Topic: Tascam DR-100 worth getting or not?

[weedwacker]

Anyone using one these to record with? How long does the batteries last on them and how well does the phantom power work on it? I like the idea of having everything built in to a single unit along with xlr connectors but hope to get some feedback here first before pulling the trigger on a purchase. I plan to use it with a set Nakamichi CM-300s which I will have modified to work accordingly with whatever setup I ultimately decide on.

[flintstone]

I tested the DR-100 in 2009.  The results were mixed.  Preamp performance was similar to the Tascam DR-1, which is to say, good but not great.  The internal Li-Ion battery lasted about 3.5 hours when providing phantom power to external mics.  The two AA cells lasted only 15 minutes providing phantom power.  I had trouble getting the Li-Ion battery to full charge.  I needed several recharge attempts to top it off.  I also had trouble formatting SDHC cards in the DR-100.  Formatting in a computer first seemed to work around this issue.

The DR-100 costs about $300.  If you need a recorder that has XLR inputs and phantom power, I'd recommend looking at the Fostex FR-2LE and the Marantz PMD-660.  Both cost about $600.  Or consider an external battery box (less than $100) and a recorder with a 3.5mm mic input, like the Sony PCM-M10 ($200) or Edirol R-09HR ($260).

Flintstone

[jnorman34]

as mentioned, the preamps leave a bit to be desired, but it is the best unit available in that price range, IMO.   

[taperjeff]

I would pass on this unit.  Many power problems as mentioned in the previous post.  You have to use a combination of the lithium battery and alkalines.  I could never get the unit to run over one hour.  Plus the switch broke on the first try setting the attenuation.  I got the Zoom 4 for about $300 and have had only one issue.  The battery life for a single pair of alkalines is  6 hours.  You can run the deck in stanima mode and get 10-11 hours.  The only problem I have had is that one must use 1/4" inputs for the unit.  The full xlr tends to overload the deck.

[gd420mj]

I recently recorded Steve Kimock Crazy Engine at the Sellersville theater in PA, and I used Superlux SMK-H8K mics directly into the DR-100 for the first set. I was impressed with the quality. It satisfied my ears. (I'm working on getting it up on the archive)
 
For the second set, I fed off of someone elses superlux SMK-H8K into a UA5 then line out to DR-100 line in. I prefered the sound of the DR-100 directly. Highs were sharper and lows were fuller.

Battery life was a problem. Wasn't sure I get the whole first set. AT set break I was at one bar so I charged up for about 15 mins in lobby then recorded without phantom power no problems.

For what its worth, I did some current tests and the DR-100 at the 5V in plug draws about .7 A with battery in and 48V on and recording. Without battery in, it draws about .53 A max. This is good, because one could get a cheap 5V lithium battery with usb connector and it should power the tascam. Mine does power off a USB port on a dell monitor (into 5V in jack, not usb), but I want to try other options.

Will post more about DR-100 current consumption in another thread somehwere.

Right now testing 48V on, using 9V dvd battery through a home made DC-DC convertor. Battery is old doesn;t have much charge, but so far, 2.5 hrs on DVD battery alone.(dvd battery was 5.4 amps but probably lost a lot of that sitting for 2 years unused)

[weedwacker]

I recently recorded Steve Kimock Crazy Engine at the Sellersville theater in PA, and I used Superlux SMK-H8K mics directly into the DR-100 for the first set. I was impressed with the quality. It satisfied my ears. (I'm working on getting it up on the archive)
 
For the second set, I fed off of someone elses superlux SMK-H8K into a UA5 then line out to DR-100 line in. I prefered the sound of the DR-100 directly. Highs were sharper and lows were fuller.

Battery life was a problem. Wasn't sure I get the whole first set. AT set break I was at one bar so I charged up for about 15 mins in lobby then recorded without phantom power no problems.

For what its worth, I did some current tests and the DR-100 at the 5V in plug draws about .7 A with battery in and 48V on and recording. Without battery in, it draws about .53 A max. This is good, because one could get a cheap 5V lithium battery with usb connector and it should power the tascam. Mine does power off a USB port on a dell monitor (into 5V in jack, not usb), but I want to try other options.

Will post more about DR-100 current consumption in another thread somehwere.

Right now testing 48V on, using 9V dvd battery through a home made DC-DC convertor. Battery is old doesn;t have much charge, but so far, 2.5 hrs on DVD battery alone.(dvd battery was 5.4 amps but probably lost a lot of that sitting for 2 years unused)

Have you tried one of these?
http://gizmodo.com/5350880/review-duracell-instant-chargers-arepretty-perfect

Also here is neat little youtube video on how to make a usb battery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOCEAJjUIgA

[mhlsr]

I recorded 2 Furthur shows this summer with this setup-Audio Technica AT 897’s>AT 8202(-10Db)> Tascam DR100'
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasted for 3 hours 15 minutes the first show and 3 hours 30 minutes the second show, both without phantom power.
Here are the links for the shows for a listen. The recorder worked great for me.
http://www.archive.org/details/furthur2010-06-26.at897.laurentus.108501.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/Furthur2010-07-30

[gd420mj]

Have you tried one of these?
http://gizmodo.com/5350880/review-duracell-instant-chargers-arepretty-perfect

Also here is neat little youtube video on how to make a usb battery
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOCEAJjUIgA

I have not tried any of those USB batteries yet. Plan to though. Right now already have a 9V DVD battery converted to 5V through home made dc-dc convertor.

I recorded 2 Furthur shows this summer with this setup-Audio Technica AT 897’s>AT 8202(-10Db)> Tascam DR100'
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasted for 3 hours 15 minutes the first show and 3 hours 30 minutes the second show, both without phantom power.
Here are the links for the shows for a listen. The recorder worked great for me.
http://www.archive.org/details/furthur2010-06-26.at897.laurentus.108501.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/Furthur2010-07-30

@mhlsr, you didn't use phantom and only got 3.5 hours? I did test recently and set the recorder to record without phantom power and must have ran over 6 hours. I filled a 4GB card before the battery died.