NOTE: Some have commented that the noise floor is high in our practical noise floor sample. I measured it at -59dB RMS Max. That is cleaner than most of the ZOOM H series recorders, including my measurements of the H4e. (measured with a 70Hz high pass filter which is NOT the exactly the same as A-weighting, but is a very rough approximation)
@@curtisjudd I heard no significant noise. But sadly that's what being 76 does to one's ears! What I did hear was a rather thin sound, but probably fixable with a bit of EQ. At the end of the day people do have to realize that to get the best results, you have to pay best-result prices!
Curtis, throughout the whole video there is a high level of hiss, not just the noisefloor test. Same with my FR-AV2 when using the 3.5mm input with plugin power. Very disappointing.
To all those complaining about the high noise floor remember to turn off the 'stable volume' setting and watch again. Makes a huge difference. Thank you for your great reviews Curtis.
I am absolutely not interested in this particular product, but I will listen to Curtis talk about the lunch he had last week. And I like his honest review style so mich that I specifically drop this comment in order to feed the algorithm. Thanks for your work, Curtis!
Thanks for the review! tbh: Despite the buget-friendly price, to my ears the noise floor w/ internal mics seems pretty darn high. And w/ the external Rode lav: I found the preamp-noise to be so noticeable, that it even might get distracting… That being said, for recording louder sources (i.e. a live band), the signal to noise ratio will likely be fine.
In the practical, room tone sample here, the levels sat at around -59dB RMS max. That's not as good as much higher end recorders, but it is close or better than some of the ZOOM recorders in a similar price range.
Could it be that UA-cam is running the audio track through a dynamic range compressor filter that raises the noise? I notice that the noise floor is not constant, but increases whenever the voice pauses. And the noise is really extreme when you listen to it on headphones - it sounds like an audio cassette tape recording...
Hey Curtis! Smooth garlic cutting skills! Also thank you for the review! I just watched today your zoom f3 vs tascam fr-av2 comparison like two hours ago, and voila - another one great video from you! Greetings from Moscow, Russia
Thanks for trying it for us, Curtis. Good sound, but way too much hiss. Strange. Actually, my FR-AV2 has just arrived and with the 3.5mm input mics that use plug-in-power are similarly hissy. Weird as all the recorders in my possession that take 3.5mm, including the F2, H1n and even my cameras have way-way less noise. Also, the same mics sound super clean when plugged via an VXLR+ and similar adapters.
Curtis, great review as always. Can I just ask - are you noticing a difference in this UA-cam audio verses the file itself - or maybe you can post a link to download some raw samples of the noisefloor. I know some zooms are extremely noisy but my tascams don't generally have this level of hiss...
Thanks for the review-I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I’m pretty disappointed though. The noise is terrible, and I don’t get why Zoom and Tascam ignore this when so many complain. They keep adding features but overlook the most crucial part: audio quality. It drives me nuts. We all just want a small recorder with good preamps and low handling noise…
Another great review at a level appropriate to the relative simplicity of the product. BTW, does the unit have a lighted screen? I'm not too familar with this family of product. Also does it have a buttons lock out feature?
Yes, there is a backlight, if that's what you mean? It is an LCD screen with a backlight and you can set whether the backlight turns off after a specified time or stays on all the time (obviously battery life decreases if you leave it on all the time).
@@curtisjudd Great thanks. I spent some time familarising myself with the DR-0xx range of products last night. Now I'm wondering if Tascam will release a DR-40XP next. This will nicely fill in the gap left by the higher end FR-AV2. On board mics with XLR combo jacks found on the current DR-40X is an attactive product for me. A DR-40XP with 32 bit float and minor improvements seems the logical next step for Tascam.
It would be nice of these manufacturers to include built-in memory and buffering capabilities, along with capacitors that hold enough charge to close any files once the batteries die. That would really be a bomb-proof system to protect recordings. I'm not sure if Tascam incorporates something like that here, but it's nice of you to test that feature. Losing files because of untimely battery exhaustion is really annoying.
