Tascam Portacapture X6 good for music?

[@mmaged2287]

Thank you for the video. I’ve literally been deciding between buying another zoom f3(love it) or buying this or the x8 as I need a separate recorder for ambient sound for a small concert I’m shooting in a month. If I buy another F3, I’m purchasing additional pencil condenser mics. I use the F3 specifically for the mixer. However, I prefer built in xy mics. We’re you able to test the xy mics on the x6 or was the concert video you mentioned from another recorder? Thanks in advance.

[@vincent_van_nunu]

This was the concert video, the audio on it is the internal "mix" track from the tascam, mixing the XY onboard mics and the two XLR inputs (stereo L, R) from the soundboard. Should give you an idea of the results you can get: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIubn4yalrhgpLM

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Should also mention that the board mix was totally clipped from the soundboard but I was able to easily recover it because it was 32 bit float

[@mmaged2287]

@@vincent_van_nunu Thank you for the quick reply. I end up purchasing the x6. This is going on top of a gh5(a cam) cage, so I couldn’t risk the size and weight of the x8. I’m using a Deity D4 for scratch on my s5( b-cam). Those xy mics sound as good as the x8 from what I’ve heard. Hopefully this will mix well with the f3(board only) that has slightly better preamps, but the built in xy mic is a must for this setup. The other alternative would be setting up a second F3 with two pencil condenser mics with either an xy or ortf configuration. Thanks again!

[@bram2320]

Do you prefer the f3 of x6 after 2 months?

[@mmaged2287]

@@bram2320 Good question. I prefer the f3 for the slightly better preamp and dynamic range, line level with simultaneous phantom power(better for louder sources) , better line in capabilities to sync camera. However, the x6 has great xy mics and that was great for the concert I recently shot. Also, the preamp is pretty close to the F3. I mixed the f3(into board) with the x6’s xy for room mic mounted on my GH5(a cam). I returned the x6 for the x8 due to a sale and because the xy mics are removable and offers more inputs. I still prefer the size of the x6, and at the current price it’s a bargain. It really depends. If you are videographer and need an xy mic, I would go with the x6. If you work in the field as sound recordist and need more complex sound setups, albeit you only need 2 inputs, F3 hands down. The F3 is almost identical to the F6, just less inputs and missing some features. Same preamp and dynamic range.

[@jancreighton]

thanks for the review - really informative and useful advice - were you happy with the live sound recordings from it - ie would those be useful without the addition of sound taken directly from the board?

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Thanks, yes, I think if I had to choose between the XLR board recording or the ambient mics, I would rather have the ambient mics. Of course, having both was even better. Also, as I said in another comment, the board mix was way too hot and would have clipped a 24 bit recorder. Because this was 32 bit float I was able to recover it.

[@fadel1254]

Hi this nice video... how is it now ? After 9 months

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Still working / still use it for recording live stuff.

[@fadel1254]

@@vincent_van_nunu do use Interface in x6 ?

[@vincent_van_nunu]

@@fadel1254 no I only use the sd card function

[@fadel1254]

@vincent_van_nunu thank you 😊 🙏

[@fadel1254]

Hi ... is have Delay? Thank 😊

[@solncekreeze]

Hello. Why is it that when an external microphone is connected to the xlr input, a small signal indication lights up on the other input (input is disabled)?

[@mmaged2287]

I forgot to ask did you use an xy or ab setup for the built in mics? Also, was the recorder facing towards the stage from the front of house(since you had it close to the board)? This looks like a club and I am shooting a concert in a 300 person theater. Would you recommend front of house(closer to audience) or back of the room? I want room and ambient/crowd noise, but also use it as a redundancy(pickup vocals and instruments). Thanks again.

[@vincent_van_nunu]

I used it exactly as it is set up in the video here (XY). I would recommend placing it by the soundboard at the theater assuming there is a soundperson working a board. You might call ahead and see if they can run you an XLR out in to the Tascam.

