What's a good substitute for my Tascam portable recorder mic for the studio?

[DC-Choppah]

I have been using my Tascam portable recorder as a microphone in the project studio. I like what it adds. Great stereo image and very clear and bright sound. I don't have to fool with it to get a great stereo image.

Unfortunately, you have to put the recorder (Tascam DR-07 mkII) into record mode to enable the microphone outputs. Then if you don't hit record, it times out and shuts down, so you have to actually record with it to use the mic. But then it creates a huge file, and runs out of space in the middle of a song, so I end up missing stuff cause my microphone shuts down! Or, the batter runs out! It appears that recording uses up battery fast.

This is all too infuriating lately, so what I am looking for is the equivalent of this mic, but just as a regular mic I can plug into my board.

I love this little recorder too and would prefer to just use it for field recording instead as it was intended.

Is this a mod project? Is there a way to get a 2nd Tascam unit and take it apart and convert it to a regular microphone that will plug into my board and use the phantom power?

[Bob Bickerton]

I guess some more information would be useful. So you are after a stereo microphone? Or just mono/single. And your Board (mixer/interface) has XLRs and 48v phantom power available? - maybe give us the name and model number.

Bob

[DC-Choppah]

The mixing board is Yamaha MG16XU. So the mic can go into two phantom powered channels, or could go into a stereo line input.

I do have an extra stereo mic preamp that I could put to work with this too: https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0CCZ

I want a permanent XY stereo setup mic like the Tascam recorder mic, but I want to plug it into my board and not deal with the Tascam recorder's recorder operational features.

I want a stereo XY mic that is idiot proof just like the TASCAM. I love the stereo image the mic makes. I would really love to somehow pull the mic out and plug it into my board - somehow - or the equivalent of that.

More and more I am having very talented folks over to play and I have limited time with them. I need foolproof stuff I can count on. Lately when I set the Tascam up as a stereo mic it lets me down and shuts off in the middle of tracking.

[awjoe]

I want a stereo XY mic that is idiot proof just like the TASCAM. I love the stereo image the mic makes. I would really love to somehow pull the mic out and plug it into my board - somehow - or the equivalent of that.

If I was in that situation, I'd pull out two matched mics and start recording with them. That's equivalent. Somewhere or other, I've got this rig that'll hold two mics at whatever angle I want. Really simple. Try a couple of angles and find out what you like, and you're well in.

More and more I am having very talented folks over to play and I have limited time with them. I need foolproof stuff I can count on. Lately when I set the Tascam up as a stereo mic it lets me down and shuts off in the middle of tracking.

So the mic's idiotproof on the Tascam, but the shutting down in the middle of tracking thing's irritating.

I commiserate - unforgivable - you need something to record on that keeps recording until you hit the stop button, no matter how good the stereo mic sounds.

ps If I was you really, I'd be trying to figure out how to get the Tascam to keep recording reliably. That would solve all problems, right?

[Bob Bickerton]

As mentioned a matched pair of single mics would do the trick and ultimately give you more flexibility - but it does mean you need to either have them permanently set-up or you have to set them up each time.

If you really want the stereo configuration the Rode NT4 springs to mind. You'd get a good pair of mics which are in the correct configuration for your specification. I also believe the Audio Technica BP4025 is a decent mic, though I haven't tried it myself.

Interesting to compare the NT4 pricing of US$529 at Sweetwater with a pair of NT5s (same capsule) US$429.

If you like the sound of the mics in the Tascam, you'll love the sound of the NT4/5s

Bob

[Terrible.dee]

Dude....Just get a mic.

It's not rocket science.

[Mike Stranks]

I have my doubts about the 'stereo effect' of the mics on the DR07... two omnis about 3 cms apart... hmmm...

I used an NT4 for many years for local-radio broadcast location work... good sound which 'collapsed' perfectly when heard in mono and super-quick to set-up.

Why do you want to record your voice in stereo? It's an unusual technique, but if it works for you...

[FrankF]

Are you using rechargeable batteries? They usually last longer than conventional cells.

By the by, the manual says you should get 7hrs! recording from a pair of AAs - if they're dying before 7hrs, surely there must be a break in recording where you can just put in fresh batteries?!

Another short-term solution would be a mains adapter for the Tascam : Ebay have them for about 20 dollars :
https://tinyurl.com/rpf5khw2

[Drew Stephenson]

Rode NT4 for a simple-to-mount solution. A pair of SDCs and a stereo arm according to your preferred budget for a nearly-as-simple solution.
Or just get a 5V power supply and ignore the batteries when in the studio?

[DC-Choppah]

If you really want the stereo configuration the Rode NT4 springs to mind. You'd get a good pair of mics which are in the correct configuration for your specification. I also believe the Audio Technica BP4025 is a decent mic, though I haven't tried it myself.

Interesting to compare the NT4 pricing of US$529 at Sweetwater with a pair of NT5s (same capsule) US$429.

If you like the sound of the mics in the Tascam, you'll love the sound of the NT4/5s

Bob

Rode NT4 looks perfect for me. Thank you kindly.

[DC-Choppah]

Rode NT4 for a simple-to-mount solution. A pair of SDCs and a stereo arm according to your preferred budget for a nearly-as-simple solution.
Or just get a 5V power supply and ignore the batteries when in the studio?