It seems that this recorder does close the file often enough that this isn't an issue here. Same with most of the prosumer recorders I've used (Tascam FR-AV2, Tascam X series, ZOOM F series, Sound Devices MixPre.)
As I mentioned in another of your uploads recently, something troubling is happening in the world of 32 bit float audio recorders. It came to light when someone spotted that the manual for the Zoom H4essential spelt out, with some emphasis, that only the XLR inputs used 32 bit float dual a/d converters. The other input, 3.5mm I think, still wrote 32 bit float files, but from a single converter, presumably 24 bit. This means that the contents of the 32 bit float file are no different from the contents of a 24 bit file. It is just the storage format, nothing more. It doesn't increase the dynamic range captured. And purchasers who hadn't read the manual before parting with their money would not be forewarned. This revelation lead me (and doubtless others) to do some careful reading of the adverts and manuals of other recent 32 bit float devices. Some devices claim either in their adverts and/or manuals that they employ dual converters providing 'true' 32 bit float recordings. Others strangely do not. The devices which appear to be 'notional' 32 bit float devices include the Zoom H1e and the Zoom H2e. Nowhere is it claimed (that I can find) that they use dual converters at all. The cheapest device which I could readily find which seems to offer true 32 bit float from a 3.5mm input is the Zoom H1 XLR. That device claims to use dual converters, and as it records either from its XLR inputs or from its 3.5mm inputs, I see no reason why it would not use the same converters for both. Now we have these new Tascam devices claiming 32 bit float, but not claiming dual converters. This would mean that if you set the device to record in 24 bit and input a dynamic range test signal, then did the same with it set to 32 bit float, the result would be the same. (This test would actually be a bit tricky to perform accurately I admit). I do wish that some person with a reputation in this field, whose initials might happen to be CJ, would challenge the manufacturers on this. It seems like a bit of a con is happening. Does it actually matter, given that there are many who say that 32 bit float doesn't matter at all? Well, regardless, honest marketing matters. To me anyway. [Edited to add that I wonder whether 32 bit float recording wireless mics actually use dual converters? Hmmm.]
In the manual for the DR-07, I do not see any reference to dual converters. I maintain that "32-bit float" is a poor name for this feature because it refers to the file container format and does not reveal whether the recorder is capable of capturing a substantially wider dynamic range. I can say that I was able to fully restore a yelling sample in post production with no discernible distortion, though TASCAM wisely warns in the manual that it is still possible to overload the microphone or analogue "front end" before the converter(s?) which cannot be corrected by reducing the gain in post production.
@curtisjudd Thanks. I'll post this follow up and then I'll leave it. I imagine that in their implementation of 32 bit float mode with no gain adjustment (I assume) that they have set the preamp gain to a somewhat low level, so that the 125dB it supports at the mic would not overload the converter. That would have implications for the accuracy of capture of very low level signals if only one converter was used. But would that issue be audible? Maybe not. You rightly mention that levels of 125dB and above are getting into threshold of pain territory, but I believe that would normally be the case with a constant level. I suspect that a rock drum kit would generate that kind of level but only at the peak of the transients. And we do need to faithfully capture those transients. (But for someone wanting the most fuss free way of recording, say, metal rock bands at the front of the crowd, the Zoom M2 device would probably be the way to go, as it can only be used with its built in stereo mics, and its end to end SPL rating (via its dual converters) is 135dB, 10dB more than this Tascam device. And it can output that via USB to an external recorder in 32 bit float too. Well, I guess the current Rode NT1 would outclass it, not least in that it handles 142dB SPL with noise in low single figures, but it costs rather more. And you would need two...)
Interesting. I just got the expensive FR-AV2 and while XLR is superb, the 3.5mm input, when turning on plugin power has a lot of hiss. Same mics on other recorders or when connected to the FR-AV2 via an XLR adapter are clean. Maybe they dont use dual AD on the 3.5mm port and inputting signal at too low level? Something is really bad there.