[@ourstarscollide]

Do you think I can put this in my backpack and record a metal show that way? From like 10 meters away

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Sure as long as you place it in a good spot for the room and don’t exceed the sound pressure levels of the mic capsules will be fine. 10 meters away should be fine. I recommend putting it on a tripod

[@jozsefk9]

Maybe that bluetooth thing could be the solution for handling noise.

[@franklong6269]

I don't own this unit but I do own the Tascam X8. With the Tascam Bluetooth dongle you can fully control the X8 with your phone or laptop. It works exceptionally well. So if what you are recording is stationary, like a musical band, then you can set up the recorder on a tripod stand and control everything remotely.

[@pshimmons]

@@franklong6269 How far does that bluetooth dongle allow you to get away from the recorder?How reliable is the connection?

[@franklong6269]

@@pshimmons The connection is very reliable. I have not measured the farthest limit of the range of the Bluetooth connection. However, when you asked that question, I put the recorder at one corner of my house and took my phone to the other, farthest corner of the house. This distance is approximately 35' - 40' away and it worked flawlessly, and that is going through several walls. There is no noticeable lag between my phone and the Tascam X8. The adjustment to the controls is almost instantaneous. There is no noticeable lag. In an open room, like a large wedding hall, I would guess that you could be 100 - 150 feet away, and it will work, maybe more. In every case that I have used the Bluetooth connection by using my phone to control the unit, it has worked extremely well. It may vary with the quality of your phone's Bluetooth signal. I have a Samsung S24 Ultra and the remote Bluetooth controls on the phone change the settings on the Tascam X8 instantly. It also worked very well with my older phone, which was a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. But if you have a decent phone, it should work from very long distances. I hope that this helps you.

[@pshimmons]

@@franklong6269 That is awesome news and the best direct answer I've gotten yet. Thank you SO much for testing it out! I bought an earlier Tascam recorder that used wi-fi and it was very NOT reliable! I've had a couple issues with the recorders I use currently that could have been solved easily by having the BT connection! Thank you! I have an iPhone 15 so it has the latest BT tech inside.

[@davespin9034]

I had a zoom camera recorder with 2 XLR inputs, 4k camera and a nice screen with lots of options and an EQ. Very good ideas but the recorder was absolute RUBBISH! I tried to record high gain guitar with SM57 mics and it just clipped, recording terrible audio. And as you mentioned the support at Zoom SUCKED. I returned it after 45 days of trying everything! Great idea but poorly executed. Had that video audio device had the same recorder this did I would have kept it. So hoping this recorder does the trick. It’ll be paired with my GoPro because that camera is excellent. It just lacks good audio recording capabilities

[@franklong6269]

Sound Devices recorders cost four to six times more than the X6 AT A MINIMUM. Of course they are going to be built with better materials. You appear to be somewhat of a klutz. NO sound recorder is made to be dropped. You can't drop Zoom handheld recorders either and they are used by professionals around the world. ALL handheld recorders have handling noise. Have you even used these types of recorders? Also, several reviewers have mentioned that suspended holders do limit noise. If you're paranoid about damage the unit I think you can control the unit remotely via Bluetooth, which you obviously know nothing about.

[@vincent_van_nunu]

lol thanks

[@sunnyboner676]

I think people would have been happy to pay an extra $5 to have the microphone body made of metal instead of the silver coloured plastic though. Even the Zoom recorders use metal at a lower price point.

[@Robterdammer]

Always that whining about plastic. I have 4 different recorders made of plastic... none of them broke. Unless you want to put a tent in the ground with it. Plastic also doesn't rust and it is lighter. I do have the Zoom H8 that comes in its original plastic case. I took it out after a long time and it looked like it had fallen into a jar of honey. The soft skin exterior was dirty, sticky and tacky. I filed a complaint with Zoom because the device has only been used 5 times. But they don't respond. But the Tascam is no problem.

