TASCAM DR-70D

Tascam has released a new four channel recorder, that is designed to be mounted directly to a DSLR – the DR-70D.

The company is marketing the new recorder to the indie and hobbyist filmmaker community, who are looking to buy an entry level recorder with some of the functionality of high-end equipment.

The new recorder comes with four XLR mic inputs, with phantom power and a pair of built-in microphones for capturing ambient on-set sound or syncing in post. Each input has a HDDA microphone preamps featuring 64db of gain, in addition to individual pan and level controls. All four inputs feature low-noise 5532 op amps, a limiter, delay and five setting low cut filter.

An essential feature for film sound is the Dual Recording mode, which really should be an industry standard. It records a safety copy of your audio at a lower level, meaning you’ll have usable sound even when the dialogue is distorted. It also features a slate tone, low-noise buttons, a  headphone output, and standard AA battery power.

The recorder can take up to 128Gbs of either SD, SDHC or SDXC media cards and has tripod mounts on the top and bottom of the unit, allowing it to be mounted on a camera, rig, or a follow-focus cage.

We’re not sold on the idea of mounting it to the camera, it may be useful in some documentary situations, but it’ll likely ruin your hotshoe. Instead, we suggest mounting the recorder straight to the boom, under your shotgun microphone. Although, with batteries, it will add another 625gms to the end of your boom, in which case mounting it to the bottom or attaching a lanyard might be a better option.

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

Pricing and Availability

Tascam are now shipping the DR-70D, with an estimated street price of US$299.99.
Australian Distributor: CMI Music and Audio www.cmi.com.au

Excerpts from Press Release