@@curtisjudd Maybe. I need to experiment a bit more, but interestingly, noise on the 3.5mm is minimal when using a mic that does not need plug-in power for the operation, i.e. mics that have their own battery and I can turn plugin power off. For example, Videomic NTG or Sennheiser MKE400 seem conpletely fine, Videomic GO II or Rode Lavalier, Lavalier II and Lavalier Go are noisy as hell. I will carry out further tests before I return the FR-AV2. One of the top reasons I chose to sell the F3 and buy this expensive thing was the 3.5mm input, and it is unusable.
Thanks for the response! Isn’t it spaced pair though that’s supposed to have more distance between mics? I’m pretty new to stereo miking techniques, but I thought spaced pair is a 3:1 ratio, 3x the distance between mics of the distance to the sound source, or something like that.
The sound quality in this video is actually closer to real life experience. When I’m using Zoom or Tascam recorders, the noise floor is usually this level or even louder. However, many review videos don’t show this, and I’m not sure why there’s such a difference. Does any one figure out the reason?
really hoped it would be as quiet as the x8 but more portable, instead it's a 32 bit white noise recorder. guess i'll hold on to my olympus ls-11 for a bit longer
Thanks, Curtis, for this excellent review. Does this recorder have dual ADC for recording in 32-bit float? If not, how can it make true 32-bit recordings that avoid clipping?
Tascam does not say in the manual how many converters this recorder uses per channel. The only information I have is a practical test where I yelled at close distance into the microphones, then in post production, I was able to reduce the audio which was well above 0dB back down to below 0 dB and there was no discernible distortion. I can't speak to how it would handle close range jet engine recordings, but for voice, it seems to work like many other 32-bit float recorders I've used and tested.
Thanks for your reply, Curtis. It certainly seems that you got 32-bit float results from your test. It’s curious that Tascam doesn’t mention dual ADC in their features for the DR-07XP. Their TASCAM DR-10L Pro states explicitly in its description having “32-bit float recording and dual AD converter technology”. That technology is like an audio insurance policy, not intended perhaps for jet engines, but in my case for recordings of thunderstorms where there are such wild swings in levels. Not sure if the human voice is a comparable test for 32-bit float.
They are very different devices. The H2e, which I have, has six different mic patterns and it designed to be plonked down on a table etc to record, but if you don't need those kinds of features then I don't think it has much to offer compared with the Tascam. I find its sound for spoken voice is rather thin compared to others, indeed for music too. Horses for courses I guess.
Thanks! The peak indicator is to show you how much gain reduction work you’ll have in post when recording in 32-bit float mode. In 24-bit mode, it shows how often you’ll need the de-clipper in post.
According to the specs both devices handle 125dB levels. That model has closely spaced Omni mics rather than cardioid. From my experience with the Sony M10, closely spaced Omni mics are hopeless for stereo imaging. And it would pick up more of the room sounds and audience chatter from all around it. Personally I'd avoid it.
Using a pair of external cardioid mics is the answer for concert recording. For intimate setting (very small jazz club) this type of small recorder with internal mics might make a decent recording ~ assuming excellent location.
I have a big dilemma and hope someone can help me here! Seeing the price of this recorder I want to compare it to zoom h4e because it comes for the same price! Which one should I buy for motorcycle exhaust audio recording ? My motorcycle it is proper loud and mic will be either under the seat next to exhaust or in my backpack. I hope to not lower gain enough to kill all other sounds and capture a bit more sounds from the bike
I know it's a big ask, but I wish someone would add Bluetooth and an app to adjust settings. Unless you use the 22wl on a pretty regular basis I find the menu pretty tedious and hard to read. Of course the sound quality on the 22wl was pretty poor too but maybe this thing is fine. In any case it seems like these things are pretty outdated with the onboard recording on some of the wireless transmitters. Regardless, thanks for the review.
You have to move up to the Tascam X8 or X6 to get bluetooth capability (with an adaptor) and a phone app that mirrors the onboard touchscreen, allowing you to start/stop, adjust levels, and change other setting from a distance.
