Tascam Portacapture X8 6-Input / 6-Track Handheld Adaptive Multitrack Recorder
With its large touchscreen, 32-bit float resolution to avoid clipping, and tailored modes for music, field, podcast, and voice recording applications, the Tascam Portacapture X8 portable handheld multitrack recorder makes it incredibly easy to capture up to six tracks of detailed, high-resolution audio for common production scenarios. Its detachable condenser mics can be set for a wide or tight stereo image, and may be used simultaneously with the mic/line combo inputs. Equally adept as a handheld device or when used in stand- or camera-mounted setups, the Portacapture X8 can handle anything from sampling sessions and interviews to podcasts, live concerts, and multi-mic setups.
Flexible powering methods—batteries, USB bus power, or an AC adapter—make the Portacapture X8 well suited to on-the-go recording, all-day video shoots, and computer-based audio production. Need to patch in external mics or an outboard mixer? The Portacapture X8's four balanced combo XLR-1/4" inputs accommodate mic- or line-level signals and can supply phantom power if needed. Whether you use the built-in mics or an external source, selectable modes such as dual recording, low-cut filtering, limiting, gating, and auto level give you options for achieving a clean, undistorted recording. Separate line and headphone outputs are provided for real-time monitoring while recording to a camera.
Touchscreen User Interface
Rather than requiring manual configuration to accommodate different scenarios, the Portacapture X8 offers presets that optimize the recorder for common applications such as basic multitrack recording, podcasts, music, voice (interviews, vlog, etc.), field recordings, ASMR, and more. The "Launcher" system makes these readily accessible via the large 3.5" color touchscreen.
Detachable Condenser Microphones
The Portacapture X8's detachable 14.6mm large-diaphragm condenser microphones empower you with crisp stereo capture, even without external mics. Both mics can be detached/attached to form A-B or X/Y mic configurations. Use the A-B position (capsules facing outward) to produce a wide stereo image, or switch to the X-Y position (capsules facing inward) if you need a tighter stereo field with a strong center presence and fewer phase differences.
When the mics are not connected, input jacks 1 and 2 can be used to bring in lavalier mics with 3.5mm TRS plugs, even if they need plug-in power.
Four Combo XLR-1/4" Mic/Line Inputs with Phantom Power
Four Neutrik XLR-1/4" TRS combo jacks support mic- and line-level sources, allowing you to record external microphones or balanced outputs from a mixer or FOH console. With switchable 24 or 48V phantom power, the HDDA (High-Definition Discrete Architecture) mic preamps can serve a variety of microphones such as dynamic or condenser types. Using the onboard microphones, you can capture the ambient sound of an audience while recording direct from an external console, which is ideal for live performances. Additionally, there is a 3.5mm mic input that can supply plug-in power for lavalier mics or compact shotgun mics, and a 3.5mm camera input for monitoring the return from a DSLR.
High-Resolution Capture
The Portacapture X8 can record in BWF-compliant WAV format at up to 192 kHz / 32-bit float resolution, and it supports multitrack recording up to eight tracks (six inputs plus a stereo mix). Also, dual recording mode enables each track to be recorded in a different file format.
With premium dual A/D converters and 32-bit floating point recording technology, the X8 achieves a wide dynamic range, avoids clipping, and allows the audio level to be increased or decreased later without deteriorating the signal-to-noise ratio.
