Looking for quality advice again at DVinfo.net

Eric Tomlinson · March 30th, 2026, 05:58 AM

Many years back, you all helped me sort out recording gear for a couple of audiobooks (lockdown project). I was using a Tascam DR40x as the raw recording device and Audacity to edit. All went well until I put my foot on the Tascam.

I decided to acquire a Focusrite 4th Gen Solo. So I can keep the AT2020 microphone and the headphones I have. Didn't go Tascam again, they haven't upgraded it. The pre-amp hiss was pretty hefty (apparently it still is), and I didn't want to break another one. However, it did record a -12db backup track automatically, which was a life saver occasionally.

The Solo does require a device to attach to. 2 options appear viable.

1) A Samsung S21 phone using 'USB Audio Recorder Pro'. This is the closest workflow to the Tascam. It outputs a single WAV file for each recording. No fans, but also cannot have it connected to power, as it is powering the Solo. At the moment, this is no problem as I am not recording for more than 2 hours at a time and this barely touches the battery life.

2) A 10-year-old Dell XPS converted to Linux (Can't run Windows 11) - Using Linux I can turn off the fans to make it silent. Using Audacity as Capture software to create a WAV file. I am not 100% happy running an i7 without fans. The USB connector is quite vulnerable to being knocked whilst recording. More 'fiddling' to set up recording new chapters. I do have more control if I choose to rerecord 'in flight'.

As a real novice with Audio, I cannot hear any difference between the files. I have looked at the analysis graphs in Audacity - they look similar, but mean almost nothing to me. Honestly, the Samsung route feels too simple, but I can't see a downside, I was stunned it worked so well. Using a Linux PC feels more right, but I am a computer geek and I don't want to fry it.

As the files appear almost identical, there is no difference in the post-production edit process/ time.

What I don't want to do is get halfway into a new project and find that whatever I chose was the wrong path.

I appreciate the words of wisdom might be massively different from each 'expert', but it went well last time - and who else do I know to ask?

Paul R Johnson · April 1st, 2026, 12:22 AM

I think I vaguely remember your project. I’m intrigued. Hiss was hefty? They’re not excessively noisy, and your mic isnt particularly low output? You have a computer that has one wobbly usb, so why can’t you use a different one that is less wobbly, or don’t wobble it. You are using Linux to be able to turn off the fan? Fan noise is everyday stuff. Windows 11? Lots of people haven’t changed yet, hardly a big deal. If you are happy with audacity, any of the red preamps will work for you, but consider the reasons you had hefty hiss. Were you recording at an unusual distance, or close in, and did you experiment with dropping the Tascam gain and recovering it in audacity? One method may have been quieter. Is your fan noise something that extending a few cables and moving the computer would have cured? Ive never heard anyone turning the fan off this way. Could you explain a bit more, it sounds very, very strange.

Eric Tomlinson · April 1st, 2026, 11:41 AM

Hi Paul,

thanks for the reply. Really appreciate you taking the time. I will try to answer all of your questions. Perhaps I included too much of my thought processes and confused people! However, this answer doesn’t look short either.

As these are undoubtedly vanity projects, I have a limit on how much I can bring myself to spend on creating the audiobooks.

All of your points are correct, I do have a PC that I could use that does have a decent USB port, but that also has fans that cut in at unexpected moments. Windows 11 ignores the run silent if it needs to stop the processor from overheating. The Linux PC only has the USB problem if I catch the cable, but I have done that. If the end suggestion is that I am far better working with a PC then, I can resolve other issues, I am certain.

The Linux conversion is not about audio production; it is due to Windows 10 being end-of-life, and my day-job clients might question a machine that is not being patched on the network (I have a couple of security-conscious clients). For my day job, I often have three or more machines running. I decided to turn off the fans because they started up mid-recording, and I could.

Before I broke the Tascam, I tried many recording methods of setting the gain low and amping up, sitting close, or further away. None of these seemed to affect the preamp hiss. That appeared to be a constant. Once I have decided on PC/ Android, I guess I will need to go around this loop again to decide what works best.

