Tascam DR-05X Internal Mics review (and portable audio recorders in general)

CORRECTION: The mics on the DR-05X are in an A/B stereo configuration, not at X/Y. It doesn't change anything else about this video or my advice.

any idea how to get decent quality into audacity? The interface works but the recording quality is terrible. anyone know the settings? thanks

I use a JBL Go 3 speaker and the audio quality diminished slightly when you turned the device. I kinda like that weird stereo effect when using headphones, I can hear the space, I like that. I want a recorder for some chest POV gardening and chill bike riding videos. For the garden I want that nice ambient stereo feeling. For the bike rides I will likely use a lav mic or just not talk and focus on blocking wind. What does this thing sounds like in stereo mode? I don't want to use mono mode. I'll just keep watching, see if you answer me

Great review! Thanks a lot!

Thanks for the video.

Sure, the Tascam in mono mode isn't true mono, but the easy solution you never seem to address is you can also simply record stereo and ditch one track in post processing.

A bigger potential issue for voice work is something you didn't point out: the mics, unusually for handheld recorders, are omnis. That is one of the reasons why it sounds great and that the sound isn't as coloured by proximity as many others, but that also means they will inevitably pick up a lot more room sound in an untreated space once you increase sensitivity and move the recorder further away. This is of course sometimes what you want in a field recorder, but not always.

Anyway, you demonstrate the sound quality rather well in this video. For the price of the unit, the mics sound great, and because they are omnis, off-axis recording doesn't change the sound quality or levels as much as it might do with cardioids.

Hi, I have a Tascam DR-05X and I’m experiencing some real issues with self noise. I’m attempting to film ASMR and the hissing kills it. Post processing is frustrating as well, because I’m not used to it and it’s a lot of work. Do you have any tips on how to reduce that hissing? Thank you so much.

Brilliant advice

Awesome! Very important!

Very useful. Thanks.

thanks, but... why do these even have stereo mics at all then? why not just use stereo? you didn't discuss that?

Lol you described that baby nursery like el chapos cell.

Is there some reason that you can't just record in stereo with one of the two stereo mics pointed directly toward you, and then delete the other channel in post? I feel like that would be a good way to get around the mono "collapse" limitation.
Edit: Oops, you already addressed this in another reply! My bad.

Thx for the explanation on the problem with the mono mode. As said in another comment, I guess it’s better recording in stereo and just keep only one of the channel. I also noticed somebody saying the two mics are omnidirectional, so an external mic would still be needed in many cases.

Can you explain what the "mic power: on/off" option is for? Is it for an external mic? Or does it have any impact when recording with the internal mics? Nothing in the manual about that (or I missed it), and I wasn’t able either to figure it out myself by doing some tests.

B&h tech.told me it's just as good as a $250 recorder just less features...he lied!! Bad for recording bands live

Is dro5 ok? Instead of dro5x

What about recording audio with a microphone plugged into your smartphone

I like your channel, you go directly to the point. It's worth to stay and learn from you. Keep up the good work.

How do you set up line input for recording external audi on a DR-05X i can’t find that setting like on a DR-05, the sound on the DR-05X is so distorted when i do line in recording

Hey man!, quick question: I bought one of this to record me and my friend sitting in a table (shoulder to shoulder, facing the camera) talking about various topics; would it be enough for what we're doing?. Also, mono or stereo for our application?.
Thanks in advance man, your videos are the best out there for this topic.

Thanks for the breakdown… just bought one , after researching all the zoom models… I went with this one the dr-05x. The main reason was for the money around 100 bucks, this has the most bang for the buck. Especially with the ability to record wav at 24 bit- 48k . Zoom nowhere comes close to that in the current price rates and availability locally. Planning on using it for the 1st time recording a plant wide meeting presentation and yes I am using a rode external mic to record with then in post syncing it up to video. Wish me luck… lol

please copeare this with h1n

I accept all your points regarding the lack of inherent mono compatibility for when content creators want a pure mono recording for narration purposes.

However, this ‘A/B’ spaced microphone pattern is preferable to me than ‘X/Y’ or a shotgun microphone for situations where you want to capture an ambient binaural-like stereo recording for playback on headphones. To space the microphones apart recognises how the brain utilises temporal cues coming from two spaced ears to perform stereo localization, thus resulting in a binaural-like stereo recording that can make the listener feel like they are in the room. This may not work well for bedroom narration, but it is superb for recording live acoustic music such as orchestras or choirs where it’s also nice to capture the acoustics of the concert hall or cathedral. You’d never want to flatten that to mono.

Your recorder is Not XY pattern but AB pattern.

Better is mono L and R each connected on a long lead one front other 10+ft away ..then some creation of space can be achieved.

informative video, thanks for sharing.

Man this guy is awesome! I could not find a good demo of this unit anywhere. Thank you! Question though...Instead of summing stereo to mono doesn't it work better to just split one of the channels and use that?

Which windscreen will fit this best?

So would an XY pattern be better? The 07x has both ab and xy pattern.

How is the quality of audio when it is used as a microphone with usb cable to pc? Pls advise. Thnx

Great video.

So I’ve looked both of these up on Amazon and the one your using is showing as DR-40x not DR-05X. And the DR-05X is spelled DR-05X in the title but in all the pictures of it, on the device itself it says DR-05. So I’m really confused. The DR-40X is $190 the DR-05X is $79

Excellent video!!!

It's the BEST, CLEAREST explanation about this (and similar) mics. Thank You! Great review and advices!

And its sounds awsome.

Wow great ending, I might use that in some videos. I once had a meditation teacher who told us everyone we meet is in our DNA, you put in words the meaning of that statement.

Thanks

That totally helps. im start up doing some animations so i would have no issues with keeping it that close to my mouth plus if i need to record sound effects from outside it seems like it would be really good.

Absolute pointless video.
Who restrict you to take only one recorded track from the stereo pair? Why you trying to use omnidirectional recorder instead of shotgun on boom? Other not-shotgun mics becomes useless if you using it in wrong way.
Instead of wasting our time on this long talking you just should show the quality of preamps and mics. Especially for ambience recordings.

Hello. Can this unit record my bands practice ? We are loud. Not looking for the best recording. Just something to hear back that sounds good

i intend to use it for quick voiceovers but what if i position my mic really close to my mouth but a little off axis to minimize plosives, will that affect the sound since it is stereo? like Left channel would sound louder than Right etc. hope i make sense.

Great video! Very helpful.

if you need a true mono microphone, why you use stereo microphone? it looks like you make yourself painful indeed

I have a DR-07x which allows the X and Y mics to move about 90 degrees to point them where I want. Curious your take on using my tascam as is, if you still think I'd benefit from a dedicated mono mic.

Will the line out send a signal to a video camera while recording or is that only for playback? I'm trying to get better audio using my video camera.

This was great advice!

Can you record on that micro terror

Can i use this mic for interviews outdoor and vlogging?

Would this work well for live music audio, like recording a live set with patrons?

Just found your channel - thanks for the amazing lessons 👍👍👍

I’m looking for a budget external mics like these to video a dance show.. indoor, loud.. will this be able to handle it in stereo mode or better to set to mono with the mono mics attached like you have in the video? P.s I’m a beginner and have been doing wedding videos but trying out uncharted territory into dance/ theatre type videography