Support for MP3 recording at both 128kbps and 192kbps In addition to WAV (BWF) format files, recording and playback of MP3 files is now supported. This enables literally days of audio to be recorded on a single microSD card. | Level meters are now active during both recording and playback Level meters were previously active only during input monitoring. With V2.00 they are live during recording and playback as well. | Level selection with dual recording function added The dual recording function enables simultaneous creation of a backup ‘safety recording’ at a lower level. Previously, this backup track was fixed at -6 dB lower than the main track. A new option of -12 dB now been added. | Poly file dual recording Poly file mode can be used to record a mono sound source input as a stereo file. V2.00 also supports dual recording when in this mode. |
It’s the perfect recorder for in the field video recording. I always record 2 samples at once. One at 0db and another at -6db. This makes it be where you know you’ll have audio that is loud enough and not distorted.
Still one of the best audio recorders out there. Easy to use, and great audio quality. Just bought this a couple weeks ago. No regrets.
The shielding on the microphone wire is my only complaint; after a few heavy uses – the shielding as started to deteriorate. And can’t seem to find a cheap replacement.
Anyone you talk to will probably tell you the same thing- BUY THESE. The downside is that you can’t monitor your audio, but they do have a backup track that’s recorded lower (-12db, -6db, etc) which gives you some leeway in post production. The quality on these is insane, and the size of them is great. Also love the fact that they have the screw-on 3.5mm jack so it can’t be yanked out if it’s in a pocket and the wire gets snagged.
I’ve taken the Tascam DR-10L into the field several times and it delivers unbelievably good quality recordings. I love the fact it has dual recording capability in case you peak in one, the other will make up for it. This is NOT a transmitter, but a stand alone recording device on micro-USB. So it doesn’t matter how far away from the camera you are, it delivers crisp and clear audio every time. A clapper board may come in handy when you’re filming so you can sync up audio with image in editing. It has an extra long cord to the lavalier mic so your movement isn’t limited. I’m planning on buying at least two more.
For a couple years now I have opted for shotgun mics over lav mics purely because I could not find a good mic/recorder combo that was discrete, worked well for my needs, and didn’t sound boxy/boomy. The mic does really well with my voice, and the recorder box is very small. Was able to hide the mic with gaffers tape under my flannel shirt to record video, and everything was contained and well hidden. Easily the best low-cost system I’ve worked with yet, and highly recommend for those starting out that need a decent microphone.
i like the sound quality. I dont like missing wireless transmission but its a totally different thing.
It’s amazing! The battery life lasts so long, it barely takes up any space on my SD card, but you need to use a max SD card of 32 gb in the mic or it doesn’t work. I usually use a 16gb when recording wedding vows. I use it for videography and it’s amazing! I clip it onto the groom and it captures him, his bride, and the officiant.
Lovely device. Very easy to use and to setup. Flexible in how many ways you can use it: outdoors, in the wind, indoors in a calmer environment—never loses the punch.
Fantastic product!
As a video production engineer, it can be really difficult to work with sound going straight in to the camera. It basically takes away my ability to record scratch internal audio for reference. This little beauty records independently from the camera and even records a safety take at a lower gain level to make sure you avoid nasty clipping in the audio signal. It’s also super small and discreet, which is more comfortable on the talent and less obvious in the final video.
10/10. Will be buying more of these.
The DR10L is fantastic. Sound quality is great. It is small, easy to use, and has decent battery life. Would highly recommend!
Es compacta, cabe en la palma de mi mano.
Excelente calidad y el acabado parece resistente. Lo recomiendo.
Very reliable on person sound recording, you can’t go wrong.
The audio quality is spectacular! I didn’t feel like shelling out $700 for a Sennheiser unit. This one I got is great.
Good sound quality and easy to use. I used for indoor and outdoor recording.
Ya en lo que concierne a calidad y funciones, me dej gratamente sorprendido cmo sale el audio, es ntido y con profundidad suficiente, la capacidad de auto nivel es ms o menos buena, aunque lo ideal es setear bien tu ganancia y usar la pista de proteccin a una ganancia inferior.
