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Last modified: 02-08-2018 |
The Tascam DR-40 digital recorder is a challenger to the well-known Zoom H4N. It includes two cardioid microphones, and two XLR sockets that can also take 6,35mm jacks. It provides phantom power to condenser microphones that need it ("many of these small, affordable recorders work best with louder microphones, such as condenser mics, when recording relatively quiet things", source. Dynamic mics aren't a good match for this type of recorder).
By default, it records as WAV in 16bit/44KHz. It supports SD cards 64MB-2GB and SDHC cards 4GB-32GB.
Recommended accessories to get: AC-USB power supply, tripod, windscreen (Tascam WS-DR2, or third-party offers from Redhead Windscreens, GigWig, Rycote, etc.), and shotgun microphone (Rode NTG2, Audio Technica 8035) if you need to record sound off loudspeakers.
Built-in stereo microphone
2 DUAL indicator
3 4CH indicator
4 OVER DUB indicator
5 3/4 [SOLO] button
6 1/2 [SOLO] button
r PEAK indicator
y RECORD [0] button/REC indicator
When stopped, press this button to put the unit into recording standby. The REC indicator will start to blink.
p ENTER/MARK button
s EXT MIC/LINE IN L/R jacks (XLR/TRS)
d REMOTE jack (f2.5mm TRS)
g EXT IN switch
h HOLD switch
j INPUT LEVEL (+/-) buttons
Playing a file recorded in MONO or STEREO mode
Playing a file recorded in DUAL MONO or DUAL ST mode or monitoring in these modes
Playing a file recorded in 4CH mode or monitoring in this mode
In OVERDUB SEPARATE mode
In OVERDUB MIX mode
Press the O/I buttton to turn the device on > "Menu" > Scroll down to "Others" > "Enter/Mark" > "Information" > "Enter/Mark" : The displays says "System Ver."
Head for http://tascam.com/product/dr-40/ to download the latest firmware and the PDF that explains how to upgrade.
Basically, connect the device to the computer with a micro-USB cable, unzip the firmware in the \UTILITY directory on the device, unplug the device, and press three specific keys to restart the device in upgrade mode.
"Any two digital devices that are not physically synchronized with a cable transmitting time-code and/or word-clock are invariably going to drift. [...] Ultimately, if you’re not running a physical sync connection (and are recorders that can read and/or write it) you’re going to need to do some manual re-syncing during a project. Usually, that means making some cuts to the audio and nudging the audio forward or backward. There are software solutions for this too – such as VocAlign that can automatically sync a separate recording to scratch audio printed to the video." (source)
Singular Software's Dualeyes
Here are some alternatives to the open-source Audacity to edit sound files on Windows:
http://alternativeto.net/software/audacity/?platform=windowshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_software_for_audio#Recording_and_editing
http://hardforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33
ex-Cool Edit Pro
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_AuditionThe EXT IN button on the left was moved by mistake.
Hold down the the O/I HOME button.
Make sure the device is directly connected to a USB port on the computer, not through a USB hub.
The XLR input would be connected to a loudspeaker or the sound mixer, while the integrated microphones would be used to pick up ambiant sound?
If recording on one XLR, will the sound only be heard on one side?
I put the device in front of a loudspeaker sideways, so volume is a bit higher on one side: How can I raise it so that it's on the same level as the other?
Hit any key in the navigator.
Stop playback, and hit the Quick button in the navigator.
Yes, rechargeable Ni-MH.
You'll have to edit the two files together with eg. Sony's Vegas Studio.