@curtisjudd good question. But penny pinching is what it is. It was something I heard about some years ago and I thought I heard the base price was $10,000 and then I think some per unit costs likely around 3% unit cost. But this was a while ago and my memory isn't what it used to be. I just remember the complaints about it.
That is a shame about the noise. I was toying with getting one of these but I already have many of them and I think my X6 massively trumps these in terms of sound quality and self noise. I can see the market for them, but I don’t think these are for me sadly. Appreciate the honest demonstration.
The noise level makes this product unusable clearly present throughout the recording. Curtis you mentioned Zoom's H1 XLR noise performance in its review saying it had way too much noise for a recorder in 2024 but didn't mention the obvious noise of the Tascam. Maybe the noise is so bad you didn't need to mention it? The noise was still present in the Lav recording so it's not the self noise of the built-in mics, awful for a recorder released in 2025!
@@curtisjudd No Curtis, there is hiss all over the audio. If it wasn't in the original recording and somehow a UA-cam artefact it would be interesting to find out the cause.
The menu of a Tascam is terrible. The screen is super small. 30% of the front while the real info is only 15% of the front. The buttons are then again super big in proportion. Too bad that you can't put in a 2 input mini jack for wireless transmitters of even 2 lapel pin with a longer cable. I think it is also not possible to make a mono signal from the xy and from your mini jack as well. Then you can choose later which mix you make.
NOTE: Some have commented that the noise floor is high in our practical noise floor sample. I measured it at -59dB RMS Max. That is cleaner than most of the ZOOM H series recorders, including my measurements of the H4e. (measured with a 70Hz high pass filter which is NOT the exactly the same as A-weighting, but is a very rough approximation)
@@curtisjudd I heard no significant noise. But sadly that's what being 76 does to one's ears! What I did hear was a rather thin sound, but probably fixable with a bit of EQ. At the end of the day people do have to realize that to get the best results, you have to pay best-result prices!
It sounds like it is very noisy through the whole video.
Curtis, throughout the whole video there is a high level of hiss, not just the noisefloor test. Same with my FR-AV2 when using the 3.5mm input with plugin power. Very disappointing.
@@ww1www Ok.
@@DavidBondeDanmark Ok, trust your ears.
To all those complaining about the high noise floor remember to turn off the 'stable volume' setting and watch again. Makes a huge difference. Thank you for your great reviews Curtis.
I am absolutely not interested in this particular product, but I will listen to Curtis talk about the lunch he had last week. And I like his honest review style so mich that I specifically drop this comment in order to feed the algorithm. Thanks for your work, Curtis!
LOL. Well, I did have one particularly delicious lunch last week at a local taco shop...
Ah, it's terrible. All that garlic. I didn't smell any of it!
@@WillN2Go1 LOL!
Thanks Curtis, I've had an original DR-07 for years, never had any issues. Good to see Tascam's improvements.
👍
Sheesh that noise floor sounds pretty high. Almost like white noise for sleeping.
😔
Great review. I want a smaller simple machine for field recording. This seems to be just the thing. So ordered one.
Thanks for the review! tbh: Despite the buget-friendly price, to my ears the noise floor w/ internal mics seems pretty darn high. And w/ the external Rode lav: I found the preamp-noise to be so noticeable, that it even might get distracting…
That being said, for recording louder sources (i.e. a live band), the signal to noise ratio will likely be fine.
Not listening in optimal but I keep imagining a high frequency hiss barely in the audible range..? Need to relisten with headphones later.
In the practical, room tone sample here, the levels sat at around -59dB RMS max. That's not as good as much higher end recorders, but it is close or better than some of the ZOOM recorders in a similar price range.
Tnx for the review!
You’re most welcome!
Great review! Looks like this TASCAM DR-07XP will be a success. It would be interesting to see how it compares to the Zoom H1essential.
The Zoom has a terribly loud noise floor in comparison to the Tascam, there a plenty of videos here on UA-cam. At least compared to the 07x
Thanks. If I get a chance to use the H1e, I'll let you know what I find.
