Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 at DVinfo.net

Salvatore Privitera · August 12th, 2014, 09:58 AM

HI all,

Recently purchased a GH4 and looking for a good way of recording quality sound. I am seriously considering the Tascam DR 60 so I can use my sennheiser microphones and for the double sound recording. Anyone have experience with this combo? I do a lot of Dance Concerts and Events.

Thanks - Salvatore

Noa Put · August 12th, 2014, 11:24 AM

I have used my dr60 in combination with my gh3, not with my gh4 yet, I used a wireless handmicrophone and a azden receiver that was connected to the dr60 and I had a live feed directly into the camera. I ended up using the sound that went straight into my gh3 as I didin't have to sync anymore, that sound quality was a bit less then what the dr60 recorded but it was more then sufficient for my needs. The soundquality that was recorded onto my dr60 was very good, I"m not a audio specialist but it sounded very clean and noise free to me.

Dave Partington · August 12th, 2014, 02:06 PM

I've had the DR-60 for about 8 or 9 months and this is my go to recorder over the pair of Zoom H4n recorders I also have. Why? Great quality, I absolutely love the ability to record two different levels for the same input (usually I record one at -6db lower than the other) so if you're talent of environment gets too noisy you have an instant backup.

I also love the sync beep for almost instant dual system syncing.

I've only just got the GH4 and so haven't done extensive testing of this pair but my initial tests show it works very well.

Salvatore Privitera · August 13th, 2014, 12:07 AM

Thanks Guys,

I guess I'll go ahead and order the DR 60 this week. By the way, how are you liking the GH4?

Thanks - Salvatore

Dan Brockett · August 17th, 2014, 09:12 AM

Been using the GH4 with the Tascam DR60 for a few months now. Lots of broadcast projects, I shot "Dick Cavett's Watergate" which aired on PBS this week with this combo and I am shooting a lot of Fox projects with it. Camera is great but is not a large sensor camera so it is not a low light monster like the 5D MKIII was, or the C300. You need to light for it very well and do NOT shoot green screen at anything over ISO 200, I did and the compositor was not happy with me. Light it well and you will be happy.

DR60 works well with it, just baby it, they are flimsy and not pro quality. Power the DR60 with a huge lithium ion battery for the extra $40.00, the DR60 eats AAs all of the time but if you plug it into this battery, Amazon.com: USB External Battery Pack 13000mAh 5V/4.2A (Black Limefuel Blast L130X) Charger with Flashlight for iPad Air, Mini, iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, 4S, Galaxy S5, S4, S3, Note 3, Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10, HTC One, One 2 (M8), Motorola Droid, LG G2, G3, MOTO X it will power it ALL day long.

Noa Put · August 17th, 2014, 09:33 AM

Great tip on the batterypack Dan! Had no idea that existed, how do you connect it to the dr60, is that cable supplied with the batterypack? Do you still have to look at the battery status on the dr60 or on the batterypack?

Dave Partington · August 17th, 2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noa Put

Great tip on the batterypack Dan! Had no idea that existed, how do you connect it to the dr60, is that cable supplied with the batterypack? Do you still have to look at the battery status on the dr60 or on the batterypack?

Since the power comes to the DR-60 via the USB cable rather than a battery port you have to monitor the power via the battery pack, which is of course yet another thing to remember to charge and carry with you.

Phil Goetz · August 17th, 2014, 08:46 PM

That DR 60 when it started shipping was all $399 and then all of a sudden it was $199. Wa happened? It's been $199 for months now. Maybe even a year...

Steve Kimmel · August 18th, 2014, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

Power the DR60 with a huge lithium ion battery for the extra $40.00, the DR60 eats AAs all of the time but if you plug it into this battery, Amazon.com: USB External Battery Pack 13000mAh 5V/4.2A (Black Limefuel Blast L130X) Charger with Flashlight for iPad Air, Mini, iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, 4S, Galaxy S5, S4, S3, Note 3, Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10, HTC One, One 2 (M8), Motorola Droid, LG G2, G3, MOTO X it will power it ALL day long.

Thanks Dan. Do you have a method to attach the battery to the DR60?

Dan Brockett · August 18th, 2014, 11:27 PM

I've just been Velcroing the battery to my shoulder pad on my rig. It's not that heavy. It uses a USB full size to mini USB connector for the DR60, just route the cable safely so it doesn't snag on stuff. I shot five 90 minute interviews with it and it only went down about 1/3rd in power, it's a big ass battery as far as milliamps.

Steve Kimmel · August 19th, 2014, 09:15 AM

Thanks Dan.

Dave Partington · August 19th, 2014, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

I shot five 90 minute interviews with it and it only went down about 1/3rd in power, it's a big ass battery as far as milliamps.

That's actually a little disappointing. I was hoping for more time than that. I've recorded more than 3 hours (180 mins) of seminar on the DR-60D using Eneloop 2500mha AA batteries, though to be fair I was getting a little nervous towards the end and changed them ASAP.

It would be interesting to set up the DR-60D with a large card and see just how long you could actually go with that battery.

