Tascam DR-1 digital recorder can slow things down without changing pitch

At first glance, the Tascam DR-1 doesn't seem too different from all of its other digital recorder buddies out there, but let's see the other guys record WAV / MP3 straight to SDHC. Yep, this critter can save 24-bit, 48 kHz WAV files directly to SD or SDHC, and it also features a built-in Li-ion good for around seven hours, a simple (albeit useful) LCD and the inclusion of Variable Speed Audition, which enables it to playback recordings slower than they were inputted without augmenting the pitch. Per usual, mum's the word right now on price / availability.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Update: Looks like it's $299, thanks Mike!

[220mph @ Jan 28th 2008 8:46PM]

The analog limiting and gain controls are a positive - the H2's Hi-Med-Lo analog settings work fine but there are places (ie: a loud band) where even the low setting isn't enough ... and having true analog limiting and auto gain would seem a plus .... the Tascam also has a 1/4" mic jack

The H2 also though does 4channel recording with 4 mic's vs Tascam's 2 - and that 4 ch recording can be mixed into 5.1 surround

[Richard @ Apr 12th 2008 6:48PM]

I own an Edirol R-09. The sound quality is OK but the engineering is poor: the bottom door has to be opened to change the battery, attach the USB cable, and remove the card. It's ugly but it works.

Then I ordered a DR-1. Mine arrived today and I love it! The controls are where they should be and the battery life is great. I just wish that the external battery charger was included.

[Stelliot @ Jan 18th 2008 9:39AM]

I've never understood why voice recorder's were so behind with memory and other functions. Lot's of recorders with micro cassetes are still sold. I've been using an Olympus VN240PC now for 3 years and they are still being sold. They often have 32MB, and lousy software.

I'm glad a high quality recorder like this isa availibele now, with removable memory. LEt's hope the price is descent and i will definatly get one

[Dustin @ Jan 18th 2008 9:47AM]

Microcassette and cassette recorders are still used in dictation situations where intelligibility is all that matters, not like in broadcast or field recording. That, and the people who use such devices are not usually tech savvy...trust me on that...

However, I fail to see where recording to SD/SDHC is enough to warrant the first sentence. Marantz PMD 620, anyone?

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 19th 2008 12:36AM]

Digital recorders do not pick up faint or distant sounds the way good ole analogue can.

Take a (cheap) tape recorder and an expensive digital recorder, place them side by side and hit record. Now leave them alone for a few minutes and go about your buisness through the house. When you play them back, you will find the analogue tape picked up more of the faint and distant sound than the digital recorder.

[bobbywigs @ Jan 18th 2008 9:47AM]

Stelliot, check out the Zoom H2. good quality. surround sound. SD. available now. no slow-downer though, which sounds cool for some uses like music lessons. I wonder how the mic quality on this tascam will compare to the Zoom?

[Mike @ Jan 18th 2008 9:54AM]

Street price of $299 per Tascam's website. Get yer facts straight editors.

[KR @ Jan 18th 2008 9:57AM]

Yep, the Zoom H2, which has been out for months, can also record 24/48 files directly to a 4GB SD card. Runs on AA batteries, and is less expensive than the Tascam. Quality of the recordings from the H2 are very good, though I can't say if they're better or worse than the Tascam, cause I've not used both.

[Itchy Pajamas @ Jan 18th 2008 10:24AM]

Man, I don't know which cool digital recorder to buy. First I wanted the Sony PCM-D1, but geez... $2000? Then the Korg... pretty cool, but I don't want a mechanical drive and non-removable battery (but must have MacBook Air -- for some crazy reason), and then Sony introducted the more palatable PCM-D50, which I really like -- but that new Olympus is so cool -- and small! And now this from Tascam. I guess this competes more with the new version of the Edirol, and maybe the Zoom recorders.

There's something for everyone in this market! I'm glad to see all these new products. Now I've got to pick one for myself.

