TSCAM DR-40 Noise

[menoc]

Hi guys,

Recently I bought a tascam DR-40 field recorder to use with my 50D running magic lantern. The DR-40 works pretty well with the internal mics (very little noise), but when I connect an external mic (and I have tried several different good quality mics - with and without phantom power), there is a lot of noise present ( there's a very present sound hiss as well as athe a tic of the LCD screen as it changes characters on the display. I was wondering if anyone else has had the same experience with this recorder? I'm seriously thinking about returning it and getting a different model.

[GershberG]

Hi!

I have 2 crews working with DR-40 recorders.
The sound is crystal clear on both. We are using Sure SM58 and some gun mikes.

Hope, this helps.

[Michael Zöller]

Just today I did some tests with a DR-40, a H4N and a 302 Sound Devices field mixer. Condenser shotguns were ok, the results are indeed usable.

Results with dynamic mics were not so good, the internal preamps do create some noise. When normalized in a DAW the DR-40 had more high frequency noise, the H4N actually introduced some rather ugly digital noise pattern. So I cannot really recommend either of them with dynamic mics. Obviously when using the preamps of the 302 and just sending the line signal to the recorders everything was ok.

Also, I found these two videos of interest:

[menoc]

After doing some digging and reading the users manual, it turns out that the DR-40 does not work properly with mics that dot not output balanced audio. I was using a chea shutgun mic, the htdz, and that mic only puts out unbalanced audio. I will be getting the Rhode NTG2 or the equivalent but less expensive Azden shotgun mic. I'll post my results later. BTW, do you guys have any suggestions on a balanced output shut gun mi? Anywhere from $150-200

[1%]

I have a cheap china shotgun mic and have no problems like this but I'm using XLR to XLR not the TRS cable that came with it and broke like 4 years ago.

You'll probably have little luck with dynamic mics, they need much more power. I've only gotten good results when using  AC preamp or mixer.... so useless in the field.

[tin2tin]

The Audio-Technica AT875R gives a more powerful output than NTG2 and works very well with the DR-40. I bought it after reading a recommendation on dvxuser.

[Roman]

What do you guys think about USB mics?

If the desired end result is a digital signal, to me it makes sense to have the analog signal go through as fewer conversions/plugs/wires/etc as it can to retain quality.

So being converted and transmitted as a digital signal right 'at the start' seems like a great idea.

I'm no audiophile but the sound quality with mine seems freaken amazing compared to anything else I've used before. No hiss even when cranked up really loud. (Blue Yeti USB Mic)

Works great when out and about, as it just needs the mic, a netbook and some headphones which all fits in a laptop bag slung over the shoulder, batteries last for ages and is quite light.

Anyone else used one before? I ended up coming across the idea while looking at options for a decent on camera mic.

[1%]

I don't see why you couldn't use it. If it sounds fine it probably is. Make sure sampling rate is ok, at least 48khz. You're bypassing the likely horrible ADC in your netbook too.

[Led]

The only catch with a usb mic is that the digital audio converter in them is pretty low grade. A decent portable recorder will have buch better audio quality.

[Roman]

The one I bought gets pretty good reviews, although some people complain that it's too sensitive and picks up a lot of background noise as well as what they're intending to record.

Tis this:

http://www.bluemic.com/yeti/#/specs/

It's quite bulky, but I can forgive that considering it's got gain control etc integrated rather than just a mic. Obviously designed for sitting on a desk or whatever, but without the stand it's quite light so isnt an issue to carry around. Cardioid pattern is handy if having it close to camera.

Ideally I'd need to make a stand or boom or something for it, and some sort of wind filter if using outdoors I guess.

I can record uncompressed WAV files to the laptop forever and a day, I think its about 100 megs per minute but the laptop battery would go flat before I get through ~300gigs

Bit of a double edged sword having the gain control and headphone monitoring on the mic though.
As to adjust anything you need to do so on the mic directly which obviously means you cant if you had it placed remotely or on a boom or whatever.
I guess another downside is that you might hear your fingers etc touch the mic when you turn the dial if you did so mid recording. Seems great for the price though.

Woops sorry getting a bit off topic

[menoc]

Thanks for the tips Mike. After having done some pretty good research, I have narrowed my choices between the following 3 mics:

1. Audio-Technica AT897 Line + Gradient Compact Shotgun Condenser Microphone
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002TTN3Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

2. AZDEN SGM-2X Professional Shotgun Microphone
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CMU0S8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=A2NYACAJP9I1IY

3. Rode NTG2 Condenser Shotgun Microphone
http://www.amazon.com/Rode-NTG2-Condenser-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B00093ESSI/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1348776477&sr=8-10&keywords=shotgun+microphone



I am ready to purchase one of these within the next 3 days. I'm leaning towards the Audio-Technica AT897. The reviews are pretty good on Amazon, YouTube and Vimeo. Also, it technically should work impeccably with the TASCAM DR-40 which requires BALANCED OUTPUT and it can also run on either a AA battery on phanton power. And most importantly, it is $60 less than the Rhode ( the other mic I was looking to buy) which will let me get some extra filters with the money saved.



Has anyone had any good/bad experince with the Audio-Technica AT897?

Just today I did some tests with a DR-40, a H4N and a 302 Sound Devices field mixer. Condenser shotguns were ok, the results are indeed usable.

Results with dynamic mics were not so good, the internal preamps do create some noise. When normalized in a DAW the DR-40 had more high frequency noise, the H4N actually introduced some rather ugly digital noise pattern. So I cannot really recommend either of them with dynamic mics. Obviously when using the preamps of the 302 and just sending the line signal to the recorders everything was ok.

Also, I found these two videos of interest:

[Videogolfo]

With any device with preamps a bit noisy, stay away from Rode NTG2, it has a very low signal and you have to crank up volume to max so with noisy preamps, sound has a very noisy hiss.