[@vincent_van_nunu]

The Tascam is aging pretty well too considering the new Zoom "essential" line of 32-bit recorders apparently missed the mark based on reviews I've seen. And yes I still have the Tascam and haven't broken it, yet.

[@Robterdammer]

@@vincent_van_nunu I hear that the pre-amp of Tascam is better than the pre-amp of the Zoom. So Tascam is the better choice.

[@Robterdammer]

When I use the ZoomH2n I hang it on a very weak elastic otherwise it is impossible. You should also not put a headphone wire in it because every movement is a drum solo. Disaster thing.

[@revel8or]

This is not a field recorder. This is called a PORTABLE HANDHELD recorder by the manufacturer. If you don’t even know what the product is called and where it sits in their offerings, that disqualifies everything that follows. I own several field recorders from Marantz, Tascam, and Fostex (which happens to be the best sounding one). None of them look like a handheld multitrack (which all happen to resemble the one you are attempting to review). BTW, I own several handheld multitracks, including this one. They aren’t field recorders. They don’t have the build to be thrown around. So you pay like, what, 1000 US for a field recorder so you CAN take it with you on your adventure to the Grand Canyon, and walk away with audio that has sync marks and cue points for the video you shot, and a still functioning recorder that slid 50 feet down a hill. And to make it even clearer, Field Recorders are sold as a different product *under a different category* at ZZ, SW, GC, SA, Thom, well - I hope elucidation is around the corner for you. Before offering an analysis of another anything, do some research so you can at least come across like you know what you are talking about. But, you’ll probably laugh off my criticism like you did the other person’s - probably because you are smart enough to think you are smart, but not smart enough to understand that you can make mistakes. It’s actually a real psychological phenomenon. Look it uuupp… oh, wait, you don’t research. As a side note, it is sort of crappy that they went with standard XLR instead of Neutrik, but I’ve never gone direct into any portable recorder, and one could successfully argue that you should be miking even simple shows at small venues. XLR has better noise rejection, anyway, so it really isn’t much of a loss to lose RCA inputs. Probably something you already knew, but just didn’t mention in the video because it’s “too technical,” eh?

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Tascam DOT COM calls this a "Portacapture X6 6-channel 32-bit float Portable Audio Field Recorder" . tascam.com/us/product/portacapture_x6/top Thanks for your very helpful comment though!

[@serafeims5862]

couldn't it be still used for field recording? I'm looking for a good field recorder at this price range , do you have something to recommend to me ?

[@GrizGriztofferson]

Nothing like the self-important field recording snobs coming out in full force to sh** all over the effort you put into this video, as if you can't express your own opinions on your own KZbin channel (funny, they don't seem to have videos themselves - or work they could point to as an illustration of their vast expertise.) Wouldn't want to keep them from putting their gatekeeping aprons on and tearing you down to compensate for their non-existent self-esteem via their BOOK of a comment/rant. 🙄 I actually appreciate your review of the unit, as you do cover some aspects that others don't mention. Found it quite helpful! Thank you!!@@vincent_van_nunu

[@franklong6269]

@@GrizGriztofferson Hmmm, I don't think the field recorder's comment was snobbish at all. He OWNS multiple high-end sound recorders, including the Tascam X8. That makes him an EXPERT. So you should close your mouth and pay attention and you might actually learn something of value about audio recorders from someone who uses them professionally. This video's author does NOT know what he is talking about. That you don't see that screams that you just aren't very bright.

[@GrizGriztofferson]

​@@franklong6269 DOES that person own an X8? Go back and actually read the comment, Frank. The comment, in fact, seems to indicate that they don’t own an X8 or X6 (“None of them look like a handheld multitrack (which happen to resemble the one you are attempting to review.”) That’s the direct quote. That you don't see that screams... well... Speaking of “bright,” you probably ought to read things carefully before you go throwing your rage around and commenting on other people’s "brightness." But, I’m clearly not an EXPERT like you are, Frank. Good luck to you.