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Browse: I don’t think I can be too brief with Browse, though, because to use it you have to understand the X6’s filing system. Browse is where you can list and play projects, delete and rename projects, and obtain basic information about them. You can also create new folders here (to a depth of two) to contain projects. So, what’s a project? It’s all the files associated with a single recording. Multiple recordings are multiple projects, so if you want to keep all the recordings associated with a single real‑world project, then you should create a folder to hold them. But you have to remember to change into that folder before you make your recording, and that’s something that I kept forgetting to do! It’s the same for the X8, and one of the few things I don’t like so much — I’d much prefer something like the set of files for a single recording to be called something like a ‘take’ and a project to be defined as a collection of related takes. In the third test, we recorded a Steinway Grand Piano and a very talented freshman musician. Choosing the "Music" icon, I used the onboard microphones on Inputs 1 and 2 because we were indoors and the two microphones were separated enough for a good stereo configuration. I chose the "Large Hall" preset with a reverb level of 54 even though we were recording in a TV Studio. This added bit of reverb accentuated the sound of the piano. The Portacapture X8 has some interesting features right out of the box. Firstly, the two built-in microphones come detached from the main unit. They plug in as needed and can be positioned swapped to allow for both an XY stereo pattern and also a wide stereo pattern. This is a very interesting approach. The device also lets you plug in any other microphone into these inputs via 3.5mm plugs and they also support phantom power. This provides a greater level of flexibility than most units with built-in mics. The device itself is quite sturdy in construction and the large touchscreen makes it easy to see what is going on — more on the touchscreen later. INNOVATIVE DESIGN Approx. battery operation time (Alkaline/Lithium): 11 hours / 18 hours (Included mics, phantom power off, stereo WAV recording at 44.1 kHz / 24-bit)
It will be interesting to see how fast Tascam fix the USB interface problem, especially as they are advertising it as one of their main features. Its not a major problem for me as I have a perfectly serviceable dedicated computer interface set up, but is a bit poor if it adds another layer of complexity for first time users, or folks who want to lead a simple life. Ditching the wire is just the first step. If you’re shooting double system—recording the visuals and sound on two separate devices, sync-ing the picture and sound is time consuming. From as far away as 30 meters, timecode can be generated by the Atomos Ultrasync Blue and any camera and the Portacapture X8 will be wirelessly synchronized. Supports wireless timecode sync with supported devices from Atomos with the optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth adapter (from V1.20)The right‑hand side has a slot for the micro‑SD card (not included; up to 512GB micro‑SDXC models are supported). There’s a USB‑C port that both acts as an external power inlet (you’ll need to provide your own PSU for that) and caters for file transfer to/from a computer. There’s also the on/off/hold switch. The end just has a slot for the optional Bluetooth adaptor, and peak and recording indicators. Underneath, a quarter‑inch threaded insert enables mounting on a camera tripod; if you’d prefer a mic stand then adaptors are widely available. Tascam has created an interface that presents as friendly and familiar. The touchscreen is large, clear and responsive. The UI design is bold and simple and responds to the types of gestures we’re all accustomed to with our smart devices. This will revolutionize the way we shoot location video at the university. With Bluetooth everywhere, huge amounts of time may be saved with this wireless connectivity. There’s so much more the Atomos can do and I’m looking forward to trying the AK-BT1 on my next location production. The unit does not auto detect if you are using a channel or not — it a channel is armed it will record audio (32-bit silence) whether there’s anything plugged into the input or not.
