Tascam DR-22WL

[Blooby]

I was having a dilly of a time with the input levels whilst (Yes, I just used "whilst." I am that pretentious at times.) trying to record our live shows on the Micro BR, so I ended up picking up a new Tascam DR-22WL for just under $100 (U.S.). It's got a line-in as well as two microphones in a XY pattern on top of the unit. You can overdub, but I'm not so sure I see myself using that function. It has wi-fi as well, which will be nice for starting and stopping recording from the stage when the soundboard is away from us. Actually, it has a host of functions for something this cheap.

Although I'm sure the vast majority of its use will be recording through the line-in at our duo shows, perhaps our occasional scotch-fueled attempts around the dining room table will improve sound-wise as well.

Peace.

Blooby

Info here: http://tascam.com/product/dr-22wl/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ojZyfzZlc

[Groundy]

Looks good, like the preset recording EZ dial.


Alex

[Johnny Robbo]

Looks incredible. I remember 20+ years ago when we used to record our gigs & rehearsals using the in-built mic on a ghetto blaster... just how much recording technology has moved on during the course of a couple of decades still gobsmacks me sometimes.

[launched]

I think you're going to have a much better experience with this thingy. Very cool.

[Blooby]

John and I had a gig last night, and I got to try the Tascam. We played for about 3.5 hours, and I forgot to turn the thing off for the set break, so the battery life seems good. That said, I am still getting really hot levels. I have the trim dialed all the way down, and there's even an idiot-proof setting for loud sources. The file still looks like a fat worm and distorts during the loud parts (like the work "mind" at around :24 in the very brief sound sample). It isn't egregious, but it is annoying the heck out of me. And I was expecting better luck than the Micro-BR with regard to controlling the levels. There's no way to attenuate the line out signal from our PA head, so I'm not sure there's an easy fix. I'm still tinkering, though, and I noticed it has a built-in limiter. Will give that whirl at tonight's gig. Any ideas on the subject would be gratefully received.

For less than $100, I must say I'm digging it. The added bonus is I can hear John's open contempt for the audience in much higher fidelity. Also, there's no conversion. You just hook it to the computer and drag the wav file(s) over.

As long as I'm talking G.A.S., I got an Digitech Supernatural delay on the cheap (Reverb.com is a very dangerous place). You can have the trails die off even after you shut the pedal off (like around :24 when the trails are happening, but when I begin playing again, there's no reverb on the new signal). I'm having a ball with the thing live lately, but I'm overusing it quite a bit.

Blooby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8WDvfCoLM

[Blooby]

I finally had some time to read through the manual...

Turns out all the settings except one on the front dial bypass the input trim dial. One setting ("M" for manual) engages it so I suspect we will fare better tonight. I am trying to avoid peak limiting or other forms of compression for our raw files so I was pretty pleased when I read this. I also read that two AA batteries will get you over 17 hours of recording time, and a 4 GB card holds over six hours of recording time as uncompressed wav files.

Other features I gleaned over some lunch:
       -It handles 96kHz for the audiophiles among you.
       -You can import files and then use an overdub mode for practicing, recording, whatever.
       -You can add reverb either while recording or just for playback
       -The displays shows remaining recording time available
       -You can control recording and playback features through a free app and wifi
       -You can transfer files to your phone via wifi (through the app)
               -I assume you could then post them remotely to social media or Songcrafters remotely.
                         -I could see Hook digging this feature
       -It has tripod thread to you could angle it any which way
       -You can divide up files inside the unit (as in splitting live sets up)
       -It looks like the under-achieving nephew of a Star Trek Tricorder

Blooby

[bruno]

Looks like a brilliant tool, the little snippet sounded super.
Record On...
B

[Johnny Robbo]

WOW! Really pro-sounding piece of kit!