I was annoyed to break the Tascam, but that is life. Why did I not simply replace it? It had to be plugged into the mains during a recording session, as the 48v phantom power drained the non-rechargeable batteries.

Hefty might be an overstatement, but apparently the device hasn't improved in any way since my original purchase. A lot of forums comment on the preamp hiss, I obviously can remove the constant hiss with Audacity, but if I don’t need to, surely that is better? The 4th Gen Solo is a big improvement in this. So, as I will never be recording out and about, I decided that the Solo was the better choice. The Solo was slightly cheaper than the Tascam and I believed I was getting a better interface.

Our last interaction (on this forum) led me to create a recording 'booth' in my office, essentially under my rise-fall desk with duvets, sound-absorbing tiles and a mattress. My office is the echo chamber from hell, but the only space in the house that I can use. The 'booth' isn't large but does work well. However, the space difference between managing a PC or a smaller device is an issue. To use longer cables would mean putting the PC outside the booth- making controlling Audacity an issue. Could be done, but would be awkward.

I suppose the bottom-line question is:

Do I need to use the complexity of a PC and Audacity to prepare the first raw WAV file?
I am not going to edit much sitting under my desk. I just want to capture the raw file, again, unless you can suggest I am missing something.

What am I losing by using the Android device?
I press one button and start recording, one button to stop or pause. It looks after filenames and locations. I can’t hear any difference in the WAV file I produce using PC or Android.

Paul R Johnson · Yesterday, 02:20 PM

I’m struggling a bit with the notion that the android device just ‘works’? From my history of using phones, they appear to be quite good enough to record audio, but compress, auto level and squish your audio, but they don’t hiss much. Everyone says good things about Linux, but none of my everyday audio or video applications are available, which severely limits it. Have you thought about physically swapping out the fans for different ones, or maybe just installing a simple switch to turn them off. If the chips are not stressed that should give you a reasonable temperature level, and you could always switch the fans back on for coffee or loo breaks? I’m wondering if your old Tascam was simply faulty, if the mic you use works on other devices. I bought for fun, a dirt cheap Chinese interface for 29 pounds to see how horrible it was, and it was totally fine! I have a Tascam interface and that sounds pretty much the same as the others I have. It looks like you have to spend something, but you just shouldn’t have noise issues.

Eric Tomlinson · Today, 06:53 AM

Hi Paul,

Linux / Windows isn't relevant for Audacity, it is ported to all, but in honesty, I wouldn't use Linux for 99% of my client work. The fans on and off is a script I can put on the desktop. So, you're right I can run them when I get a drink.

As I have now purchased the Solo, going for a new Tascam isn't really an option. The decision I am trying to make is with regard to PC v Phone.

The phone isn't being used as a recording device exactly. The USB Audio Recorder Pro is 'talking directly' to the USB to power the Solo, and appears to be writing the input directly to a wav. So, the compression and 'adjustments' you are thinking of should be bypassed. I am pretty sure it isn't using the phone's audio software in the slightest.

I have communicated with the developer and he is super proud of his USB handling code.

I have made two files, if you would like to see/ hear them.
https://ozcreative.co.uk/audio/linuxtest.wav
https://ozcreative.co.uk/audio/phonetest.wav

100% raw from each device. The recording level on the phone was higher than I might use in real life, but I thought it better not to touch the settings for comparison.
In perspective:
The phone test meant: plug in the phone, run the app, hit the button to start, hit the button to stop.
The linux / Audacity: Is create a project, select a location, set up the audio input and output, check they are working (they don't get remebered from session to session), then record. Save the project, Then export the WAV.

Which if all things are equal with the output makes the phone experience much easier.

As I don't hear or cannot detect any material difference, I am obviously favouring the phone. However, if a professional can see a reason not to go with it, I will go Linux.

