11:34:25 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.


Exactly! You can do that and do it in post, or do the panning L/C/R on the 70D since it has built in mixing options ;)

Mixing down to stereo on the fly in the field is a horrible idea . Record 3 mono files or l/r stereo and the center as a mono.

Not sure you can tell the deck to do that  - its either 4Xmono or 2XStereo...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 08, 2017, 11:34:55 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.


Exactly! You can do that and do it in post, or do the panning L/C/R on the 70D since it has built in mixing options ;)

Mixing down to stereo on the fly in the field is a horrible idea . Record 3 mono files or l/r stereo and the center as a mono.

Oh I totally agree with you! I was just letting him know that it's possible ;) I always avoid doing ANYTHING unnecessary in the field vs having a controlled environment at home!

I also wished that we had this EASY & SIMPLE FW update in FW v1.15 or something! It has to do with the exception of a pop up message when you touch the gain knobs while hold is ON! Every button has a pop up message except the gain knobs while hold is ON! Anyway, in more detail...

When Hold is ON/LOCKED, there is a message that pops up if you hit ANY buttons, EXCEPT the Gain Knobs. Well, I wish that Tascam would have the EXACT SAME message pop up when the Hold is ON, and you move the gain knobs, because as of right now, NOTHING pops up, and IMO it's easy to forget that Hold is ON when I start messing with my gain knobs! At least if there was a pop up message reminding me that Hold was ON when I try to mess with my gain knobs, I'd immediately know that I had to DIS-ENGAGE Hold before I dialed in the gain! I have had that happen to me WAY more than I cared for, so quite a few times over the last 2 years of running the 70D's I have!

At the start of the set, I hit record, and then ENGAGE hold immediately, because I've been doing that for 20 years on pretty much everyone of my recorders lol, and THEN dialing in the gain!! That's just my brain hardwired to do what it's done forever now. Hit RECORD, then ENGAGE hold. Record, Hold. Record, Hold. You get the idea haha. Well, it's really hard to break that cycle & habit honestly. I need to re-train my brain to ALWAYS dis-engage hold before I TOUCH the gain knobs. Or Tascam could update their damn FW easily and have a pop up message for the gain knobs too lol :P ;D Well, I'm sure you figured out by now that it's easy for me to forget that hold is ON, and then once I move my gain knobs, I'm FUCKED pretty much! I have to try to wait until that song is over and in-between songs/music, I have to DIS-ENGAGE hold, then let the levels bounce to where they are now on the gain dial :P I absolutely hate that and it's my biggest 70D pet peeve right up there with the channel muting if the gain knob is at its lowest[fully counter-clockwise] haha!

Anyway, it should be a SUPER EASY FW Update to tell the 70D to have a pop up message warning you that hold is ON when you touch the gain knobs too, just like EVERY other button on the damn thing lol :P ;D If they fixed that and the channel muting at lowest gain thing, this deck would be 100% perfect for ME lol ;D 8)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 08, 2017, 11:35:12 PM
Still though, the 70D & 701D are like the PERFECT 4 channel decks for a tapir like me! I'm going to sell one of my 70D's and get either a 701D or a DR680mkii as my main deck! Yeah, our small niche of tapirs asked for YEARS for a SMALL, 4 channel deck with 4x XLR INs, that was easy to power[5v], had good sounding preamps stock, could take a hot Line In signal from a preamp/SBD, sounded great overall, and was cheap as hell! Well, IMO, we definitely got it with the 70D/701D! I like my 70D's so much, that I'll probably get the 701D over the 680ii just because of its size, specs, and ease of powering compared to the 680ii!!! However, the 680ii has my eye for those extra 2 channels on 5/6 vs the 701D! But, since I get a SBD patch RARELY if ever, I don't NEED the extra 2 channels honestly!! And when I DO get a SBD patch, I can just run 2 channels of my DAUD mics and the other 2 channels the SBD! No reason or need to run 4 channels of DAUD mics + 2 SBD channels if it's not necessary! I also like the 701D's blue screen, metal chassis and extra monitoring and the 2 channel stereo mixdown of all 4 channels to tracks 5/6!

