15Sep Tascam Takes another swing at Zoom with the Tascam DR-40 4 track recorder.
A few months back Tascam released the DR-05 which seemed to be a direct competitor to the Zoom h1 field recorder, I compared the two units side by side and it did seem like the over all build quality of the DR-05 was better then the Zoom h1, though the H1 wins in the size category. Now it seems Tascam has it’s sights set on the Zoom h4n with the release of the Tascam DR-40. At around $80 less you end up with a 4 track field recorder with adjustable built in mic’s, XLR/1/4 inch combo inputs and a button interface very close to that of the DR-05. One major thing that’s missing is an 1/8 inch stereo input, the only way to record 4 tracks is the use a combination of the built in microphone with the XLR/1/4 inch inputs which limits a lot of what makes the 4 track recording handy when using the Zoom H4n.
Another thing to consider is that the Tascam DR-100, which falls into ruffly the same price category as the Zoom h4n, looks like a much beefier build while also featuring dedicated volume controls. The Tascam DR-40 also seems to be missing the option to act as a USB audio interface for you computer, which is something I use almost weekly with my Zoom h4n.
It does have Neutrik Combo jacks which accommodate both XLR and 1/4 inch inputs and a mysterious 1/8 inch plug labeled “remote” at the base. Maybe this is a 1/8 inch stereo input after all, or maybe Tascam plans to offer a remote control like the one that is available for the Zoom H4n. Either way I will find out soon and let you know. I should have the Tascam DR-40 in for review next week and a video with a back to back comparison of both the Tascam and Zoom h4n to follow. Special Thanks to RED for point this out to me this morning.
One side note is that the Refurbished Zoom H4n field recorders are down to $249 on amazon right now, which puts the price to feature gap a lot closer to the DR-40.
September 16th, 2011 at 12:30 am
Isn’t the DR-100 more of a competitor to the H4n? The DR-40 seems more like a competitor to the H2n if anything and one-ups it with XLR & 1/4″ inputs.
Honestly though, I can’t imagine who would want a recorder with 2 XLR inputs but not be able to adjust their levels independently.
BTW, the remote port…it’s for a remote controller 🙂 It comes standard with the DR100, but is optional on the DR-40.
September 16th, 2011 at 7:11 am
It’s kind of a gray area for me. The DR-100 is a higher end model but it doesn’t have 4 track recording (if I remember correctly), BWF time stamping, or Neutrik Combo jacks. It does have a good solid case, 2 dedicated volume controls and more gain on it’s XLR inputs then the Zoom h4n.
On the Tascam DR-05 you can control the levels from the front panel in record mode, I would guess they have the same function with the DR-40. The times I’ve used the DR-100, I’ve been tempted to make the switch, but I use way to many of the h4n’s extra features to be able to jump ship.
Thanks for the heads up on the remote, I couldn’t find anything solid on it when I was reading Tascam’s sight last night.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Yep, the combo jacks on the DR-40 are nice indeed, one of the bummers of the DR-100. And the USB audio interface functionality of the Zoom units is also tempting.
September 16th, 2011 at 9:28 am
One really exciting feature is the safety record feature that records a track at slower volume in case of peaking.
September 16th, 2011 at 10:33 am
That is nice, though you can set that manually on the Zoom h4n and Tascam DR-100. I look forward to doing the review and checking out all of these features. Thanks for the heads up!
September 24th, 2011 at 4:24 am
I bought a TASCAM DR-07MKII about a month ago. No XLR inputs but I’m definitely happy with it.
May 11th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Hello
I just bought a Tascam DR-40, i had a Zoom H4n before, but there was one major thing that made me change to Tascam.
Im primary filming railroad – trains passing me while filming. That type of recording is kinda challenging because of, that the sound is shifting from very low, when the train is far away, to very high when the train are nearest to me. The only way to adjust the input level on the Zoom, was on remote control by manual. The limit function didn’t work to this purpose at all. Then I saw that the Tascam had a auto level function, and i ordered right away. I have used the Tascam a few times now, but I really can’t get the auto thing to work properly. Do any of you have experience with the Autolevel on the Tascam, and can you tell me how to handle it well? When it is setup to use the auto level, it also records a normal track where the input level are adjusted manually. Does those two functions have any relations to each other?
Another thing, i have just bought a Rycote deadcat to it, but i think it seems a bit small. I can’t set the microphones to wide stereo because the lack of space in the windjammer. Do you have tested any windjammer to this recorder? 🙂
Nice blog by the way.
Regards
Thomas
Denmark.
September 2nd, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Hi Thomas.
I think you can try to use the next setup on Tascam DR-40:
Set Dual REC MODE, set dual level (Dual LVL)to -12dB and LVL Control to LIMITER, not auto. Try this one, an you should get two stereo tracks: the first one will record the train from the distance very good, and will distort – or limit when the train is close, and the other will almost record a bit the distance train, and record just fine – with a bit limiter maybe, the close train; the open those two tracks in a computer audio software, an mix them just to sound good together (lower each one’s volume at the ditorting points). I also like to record trains, only audio :).
If this is not working, try the 4 chanel mode also with the onboard limiter, but use two dynamic microphones, and let them on the LINE IN input, NOT microphone input (well, you can try this one, too), and adjust the levels so you get no distortion, and then mix the 4 tracks into two like before.