Tascam Portacapture X8 Adaptive Multi-Track Recorder User Guide
- June 4, 2024
- TASCAM
Table of Contents
Tascam Portacapture X8 Adaptive Multi-Track Recorder
Specifications
- ITEM WEIGHT: 4 ounces
- PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: 11 x 3.27 x 1.65 inches
- BATTERIES: 4 AA batteries
- HARDWARE INTERFACE: USB 2.0
- BATTERY TYPE: Alkaline
- VOLTAGE: 5
- WATTAGE: 7500 Mill watts
- BRAND: Tascam
Introduction
The Portacapture X8 offers a preset level setting that uses high-end dual A/D converters and recording technology with 32-bit floating point resolution to provide a broad dynamic range. Even with weak recordings, the end result is content with pristine audio quality.
Innovative, potent, but straightforward
The Portacapture X8’s big colour touch screen displays the Launcher as soon as it boots up, allowing you to quickly choose the audio parameters that are appropriate for your application. By using these presets, you may spend more time concentrating on the recording itself and less time fumbling with technical details.
However, if you would rather make all the settings yourself, the MANUAL app gives you all the options to do so, including, if you’d like, a Recording Guide that walks you through the necessary settings panels.
Set your levels easily.
The Portacapture X8 offers a preset level setting that uses high-end dual A/D converters and recording technology with 32-bit floating point resolution to provide a broad dynamic range. Even with weak recordings, the end result is content with pristine audio quality. You can raise the level when modifying the audio data without having the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) suffer. Additionally, the stereo mix file’s level can be automatically aligned after recording using the inbuilt normalise function.
Your computer’s USB audio interface
The Portacapture X8 allows direct recording of video narration and dialogue directly to DAW and editing software and can be used as a small mixer with built-in microphones for live streaming via OBS or comparable platforms using plug-and-go driverless capabilities.
Six inputs plus a stereo mix allow the Portacapture X8 to stream up to eight tracks over USB. The device may simultaneously provide phantom power via the USB bus to any external microphone by implementing the USB Type-C Power Delivery standard. Use the Portacapture X8 as your USB stereo microphone for video or audio conference, and you can even concurrently record the audio.
Large-format premium microphones
Two excellent condenser microphones, the largest in our portfolio with a diameter of 14.6 mm apiece, are included with the Portacapture X8. Both the L and R microphones can be easily attached to and detached from the main device to create A-B or X-Y mic patterns using a detachable mechanism.
- Ideal for generating a large stereo field is the A-B pattern.
- X-Y diagram: provides minimized phase displacement between the two channels and extra-clear reproduction.
These microphones record everything, from the slightest rustle to the loudest spectacle, thanks to the dual A/D converter, 32-bit floating point processing, and sampling rates up to 192 kHz.
Atomos and Other Devices Can Sync Time code wirelessly
The post-production process is significantly simplified by time code synchronization (introduced in firmware version 1.20), which allows files to be aligned using the time basis. This is very useful when working on projects that involve several cameras or recorders. With Atomos AtomX Sync, Ultra Sync Blue, and other compatible products* like Atomos Connect and Shogun Connect, wireless time code synchronization is possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of frequency response do the built-in mics have?Do they capture useful audio at say 50kHz for the purposes of pitching-down?
Wow that is a good question. The X8 manual doesn’t say, but you can use the mics with the 192 kHz recordings, but the OEM mics may not fully capture that range. I typically record at 44.1 kHz rate. If you mean screening out low frequency sounds, there is a low-cut filter that you can use and set to 50kHz. The mics do an excellent job at 44.1 kHz and 96 kHz, those are the two settings I have used. For 192 kHz, it is my guess that you will need far more expensive plug-in mic.
Can I overdub like the older dr-40 ?
You can definitely “punch-in” content to replace a track including an empty track. That would give you new content you can mix and then “mix-down” the adjusted mix as a new recording. I don’t believe you can over-dub an existing track or an existing mix more directly.
Work with linux?
I don’t know, but you can call Tascam and they are pretty good at answering questions quickly.
Is there a travel case for this unit?
Portabrace makes the AR-X8 Custom-Fit Audio Recorder Case which seems to be designed along lines of the accessable audio bag used on-person by a working sound person. It’s realtively expensive at near $100, but that seems to be in normal range for items selling with that purpose.
Does this suffer from RF interference (especially in areas with high radio activity such as cities) the way that the lower Tascamhandheld models do?
Well the answer to your question would depend heavily on the location that the Tascam X8 is used if your assumptions are correct. I cannot confirm that the X8 will not suffer from RF interference in ANY location, but I can confirm I have never had a problem with RF interference, or any type of noise with the unit. I live in a large city where plenty of radio frequencies being broadcast, so it is my educated guess that you won’t have a problem with RF noise.
Do they sell the included mic capsules separately? I need a replacement.
You will need to call Tascam to find out if they sell the original mics that come with it. That information is not on their website, but their customer service has been good when I called them. That aside, there are 3.5 mm mics that are not OEM that are sold by other manufacturers that will work with the X8. Plus ANY mic you have will work with the X8 so long as you can plug it into a 3.5 mm jack. I am not sure, but I think that you can even plug in mics with XLR connectors if you use a XLR to 3.5 mm adapter.
Does this have timecode? If not, is there a way to use it with timecode?
Using the AK-BT1 optional Bluetooth adapter, timecode sync is possible
How do you power the Portacapture x8 via usb c and connect to the computer, since there is only one usc c port?
It gets the power from the USB C port.
If you take the mic capsules off.. Can you plug in an xlr or 1/4 cable into it?
Need to update this answer, my apologies. There are 4 XLR inputs, not two. Channels 3, 4, 5 & 6. Two on each side of the unit. Info is the same for the microphones on the top, 1/8″ TRS plugs.
If you take the mic capsules off can you plug xlr or 1/4 cables into it?
You can plug in 1/8″ TRS cable to get a plug-in power mono input. You might be able to rig something to adapt from that to XLR or 1/4″ but you will have lesser audio capabilities than what you can get through the combo XLR jacks.
Using the x8’s usb-c port, can you use it to simultaneously provide power & use the unit as an interface for a daw?
Yes
Does Memory card come with the purchase to get you started. can you use any memory card purchase at walmart?
You’ll have to purchase a micro SD card separately. I’m sure you could find one at Walmart.
When i plug in a xlr microphone no sound comes through and the channel is still grayed out. what’s the mode of operation?
In the apps, in the menu there are 2 input choices – input select and input settings. If you are in manual mode, there’s only input select – but you can get to input settings by clicking on the microphone icon after clicking on a number to enable it (turn it red) in the input tab. If your mic needs phantom power, you need to turn it on for the appropriate input in the input settings. Had a momentary freakout when I couldn’t get me new mic to work with my new recorder.
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