March 30th, 2026, 05:58 AM	#1
Eric Tomlinson Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Crewe UK Posts: 30	Looking for quality advice again Many years back, you all helped me sort out recording gear for a couple of audiobooks (lockdown project). I was using a Tascam DR40x as the raw recording device and Audacity to edit. All went well until I put my foot on the Tascam. I decided to acquire a Focusrite 4th Gen Solo. So I can keep the AT2020 microphone and the headphones I have. Didn't go Tascam again, they haven't upgraded it. The pre-amp hiss was pretty hefty (apparently it still is), and I didn't want to break another one. However, it did record a -12db backup track automatically, which was a life saver occasionally. The Solo does require a device to attach to. 2 options appear viable. 1) A Samsung S21 phone using 'USB Audio Recorder Pro'. This is the closest workflow to the Tascam. It outputs a single WAV file for each recording. No fans, but also cannot have it connected to power, as it is powering the Solo. At the moment, this is no problem as I am not recording for more than 2 hours at a time and this barely touches the battery life. 2) A 10-year-old Dell XPS converted to Linux (Can't run Windows 11) - Using Linux I can turn off the fans to make it silent. Using Audacity as Capture software to create a WAV file. I am not 100% happy running an i7 without fans. The USB connector is quite vulnerable to being knocked whilst recording. More 'fiddling' to set up recording new chapters. I do have more control if I choose to rerecord 'in flight'. As a real novice with Audio, I cannot hear any difference between the files. I have looked at the analysis graphs in Audacity - they look similar, but mean almost nothing to me. Honestly, the Samsung route feels too simple, but I can't see a downside, I was stunned it worked so well. Using a Linux PC feels more right, but I am a computer geek and I don't want to fry it. As the files appear almost identical, there is no difference in the post-production edit process/ time. What I don't want to do is get halfway into a new project and find that whatever I chose was the wrong path. I appreciate the words of wisdom might be massively different from each 'expert', but it went well last time - and who else do I know to ask?

April 1st, 2026, 12:22 AM	#2
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,073	Re: Looking for quality advice again I think I vaguely remember your project. I’m intrigued. Hiss was hefty? They’re not excessively noisy, and your mic isnt particularly low output? You have a computer that has one wobbly usb, so why can’t you use a different one that is less wobbly, or don’t wobble it. You are using Linux to be able to turn off the fan? Fan noise is everyday stuff. Windows 11? Lots of people haven’t changed yet, hardly a big deal. If you are happy with audacity, any of the red preamps will work for you, but consider the reasons you had hefty hiss. Were you recording at an unusual distance, or close in, and did you experiment with dropping the Tascam gain and recovering it in audacity? One method may have been quieter. Is your fan noise something that extending a few cables and moving the computer would have cured? Ive never heard anyone turning the fan off this way. Could you explain a bit more, it sounds very, very strange.