[bobbywigs @ Jan 18th 2008 10:29AM]

if you're looking for a handheld, the Zoom probably isnt the best, since it picks up a lot of handling noise. it comes with a cute little tripod and a mic stand adapter tho.

[flyingpylon @ Jan 18th 2008 2:05PM]

I haven't done a feature by feature comparison, but for my purposes, a huge plus for this Tascam recorder is that it appears to have an analog input level control. The Zoom H2's is digital which is essentially worthless and although it has a 3-position gain switch, the lowest setting is still too high for some situations.

[terapixel @ Jan 18th 2008 2:19PM]

SDHC auidio capture is no novelty, whoever wrote the blurb might try doing a bit of research in the future, 5 min on google should do the trick -

heres a link on this device from tascams US site -

http://www.tascam.com/products/dr-1.html

Zoom H2 is a great unit for the price, there is a thorough review here -

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/09/13/review-zoom-h2-surround-recorder.html

[sam @ Jan 18th 2008 2:19PM]

SDHC auidio capture is no novelty, whoever wrote the blurb might try doing a bit of research in the future, 5 min on google should do the trick -

heres a link on this device from tascams US site -

http://www.tascam.com/products/dr-1.html

Zoom H2 is a great unit for the price, there is a thorough review here -

http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2007/09/13/review-zoom-h2-surround-recorder.html

[Colin @ Jan 18th 2008 2:53PM]

Slow things down without changing pitch? Hey, guess what, Windows Media Player can do that too. For a good few years now.

[nathan.wong @ Jan 18th 2008 3:13PM]

Time to retire the Sony MZ-RH1 minidisc for this or any other unit that looks like this? Nah. How would you get this thing into a concert if the person doing the pat-down wants to see this unit. It's such an obvious recording device you wouldn't be able to get through the door. At least with the minidisc I could put music on a disc and say it's my music player, while being able to record the concert in PCM later. Not that I've ever done anything like that. ;-)

[roger_huston @ Jan 18th 2008 4:20PM]

Who cares about slowing audio down? I mean really, how many of need to listen to things slower? My wife and brother listen to audio books all the time and they both speed things up to listen.

-Roger

[220mph @ Jan 19th 2008 4:57AM]

The Zoom H2 is $199 - it has 4 mics and the ability to record 4channel sound which can be mixed into 5.1 surround.

As noted it can record MP3 direct to the card - and at up to 320kbps along with up to 96khz-24bit WAV format

The features and specs of the H2 are better than this Tascam - and its a hundred bucks less

As far as noise when you handle it - well duh! Any device will do that.

The H2 does everything this

[SamDaMan @ Jan 28th 2008 12:55PM]

The H2 cannot do everything this unit does. Except for the hi/med/low switch, the H2 does all its' volume manipulation [variable level, auto level, limiter, whatever] in the digital domain -- none of which can prevent overload into the H2's dsp, and all of which can be done just as well in post. It seems very clear that the tascam folks saw that [stupidity], and make it quite clear in their specs that their volume control is on the analog side.

[Sean @ Jan 20th 2008 4:15AM]

I have the H2 and it's an incredible value. Place it in the middle of the room and record the band in surround, make on-the-spot field recordings without messing around with menus, really cheap media and replaceable batteries. That last one is the kicker if you do alot of field stuff.

[Brendan @ Jan 21st 2008 10:18PM]

The main features that I see on this recorder compared to the Zoom H2 is:

It allows to you overdub - you can add to an existing track, kind of like a multitrack recorder, but without having the new audio in a track distinct from the previous track.

It allows you to change the speed of tracks without varying the pitch (as previously mentioned).

Here's a link with some more feature descriptions:

http://www.streamlineaudiovideo.com/tas-dr-1.html

I think it sounds like an awesome recorder, and I'm excited to compare it to the Zoom H2 and Zoom H4 and test out some of these new features.