Could it be that UA-cam is running the audio track through a dynamic range compressor filter that raises the noise? I notice that the noise floor is not constant, but increases whenever the voice pauses. And the noise is really extreme when you listen to it on headphones - it sounds like an audio cassette tape recording...
Do you have the “stable volume” setting to off?
Hey Curtis! Smooth garlic cutting skills!
Also thank you for the review! I just watched today your zoom f3 vs tascam fr-av2 comparison like two hours ago, and voila - another one great video from you!
Greetings from Moscow, Russia
Thanks Pavel! Greetings from the Rocky Mountains in North America!
I was waiting for your review!
👍
after perhaps more than 10 years in youtube, i finally get to see curtis slice some garlic. perfect for adobo
Sí
The two Tascam recorders I purchased crapped out on me right when I needed them the most. So, I guess I'll stick with Zoom for now.
Thanks for trying it for us, Curtis. Good sound, but way too much hiss. Strange. Actually, my FR-AV2 has just arrived and with the 3.5mm input mics that use plug-in-power are similarly hissy. Weird as all the recorders in my possession that take 3.5mm, including the F2, H1n and even my cameras have way-way less noise. Also, the same mics sound super clean when plugged via an VXLR+ and similar adapters.
Thanks for sharing!
Curtis, great review as always. Can I just ask - are you noticing a difference in this UA-cam audio verses the file itself - or maybe you can post a link to download some raw samples of the noisefloor. I know some zooms are extremely noisy but my tascams don't generally have this level of hiss...
I assume when connecting a lavalier mic the Jack the recording is mono to both tracks?
Thank you for the great review!
It'd be interesting to know how the quality of the mics and preamps compare to those in Portacapture X8.
Not quite in the same league, in my subjective experience.
Thanks for the review-I was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I’m pretty disappointed though. The noise is terrible, and I don’t get why Zoom and Tascam ignore this when so many complain. They keep adding features but overlook the most crucial part: audio quality. It drives me nuts.
We all just want a small recorder with good preamps and low handling noise…
👍
Thanks for another good review. It would be helpful to have some comparison thoughts against the Zoom H1e the obvious alternative choice.
If even I can hear the noise floor, then we know it's super high. Seems like it should be $99 like the H1E, not $150. Great review as always Curtis!
🙏
hi what do you suggest for podcast and live documentary shooting which one will be better for audio. Tascam x6 or zoom h6 (32bit)
Another great review at a level appropriate to the relative simplicity of the product. BTW, does the unit have a lighted screen? I'm not too familar with this family of product. Also does it have a buttons lock out feature?
Yes, there is a backlight, if that's what you mean? It is an LCD screen with a backlight and you can set whether the backlight turns off after a specified time or stays on all the time (obviously battery life decreases if you leave it on all the time).
@@curtisjudd Great thanks. I spent some time familarising myself with the DR-0xx range of products last night.
Now I'm wondering if Tascam will release a DR-40XP next. This will nicely fill in the gap left by the higher end FR-AV2. On board mics with XLR combo jacks found on the current DR-40X is an attactive product for me. A DR-40XP with 32 bit float and minor improvements seems the logical next step for Tascam.
Thoughts vs Sony A10?
Love your light & sound channel but is there also a cooking channel that I'm missing out on? Nice to see the user replaceable batteries.
😂
Eco option available in Recording sound ?
hello Curtis, thanks a lot for your review)...........what about the synchro timecode availability......in comparaison of the FR-AV2...?
This does NOT have a timecode generator or any timecode features like the FR-AV2.
It would be nice of these manufacturers to include built-in memory and buffering capabilities, along with capacitors that hold enough charge to close any files once the batteries die. That would really be a bomb-proof system to protect recordings. I'm not sure if Tascam incorporates something like that here, but it's nice of you to test that feature. Losing files because of untimely battery exhaustion is really annoying.
It seems that this recorder does close the file often enough that this isn't an issue here. Same with most of the prosumer recorders I've used (Tascam FR-AV2, Tascam X series, ZOOM F series, Sound Devices MixPre.)
Cooking ASMR channel coming up soon? ^_^
Mmmm, sounds good!
