Internal microphones on DSLRs are designed to pick up as much audio surrounding the camera as possible.
This makes your build-in mic great for a weekend out with friends or a family get-together, but when shooting a professional operation, in many cases it’s best left to a separate recording and mixing system. Tascam is a company that aims to provide solutions to this dilemma.
Both iterations of the Tascam’s DR-60D 4-track field recorder were popular additions to many filmmakers upon their release, for their ease of mounting between a tripod and your camera, and also for their multiple +48V Phantom-powered XLR inputs. The newly released DR-70D took quite a bit of what was enjoyed in the prior model, and put the recorder on a diet.
Like the DR-60D before it, Tascam’s DR-70D is a 4-track field recorder marketed towards DSLR filmmakers on a budget. This recorder was upgraded with more than a cut down in overall size, the new model features +24/48V Phantom power for all four XLR inputs as well as 2x built-in onboard microphones for ambiance/scratch tracks/back-ups.
It features a dual recording mode that provides you with a safety track to work with in case your main channel audio spikes for any reason. You also have the ability to use your camera’s audio input and output functions to either monitor the recorder in-camera or record the mixed audio levels on the same card you’re saving video to, simplifying your edit in cases where a quick turnaround is crucial.
The DR-70D records to SD/SDHC/SDXC cards up to 128GB in size, which is more than enough than the vast majority of independent shoots require in a day.
Tascam DR-70D Features
- Four-channel recorder and mixer
- Compact case with tripod mounts designed for use with cameras
- Supports up to 96kHz/24-bit WAV and BWF recording formats
- Four XLR microphone inputs with phantom power
- HDDA Mic preamps feature 64dB of gain with individual controls per channel
- 1/8” stereo input with plug-in power for camera mics
- Two internal omni microphones
- High-quality audio components used throughout for clear, quiet sound
- Dual recording mode captures a safety track to prevent against distortion
- Line/camera in and out for synchronization and playback
- Records to SD, SDHC, or SDXC media
- Peak limiter and low cut filter on inputs
- Built-in Mid/Side microphone decoding
- State function records a tone for easier synchronization
- Guard bar protects controls and can be used with a shoulder strap
- Hours of recording on four AA batteries
- Optional AK-DR70 kit includes windscreen, hot shoe mount, and two 1/8” cables designed for use with DSLR cameras
Whether you’re in the market for your first or your next audio field recorder, and your budget doesn’t quite allow for the Sound Devices selection just yet, the Tascam DR-70D looks to be a fantastic new option for recording and mixing clean audio tracks.
The Tascam DR-70D Field recorder retails for $300, and is available at B&H.
A post by Harry Aaron III.
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