Solo como recomendacin, hay que usar una tarjeta bastante rpida para cuando grabas a doble pista y wav de 24 bits, de lo contrario puedes tener un problema de timeout (no puede escribir a la velocidad necesaria y parar la grabacin), cosa que me sucedi en el primer uso, pues le coloqu una memoria nicamente clase 10, pero U1. Posterior a eso la usamos con una U3 de 90mbps y todo excelente!
Sound is clear, but can’t transfer files to computer directly, must use card reader. Don’t know why. I tried different ways but was unsuccessful.
Mike was bad. If you hit it slightly against hard surface it starts weird ground loop noise. Check yours. Got replacement today. All good.
It is the result of engineers who learned from having to struggle with poor designs.
Attempt #1 -I bought a cheepie digital audio recorder from China for $25. It had all the right claims in the ad copy, but implementation was sloppy; the menu was confusing to the point where I couldn’t figure out if I was using it incorrectly, or if it was broken or buggy. After a few attempts, I became frustrated and stopped even trying.
Attempt #2 I got a Sony dictation recorder, designed to live in briefcases and to be used during lectures or business meetings. It’s awesome for what it is. It has a full USB 2 extending plug, so you could plug it directly into a laptop when you want to move files. The buttons were placed in a smart arrangement and the little LCD menu is clear and easy to understand. However, for recording with a lav mic… It was a poor choice.
In both cases with #1 and #2, the following problems cropped up:
1. Bad hardware digitizers. Even with a decent lav mic, the digitizer quality matters. A lot. The Chinese cheepie job actually sounded better than the Sony.
2. Buttons which activate accidentally. I could not keep either unit in my pocket without there being a reasonable chance of a critical button being pressed at radom. The Sony especially was bad for this, with a big central button which might be perfectly placed for a student in a lecture hall, but simply walking with the unit in my pocket caused it to activate or shut off.
3. The mic jack would pull out of its socket accidentally. This happened on both units several times. That by itself rendered each unit thoroughly unreliable.
4. Lack of control over critical features: The Sony in particular was bad for this; it had an auto gain-reduction feature which would kick in automatically to mitigate when the sound environment suddenly became loud. -Trying to record while driving, for example, effectively killed any recording attempt because the engine and road sounds would trigger the gain-reduction feature, causing my voice to fall in volume to the point where I could no longer make out what I was saying. There was no way to turn off this feature.
All of those problems taken together compelled me to stop being cheap and to just buy a proper unit designed for lav mic and video use. I settled on the Tascam DR-10L.
Tascam addressed all those problems from the design floor:
-The hardware audio digitizer is top notch. The sound quality is very clean. If you have an expensive mic, (and the mic which comes with the unit is pretty darned good!), it will not be wasted on this unit.
-The button and switch design is such that it’s basically impossible to accidentally activate or de-activate the recorder.
-The mic jack on the lav comes with a little bolt which allows it to be secured to the unit -which has an accompanying bolt thread. You will not be able to accidentally disconnect the mic while in use.
-All the features and filters you might need are fully user-controlled.
Right there, Tascam solved these basic limitations which are a problem with the other, cheaper units I’d tried. But Tascam doesn’t stop there: It has some solid features and it solves problems I didn’t even think of.
-You can set it to record two files at different gain levels at the same time. (Coo!)
-The menu system is minimalist and simple and easy to navigate. The screen is tiny, but provides all the information you’ll need, including a real-time volume indicator. Simple is best.
-It has a belt clip option which works. (Though it is very stiff; it’s a bit of a struggle to attach to your belt, but once it’s on, it will *not* come without you wanting it to.)
-It’s tough; it doesn’t feel like it will break if dropped or roughly handled.
-It provides a headphone jack which gives a very clear signal when reviewing files or listening to a live feed from the mic.
The only two semi-drawbacks I noticed were that you need a computer to delete files from the memory card; there doesn’t appear to be a way to do so from the menu on the unit itself. That’s not a real problem, but it is worth noting. -However, this one did slow me down: the 64Gb micro SD card I had avilable registered a “Card Error”. Apparently the DR -10L can only work with memory cards of up to 32Gb. Luckily, I was able to dig up an old 2Gb micro SD card from an old camera.
I wouldn’t say that either of those limitations are true problems, and they certainly won’t affect your regular use of the device. All of which is to say that I am very pleased with this little unit and feel confident in recommending it to anybody who needs a wired portable audio recorder.
