Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? at DVinfo.net

Marco Leavitt · August 4th, 2014, 02:20 PM

Now that it has been in the field for a while, I'm interested to know people's opinions about the DR-60-D. I've read the previous posts, so I know some of it's shortcoming: clear stepping on the pot adjustments and awful battery life. But at $200 it still seems like a steal, too good to be true really. Does anyone have anything to add? Also, what's up with the dirt cheap price? Is a new model coming out?

Stephen Brenner · August 4th, 2014, 05:02 PM

I bought one when it was bundled with plural eyes and was selling for $185 (in February).
I ending up selling it because the preamps just didn't compare to mixpre quality.
The build quality was also a downside.
It would be interesting to compare the Tascam with the new Zoom H5.

Ty Ford · August 4th, 2014, 07:15 PM

Here ya go; Ty Ford Audio and Video: ZOOM H5 - Somewhere Between H4 and H6

Regards,

Ty Ford

Panagiotis Raris · August 5th, 2014, 01:52 PM

i have one that i use extensively. battery life sucks, build quality isnt the best, gain 'jumps' would be annoying but i set levels and dont mess with them or dual channel rec with offset audio levels.

one thing i love is i can use mics set up for sennheiser wireless packs via channel 3/4, just have to turn on channel power and good to go. i also use 2 xlr preamps with oldschool potentiometers so that neatly bypasses the audio 'jumps' on the digital pots of the dr60d.

the shortfalls are easily overcome. price is crazy low, and it records very good audio with the right mics, skill, and setup.

Dan Brockett · August 17th, 2014, 09:06 AM

I've been shooting with mine for about a year. Great value for the money. Sound quality is decent, it is ridiculous to compare a $200.00 plastic recorder to a $3,000.00 Sound Devices recorder, the Tascam sounds 80% as good for a fraction of the price. The slate tone is very useful for DSLR shooters, makes manually syncing if you don't have Pluraleyes very quick and easy. Menu structure makes sense (I came from the DR40 so it is almost the same). Easy solution for battery life, I use a Lithium Ion battery 13,000 mAH batteryhttp://www.amazon.com/External-Battery-Pack-L130X-Flashlight/dp/B00BZD6QCW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-4&keywords=New+Trent+Lithium+12%2C000+mAH+battery that was cheap (under $40.00) and will power the DR60 all day. No more changing and fumbling with AA batteries. Build quality is flimsy, just baby it and don't drop it. For what it is, it is the best thing on the market. Sure, I would rather have a Sound Devices recorder but when I am shooting with a $1,700.00 GH4, a $3,500.00 Sound Devices recorder doesn't really make financial sense.

Marco Leavitt · August 26th, 2014, 03:11 PM

So I ended up getting the DR-60D. I'm only just getting started with playing around with it, but my first impression is that this thing seems like an amazing piece of technology for a measly $200. I just can't get over it.

David Dixon · September 1st, 2014, 03:42 PM

And, today and tomorrow (Sept. 1-2), it's marked down to $149 at B&H!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/929347-REG/tascam_dr_60d_4_ch_track_linear_pcm.html

Marco Leavitt · September 1st, 2014, 03:52 PM

Doesn't that just figure.

August 4th, 2014, 02:20 PM	#1
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? Now that it has been in the field for a while, I'm interested to know people's opinions about the DR-60-D. I've read the previous posts, so I know some of it's shortcoming: clear stepping on the pot adjustments and awful battery life. But at $200 it still seems like a steal, too good to be true really. Does anyone have anything to add? Also, what's up with the dirt cheap price? Is a new model coming out?

August 4th, 2014, 05:02 PM	#2
Stephen Brenner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brownsville, OR Posts: 116	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? I bought one when it was bundled with plural eyes and was selling for $185 (in February). I ending up selling it because the preamps just didn't compare to mixpre quality. The build quality was also a downside. It would be interesting to compare the Tascam with the new Zoom H5.

August 4th, 2014, 07:15 PM	#3
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? Here ya go; Ty Ford Audio and Video: ZOOM H5 - Somewhere Between H4 and H6 Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

August 5th, 2014, 01:52 PM	#4
Panagiotis Raris Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Reading, PA USA and Athens, Greece Posts: 269	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? i have one that i use extensively. battery life sucks, build quality isnt the best, gain 'jumps' would be annoying but i set levels and dont mess with them or dual channel rec with offset audio levels. one thing i love is i can use mics set up for sennheiser wireless packs via channel 3/4, just have to turn on channel power and good to go. i also use 2 xlr preamps with oldschool potentiometers so that neatly bypasses the audio 'jumps' on the digital pots of the dr60d. the shortfalls are easily overcome. price is crazy low, and it records very good audio with the right mics, skill, and setup.

August 17th, 2014, 09:06 AM	#5
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? I've been shooting with mine for about a year. Great value for the money. Sound quality is decent, it is ridiculous to compare a $200.00 plastic recorder to a $3,000.00 Sound Devices recorder, the Tascam sounds 80% as good for a fraction of the price. The slate tone is very useful for DSLR shooters, makes manually syncing if you don't have Pluraleyes very quick and easy. Menu structure makes sense (I came from the DR40 so it is almost the same). Easy solution for battery life, I use a Lithium Ion battery 13,000 mAH batteryhttp://www.amazon.com/External-Battery-Pack-L130X-Flashlight/dp/B00BZD6QCW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-4&keywords=New+Trent+Lithium+12%2C000+mAH+battery that was cheap (under $40.00) and will power the DR60 all day. No more changing and fumbling with AA batteries. Build quality is flimsy, just baby it and don't drop it. For what it is, it is the best thing on the market. Sure, I would rather have a Sound Devices recorder but when I am shooting with a $1,700.00 GH4, a $3,500.00 Sound Devices recorder doesn't really make financial sense.

August 26th, 2014, 03:11 PM	#6
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? So I ended up getting the DR-60D. I'm only just getting started with playing around with it, but my first impression is that this thing seems like an amazing piece of technology for a measly $200. I just can't get over it.

September 1st, 2014, 03:42 PM	#7
David Dixon Major Player Join Date: May 2011 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 495	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? And, today and tomorrow (Sept. 1-2), it's marked down to $149 at B&H! http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/929347-REG/tascam_dr_60d_4_ch_track_linear_pcm.html

September 1st, 2014, 03:52 PM	#8
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Re: Tascam DR-60-D too good to be true? Doesn't that just figure.