So, if someone actually reads my posts, what do you think? 701D or DR680mkii? I'm keeping one of my 70D's regardless because I need 2 decks to record at 2 stages during festivals! FWIW, the 701D or 680ii will be my main deck! My only and biggest cons to me of the 680ii are the single knob to do everything, including dial in the gain, as well as the shitty 12v DC barrel plug design they used for the 12v external powering :P The ONLY Con to the 701D for ME is it's inability to do those extra 2 channels on 5/6 like the dr680ii can do with the 1/4" INs. A good tapir friend of mine has a dr680 & 701D and took side by side pics for me recently, and the 701D is quite a bit smaller, although the 680 isn't huge by any means either, at least to me! But as of right now, I am leaning towards the 701D and its fancy blue screen lol ;D Like I said above, it also has better specs than the 70D, as well as better monitoring options, the ability to do a 2 channel mixdown to tracks 5/6 so I don't have to do the matrix in post if I chose to, add in the magnesium alloy metal chassis, and its smaller size, and the 701D is in the lead right now haha ;D I already thinkthat the stock 70D preamps sound kickass and that's why I got the 2nd +60v PFA made awhile back, so I think I'd be more than happy with the supposedly slightly better specs/preamps of the 701D! So whatcha think? DR680ii or 701D? What would you buy? And sorry for the super long post! I need to get onto ts.com from my phone instead of my PC, because I type quick posts from my phone, and freakin' marathon posts from my PC :P ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 08, 2017, 11:43:58 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.


Exactly! You can do that and do it in post, or do the panning L/C/R on the 70D since it has built in mixing options ;)

Mixing down to stereo on the fly in the field is a horrible idea . Record 3 mono files or l/r stereo and the center as a mono.

Not sure you can tell the deck to do that  - its either 4Xmono or 2XStereo...

You should be able to do 3x MONO files no problem! Just leave one input turned OFF and the other 3 channels ON/ACTIVE :) Each input is individual from each other in that regard! That's why they all have their own gain knobs and settings too! The 4xMono and 2xStereo are just the way the 70D pans the channels and writes the files to my knowledge! You can do 1x mono-4x mono channels. However, if it was set to Stereo, it would just pan it differently compared to the mono setting I believe. But you can turn ON/OFF as many channels as you want and it'll still write mono or stereo files ;)

So yes, you should DEF be able to do just the 3x Mono files. Just turn the 4th channel OFF and that's it!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: dogmusic on February 08, 2017, 11:46:27 PM
^^ 701D.

Weight 1.45 lbs with batteries

(DR-680MKII weight 3.1 lbs with batteries)
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on February 08, 2017, 11:47:49 PM
as we start to round out part 7...

All my deck has done is work as expected!

I had a pair of the SanDisk 16GB "approved" cards - one I used in the 70D and the other in my Nikon camera.

Recently - I lost the one I used in the camera - but at the same time started using my Behringer mixer > PC for recording more often.

So - I've been using the same card between the two devices - and just using the format function in each device prior to use - with no issues at all!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: Life In Rewind on February 08, 2017, 11:50:06 PM
So, if I want to do THREE channels - like split omnis L&R, with a center card or hyper, can I do something like that with this deck?  Like the old Nak mixers, or panning the channels L, R & C.....

Thanks.  Thinking of summer festies already....

Sure - I'd set my deck to record 3 mono files - you can do all panning/mixing in post.


Exactly! You can do that and do it in post, or do the panning L/C/R on the 70D since it has built in mixing options ;)

Mixing down to stereo on the fly in the field is a horrible idea . Record 3 mono files or l/r stereo and the center as a mono.

Not sure you can tell the deck to do that  - its either 4Xmono or 2XStereo...

You should be able to do 3x MONO files no problem! Just leave one input turned OFF and the other 3 channels ON/ACTIVE :) Each input is individual from each other in that regard! That's why they all have their own gain knobs and settings too! The 4xMono and 2xStereo are just the way the 70D pans the channels and writes the files to my knowledge! You can do 1x mono-4x mono channels. However, if it was set to Stereo, it would just pan it differently compared to the mono setting I believe. But you can turn ON/OFF as many channels as you want and it'll still write mono or stereo files ;)

So yes, you should DEF be able to do just the 3x Mono files. Just turn the 4th channel OFF and that's it!