Very easy to use. I use this for weddings and video projects. Great quality and great sound
I was recommended this product and I love it. It’s so easy to use, although my clip is currently a little broken, but overall it works great. It clips right into pockets and isn’t easy to turn off audio. Would recommend!
Having the recorder directly on the subject can be anoying but it eliviates any wireless problems with distance, interference etc..
The downside is that you start it and let it run, but recording in 24bit on a 128gb card lets you record for hours..
Just make sure you sync the time with the camera(s) or other recorders.. it’ll be easyer to sync them together for the montage..
This is my second unit. Both working perfectly !
If the mic sound would be a bit more balanced (frequency wise) I’d give 5 stars..
his is just the best little piece of equipment that is small and unnoticeable!
This little recorder is just the thing for video recording in the field when you want up-close, clear audio. I saw a YouTube video of making a gaffa-tape holder that lets you place the microphone inside your shirt or jacket, completely out of the wind. I used the technique and I got no, again – NO wind noise at all. Recording to mini-SD cards worked well. I placed the card into a standard SD card holder, which fitted perfectly into my computer’s SD card slot. The audio transferred quickly with great resolution. By using a hand-slap at the start of your recording it is easy to sync up video and remote audio tracks in your editing software. This has been a good buy indeed.
Want to sound like a sexy nighttime DJ? Of course you do! Buy this, sound awesome, make your videos better.
Im very pleased with this product. Capture good clean audio.
I speak professionally and have used this many times on stages while speaking. I sync the audio file with my video file on Premier and it sounds great! It does pick up ambient sounds pretty noticeably, but once I added a windshield foam over the mic, it worked great! I had no problem turning unit on and inserting the audio jack! Great product … very tiny!
The little slide switches are a little fiddly to use but do prevent unwanted operation when worn on the talent.
Powered by a single battery they provide hours of recording time. A great addition to my audio recording and Sennheiser wireless mic system. Lots of configurable parameters if you need to trim them for specific applications.
This mic is great because it is an all-in-one unit. Single AAA battery and a micro-SD card and it will record for a long time. The quality is good and you can record two sessions simultaneously with one of them being at a lower dB to have a backup if your primary is clipping. My only complaint would be the included microphone, as is it low quality, but the mic can easily be replaced.
Ideal for recording a voice over when there is distance between the speaker and the camera. No interference
I’m a “one man band” videographer. Having this little recorder in my kit has come in handy numerous times. Especially if I am shooting in a location where my wireless mic is getting RF hits.
I own MANY RX/TX systems, zoom recorders, etc. What’s really nice about this is the fact that you just hit record, put it on your talent and forget about it. Also nice to only have to worry about ONE AAA battery, vs 8 AA batteries when using a recorder plus an RX/TX kit. It’s not the answer for every application, but it certainly comes in handy when you need something quick or are simply a one man crew. Sound quality is great. Very happy! I’m sure it won’t be my last for my company.
Wonderful mic and recorder. It’s the only piece of gear I’ve ever used that I’m completely comfortable rolling on and walking away.
I recommend enabled the dual record with the -12db pad. Wonderful to have as backup.
Mic quality is good. It can be even better paired with the COS11D.
Excelente calidad de audio. Muuuy fcil de usar ya que puedes utilizar una tarjeta micro SD. Tascam es pura calidad.
This thing is amazing. If you need a dependable lav and recorder kit this is the one to buy. The battery lasts forever, the sound out of mic is stellar and the build quality is solid. Highly recommend this unit hasn’t failed me on any shoot.
I like pretty much everything, A more flexible attachment method would be great, e.g. cold shoe.
Veramente comodo e pratico.
La qualit dei file ottima.
Io sto ancora usando il lavalier originale, e va pi che bene.
Un must per chi fa video.
I now use this for interviews over my shotgun mic and wedding vows when doing videography. Mic the groom and the content from the bride is good, mic them both and it is stellar.