Even with external power the darn portable recorder will shut off on its own unless you hit record. And once recording, it will shut off when it runs out of memory and then it stops recording.

I need to get away from the kludge of using the recorder as my stereo mic.

[Drew Stephenson]

Rode NT4 for a simple-to-mount solution. A pair of SDCs and a stereo arm according to your preferred budget for a nearly-as-simple solution.
Or just get a 5V power supply and ignore the batteries when in the studio?

Even with external power the darn portable recorder will shut off on its own unless you hit record. And once recording, it will shut off when it runs out of memory and then it stops recording.

I need to get away from the kludge of using the recorder as my stereo mic.

Ah right, i think my zoom bypasses the automatic shutdown if it's running on the mains.

[DC-Choppah]

Why do you want to record your voice in stereo? It's an unusual technique, but if it works for you...

Not voice. I am recording my stereo guitar setup with multiple amps that sounds very lush in stereo.

I also use the XY mic on real instruments like violin, saxophones, flutes, etc..

I find that the proper XY mic setup allows me to place these stereo instruments on the stage very nicely using the Waves S1 plugin. Sounds better to me than recording in mono and just panning.

I like when you can isolate the instrument by location. It allows the mix to be less cluttered since the instruments are split up by their location. Sounds more real too.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Is this a mod project? Is there a way to get a 2nd Tascam unit and take it apart and convert it to a regular microphone that will plug into my board and use the phantom power?

You could... but you'd need to buy or build a couple of phantom-to-plug-in-power converters.

It would be a lot less complicated just to buy a Rode NT4 stereo XY mic

http://www.rode.com/microphones/nt4

EDIT: Sorry... just read the rest of the thread and I see Bob has already recommended it!

[Hugh Robjohns]

I have my doubts about the 'stereo effect' of the mics on the DR07... two omnis about 3 cms apart... hmmm...

They aren't omni capsules in the Tascam, they are 'undirectional' mics. Cardioids. So the options are XY cardioids or near-spaced cardioids to introduce some small interchannel timing differences.

[ConcertinaChap]

Another +1 on the Rode NT4. One of the first decent mics I ever bought and still has a place in my collection. One facility it has which may appeal is it is phantom powered in the studio but can be battery powered which makes it very effective for field recording.

CC

[Mike Stranks]

I have my doubts about the 'stereo effect' of the mics on the DR07... two omnis about 3 cms apart... hmmm...

They aren't omni capsules in the Tascam, they are 'undirectional' mics. Cardioids. So the options are XY cardioids or near-spaced cardioids to introduce some small interchannel timing differences.

My mistake... ... I was looking at the Mk1...

[Hugh Robjohns]

I thought the original DR 07 had fixed back-to-back cardioids... but it was a long time ago and I can't be bothered to google it...

Omni capsules would be largely pointless on a small handheld recorder since their inherently ultra-close spacing wouldn't generate enough inter-channel time difference to produce any meaningful stereo image.

You need around 1.5ms difference to move a signal fully over into one loudspeaker, and you're not going to get that with only an inch or two of separation.

[DC-Choppah]

From the Tascam website: https://tascam.com/us/product/dr-07mk2/top

'Adjustable directional microphones'

I just use it in the coincident XY mode and I think it sounds terrific. When I record something real and bring it into the DAW, I get a stereo image that responds very well to the S1 plugin to place it in the 'scene'.

I am getting the Rode NT4, and I hope it will have that same idiot proof stereo recording ease. I assure you that when I have a room full of musicians and I have to play engineer and musician, and therapist at the same time that I need all the idiot proofing I can get!

[ConcertinaChap]

You'll find the NT4 comes with a cable that will allow you to plug it directly into your Tascam as an alternative to the recorder's own mics. I've done that with my Olympus LS10 when I wanted quality beyond its own mics and the results have been very good.

CC

[DC-Choppah]

You'll find the NT4 comes with a cable that will allow you to plug it directly into your Tascam as an alternative to the recorder's own mics. I've done that with my Olympus LS10 when I wanted quality beyond its own mics and the results have been very good.

CC

This will be great actually. Being able to operate the Tascam controls remotely from the mic position will be very helpful in some situations like when we record a gig live.

I sometimes mount the recorder where it sounds good and then later realize I can't get to the controls to turn it on and off.

[ConcertinaChap]

Sorry if I gave that impression. You can't control the recorder from the mic. It's just the mic can take a PP9 battery for power and thus can be plugged into the Tascam's input to provide higher quality; good as the Tascam's mics may be, the NT4 will be better.

CC

[Murray B]

I am in no way looking to undermine the excellent advice you've had so far regarding replacement microphones.

if you are happy with the sound of the Tascam, you might explore changing the recording settings to record mp3's rather than wave files onto the memory card. I can record 4 or 5 hours of rehearsals on my 2gb memory card as mp3's on my Tascam DR-05. This would hopefully solve the problems with running out of memory and or the recorder shutting down.

I can't say this for sure but I can't imagine that the recording settings will have much effect on the live output from the recorders line out. Might be worth a try? Obviously the recording onto the machine will be compromised but I don't think you are using this.

Having said all of the above - investing in some new kit might yield better results - but this way you could hopefully use what you have in the meantime.