YES - you can probably save some memory by running monoX3.

always seems a waste to use one channel of a stereo mix...
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: dallman on February 09, 2017, 03:18:12 PM
Still though, the 70D & 701D are like the PERFECT 4 channel decks for a tapir like me! I'm going to sell one of my 70D's and get either a 701D or a DR680mkii as my main deck! Yeah, our small niche of tapirs asked for YEARS for a SMALL, 4 channel deck with 4x XLR INs, that was easy to power[5v], had good sounding preamps stock, could take a hot Line In signal from a preamp/SBD, sounded great overall, and was cheap as hell! Well, IMO, we definitely got it with the 70D/701D! I like my 70D's so much, that I'll probably get the 701D over the 680ii just because of its size, specs, and ease of powering compared to the 680ii!!! However, the 680ii has my eye for those extra 2 channels on 5/6 vs the 701D! But, since I get a SBD patch RARELY if ever, I don't NEED the extra 2 channels honestly!! And when I DO get a SBD patch, I can just run 2 channels of my DAUD mics and the other 2 channels the SBD! No reason or need to run 4 channels of DAUD mics + 2 SBD channels if it's not necessary! I also like the 701D's blue screen, metal chassis and extra monitoring and the 2 channel stereo mixdown of all 4 channels to tracks 5/6!

So, if someone actually reads my posts, what do you think? 701D or DR680mkii? I'm keeping one of my 70D's regardless because I need 2 decks to record at 2 stages during festivals! FWIW, the 701D or 680ii will be my main deck! My only and biggest cons to me of the 680ii are the single knob to do everything, including dial in the gain, as well as the shitty 12v DC barrel plug design they used for the 12v external powering :P The ONLY Con to the 701D for ME is it's inability to do those extra 2 channels on 5/6 like the dr680ii can do with the 1/4" INs. A good tapir friend of mine has a dr680 & 701D and took side by side pics for me recently, and the 701D is quite a bit smaller, although the 680 isn't huge by any means either, at least to me! But as of right now, I am leaning towards the 701D and its fancy blue screen lol ;D Like I said above, it also has better specs than the 70D, as well as better monitoring options, the ability to do a 2 channel mixdown to tracks 5/6 so I don't have to do the matrix in post if I chose to, add in the magnesium alloy metal chassis, and its smaller size, and the 701D is in the lead right now haha ;D I already think that the stock 70D preamps sound kickass and that's why I got the 2nd +60v PFA made awhile back, so I think I'd be more than happy with the supposedly slightly better specs/preamps of the 701D! So whatcha think? DR680ii or 701D? What would you buy? And sorry for the super long post! I need to get onto ts.com from my phone instead of my PC, because I type quick posts from my phone, and freakin' marathon posts from my PC :P ;D
As much as I like the 701D, which is much nicer than the 70d :o, I like the 680MKII more. It's really just personal preferences though. I like to run 4 mics plus 2 digital through my SD USB Pre2. That is just easy and gives me a chance to compare the different patterns after all is done. It gives me the freedom to run at least something geared to the room or unusual and often the results of that extra recording is a positive surprise. Ultimately that is what it's all about, trying to grab the best recording, so I give that a great deal of weight in what I take with me on a given night.  8) I find it easy to adjust the levels from my ganged channels, the one knob feature I find easy and quick :coolguy:. A huge improvement IMO over the original 680 is that the menu is a continuous turn of the dial, versus many submenus. It saves a lot of time especially when you get comfortable running the deck. I'd say with the exception of understanding or learning how to run the digi in on tracks 5 and 6 or on the mix track :facepalm: (which I like to refer to as 7 and 8 even though that is technically not correct as it is the mix track) , the running of the deck is very intuitive and easy. It took me a while to learn how to correctly go digi onto the mix track which I prefer as I do not use the mix track for anything else and then I still have 2 analog channels left if I want to really get crazy with mics. Once I learned how to go to the mix track or 5 and 6 digitally it became easy and it is documented on TS under the DR680MKII thread. I really like the black case that is sold at B and H. It's a shame it has gone up in price, but it does a great job of keeping the deck new like and for me, I keep the 12v barrel plug, permanently connected and the case holds it in without issue. It is easy to access all the controls too. I like the size of the 701D, but they both fit in my bag, so it is a non issue for me.
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 14, 2017, 03:50:43 AM
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=181013.msg2217764#msg2217764 (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=181013.msg2217764#msg2217764)

