GEAR
AUDIO ESSENTIALS
RECORDERS AND ADAPTERS
ZOOM H6 £239/$230 zoom-na.com
If you don’t want to spend more to get 32-bit float, but still demand a fully featured multitrack recorder, take a look at the Zoom H6. Since it’s not a super-compact recorder, the layout and options aren’t compromised and it’s easy to get XLR leads in and out. The H6 allows swapping of the capsule mics for other types. It comes with the X/Y capsule as standard, but there’s also a ‘mid-side’ capsule in the case, plus optional units like a shotgun and dual-XLR input. Along with the four XLR ports on the unit, the H6 gives a large number of mic options, though only the body XLRs provide phantom power. The H6 takes four AA batteries, which will give over 20 hours depending on the settings, but you can run it off USB too. A tripod-mounting thread is under the unit and there’s a built-in speaker.
BEACHTEK DXA-MAX £239/$229 beachtek.com
The problem of using XLR or other mics on a camera with no suitable inputs is solved by the latest audio adapter from Beachtek. The DXA-Max allows you to connect any mic to any camera. So this includes wireless systems, on-camera mics, handheld or boom XLR mics for adjustable, multichannel audio. The Beachtek also improves audio as its preamps are better than in-camera amps, so you can turn camera gain down and rely on the DXA-Max for audio. It has a built-in level meter and can be used on a mixing board with an adapter plug. Compatible with smartphones, it can also record two-channel audio for a safety track. A ten-hour internal battery is charged with the included cable. TASCAM PORTACAPTURE X8 £409/$399 tascam.eu
The Tascam Portacapture X8 recorder was one of the first to house 32-bit float technology in an affordable and portable unit, and it continues to deliver. The 32- bit float tech captures a massive amount of audio levels in one recording – from whisper-quiet to super-loud. It can handle a massive range of noise but your mic can’t, so it’s not as simple as never adjusting levels. The X8 can capture up to six audio inputs, including two stereo, so that’s eight tracks in total. It comes with two detachable condenser mics on the top, which can be removed so you could use the standard 3.5mm inputs. Once you have used a 32-bit float recorder and either boosted low volume or reduced loud sounds, you will never want to risk a conventional recorder again.
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