my YouTube channel Setouchi Ambience , sound quality is an important factor that directly affects the viewing experience. In this article, I'll be sharing my thoughts on using the TASCAM Portacapture X8, from why I decided to use it.
Pochip
- Reasons for switching from the old model
- From when I first started considering the Portacapture X8 to when I purchased it.
- The true value of 32-bit recording experienced at Goshoji Temple
- Sensitivity that picks up everything from the faint sound of rain to lightning
- Recording settings and usage environment
- Listen to the actual recording
- summary
Reasons for switching from the old model
I had been using the DR-07X, also made by TASCAM. It was compact and easy to use, and I had no major complaints about it. However, I gradually began to notice the following issues:
- Touch noise is noticeable
- Damage caused by dropping (battery cover broken)
- Easily picks up electronic noise (especially on trains)
Because the DR-07X's body is made of plastic, I felt that it had some limitations when it came to long-term, high-definition recording.
Pochip
From when I first started considering the Portacapture X8 to when I purchased it.
I've always thought about improving the sound quality of my YouTube videos, so I thought that if I were to buy something next, it would probably be the TASCAM DR-100MKIII.
However, one day, while watching YouTube, I learned about a product called "Portacapture" from TASCAM. After doing some research, I discovered that it was a new product that had recently been released, and that it had a feature called "32-bit float recording" that allowed me to record without worrying about the recording level.
Once I start to get curious about something, I want to investigate it thoroughly.
I searched YouTube to see what kind of sounds could be recorded with Portacapture, and found a video of the sound of rain recorded with my favorite binaural microphone, the Adphox BME-200, and Portacapture X8.
I found the sound of rain in this video very soothing, and after encountering this video, I decided to buy the Portacapture X8.
Pochip
Pochip
After purchasing it, the opportunity to test the equipment's capabilities came in an unexpected way. One late night, at Goshoji Temple in Utazu Town, Kagawa Prefecture, a faint glow began to appear in the distant sky. It was a sign of an impending thunderstorm. I immediately prepared to record, feeling that this was the perfect opportunity to test the Portacapture X8's true potential.
The true value of 32-bit recording experienced at Goshoji Temple
Recording began around 11pm. Goshoji Temple, surrounded by the old streets of Utazu Town, was enveloped in a silence as if time had stopped. At first, it was a quiet rain, with raindrops gently tapping on leaves. Then, distant thunder approached, and I could feel the change in the density of the air.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning split the night sky, reverberating above Goshoji Temple. Even at that moment, the TASCAM Portacapture X8 beautifully captured everything from the delicate raindrops to the explosive energy of the thunder, without any distortion. When I played back the recording, I was so immersed in the action that it gave me goosebumps.
Sensitivity that picks up everything from the faint sound of rain to lightning
What particularly impressed me about this recording was how well it captured the quiet sound of the first raindrops gently tapping on the leaves. The Portacapture X8's 32-bit float recording captures all sounds simultaneously and in a balanced manner, whether they're loud or quiet. With the previous DR-07X, I felt it was limited in its ability to capture such subtle sounds and sudden changes in sound pressure, so I was truly amazed at the improvements.
Recording settings and usage environment
The recording settings were "32-bit float / 96kHz." The microphone used was an Adphox BME-200, connected with a Hosa YMM-492 cable. The low-cut filter was set to ON to eliminate low-frequency wind noise. Even when shooting outdoors on a rainy day, clear sound can be recorded by properly attaching the windshield.
The display is large and easy to see, making it easy to check the recording status even at night.
Listen to the actual recording
The sound of thunder recorded that night is available on Setouchi Ambience
Check out the video below to see how Portacapture X8 accurately captures natural sounds.
summary
The TASCAM Portacapture X8 is a reliable companion for people like me who record natural sounds and rain sounds outdoors.
It can record any situation, from the roar of thunder to the quiet of light rain, without losing any sense of realism.
With this one lens, I believe you will be able to express the "visual world conveyed by sound" even more deeply.
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