Tascam DR-05X

Exactly what I wanted, 3in1

The device came with the latest firmware version. The controls are intuitive, but with some professional features that I liked. The size, unlike cheap competitors, is more practical, with convenient buttons. Two batteries of the more common AA format, work from a power bank. Works with my android smartphone via otg. In PC audio interface mode, it works fine right away. An excellent real ASIO driver (easily found from the tascam website), on my PC with a buffer of 64, the delay is practically absent during software monitoring, while it is absolutely stable. Funny reverb (you can try using the device as a reverb, haha).

This device has replaced a whole suitcase of equipment for me in some situations. For field recordings, I had to take a laptop, an audio interface, two condenser microphones, two cables, two stands with me. At times it was overkill. And I needed a pocket recorder. Recording of choral singing, individual vocalists, as well as events where the on-camera microphone cannot cope.

There was a slight difficulty in finding a method for adjusting the microphone level, it turned out that the up and down keys are the level of the headphones, and the left and right keys adjust the microphone gain when the recording mode is activated. The "auto" mode is suitable for recording speech information, when you need to fix each word (the level is not adjustable), and the "limiter" mode is suitable for high-quality recording, affecting only the excess level, without damaging the entire signal.

For the price of one average microphone, I got a usb stereo microphone with quality capsules for everyday and specific work, a recorder, a low latency audio interface from a reputable brand.

cool!

UPD:

Yes, it picks up radio interference when placed on a wireles router, a dect phone, or near 3g / 4p base stations with a certain orientation. Specially went and looked for interference. I didn't notice it during normal use.

I want to test it in the anechoic chamber.

My very first test I did in my room, where I have 40 dB. I switched off all the devices, TV, computers, refirgiator ... everything.

However, there was noise in the recording.

Very good device

Does what you expect. Easy to use, very good audio recording in large places.

Don't use input auto-gain when recording live, it is far better to manually adjust the gain.

The 05 failed.

The 05x seems ok so far.

The 05 (previous version) lost its firmware every day that ends with a "Y", constantly reloading the firmware was a bind for me & many others.

This size and basic package works for me, so I got the "05X".

Radio interference, noise and hiss.

This recorder is unusable to me. Most of the time (depends of location) it has a lot of radio interference, clicking and noise. If you turn it just the right way it can be a little better but still far from something usable. Very disappointed. Returning.

Satisfied with quality and functionality

I like the size and the quality of this recorder. Sometimes, I found myself outdoors and I needed another stereo input for other type of signals.

Very simple to use like other Tascam recorders.

Fantastic thing

Bought this to record ambient sounds and it's been a dream gear so far: rain, birdsongs, bus hum, teapot boiling - everything is recorded clean and loud. It has peak reduction for loud circumstances, and can record a gentle humming from a transforamator from 5 meters.

Works quite well as a mic for interviews or podcats as well.

Cheap.

Having owned a Tascam reel to reel tape machine, Tascam High definition recorders and various other Tascam products, I was a bit underwhelmed with this recorder. In the end its all about the sound and this is just too noisy having increased the recording level input. I suppose that's what you might call a poor S/N ratio.

Portable recording studio

It's such a handy recording tool that fits in your pocket. I was wondering if I need one because smartphones all comes equipped in an audio recorder these days, but quality of the Tascam is so much higher. I use it during video recording, interviews, taking sound-notes as well as recording for radio and my synthesizers jams before I got my M-AUDIO soundcard and even now sometimes its better to use tascam because then I dont need to use my computer.

nice add

affordable hand held recorder for the budget user.