Mid-side decoding. M/S microphones can be decoded directly on the device. No word about Ambisonic recording or decoding, however. The Tascam Portacapture X8 is a great idea that suffered from poor execution with cheap parts and was rushed to market without being tested thoroughly. Tascam sent demo units to a handful of people that spoke about it in glowing terms, but I find it surprising that none of them identified the problems I mentioned in this review. Internal recording to SD card is available while the unit is functioning in USB audio interface mode This will revolutionize the way we shoot location video at the university. With Bluetooth everywhere, huge amounts of time may be saved with this wireless connectivity. There’s so much more the Atomos can do and I’m looking forward to trying the AK-BT1 on my next location production. Tuner & Metronome. The simple chromatic Tuner and Metronome apps do what they say on the tin. Neither is essential if you’re doing all your recording to the Portacapture, but they’re nice to have and could make life easier later on in your DAW.

However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers. Another cardioid was placed near the bass guitar’s amp (XLR input 5). The vocalist had his own Fathead ribbon microphone (XLR input 6) and the onboard cardioid microphones (inputs 1 and 2) captured the ambient sound of the TV studio at a lower level. Tom selected Manual on the touchscreen and got levels for each input. Slate tones can be added automatically or manually to simplify synchronization of video files when editing Portacapture X8 provides a preset level setting to achieve a wide dynamic range, thanks to top-quality A/D converters and recording technology with 32 floating-point resolution. The result is impeccable audio content, even with low-level recordings.When editing the audio data later, you can increase the level without deteriorating the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). Also, the internal normalize function can automatically align the level of the stereo mix file after recording. USB Audio Interface for your ComputerMusic: For making stereo recordings of musical instruments. It provides a number of presets to adjust dynamics and suit different instruments (piano, guitar, stringed instrument and so on). Will the Portacapture’s cool display be durable, and handle the dings that will inevitably come its way? I hope so, but only time will tell. THE SOUND Dual recording. Similar to the D100’s “S/N 100 dB” feature, the X8 can record at two levels: standard and 12 dB lower. It can also record in two different formats at once. Note: When using phantom power, the operation time might be reduceddepending on the mic being used. Supports wireless timecode sync with supported devices from Atomos with the optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth adapter (from V1.20)

The right‑hand side has a slot for the micro‑SD card (not included; up to 512GB micro‑SDXC models are supported). There’s a USB‑C port that both acts as an external power inlet (you’ll need to provide your own PSU for that) and caters for file transfer to/from a computer. There’s also the on/off/hold switch. The end just has a slot for the optional Bluetooth adaptor, and peak and recording indicators. Underneath, a quarter‑inch threaded insert enables mounting on a camera tripod; if you’d prefer a mic stand then adaptors are widely available. The fidelity on the 1/4-inch tape was a bit “dull” when I monitored it with headphones connected to the Portacapture. Using the new digital file from the Portacapture, I brought it into Adobe Premiere Pro, used the Tube Modeled Compressor, and had a file that sounded just like I remembered. Included Mics, phantom power off, Stereo WAV -recording; 44,1kHz 24-bit recording POWER SAVE MODE on 9:30:00 Included Mics, phantom power off, Stereo WAV -recording; 44,1kHz 24-bit recording POWER SAVE MODE on 11:00:00 Ready for action. No matter where you are, the X8 is always ready to record. It comes complete with 4 x AA batteries which can power the unit for up to 11 hours. Alternatively, you can use other power sources for convenience including USB bus power or an AC adapter (not included). With USB bus power you can also utilise Phantom Power to incorporate external condenser microphones.

Bluetooth Adapter for Wireless Remote Control

ASMR: ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. This means it does pretty pictures while making normal stereo recordings. Well, who’d have guessed that! Note: When using phantom power, the operation time might be reduced, depending on the mic being used. The X8 is slightly noisier than both the Sony D100 (when using the built-in mics) and the SD Mixpre 3 ii (when using external, phantom powered mics) but not by much. To my surprise, the X8 is less noisy in the high frequencies (above 40kHz) than the Mixpre when recording in 192/32 mode. I also noticed that the X8 has softer transients than the Mixpre 3 ii, which can result in loss of clarity and coloration of the recordings it captures. Overall it’s a bit of a mixed bag but it could be much worse at this price point.

bit floating point recording means you don't need to set input levels before recording, and you won't have to scrap audio that was recorded too loudly or quietly If an item can not be repaired, a similar alternative product or cash discount (as defined in this policy) will be offered The display and the interface is a pleasure to work with. I particularly like how the wheel feels for adjusting levels. Tascam has set the wheel so that it adjusts input values in agreeably small increments and it feels very responsive, making it easy to match levels between input channels and make fine adjustments.

Specifications

Lastly, I would recommend investing in the optional AC power supply as the 4 AA batteries don’t last very long because of the touch screen’s energy consumption. The X8 seems built well and feels good in the hand. It’s made of solid plastic and there are no rattles when it’s shaken or handheld. The dark grey looks good and isn’t too reflective even in strong daylight. The detachable microphones are a different story. They’re made of very light plastic and they just feel cheap. The way they screw into the slots at the top is in stark contrast to the elegant design of the rest of the unit. It seems like they were designed by a different team and only as an afterthought with limited budget. They’re difficult to protect from wind or bumps because they protrude so much outwards. Unlike on the Sony PCM D100, there are no protective bars around them so you can easily smash or break them if you aren’t careful.

Two detachable large-diaphragm (14.6 mm) condenser microphones (can be set for A-B or X-Y configuration) Included Mics and Input 5/6, Phantom power used, Stereo-WAV-Recording; 44,1 kHz / 24 Bit; POWER SAVE MODE on 10:00:00

The Portacapture X8 has some interesting features right out of the box. Firstly, the two built-in microphones come detached from the main unit. They plug in as needed and can be positioned swapped to allow for both an XY stereo pattern and also a wide stereo pattern. This is a very interesting approach. The device also lets you plug in any other microphone into these inputs via 3.5mm plugs and they also support phantom power. This provides a greater level of flexibility than most units with built-in mics. The device itself is quite sturdy in construction and the large touchscreen makes it easy to see what is going on — more on the touchscreen later. INNOVATIVE DESIGN