The firmware releases seem to be mainly concentrated on operational stability, which is quite important to get right. Another cardioid was placed near the bass guitar’s amp (XLR input 5). The vocalist had his own Fathead ribbon microphone (XLR input 6) and the onboard cardioid microphones (inputs 1 and 2) captured the ambient sound of the TV studio at a lower level. Tom selected Manual on the touchscreen and got levels for each input.With its 2 built-in large format stereo mics, 4 XLR inputs with support for both mic and line-level, AUX-IN, LINE OUT, and CAMERA IN/OUT terminals, the Portacapture X8 provides an abundance of IN/OUT choices for multiple recording scenarios. The 3.5mm CAMERA EXT/IN connector also supports audio input of wireless microphones and more. Additionally, the Portacapture X8 is equipped with a CAMERA/LINE output with an attenuation function that allows for sending audio to external devices such as cameras. At the bottom of the front panel, below the screen, is a set of transport buttons, and the stop control doubles up as a Home button for the software GUI. A thumb wheel is used for fine adjustment of input levels and virtual faders, and a Mark button sets markers on the recording, to facilitate fast navigation. There’s also a useful menu button that I wish had been included on the X8 as well (oops... I said I was going to avoid comparisons!). The TASCAM Portacapture X8 provides a wealth of DSP capability that include Compressor, Limiter, Low-Cut Filter, Noise Gate, Reverb, Auto Gain Control, and more. Ready for action. No matter where you are, the X8 is always ready to record. It comes complete with 4 x AA batteries which can power the unit for up to 11 hours. Alternatively, you can use other power sources for convenience including USB bus power or an AC adapter (not included). With USB bus power you can also utilise Phantom Power to incorporate external condenser microphones. The Portacapture is portable but that doesn’t mean it’s designed to be used in Record mode while you’re shlepping it around. I suggest you mount the unit onto a tripod when recording outdoors, otherwise you’ll introduce handling noise into your recording.
One huge test for any location recording device, is how its screen handles extended use in the field, especially with dust and moisture that is often a factor in location recording. As you can see in the photo, I mounted the X6 and X8 next to each other and set them recording using the Manual recording app, with similar settings in both cases. I recorded one instrumental tune (fiddle and concertina) and one unaccompanied vocal harmony song together with my wife Anne Gregson. I transferred them to my DAW (Logic Pro X) but, apart from normalising the volumes to make comparisons easier, I did no other processing on them. I then had a listen...Audio interface. The X8 can be used an audio interface while also capturing audio from the onboard microphones at the same time, and recording to the microSD card too. It can’t be used at 192 kHz in this mode, though. General Settings: Here’s where you set all the useful stuff like bit rate and dual recording. Sounding It Out Device settings and recording app settings can now be saved in up to three presets and recalled with a single tap from the LAUNCHER However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers. Not needing an XLR to Quarter Inch adapter, I plugged each cable into the center of the XLR port. The sound quality was fantastic and mounted on a stand—could be used to record two singers.
The Manual app also features a Recording Guide turned on by default. This walks you through the recommended workflow and can be helpful at first, but most people will want to turn it off after their first couple of recordings. The fidelity on the 1/4-inch tape was a bit “dull” when I monitored it with headphones connected to the Portacapture. Using the new digital file from the Portacapture, I brought it into Adobe Premiere Pro, used the Tube Modeled Compressor, and had a file that sounded just like I remembered. ASMR. ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Gosh! Apparently “ASMR recordings become more fun with the unique meter display that captures delicate sound movements.” In terms of the end result, though, this app seems to me to make conventional stereo recordings, so I’ll move swiftly on... I had the privilege of reviewing Tascam’s Portacapture X8 a year ago (SOS May 2022) and thought it a fine piece of kit — I was sufficiently impressed to part with my own money and buy one. Consequently, I was very willing to give its newer, smaller stablemate the X6 a try when offered the chance. It’s very tempting to review a device like this in terms of its differences from the earlier model, but that would be doing the X6 a disservice so, instead, I shall consider the X6 on its own terms and then discuss the differences later. OverviewLastly, I would recommend investing in the optional AC power supply as the 4 AA batteries don’t last very long because of the touch screen’s energy consumption. Note: When using phantom power, the operation time might be reduced, depending on the mic being used. The Portacapture X8 ships with several pre-installed apps. These include a digital metronome and tuner, which I think are both awesome ideas. The recording apps, offer a preconfigured system setup for typical recording situations. There is an ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) app a Music app a Podcast app and they all define how many channels on offer to record; the recording format; and how the device functions. All of these can be bypassed by using the Manual app which reveals the full range of functionality.
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