Here's a few pics of the new Neutrik NDF's I just got for both of my 70D's 8) Check the link above for more info & links to them @Full Compass where I got them from!
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 14, 2017, 03:51:51 AM
Still though, the 70D & 701D are like the PERFECT 4 channel decks for a tapir like me! I'm going to sell one of my 70D's and get either a 701D or a DR680mkii as my main deck! Yeah, our small niche of tapirs asked for YEARS for a SMALL, 4 channel deck with 4x XLR INs, that was easy to power[5v], had good sounding preamps stock, could take a hot Line In signal from a preamp/SBD, sounded great overall, and was cheap as hell! Well, IMO, we definitely got it with the 70D/701D! I like my 70D's so much, that I'll probably get the 701D over the 680ii just because of its size, specs, and ease of powering compared to the 680ii!!! However, the 680ii has my eye for those extra 2 channels on 5/6 vs the 701D! But, since I get a SBD patch RARELY if ever, I don't NEED the extra 2 channels honestly!! And when I DO get a SBD patch, I can just run 2 channels of my DAUD mics and the other 2 channels the SBD! No reason or need to run 4 channels of DAUD mics + 2 SBD channels if it's not necessary! I also like the 701D's blue screen, metal chassis and extra monitoring and the 2 channel stereo mixdown of all 4 channels to tracks 5/6!

So, if someone actually reads my posts, what do you think? 701D or DR680mkii? I'm keeping one of my 70D's regardless because I need 2 decks to record at 2 stages during festivals! FWIW, the 701D or 680ii will be my main deck! My only and biggest cons to me of the 680ii are the single knob to do everything, including dial in the gain, as well as the shitty 12v DC barrel plug design they used for the 12v external powering :P The ONLY Con to the 701D for ME is it's inability to do those extra 2 channels on 5/6 like the dr680ii can do with the 1/4" INs. A good tapir friend of mine has a dr680 & 701D and took side by side pics for me recently, and the 701D is quite a bit smaller, although the 680 isn't huge by any means either, at least to me! But as of right now, I am leaning towards the 701D and its fancy blue screen lol ;D Like I said above, it also has better specs than the 70D, as well as better monitoring options, the ability to do a 2 channel mixdown to tracks 5/6 so I don't have to do the matrix in post if I chose to, add in the magnesium alloy metal chassis, and its smaller size, and the 701D is in the lead right now haha ;D I already think that the stock 70D preamps sound kickass and that's why I got the 2nd +60v PFA made awhile back, so I think I'd be more than happy with the supposedly slightly better specs/preamps of the 701D! So whatcha think? DR680ii or 701D? What would you buy? And sorry for the super long post! I need to get onto ts.com from my phone instead of my PC, because I type quick posts from my phone, and freakin' marathon posts from my PC :P ;D
As much as I like the 701D, which is much nicer than the 70d :o, I like the 680MKII more. It's really just personal preferences though. I like to run 4 mics plus 2 digital through my SD USB Pre2. That is just easy and gives me a chance to compare the different patterns after all is done. It gives me the freedom to run at least something geared to the room or unusual and often the results of that extra recording is a positive surprise. Ultimately that is what it's all about, trying to grab the best recording, so I give that a great deal of weight in what I take with me on a given night.  8) I find it easy to adjust the levels from my ganged channels, the one knob feature I find easy and quick :coolguy:. A huge improvement IMO over the original 680 is that the menu is a continuous turn of the dial, versus many submenus. It saves a lot of time especially when you get comfortable running the deck. I'd say with the exception of understanding or learning how to run the digi in on tracks 5 and 6 or on the mix track :facepalm: (which I like to refer to as 7 and 8 even though that is technically not correct as it is the mix track) , the running of the deck is very intuitive and easy. It took me a while to learn how to correctly go digi onto the mix track which I prefer as I do not use the mix track for anything else and then I still have 2 analog channels left if I want to really get crazy with mics. Once I learned how to go to the mix track or 5 and 6 digitally it became easy and it is documented on TS under the DR680MKII thread. I really like the black case that is sold at B and H. It's a shame it has gone up in price, but it does a great job of keeping the deck new like and for me, I keep the 12v barrel plug, permanently connected and the case holds it in without issue. It is easy to access all the controls too. I like the size of the 701D, but they both fit in my bag, so it is a non issue for me.

Thanks for the info Dallman! +T ;D
Title: Re: Tascam DR-70D 4-channel audio recorder (Part 7)
Post by: voltronic on February 14, 2017, 07:34:40 AM
Time to close this one down and move to Part 8 here (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=181015.0).