Fourteen hours of record time using the built in mics or using a lavalier with plug-in power ?
The built-in stereo mics
How does it compare with zoom h1e?
I haven't used the H1e so I'm not sure. Sorry about that.
As I mentioned in another of your uploads recently, something troubling is happening in the world of 32 bit float audio recorders. It came to light when someone spotted that the manual for the Zoom H4essential spelt out, with some emphasis, that only the XLR inputs used 32 bit float dual a/d converters. The other input, 3.5mm I think, still wrote 32 bit float files, but from a single converter, presumably 24 bit. This means that the contents of the 32 bit float file are no different from the contents of a 24 bit file. It is just the storage format, nothing more. It doesn't increase the dynamic range captured. And purchasers who hadn't read the manual before parting with their money would not be forewarned.
This revelation lead me (and doubtless others) to do some careful reading of the adverts and manuals of other recent 32 bit float devices. Some devices claim either in their adverts and/or manuals that they employ dual converters providing 'true' 32 bit float recordings. Others strangely do not. The devices which appear to be 'notional' 32 bit float devices include the Zoom H1e and the Zoom H2e. Nowhere is it claimed (that I can find) that they use dual converters at all. The cheapest device which I could readily find which seems to offer true 32 bit float from a 3.5mm input is the Zoom H1 XLR. That device claims to use dual converters, and as it records either from its XLR inputs or from its 3.5mm inputs, I see no reason why it would not use the same converters for both.
Now we have these new Tascam devices claiming 32 bit float, but not claiming dual converters. This would mean that if you set the device to record in 24 bit and input a dynamic range test signal, then did the same with it set to 32 bit float, the result would be the same. (This test would actually be a bit tricky to perform accurately I admit).
I do wish that some person with a reputation in this field, whose initials might happen to be CJ, would challenge the manufacturers on this. It seems like a bit of a con is happening. Does it actually matter, given that there are many who say that 32 bit float doesn't matter at all? Well, regardless, honest marketing matters. To me anyway.
[Edited to add that I wonder whether 32 bit float recording wireless mics actually use dual converters? Hmmm.]
In the manual for the DR-07, I do not see any reference to dual converters. I maintain that "32-bit float" is a poor name for this feature because it refers to the file container format and does not reveal whether the recorder is capable of capturing a substantially wider dynamic range.
I can say that I was able to fully restore a yelling sample in post production with no discernible distortion, though TASCAM wisely warns in the manual that it is still possible to overload the microphone or analogue "front end" before the converter(s?) which cannot be corrected by reducing the gain in post production.
@curtisjudd Thanks. I'll post this follow up and then I'll leave it. I imagine that in their implementation of 32 bit float mode with no gain adjustment (I assume) that they have set the preamp gain to a somewhat low level, so that the 125dB it supports at the mic would not overload the converter. That would have implications for the accuracy of capture of very low level signals if only one converter was used. But would that issue be audible? Maybe not.
You rightly mention that levels of 125dB and above are getting into threshold of pain territory, but I believe that would normally be the case with a constant level. I suspect that a rock drum kit would generate that kind of level but only at the peak of the transients. And we do need to faithfully capture those transients.
(But for someone wanting the most fuss free way of recording, say, metal rock bands at the front of the crowd, the Zoom M2 device would probably be the way to go, as it can only be used with its built in stereo mics, and its end to end SPL rating (via its dual converters) is 135dB, 10dB more than this Tascam device. And it can output that via USB to an external recorder in 32 bit float too. Well, I guess the current Rode NT1 would outclass it, not least in that it handles 142dB SPL with noise in low single figures, but it costs rather more. And you would need two...)
Interesting. I just got the expensive FR-AV2 and while XLR is superb, the 3.5mm input, when turning on plugin power has a lot of hiss. Same mics on other recorders or when connected to the FR-AV2 via an XLR adapter are clean. Maybe they dont use dual AD on the 3.5mm port and inputting signal at too low level? Something is really bad there.
