ISSUE 128
46 / GEAR
TESTED: AUDIO-TECHNICA ATV-SG1
The audio safety net
£175 audio-technica.com
With unique dual- channel recording options, the ATV-SG1 mic offers a backup track or wireless input
TESTED: TASCAM DR-40XP 32 bits of freedom
Audio-Technica’s new on-camera flagship, the ATV-SG1, provides
focused, directional sound capture with a dual-channel feature. This enables a primary recording plus a -6dB safety track, or you can pair the shotgun microphone with a wireless lavalier feed and record both sources directly into the camera. The microphone is built around a 100mm acoustic tube to focus pickup on the intended sound source while
£239
tascam.eu
Specifications Type Four-channel, four-track recorder with dual XLR combo inputs and 32-bit float Mics Built-in stereo pair, cardioid Formats MP3, WAV Processing Limiter, low-cut filter, reverb, speed change Memory micro SD Power 3x AA Dimensions (wxhxd) 90x155x35mm Weight 282g Verdict Overall rating 9/10 As an affordable yet highly capable field recorder, the Tascam DR-40XP is ideal for location filmmaking or as part of a podcast set-up. While many rely solely on camera- mounted audio, the Tascam DR-40XP is a reminder of why dedicated audio recorders matter. It has better mics of its own – or you can plug in pro-level XLR mics and get cleaner preamps with more flexibility and control. It has 32-bit float recording, which removes the horror of incorrectly set levels. Any sudden volume changes can be recovered in post. The DR-40XP provides improved protection against radio interference from smartphones and the adjustable stereo mics allow configuration of different recording patterns. The XLR/TRS combo inputs feature selectable input sensitivity. The recorder also works as an interface or USB-C mic for computers or mobiles. Battery life is up to 30 hours with support for micro SDXC cards up to 512GB. The controls and menus are simple and the build quality is good.
INSURANCE FOR SOUND
Specifications
from the camera via the 3.5mm input lead, but there’s no adjustable gain, low-cut filter headphone socket or dual-channel recording.
rejecting unwanted ambient noise. Combined with a large-diameter diaphragm, the result is detailed, natural-sounding recordings with great sensitivity and low self-noise. Voice reproduction is particularly strong. This makes it effective for interviews, pieces to camera and documentary work. A dedicated headphone output with volume control allows real-time monitoring. If you don’t want all the features of the flagship microphone apart from its audio performance, the more compact ATV-SG1LE costs just £85. It’s plug-and-play as it is powered
The ATV-SG1 can record audio at
Type On-camera shotgun condenser mic with dual-channel recording Controls Gain, headphone volume, low-cut filter Maximum SPL 132dB Power USB-C rechargeable, up to 12 hours’ use Inputs 3.5mm TRS Weight 155g Dimensions (hxwxd) 35x81x127mm
two different levels at the same time
Verdict Overall rating 9/10 Offering dual- channel recording with a -6dB safety track or simultaneous shotgun and wireless lav input, the ATV-SG1 has something new in addition to its great sound quality.
TESTED: TOSHIBA CANVIO BASICS 2TB
Toshiba time machine
£85
toshiba-storage.com
The best use of Toshiba’s Canvio Basics 2TB is with Apple’s Time Machine app to keep a safe backup of your work. That’s because, if you’re used to rugged, portable external SSDs, the Toshiba feels a little like going back in time. Luckily, that includes the price. It has a plastic cover over a spinning 2.5in hard drive. The connection is via
the rare USB 3.0 port with an included lead to connect to it to USB-A devices. As it seems everything uses USB-C or Thunderbolt – like my Macbook Pro – I had to dig out an old adapter. The packaging promises plug- and-play for Windows but on my laptop and Apple Studio desktop (which does have USB-A ports), I had to open Disk Utility and format it for MacOS. After that, it worked flawlessly with no hang-ups. Transferring big files is not fast. On our 50GB benchmark test folder, it was six minutes to transfer to or from the Toshiba. By comparison, our fastest ever time is 15.5 seconds on a portable SSD and slowest three minutes on a powered HDD. The real benefit of the Canvio is that it’s small and cheap. For £85 you get a lot of space for your money.
Specifications
Type 2TB external hard drive with SATA 6GB/s interface Drive type 2.5in HD 5400rpm Read/write speed 150/147MB/s Connection USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5Gbps Dimensions (hxwxd) 78x109x14mm
DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN As prices rocket for SSDs, this 2TB Toshiba HDD is a wallet- friendly option
Verdict Overall rating 7/10 It’s a solid performer and around half the price of any big-name 2TB SSD.
Powered by FlippingBook