Tascam DR-70D 4-Channel Audio Recording Device for DSLR and Video Cameras

2023-12-20T14:02:21

Having recently stepped into the role of an amateur sound guy for adult film projects, I had the chance to work with the Tascam DR-70D 4-Channel Audio Recording Device, and I'd like to share my experience: **Compact and Convenient Design**: I immediately appreciated the DR-70D's compact form. It didn't add much weight to our camera setup, which was a huge plus during our dynamic and sometimes improvised filming sessions. **Impressive Sound Quality**: The audio quality this device captured was a game-changer for our productions. It allowed me to record from multiple microphones, which was crucial in capturing both dialogues and more intimate sounds clearly and distinctly. **Ease of Use**: For someone still learning the ropes of sound recording, the Tascam DR-70D was user-friendly. Adjusting levels was straightforward, and the display was clear enough for me to monitor the audio even in low-light settings, which are common in our shoots. **Flexibility with Microphones**: This recorder's ability to connect with various types of microphones made it a versatile tool. Whether using lavalier mics for close-up dialogues or a shotgun mic for more general ambient sounds, it met all our needs seamlessly. **Battery Life Considerations**: While the battery life was generally adequate, I learned to always keep spare batteries on hand, as longer shoots could drain the power faster than expected. **Overall Impressions**: As an amateur sound guy in the adult film industry, the Tascam DR-70D has been invaluable. It's enhanced the audio quality of our projects significantly, adding a layer of professionalism to our productions. In sum, the Tascam DR-70D is a fantastic asset for any amateur looking to improve the sound quality of their film projects. Its balance of quality, usability, and versatility makes it a worthy addition to any filmmaker's toolkit, especially in scenarios that require adaptability and ease of use.

Blain J.

2023-01-23T05:41:52

Tascam DR-70D is a good external audio recorder.

Francisco G.

2019-04-03T13:11:14

I really like this recorder. I have used it for interviews where I had to travel and set up my own studio. The sound quality was very nice. It was pretty simple to set up and use. It really has nice options for the price. It does not really work well to attach to the bottom of a camera because of the wide footprint. I have a Canon 5d mkii. Not an awful problem, just keep that in mind.

Albion M.

2018-04-16T08:40:01

Granted, I come to this product with little experience in audio recording, but there is a bit of a learning curve in setting this device up. For example, with three places in the menu to set just for Phantom power, plus a myriad of other settings that may be obvious what they do (or were for me), changing them affects other elements in other parts of the menu. With a few hours of exploration and watching of instructional videos, I was able to record clean audio confidently for field work.

Tim S.

2017-01-18T11:00:46

Yeah, folks mention it can be noisy (somewhat) but for the price you get a really useful device, built in phantom power, flexible inputs, design works well under DSLR but have also used as a field mixer plugged into a broadcast level camera - though the connection is unbalanced. Set it up to WAV pro format which supports SMPTE time code and use a time code conversion application for DSRL video files and things are easy to sync up. One complaint is the door the battery chamber and SD card hide under. Yeah, it looks like it's not the best but it's actually worked well - beats having some type of removable or hinged or slide off door within the overall configuration of the mixer.

John K.

2016-12-28T07:46:34

Image what something like this would have cost 10 years ago. Remarkably intuitive, and a great backup unit for audio capture without breaking the bank.

Grant H.

2016-10-31T17:34:41

I bought this to replace my Tascam DR-40D and I'm immensely glad I did. I'm often operating a one-man crew and having the ability to mount this straight to the camera makes this worth the price alone. Add in the ability to monitor the sound, and Tascam's great recording capabilities and this units ability to run a mini jack mic as well, and you've got yourself one fantastic little audio recorder. For the price, you'd think they'd throw in an SD card like the Dr-40D came with, but I guess thats a minor complaint. The product itself is wonderful.

Kyle E.

2016-04-23T08:39:08

In order to get the best spec out of this unit is recommended to read reference manual. A lot of the negative feedback has been from people trying to exceed unit ability. Works great, awesome price. For this price point is the best out there.

Jorge R.

2016-03-30T12:35:55

A little time spent to learn all the features, but works great, very good quality recording. I set the gains to High+ to get enough volume, but that may be the microphones that I'm currently using also. Really like the way it can mount on the camera, makes for a compact solution, or mount on a tripod separately if that works better.

Keith R.

2015-02-05T19:00:00

The Tascam DR-70D is a great recorder. Aside from all the great features I like the slim form factor over the older models. This works well on Camera and as a stand alone recorder. I definitely reccommend this to anyone DSLR video shooter.

JACOB W.

2015-02-04T19:00:00

I recently upgraded from the DR-60D mostly for the external mics. I have to say that the form factor on this is so much better than the DR-60D.... knowing what I know now I would upgrade even without the mics. Tascam nailed it on this one.

Anatole

2014-11-05T19:00:00

I use this audio recorder along with my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. I've used high-end Sound Devices recorders and mixers, Zoom recorders, and the Tascam DR-60D and this recorder exceeded my expectations for the cost. Pros: - Surprisingly durable construction. The DR-60D MK 1 felt very cheap and plasticky but this actually feels very sturdy with some weight. Feels like it's made of metal but I can't really tell if it's metal or a really strong plastic. - The recording quality so far is great. I've only had it for a few days but I've tested it with my Senn 416 and it sounds great with low noise. The onboard omni mics also sound surprisingly good. - Form factor is a major improvement, though it's a weird size for my Pocket camera (see below). It's easy to access all the controls and I like that I can remove the screw plate on the top. - Controls are smooth. The knobs are stepless, the buttons firm. Cons: - The door to access the battery compartment and SD card is poorly designed. It's held together by a piece of rubbery plastic, much like port covers used on cameras. It's hard to pull out and hard to keep open while you access what's inside. I could see it breaking off eventually over time. Furthermore, in order to access the batteries, you have to open this outside door, then open another door that's just for the batteries. This is a bit of a hassle. - The SD card reader is behind the door mentioned above, which doesn't make a lot of sense. It should really be on the side of the unit so it's easy to change if the unit is in a bag or rigged up. - The unit could be lighter. It's a little heavy with all the batteries inside. - The unit is a little large. Should be okay for people with DSLRs but it looks pretty ridiculous with my Pocket camera. Oh well, they probably weren't designing it for my camera. I still think the form factor is a great improvement over the DR-60D though. - This is a minor thing but I wish I could change the name of the folder it makes on the SD card to something other than "MUSIC" which doesn't make sense at all, especially if you use this recorder for DSLR recording as it was designed. Overall, great recorder and a no-brainer at this price.

Reuel K.