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New Portable Audio Recorder For DSLR Video Shoots

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Tascam DR-60DmkII picture
Tascam DR-60DmkII

The Tascam DR-60DmkII 4-Channel Portable Recorder has just been released and is perfect for recording high-end audio while shooting video. The product description says that it caters to the needs of DSLR (“digital single-lens reflex,” or just “digital SLR”) cameras. But it will work great for any video recorder, of course.
So what makes the DR-60DmkII so awesome? Lots of things. But that’s not very helpful is it? OK, let’s start with the important thing. It allows you to record very high-quality audio so your videos can sound professional, which is something that is lacking in so many videos these days. Just about every day I see a video that looks great, but sounds awful. You can solve that problem with this recorder.
The DR-60DmkII captures audio up to 24-bit/96 kHz WAV/BWF (broadcast wave format) files. It also has 4 audio input jacks – 2 combination XLR/TRS for standard microphones, and 2 1/8″ (3.5 mm) input plugs. You can record 4 audio sources simultaneously (which is better than typical home recording audio interfaces, I might add). It also has built-in phantom power (for your highest quality microphones), A-D converters and mic preamps.
A few other things worth knowing about:

  • Attaches to a tripod and has a tripod screw on top of it so you can attach your camera on top of the recorder.
  • Slate tone generator for easy track marking when shooting, and easy recognition
  • Multiple stereo outputs allow you to monitor the audio in headphones as well as send reference audio to your camera (assuming it has a microphone jack)
  • Built-in Mixer allowing you to control over panning and levels for each of the 4 tracks.
  • Records onto SD/SDHC up to 32GB

I had not looked at the price of this recorder while writing about it. In the back of my mind, I was expecting it would be somewhere between $500 and $1,000. I’ve seldom been so happy to be wrong:). This awesome piece of kit costs only $199.99!
There are a lot more features on this incredible new device, which you can read about in the more detailed description. CLICK HERE to go check those other details out or to order one of you own.

Voice Over Recording While Camping–The Zoom H2 Saves My Butt

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H2 MicYou’d think it would be a pretty good bet that I could take a week off without having to record any audio.  After all, I’d had to actively submit auditions for all the voice over jobs I’d gotten at that point.  So you might imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail on the 2nd day out (why was I checking e-mail?  Brand new iPhone…but that’s a different story:)) I received an offer for a voice over job I hadn’t even auditioned for.  And they couldn’t wait a week.  It was take-it-or-leave-it.  So I decided to give it a shot.  Here is all the equipment I had with me.
1.  iPhone
3.  Netbook computer with an 11 hour battery life
We were going to be doing some singing, which is the only reason I had the recorder.
Anyway, here is how it went.  The client e-mailed some scripts and instructions.  I used my iPhone to read the scripts, holding it in one hand, and recorded all my parts while holding the Zoom H2 in my other hand.  Once I had recorded all my files, I ejected the SD card from the H2 and put it into my netbook.  I used the Internet Tethering feature of the iPhone to connect my netbook to the web, downloaded Audacity, and edited the audio files (noise gating and reduction, cutting out bad takes, etc.).  Finally I uploaded the files to the client’s website.
It was definitely a first for me.  What made it work was that the Zoom H2 can record at up to 24-bit/96kHz on its stereo mic setup.  The client specifically requested a minimum of 24 bit and a 44.1 KHz sampling rate.  I could not have done it with a really cruddy mic.

If you’d like to get an idea of how the audio turned out, listen to the audio here:
[jwplayer config=”Custom Audio Player” mediaid=”3485″]
So now I know there is no reason to ever fear losing out on a recording gig when I’m on the go.  All 3 required items fit very easily into a quite small hand bag or back pack.
Happy recording!
Ken
ps – By popular demand, here is an audio clip from the actual job – the final audio sent to the client.
[jwplayer config=”Custom Audio Player” mediaid=”11049″]