As so many other reviewers have stated, these little units are absolutely brilliant! The sound is EXCELLENT, the battery life is phenomenal, the dual recording function is one of the main reasons I bought these, the wires on the mics are a very good length and quality, and the unit itself is so small and easy to conceal. I love everything about these mic packs. The sound quality is a huge upgrade for me, and makes everything so much easier when it comes to post-processing. I HIGHLY recommend this!
This audio recorder might be small, but it is powerful and has clear audio.
I’ve been waiting for an affordable microphone like this and im so happy i got it. I would totally get another one!
Brilliant sound, excellent battery life. This is a good choice for filming speakers or presenters, wedding ceremonies, etc. Just don’t forget to turn it on, because you can’t monitor sound from it. With the ability to record a separate file that’s -6 or -12 Db, you can and probably should keep the limiter and automatic gain levels off. lUPDATE] I wanted to provide another update after about 6 months of use now and I could not be happier with this microphone! It’s simplified my audio recordings and I never get the drop outs I used to get occasionally with wireless lavs. The quality is perfect and the features on the device make it a great all around mic for just about any occasion where a lav is needed. No buyer’s remorse here!
I was hesitant at first but after getting this product in the mail and testing it out for a full day shoot at a wedding this thing lasted all day and turned out to be some great audio.
I have been filming weddings for some time and I can’t say how thrilled I was after I did research and received this. I just upgraded my audio gear and I absolutely love this product. They have really added a lot of features that we have all wanted at a great price.
The mic is easy enough to clip on, reasonably robust in the cabling which is more than long enough to thread through your cloths with enough left over to loop if you’re worried about cable noise near the mic. It comes with a small wind screen that snaps on but it’s no dead-cat if you’re in stronger wind.
Without changing any of the default settings, I found that the audio quality was very satisfying when downloaded to my computer (*.wav files only I believe). I tested it in a room with bad acoustics (significant room echo) and also in my office where noise echo is greatly subdued. In both environments, the mic performed amazingly. While I could still hear the room echo in the recordings made in the untreated room without sound absorption, it was no where near as bad as when compared to the on-camera recording which picked up considerably more room echo and came off sounding metallic in comparison. The closer the mic to your talent, the more dominant your voice over environment noise and echo, and that’s why you want a Lav on your talent. I should also mention that unlike cheap mics, this mic has a low noise floor so I had no issues with that annoying hiss you pick up on so many other mics, even when just using the default gains. There’s an output jack for head phones but the volume control for your headphones is to my knowledge separate from the mic gain so you could start hearing hiss if you crank the volume up too much that wouldn’t otherwise end up in your recording, this based on another reviewer’s Youtube comments.
So, bottom line, I am very pleased with the initial performance of this mic without any changes to the factory settings. Audio is so important for any video and this unit is perfect where portability and great sound quality is needed and comes much cheaper than wireless units that have their own issues, including RF interference. Originally I bought a TASCAM DR40 as a recorder that I was going to then plug a mic into, but the DR40 only accepts XLR input mics and that meant a more complex and bulkier rig in the end. Stand alone Lav mics of professional quality can range anywhere from $40 (low end) to hundreds of dollars. Watch battery life on other solutions as well as mics requiring phantom power can suck your battery dead in no time. The DR10L on a single AAA battery cell claims it can deliver up to 10 hours operation though I haven’t had it on that long to know how true this is. Other reviewers claim they’re getting that but battery type also figures into performance.
Bear in mind when ordering this unit that it DOES NOT come with a battery or the SD card, so you will need to buy these separately and DO NOT buy an SD card beyond 32G as it apparently won’t work with any card with memory size beyond that. The main disadvantage of recording audio separate from the camera is of course that you will later need to sync your audio in post to your video. For me, this is not a problem but for others it may be, but to get great sound recordings of your talent, you need high quality mics close to the speaker and this for me was a very portable, cost effective solution that delivers. If you’re just going to sit in one spot, then you could go with a good quality mic or shotgun pointed at your talent but if you’re standing or walking around, go this route and I should also mention that I tested the mic with my head turned to the right and left, looking up and down, and found the omni-directional pick up more than sensitive enough to maintain a reasonably level recording at all times of my voice. Again, overall, I’m quite pleased with this system.
As an addendum, I should note that after reviewing the user documents more closely, there was an added note from TASCAM that this unit came with a software revision permitting recording to MP3 files as well. MP3 is a compressed file however so while taking up less memory, will not be as high a quality for editing in post as a wav file. Either way, you now have more options with this recorder.
