By site editor Dan Chung:
Chuck Fadely over on www.newspapervideo.com has just posted some info on an interesting new audio mixer/recorder aimed at DSLR users. He says “Tascam has a new DR-60d recorder and mixer that will do four channels of audio while attached to the bottom of your DSLR. This thing looks great. High quality recording and a mixer in a nice small $350 unit. Supposed to have high-quality preamps and it has a safety track feature to record a duplicate channel at -6 or -12db down. It will record four channels so you can have a small shotgun in the hot shoe and still have two lav mics for your subjects.”
The price tag on the DR-60d does seem very attractive although it looks quite large compared to the competing Juicedlink, Beachtek and Azden mixers. The added recorder function is a real bonus, as is the safety track feature. For me this mixer will stand or fall on the quality of the preamps used and the resulting signal to noise ratio – my preference to date for the Juicedlink range is because I feel they provide the cleanest camera mounted audio option for DSLRs.
Chuck will be joining us on the ten strong Dslrnewsshooter team covering NAB 2013 next week in Las Vegas – where will be checking out this and many other exciting new products.
Here are the specs from Tascam:
Record to SD/SDHC card(Up to 32GB)
Simultaneously record up to 4 tracks
Record Mode：MONO, STEREO, DUAL MONO, DUAL ST, 4CH
Recording format：16/24bit、44.1/48/96kHz (WAV/BWF)
TASCAM original HDDA microphone preamps
Recording levels can be adjusted independently for the 1/L, 2/R and 3-4 inputs
Two XLR/TRS inputs support +4dBu line level input and phantom power supply (24/48V)
Plug-in power supply and high-output mic input supported on input 3-4
CAMERA OUT connector for output from the DR-60D’s mixer
CAMERA IN connector for sound monitoring from the Camera
Independent LINE OUT connector and HEADPHONE output for high-quality sound output
50mW/ch headphone output
Tripod mounting threads (bottom) and DSLR screw attachment (top)
Handles protect the screen and can be used to attach a shoulder strap
Soft-Touch Rubber Keys for silent operation
HOLD switch to prevent accidental operation
A QUICK button is available for easy access to various functions
128×64 pixel LCD with backlight
USB 2.0 connection for high-speed transferring
Mini USB cable included
Operates on 4 AA batteries, an AC adapter (sold separately) or USB bus power
Can extend battery life with BP-6AA battery pack (sold separately)
Dedicated remote control jack for the wired RC-10 remote control or RC-3F footswitch (both sold separately)
Internal mixer: PAN and LEVEL controls
Low cut filter(40/80/120Hz)
Limiter (1/L and 2/R can be selected for link-operation)
Delay function for distance of microphones adjustments (+/-150ms)
M-S decode function
Slate tone generator (AUTO/MANUAL)
Selectable duration of slate tone from four positions (0.5/1/2/3 sec, when Auto generate)
Selectable slate tone generate position. 3 positions: OFF/HEAD/HEAD+TAIL, when Auto generate
File name format can be set to use a user-defined word or date
Dual recording function allows two files to be recorded simultaneously at different levels
Auto-record function can automatically start and stop recording at set level
Pre-recording function allows the unit to record a 2 second sound buffer before recording is activated
Self timer function for solo recording
New file starts recording automatically without interruption when maximum file size is reached
Track incrementing function allows a recording to be split by creating a new file when desired
Jump back and play function
Equalizers function for playback, and level alignment function to enhance the perceived overall sound pressure
Resume function to memorize the playback position before the unit is turned off
MARK function up to 99 points per audio track
DIVIDE function
