Tascam, 4 AD Converter, usb2.0, Black, DR-40

I also researched and considered other models and prices of similar recorders from TASCAM, Zoom, Roland/Edirol before settling on the TASCAM DR-40.I have been recording music from direct stereo outputs from my virtual pipe organ (live outs are 9 independent channels, but they mixed down to two outs for direct recording). Previously, I used an older model TASCAM Model 2488 PortaStudio. It did the job, but it is large and bulky next to an already huge virtual pipe organ console, and it is heavy to move between my upstairs editing "studio." It was more expensive than the DR-40 (though it was loaned by a relative who had given up the indie band business), older technology, and frankly had many more channels and editing capabilities than I needed, plus the whole recording and editing process was a steep learning curve, many-step, complicated process. For free, I shouldn't complain, but it was an important learning experience. Note that I am a physics teacher and also had several years' experience in radio broadcasting and in a high end government acoustic research lab.I should also mention I first thought the included SD card was not installed since it was not visible, but I eventually found the slot is hidden by a removable cover (needed a small tool to pry it open and no tether on it to prevent loss). The SD card was there all right. The cover and necessity of removal is not in the documentation. I ordered a 32G HD card to go with this (it also can be used with my compact HD video camera) but have not formatted it for either device since the included card meets my needs. I record an hour or less, transfer it to iMac and delete the files on the DR-40 to reuse the space. Yes, it does eat batteries. I have learned to power the unit down between takes during preparation and rehearsals to save battery energy since it boots up very quickly.Bottom line: this high quality, compact, portable relatively inexpensive device more than meets my needs and expectations. A professional might want or need to spend more money for higher quality and features, but I have no quibble with this one for my purposes. It is fairly simple to operate and requires fewer steps and less time to get music onto my iMac and iTunes than older methods. By the way, TASCAM is a well-respected, old (used to be TEAC) maker of consumer, prosumer and professional recording gear.Bonus: I got a $15 end of year rebate from TEAC. Got the check in less than four weeks. Had to destroy the original carton to send in bar code. Understand why, but I would like to have saved the box.Update: 14 July 2013I see this is a very popular item for good reason. I put the 32Gig card in and formatted. Now I save raw files on the card after transferring to iMac as capacity is huge. TASCAM has published a free firmware update on their site which you should probably install. I found the auto file numbering got reset after the update, but it was not a big deal to me. I also decided to risk trying to power the device from one of the several compact Apple 5VDC USB power supplies I have and it works fine, no noise introduced, so as another reviewer advised, don't waste money on TASCAM's external brick. This was useful when I was transcribing hour long live concerts made in the 1960's from a refurbed TEAC reel to reel tape deck to the DR-40. This turned out to be a better workflow than my previous method of going from the tape deck to the iMac directly. I have more control and believe the TASCAM A/D converters are superior to the iMac's. Still delighted with this recorder.

At the first time when ordering the DR-40, I was little bit influenced by Zoom H4n reviews, hence I was skeptical thinking to the DR40 performance quality. How ever after testing it many times, either the built in condenser microphones or using external AT897-Audio Technica shotgun condenser mic, both of them return excellent recording sounds. All these functions; Stereo-dual-4 Tracks and Overdub modes are put into the device to meet various field recording requirement. For an instance, the '4 Tracks' mode with the built-in mic turned on, the AT897 connected as an external mic and mixed them with built-in Hall#1 re-verb digital effects,the output mixed sound is so amazing. The digital effects function loaded into DR-40 produces great mixed sound quality which I think not too far from those tracks recorded in a recording studio . The 4-tracks mode gives the best blends and full coverage of all inputs source specifically could be arranged by setting the mixing level. Another impressive screen view at DR-40 is the visualization of 'parametric knobs' which is simulating the professional audio mixer console for mixing and panning the sources.For people who interested on ATH 897 boom mic, the TASCAM DR-40 is a perfect combination for field recording, i.e. to record an interview with a person in the middle of crowds and surrounded by ambient noise. As my brief testing result, the input mic gain setting, if used with the AT879, probably can be increased 20-25% relative to the level of DR-40 built-in mic in order to get a balanced recorded sound.I had noticed from Zoom H4n users feedback saying that the AT897 mic seems did not perform greatly when used with their recorder. For instances, the sensitivity level of Zoom H4n did not giving enough gain to AT897, while increasing the gain level will promotes the hiss and background noises. Also they were complaining the equalization frequencies not significantly improves the sound quality.******** updated on June, 2, 2015******From my evaluation to this far, the DR-40 and AT879 are a perfect match and works excellently with no noticeable issue. Another indirect & untold feature yet found, the DR-40 also can be used as the audio tape to MP3 converter device, by manually wired the music tracks from a tape player to be digitized/ recorded on selected digital audio format, which I had tested using TEAC-W890 cassette tape deck to MP3 format. The result, amazingly, the DR-40 has produces a very good quality/ fidelity of sounds after the recording process, which I noticed somehow the internal circuitry had removed the hiss noises/ unwanted distortion automatically while the same event it did not affecting the original audio tracks clarity. Superb!I would highly recommended this recorder.

Wonderful little toy. I bought it less for any serious or specific purpose, and more as an experiment for getting into soundscape recording, or possibly for recording interviews with people. For any of these purposes, so far it has worked well. Of course, I have no doubt that one COULD use it professionally (such as with an SLR, or an external audio rig), I'm just not a pro myself.In Japan, I used it alongside a plugin separate USB battery (which I rubber banded to the recorder), and this worked just fine. It also was handy to attach it to a tiny little tripod, which doubled as a grip. Battery life with AA's was pretty good, but I can't recall how many hours they lasted. It wasn't an issue, even with a few hours of use over several days. Plus, AA's are easy to find everywhere.The unit is a bit "plasticky", which is a bit of a letdown for its price, but the quality of the audio it records (from the built-in mics) is excellent to my ears. I've done no digital manipulation, nor have I connected separate microphones, although eventually I'll do both. I keep it in a case to protect it. I've never dropped it outright. I'm doubtful it would survive a waist-high fall onto concrete, but most electronics won't.For now, with a muff over the built-ins, it records clear audio in a variety of situations. I recorded some street festivals in Japan with remarkable results. It does very well with voice reproduction, sounds pretty life-like. I'm sure it'll do even better when paired with a quality external microphone.This unit was an excellent price, and produces exactly the results I expected, without a lot of hassle.