Cumple todas las expectativas que tena. El sonido es bueno y el uso muy fcil. Really good purchase.
Glad I decided on getting this mic! I’m a video producer for a local production company so I work with audio for our interviews all the time. But recently I decided to create a personal documentary, and I knew I needed audio that was small, easy, dependable, and quick for on-the-fly recording.
This was just that.
I love its size. Very easy to slip in a pocket and carry around. The instructions and menu features are so simple, even a beginner could figure it out in minutes. I loved not having to worry about interference or switching channels. Once I check my volume settings, I can just hit record and not have to worry about anything.
While I’m sure there are other mics that could do the same job, this one was perfect for any spur-of-the-moment interviews I had on the street. I’ve only used it a handful of times now, but so far I really am pleased.
Muy buena calidad de audio y materiales, lo nico a mejorar para mi seria el botn de encendido grabado, a veces se batalla para activarlo.
With some tweaking in post, the audio quality of these microphones is GREAT.
Good deal has a long battery life, all you need is a 16gb card and you will be good to go!
It also records 2 versions with different sensitivity, so while one may clip you have a safety track.
Awesome. Id give this little bad boy 10 stars if i could.
Super small! Smaller then I expected and the sound from it a suprisingly good. So quick to setup too. I am sold!
I love this mic so much, I ditched my H1 and bought a 3rd because I need 3.
This is a cheap alternative to a wireless system. You down have the problems associated with a wireless system with regard to radio frequencies. You can just set it and forget it. It’s pretty much foolproof.
Quality is great and the backup audio feature was a life saver.
No real complaints — wish it came with some accessories for the lav though.
I used this recorder for a wedding and it picked up everything I needed for a good video.
Amazing for weddings. Not getting into the specs but my favorite thing is how I cant get 2 recordings at a time. One with the limit I set so it doesnt peak and the other done automatically by the device. Gives me two options and I always play it safe. I pick after which sounds best to me.
*** nueva resea *** comprobada su durabilidad! Lamentablemente un cliente olvid que traa puesto el micrfono y se meti a un lago obviamentr di por perdido mi micrfono. Sin embargo no haba nada ms que perder as que lo secamos con arroz dos das y vaya sorpresa. funcion como si nada hubiera pasado !! Los sper recomiendo.
I’m a professional videographer. I run my own business and shoot commercials for the automotive industry. So far this has been a dream for weddings and for interviews in run and gun situations. Very satisfied with the quality as well.
Excellent companion if you care about your audio this goes everywhere so small too.
Just took this on a documentary shoot in Kenya, Africa. The thing performed super well and was very easy to use. Way easier than wireless lavs which i have fought with on previous trips to Africa and found consistently unreliable do to interference. These I simply placed the mic, set and tested levels, activated dual level record and left it alone! Ready and flawless recording in one minute of set up.
Now, don’t think this replaces wireless lavs. It doesn’t. It doesn’t easily let you monitor the audio, or adjust on the fly. So it performs in a side niche to wireless. But I fit in that niche perfectly.
Highly recommend this product to anyone looking for excellent audio. User-friendly and easy to set up and operate. I bought this product after not being able to use an external mic with my camera, and the results were nothing short of incredible. If you are working with filming and need to get around the lack of external mic input, this product is for you!
I have the Tascam DR-40 wich is great. However this little recorder does the job for me. The reason for which it works great for me it’s because of the audio quality and besides, once you start recording, you don’t have to worry about audio no more!! this because it has a lavalier microphone. So if your guest stands up or needs to be moving, this is not going to be a problem. You just stop recording as soon as your are done with you interview, etc In post it’s easy to sync the audio and video when using a clapboard, as an option. Cool thing also is that you can monitor your audio level and adjust the gain. Well, i’m happy with it!!
Good backup alternative to having wireless mic especially if your using it for weddings with DSLR or Mirror less cameras that dont have mic plug ins.
Super tiny and very easy to use. Love the size and design, but not the mic. COS11D is way much better sounding.
Easy. Foolproof. Great audio. No transmission interference. Easily syncs in premiere.