@@ww1wwwthat’s one possibility. But there are others like potentially just a much lower quality preamp.
@@curtisjudd Maybe. I need to experiment a bit more, but interestingly, noise on the 3.5mm is minimal when using a mic that does not need plug-in power for the operation, i.e. mics that have their own battery and I can turn plugin power off. For example, Videomic NTG or Sennheiser MKE400 seem conpletely fine, Videomic GO II or Rode Lavalier, Lavalier II and Lavalier Go are noisy as hell. I will carry out further tests before I return the FR-AV2. One of the top reasons I chose to sell the F3 and buy this expensive thing was the 3.5mm input, and it is unusable.
Hi Curtis, question-why would the wider stereo option be considered AB/Spaced Pair rather than ORTF?
Not far enough apart for ORTF.
Thanks for the response! Isn’t it spaced pair though that’s supposed to have more distance between mics? I’m pretty new to stereo miking techniques, but I thought spaced pair is a 3:1 ratio, 3x the distance between mics of the distance to the sound source, or something like that.
@@squimotron Sorry, I may have misspoken. The technical term is AB stereo.
@@curtisjudd Ah okay, thanks!
The sound quality in this video is actually closer to real life experience. When I’m using Zoom or Tascam recorders, the noise floor is usually this level or even louder. However, many review videos don’t show this, and I’m not sure why there’s such a difference. Does any one figure out the reason?
I can’t speak for anyone else 🤷♂️
really hoped it would be as quiet as the x8 but more portable, instead it's a 32 bit white noise recorder. guess i'll hold on to my olympus ls-11 for a bit longer
Not quite the same league (or price range) as the X8.
Also isn't the 2 gigabyte limit kind of a non-issue as it's like over 3 hours of record time per track?
About 1:30 in 32-bit/48 kHz.
Thanks, Curtis, for this excellent review. Does this recorder have dual ADC for recording in 32-bit float? If not, how can it make true 32-bit recordings that avoid clipping?
Exactly! You expressed in one sentence what I expressed in a novel-length comment subsequently...
Tascam does not say in the manual how many converters this recorder uses per channel. The only information I have is a practical test where I yelled at close distance into the microphones, then in post production, I was able to reduce the audio which was well above 0dB back down to below 0 dB and there was no discernible distortion. I can't speak to how it would handle close range jet engine recordings, but for voice, it seems to work like many other 32-bit float recorders I've used and tested.
Thanks for your reply, Curtis. It certainly seems that you got 32-bit float results from your test. It’s curious that Tascam doesn’t mention dual ADC in their features for the DR-07XP. Their TASCAM DR-10L Pro states explicitly in its description having “32-bit float recording and dual AD converter technology”. That technology is like an audio insurance policy, not intended perhaps for jet engines, but in my case for recordings of thunderstorms where there are such wild swings in levels. Not sure if the human voice is a comparable test for 32-bit float.
@@orilliaphil6430 human voice is certainly no match for thunder. 👍 probably best to stick with higher end recorders for that.
True enough! Thanks again for your replies, Curtis.
also can be used as a fake tazer
LOL
Would you recommend this overt the Zoom h2 essential?
Zoom h2 essential is not the comparison, are you referring to the zoom h1e?
No I am asking between this recorder and the Zoom h2 essential what do you think is a better recorder over all ?
I haven't used the H2 essential, unfortunately, so I'm not sure.
They are very different devices. The H2e, which I have, has six different mic patterns and it designed to be plonked down on a table etc to record, but if you don't need those kinds of features then I don't think it has much to offer compared with the Tascam. I find its sound for spoken voice is rather thin compared to others, indeed for music too. Horses for courses I guess.
@@Ozpeter Thank you for your input. Greatly appreciated
Recorder 5/10
Garlic chopping 10/10
What's the peak indicator for if it's 32-bit float? What's the maximum dynamic range/spl of the mics?
Thanks! The peak indicator is to show you how much gain reduction work you’ll have in post when recording in 32-bit float mode. In 24-bit mode, it shows how often you’ll need the de-clipper in post.