Steve Kimmel · August 19th, 2014, 10:18 AM

That seems pretty good to me. 7.5 hours and only using up 1/3 of the battery?

Dave Partington · August 19th, 2014, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Kimmel

That seems pretty good to me. 7.5 hours and only using up 1/3 of the battery?

Oops! I completely missed the 'five' !!!! for some reason I read that as 'live'. Doh! Sorry! OK - SOLD.

Dan Brockett · August 22nd, 2014, 02:54 PM

Have not tried it, but it felt as if I could have shot for quite a few more hours with it after rolling almost eight hours of continuous footage. 13,000MaH is pretty huge. For me, if a single battery can get me through an entire day of shooting, and I mean shooting pretty much all day, that is unprecedented.

August 12th, 2014, 09:58 AM	#1
Salvatore Privitera Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 46	Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 HI all, Recently purchased a GH4 and looking for a good way of recording quality sound. I am seriously considering the Tascam DR 60 so I can use my sennheiser microphones and for the double sound recording. Anyone have experience with this combo? I do a lot of Dance Concerts and Events. Thanks - Salvatore

August 12th, 2014, 11:24 AM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 I have used my dr60 in combination with my gh3, not with my gh4 yet, I used a wireless handmicrophone and a azden receiver that was connected to the dr60 and I had a live feed directly into the camera. I ended up using the sound that went straight into my gh3 as I didin't have to sync anymore, that sound quality was a bit less then what the dr60 recorded but it was more then sufficient for my needs. The soundquality that was recorded onto my dr60 was very good, I"m not a audio specialist but it sounded very clean and noise free to me.

August 12th, 2014, 02:06 PM	#3
Dave Partington Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, England Posts: 1,323	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 I've had the DR-60 for about 8 or 9 months and this is my go to recorder over the pair of Zoom H4n recorders I also have. Why? Great quality, I absolutely love the ability to record two different levels for the same input (usually I record one at -6db lower than the other) so if you're talent of environment gets too noisy you have an instant backup. I also love the sync beep for almost instant dual system syncing. I've only just got the GH4 and so haven't done extensive testing of this pair but my initial tests show it works very well. __________________ Qualified UAV Pilot with CAA PFAW Aerial Photo / Aerial Video \| Corporate Video Production

August 13th, 2014, 12:07 AM	#4
Salvatore Privitera Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 46	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 Thanks Guys, I guess I'll go ahead and order the DR 60 this week. By the way, how are you liking the GH4? Thanks - Salvatore

August 17th, 2014, 09:12 AM	#5
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 Been using the GH4 with the Tascam DR60 for a few months now. Lots of broadcast projects, I shot "Dick Cavett's Watergate" which aired on PBS this week with this combo and I am shooting a lot of Fox projects with it. Camera is great but is not a large sensor camera so it is not a low light monster like the 5D MKIII was, or the C300. You need to light for it very well and do NOT shoot green screen at anything over ISO 200, I did and the compositor was not happy with me. Light it well and you will be happy. DR60 works well with it, just baby it, they are flimsy and not pro quality. Power the DR60 with a huge lithium ion battery for the extra $40.00, the DR60 eats AAs all of the time but if you plug it into this battery, Amazon.com: USB External Battery Pack 13000mAh 5V/4.2A (Black Limefuel Blast L130X) Charger with Flashlight for iPad Air, Mini, iPhone 5S, 5C, 5, 4S, Galaxy S5, S4, S3, Note 3, Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10, HTC One, One 2 (M8), Motorola Droid, LG G2, G3, MOTO X it will power it ALL day long.

August 17th, 2014, 09:33 AM	#6
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 Great tip on the batterypack Dan! Had no idea that existed, how do you connect it to the dr60, is that cable supplied with the batterypack? Do you still have to look at the battery status on the dr60 or on the batterypack?

August 17th, 2014, 08:46 PM	#8
Phil Goetz Austinite Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Austin Posts: 550	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 That DR 60 when it started shipping was all $399 and then all of a sudden it was $199. Wa happened? It's been $199 for months now. Maybe even a year...

August 18th, 2014, 11:27 PM	#10
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 I've just been Velcroing the battery to my shoulder pad on my rig. It's not that heavy. It uses a USB full size to mini USB connector for the DR60, just route the cable safely so it doesn't snag on stuff. I shot five 90 minute interviews with it and it only went down about 1/3rd in power, it's a big ass battery as far as milliamps.

August 19th, 2014, 09:15 AM	#11
Steve Kimmel Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 256	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 Thanks Dan.

August 19th, 2014, 10:18 AM	#13
Steve Kimmel Major Player Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 256	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 That seems pretty good to me. 7.5 hours and only using up 1/3 of the battery?

August 22nd, 2014, 02:54 PM	#15
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	Re: Anyone using the Tascam DR 60 Have not tried it, but it felt as if I could have shot for quite a few more hours with it after rolling almost eight hours of continuous footage. 13,000MaH is pretty huge. For me, if a single battery can get me through an entire day of shooting, and I mean shooting pretty much all day, that is unprecedented.