This is a no brainer. Excellent prosumer lavalier. Compact, discrete, set and forget audio recording. There would be no dropped audio, which occurs even with the best of wireless systems.
great recorders! I bought 2 and use them for weddings. I leave the mic gain on the highest setting because if it peaks I can use the backup recording at -10db
Very handy. Small enough to hide easily. Paid for itself on first use when I stuck this on my documentary subject, hit record, and forgot about it for a 7 hour day. Several times through the day it supplied the clearest of 3 mic recordings. I’ll get a couple more.
This had to be the best pocket audio gear ever… I love i
Always check ur battery level
A handy recorder to add to the gear bag. Sound quality is excellent as is the battery life. The interface is tiny but there is no way around that I guess.
Great device easy to use and very reliable great quality!!!
lav is as clear as my 200 dollar lav, and is super portable.
Fantastic for everything from interviews to weddings to cinematic films. Just make sure that you see the recorder is ticking before you walk away. The on off switch it a little strange. I recommend these to all of my friends who are into videography.
Super long battery life, tiny, and packed with features. I’ve been using these to record audio during weddings and they have worked beautifully so far. They are small enough that they are not obtrusive, but they pick up sound wonderfully. The audio quality is very impressive for such a small piece of equipment.
Absolutely love it. It allows me to choose a lesser audio if the other has peaked… I will be purchasing another Tas. soon!
Tascam really needs to market this better as it was a b*#%h to find, and I feel many more videographers would utilize this sweet, sweet product. It’s tiny and sounds great.
i like it- works great for what i needed it for. only problem is that it feels cheap but other wise its good quality
The only downside of the 10L is that it doesn’t have an line out feature on the top like the 10C. The line out is perfect for those wanting to pass the audio through to a wireless transmitter, leaving the recorder as a backup safety in case of interference.
I have used this recorder for one wedding so far. I am very glad I got it. I did receive my second recorder with a defect, but will be returning it and hopefully getting a replacement!
I needed a mic that would pic up quality audio instead of just using my iPhone mic. The videos are simple and for clients only, but the audio quality was not there…until now. Easy to use. Great sound for what I am doing.
I honestly never put a battery in it to use it because I couldn’t get the mic to screw in 🙁 . I’ll give it 4 stars based on the other reviews, but I’m going to have to exchange mine to see if they can send me one with a working lav mic screw system that works.
Pros:
Big function, small package.
Comes with a microphone.
Has a headphone jack (looking at you Apple. Even though you aren’t in the same business).
Microphone screws in to lock preventing accidental disconnections.
General build quality is good.
Cons:
Small screen (I’m fine with it, but other people may not be)
Microphone can be a little noisy (just buy another lav mic).
Build defect (see below).
DEFECT:
Screw lock on microphone jack was flawed on my model, preventing the lock from even functioning. I have spoken with many industry professionals on this matter and here is what I can conclude:
A defective screw lock is apparently a common issue on recently manufactured models, and while it does not break the device, it might make the device unsuitable for use on persons participating in heavy physical activity where the microphone can become unplugged. Supposedly purchasing a different lav mic has remedied this issue, but I cannot confirm that. Exchanging the defective model for a replacement seems to more likely than not give you another defective model. I have spoken with some professionals who have returned their DR-10L as many as three times and have still received a defective replacement from the vendor. Also, do not count on Tascam customer service, as they have a…not so good reputation (also noted by many of my peers).
The best part was when I realized my Matchstick Mics seem to work with this as well, even though they don’t have the screw in end.
I would highly recommend this product, I’m actually thinking about ordering a second one.
hese things are the best. about time a company made these. quality is great and theyre much smaller than most wired recorders out there. and the cilp is the icing on the cake
Just buy it already.
Update:
Just finished an interview in my garage studio. Next door there were some gardeners working on a lawn. You know how loud those lawnmowers and weed whackers can be. Just listened to it in post, and the background audio was so faint, it’s almost unnoticeable. AMAZING! I just updated my 4 star review to 5 star. GET THIS SETUP NOW!!!!
I was in a really small photography studio with a lot of echo and the recording came out great. This thing wins Jim Harmer’s award for the most useful and high quality mic of the year (and I probably own 20 mics).