Would this be good for recording a rock show or would the new dr05xp be better?
I didn't test it in a super loud environment like a rock show. 🙏
According to the specs both devices handle 125dB levels. That model has closely spaced Omni mics rather than cardioid. From my experience with the Sony M10, closely spaced Omni mics are hopeless for stereo imaging. And it would pick up more of the room sounds and audience chatter from all around it. Personally I'd avoid it.
@@Ozpeter Thanks!
Using a pair of external cardioid mics is the answer for concert recording. For intimate setting (very small jazz club) this type of small recorder with internal mics might make a decent recording ~ assuming excellent location.
I have a big dilemma and hope someone can help me here! Seeing the price of this recorder I want to compare it to zoom h4e because it comes for the same price! Which one should I buy for motorcycle exhaust audio recording ? My motorcycle it is proper loud and mic will be either under the seat next to exhaust or in my backpack. I hope to not lower gain enough to kill all other sounds and capture a bit more sounds from the bike
Not sure. I didn't test this with super loud sound sources.
I know it's a big ask, but I wish someone would add Bluetooth and an app to adjust settings. Unless you use the 22wl on a pretty regular basis I find the menu pretty tedious and hard to read. Of course the sound quality on the 22wl was pretty poor too but maybe this thing is fine. In any case it seems like these things are pretty outdated with the onboard recording on some of the wireless transmitters. Regardless, thanks for the review.
You have to move up to the Tascam X8 or X6 to get bluetooth capability (with an adaptor) and a phone app that mirrors the onboard touchscreen, allowing you to start/stop, adjust levels, and change other setting from a distance.
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Dang cheap. I look my Zoom X3. Not sure why I'd need more bestie X3
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The reason Manny companies likely cut off at 2gb is because they would have to may Microsoft a licensing fee for the larger exFAT file system.
I wonder how much. I'd think that the prosumer recorders should be able to incorporate that cost.
@curtisjudd good question. But penny pinching is what it is. It was something I heard about some years ago and I thought I heard the base price was $10,000 and then I think some per unit costs likely around 3% unit cost. But this was a while ago and my memory isn't what it used to be. I just remember the complaints about it.
@@curtisjudd the MixPre series uses exFAT. Because folks in Wisconsin care about you.
@@relefunt another reason I like the MixPre.
Did you recently have a cold, or is that really what that recorder makes your voice sound like? I never heard you so... muffled.
Yes, I'm still somewhat congested after having the flu.
@@curtisjuddGet well soon!
That is a shame about the noise. I was toying with getting one of these but I already have many of them and I think my X6 massively trumps these in terms of sound quality and self noise. I can see the market for them, but I don’t think these are for me sadly. Appreciate the honest demonstration.
X6 is a different league 👍
Your sync is a bit off and it's making it feel bad when it sounds good.
I guess I suck at making videos 🤷♂️
The noise level makes this product unusable clearly present throughout the recording. Curtis you mentioned Zoom's H1 XLR noise performance in its review saying it had way too much noise for a recorder in 2024 but didn't mention the obvious noise of the Tascam. Maybe the noise is so bad you didn't need to mention it? The noise was still present in the Lav recording so it's not the self noise of the built-in mics, awful for a recorder released in 2025!
Maybe my ears are clogged. Are you sure it wasn’t my congested voice since I was recovering from the flu when this was recorded?
@@curtisjudd No Curtis, there is hiss all over the audio. If it wasn't in the original recording and somehow a UA-cam artefact it would be interesting to find out the cause.
The menu of a Tascam is terrible. The screen is super small. 30% of the front while the real info is only 15% of the front. The buttons are then again super big in proportion. Too bad that you can't put in a 2 input mini jack for wireless transmitters of even 2 lapel pin with a longer cable.
I think it is also not possible to make a mono signal from the xy and from your mini jack as well. Then you can choose later which mix you make.
I found the menus pretty intuitive. 🤷
Pretty noisy 😬
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Thanks Curtis, Impeccable review as always.
Sadly noise floor makes it unusable to me.
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