April 1st, 2026, 11:41 AM	#3
Eric Tomlinson Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Crewe UK Posts: 30	Re: Looking for quality advice again Hi Paul, thanks for the reply. Really appreciate you taking the time. I will try to answer all of your questions. Perhaps I included too much of my thought processes and confused people! However, this answer doesn’t look short either. As these are undoubtedly vanity projects, I have a limit on how much I can bring myself to spend on creating the audiobooks. All of your points are correct, I do have a PC that I could use that does have a decent USB port, but that also has fans that cut in at unexpected moments. Windows 11 ignores the run silent if it needs to stop the processor from overheating. The Linux PC only has the USB problem if I catch the cable, but I have done that. If the end suggestion is that I am far better working with a PC then, I can resolve other issues, I am certain. The Linux conversion is not about audio production; it is due to Windows 10 being end-of-life, and my day-job clients might question a machine that is not being patched on the network (I have a couple of security-conscious clients). For my day job, I often have three or more machines running. I decided to turn off the fans because they started up mid-recording, and I could. Before I broke the Tascam, I tried many recording methods of setting the gain low and amping up, sitting close, or further away. None of these seemed to affect the preamp hiss. That appeared to be a constant. Once I have decided on PC/ Android, I guess I will need to go around this loop again to decide what works best. I was annoyed to break the Tascam, but that is life. Why did I not simply replace it? It had to be plugged into the mains during a recording session, as the 48v phantom power drained the non-rechargeable batteries. Hefty might be an overstatement, but apparently the device hasn't improved in any way since my original purchase. A lot of forums comment on the preamp hiss, I obviously can remove the constant hiss with Audacity, but if I don’t need to, surely that is better? The 4th Gen Solo is a big improvement in this. So, as I will never be recording out and about, I decided that the Solo was the better choice. The Solo was slightly cheaper than the Tascam and I believed I was getting a better interface. Our last interaction (on this forum) led me to create a recording 'booth' in my office, essentially under my rise-fall desk with duvets, sound-absorbing tiles and a mattress. My office is the echo chamber from hell, but the only space in the house that I can use. The 'booth' isn't large but does work well. However, the space difference between managing a PC or a smaller device is an issue. To use longer cables would mean putting the PC outside the booth- making controlling Audacity an issue. Could be done, but would be awkward. I suppose the bottom-line question is: Do I need to use the complexity of a PC and Audacity to prepare the first raw WAV file? I am not going to edit much sitting under my desk. I just want to capture the raw file, again, unless you can suggest I am missing something. What am I losing by using the Android device? I press one button and start recording, one button to stop or pause. It looks after filenames and locations. I can’t hear any difference in the WAV file I produce using PC or Android.

Yesterday, 02:20 PM	#4
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,073	Re: Looking for quality advice again I’m struggling a bit with the notion that the android device just ‘works’? From my history of using phones, they appear to be quite good enough to record audio, but compress, auto level and squish your audio, but they don’t hiss much. Everyone says good things about Linux, but none of my everyday audio or video applications are available, which severely limits it. Have you thought about physically swapping out the fans for different ones, or maybe just installing a simple switch to turn them off. If the chips are not stressed that should give you a reasonable temperature level, and you could always switch the fans back on for coffee or loo breaks? I’m wondering if your old Tascam was simply faulty, if the mic you use works on other devices. I bought for fun, a dirt cheap Chinese interface for 29 pounds to see how horrible it was, and it was totally fine! I have a Tascam interface and that sounds pretty much the same as the others I have. It looks like you have to spend something, but you just shouldn’t have noise issues.

Today, 06:53 AM	#5
Eric Tomlinson Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Crewe UK Posts: 30	Re: Looking for quality advice again Hi Paul, Linux / Windows isn't relevant for Audacity, it is ported to all, but in honesty, I wouldn't use Linux for 99% of my client work. The fans on and off is a script I can put on the desktop. So, you're right I can run them when I get a drink. As I have now purchased the Solo, going for a new Tascam isn't really an option. The decision I am trying to make is with regard to PC v Phone. The phone isn't being used as a recording device exactly. The USB Audio Recorder Pro is 'talking directly' to the USB to power the Solo, and appears to be writing the input directly to a wav. So, the compression and 'adjustments' you are thinking of should be bypassed. I am pretty sure it isn't using the phone's audio software in the slightest. I have communicated with the developer and he is super proud of his USB handling code. I have made two files, if you would like to see/ hear them. https://ozcreative.co.uk/audio/linuxtest.wav https://ozcreative.co.uk/audio/phonetest.wav 100% raw from each device. The recording level on the phone was higher than I might use in real life, but I thought it better not to touch the settings for comparison. In perspective: The phone test meant: plug in the phone, run the app, hit the button to start, hit the button to stop. The linux / Audacity: Is create a project, select a location, set up the audio input and output, check they are working (they don't get remebered from session to session), then record. Save the project, Then export the WAV. Which if all things are equal with the output makes the phone experience much easier. As I don't hear or cannot detect any material difference, I am obviously favouring the phone. However, if a professional can see a reason not to go with it, I will go Linux.