X8 32-Bit Float With V1.30

TASCAM has announced the V1.30 firmware update for the Portacapture X8 High Resolution Adaptive Multi-Recorder. Featuring 192kHz/32-bit float point recording technology, a 3.5-inch colour touchscreen display, large format internal detachable microphones to accommodate a variety of recording applications, internal 8-track recording capability, USB audio interface and more, the Portacapture X8 is an exceptional choice for videographers, vlog content production, media production, and music applications to name just a few. With the V1.30 firmware update, the Portacapture X8 gains significant operational enhancements.

With the introduction of the V1.30 firmware update, the Portacapture X8 now has the capability to use 32-bit float point resolution when using the unit as a USB audio interface to a DAW. This facilitates wider dynamic range, higher resolution, and greater audio quality for better overall record quality. The 32-bit float technology enables audio to be dynamically controlled and edited virtually without limitations. Clipped audio segments can easily be corrected and, similarly, low level audio passages can be adjusted to a higher dB level.

The V1.30 firmware update also provides a significant enhancement to the Portacapture X8’s User Setting and Input Setting memory functions. The V 1.30 update can now store User Settings on the Launcher main interface and Input Presets on the app (up to three for each) that will instantly recall various user-defined parameter settings. This new capability makes it easy for users to define and recall their favourite and most used configurations.

Also new with the V1.30 firmware update is the Mix Minus capability that has been added to the Portacapture X8’s podcast app. The Podcast app can now turn Mix Minus On or Off for an input. This feature enables a USB audio source, for example, to have Mix Minus set to On so it can be recorded and monitored by all users while avoiding an audio feedback loop that would normally occur if not for Mix Minus. As the Portacapture X8 will record audio while connecting to a video conference when used as a USB audio interface, the Mix Minus capability is extremely useful.

Paul Youngblood, Director of Product Marketing at TASCAM, commented on the new features offered by the V1.30 firmware update, “The Portacapture X8 has proven itself to be a full-featured, powerful handheld recorder both on its own or when used in tandem with a computer. As a company, we strive to listen carefully to our users, as this enables us to learn first-hand how our equipment gets used in a wide range of applications — and the V1.30 update is a perfect example of this. We’ve taken the most requested capabilities and turned those into new features that make the Portacapture X8 even more versatile and useful.