TASCAM DR-05EB Portable Digital Recorder

Excellent product! It works as expected -- and better. Though the users' manual was better than some, a little more attention could be given to more fully explaining some of the menu paths through the product. The rudiments of what is necessary were all there (I think) but I did have to experiment some to figure out some of the fine details not covered in the manual. Once done, though, I found this to be an incredible product. I used it to record myself while presenting the funeral sermon for my son-in-law's stepfather. It worked well, however, if I had it to do over again, I would use the automatic gain control feature (and a more directional lapel microphone during the sermon itself). At the graveside I would have done the same thing (except there I would continue to use the omni-directional built-in mics which actually picked up the military rifle volley very nicely!). Though some have commented that the speaker output level is somewhat low (which is true) this was not a huge issue for my intended use and I found that, by putting the speaker up to my ear, I could hear it very clearly (in a public setting) without disturbing anyone. So even this worked out well for me. Sound quality is excellent and the WAV file output options turn out to be totally compatible with my other WAV file equipment and audio/video editing software. By the way, even though the speakers are turned off while recording (for obvious reasons regardless of the speaker setting) the auxilliary output jack is not turned off and, in fact, while recording on the DR-05 (which fits nicely in my pocket beneath my suite coat) the output of that jack can beconnected to a wireless microphone transmitter and the auxilliary output level reduced to the point where no over-drive distortion occurs. This works incredibly well. I actually used this feature during the funeral because the funeal home was having trouble with its microphones and I had my own wireless mic system with me. This is really a slick product. Nice design job! Thanks for a GREAT product!

Heads up: most of the reviews for this recorder on going to be on the vanilla TASCAM DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder , the one without the earbuds included. This appears to be the exact same recorder but with the earbuds AND $15 less as of this writing (and when I purchased it). Maybe that's just a pricing anomaly but I'll take it. One of my co-workers records stuff for his podcast with this little unit and spoke very highly of it. I swore to get one as soon as I had an extra 100 bones. I'm not an audiophile or audio engineer but this little unit does everything I need, and a good deal more I may learn to use later. I've been using it to record myself and others for podcasts. The stereo mikes work great for this as you get a sense of two people sitting in different places. Random thoughts: * looks and feels like a quality device. * Mounts via USB just fine on my linux box. Yay! * I'm running Eneloop batts and that works fine, too. * If you lay it on a table or other hard surface it really likes to pick up vibrations. It has a tripod screw mount thingy like on the botom of cameras so I mount it on one of those small spider-looking tripods with rubber feet. This lets me fine tune the position and also reduce transmitted vibration. A rubbery mousepad might also work. Nitpicks: * the UI is not particularly organized or well-designed. It annoys me that you can't DOWN-DOWN-DOWN off the bottom of a set of options and have it roll over to the top again. * the menus/options may frustrate non-geeks. I read manuals for fun when I get new toys so it doesn't bother me at all. But You Have Been Warned! :-) * I think I'd like a VOX option. === Edited to add: * When I got this unit it did not have the latest firmware. I pulled the firmware and instructions down from the Tascam site, saved to microSDHC as instructed and flashed. Easy Peasy. * There seems to be some unfounded confusion/concern about about the unit not recognizing cards over 2GB. This is a misunderstanding of the "Automatic Track Incrementation By File Size" setting on pg 54 of the manual. This setting says "hey, when you get to a certain recording filesize start a new one in the same directory". The max (and default) filesize is 2GB, which folks are misreading as only 2GB of the microSDHC being recognized. I'm running a 16GB card but the largest continuous file it will make is 2GB before starting a new one for you automagically. Like file-001, then file-002, then file-003, etc.

I bought this Tascam primarily as a recorder for voice in video shots for documentary style productions. My wireless system was picking up way too much static - this cured that malady. Voice recordings from the DR-05 can easily be synced with the on-camera voice recordings in Vegas Pro 13, which is a bit of a hassle but well worth it when on a budget. Both the on-board mics and a Sony ECMCS3 clip-on have worked well. I can't think of any cons. It's a great sounding design with an easy to navigate interface that offers many options. The included 2 GB card is probably all I'll ever need as it can record many hours depending on the quality of sound you are after but I'm impressed that even the lowest resolution sounds good to my ears. Well done and very professional.

First, the price is right, the recorder has tons of "bang for the buck," and the recording quality is more than acceptable, but there are several shortcomings. First, my unit did not arrive with the current firmware release installed. After three hours of trying to download it from the website and into the device, I gave up. Tascam definitely needs to address the ease with which this can be accomplished. Second, the display script is small and not very bright. I'm sure this is done to extend battery life, but good luck reading it outdoors, even after the intensity has been maximized. Third, setting up the unit and navigating through the more detailed features is cumbersome and non-intuitive. However, once set up, basic recording and playback is a snap. Finally, if you're wanting to use this unit for top quality audio reproductions, it probably isn't the unit for you. After all, it's only $100. You still could get "decent" quality, but there's little headroom and post-production software is definitely required. All-in-all, I'm happy with my purchase, but the drawbacks prevent me from giving more than three stars.

This recorder does exactly what it should do. It is easy to get up and running if you have a working understanding of recording. The manual is tediously detailed, but if you do not know how these things work, read it, do what it tells you, and you will be fine. Be patient! I have been a recording engineer for over 30 years, so this is a tool for me as a scratch pad. I can take it with me and make "notes" anywhere, even if only spoken ideas. I can scout out bands with it at rehearsal, getting a sense of the arrangements in preparation for a recording date where I'll be behind the console. I can also go hear a band live that I might be mixing at a gig, to get a sense of their setup, musically and instrumentally. The depth of what it can do is pretty cool. And note that it only records in stereo, period. You can't record one channel and then the second as an overdub. Straight stereo recording on the fly. You may have read or heard about this recorder as a bust, difficult or unsatisfying. I can all but guarantee these disgruntled people do not understand how this tool works, how it is supposed to work - having too high expectations about sound quality and low noise. I bought this having watched a friend use one for two years (and counting) with no issues, period. The microphones are omnidirectional - they will pick up everything around you. But they are relatively quiet for what they are, as long as you are not handling the unit and it is stationary. And you can plug in external mics if you need better. There is a LP filter to get rid of rumble and most "noise", below 40hz. There is a compressor and a limiter to help contain the levels, if you want. The functions that you want and need are there. There is a learning curve on this thing for the novice. Be patient. Read the manual, experiment. Oh, and buy a 16 gig card (mine came with a 4 gig card), and follow directions about how to format the card. At 44/16, you get 12 hours; in mp3 format you get triple that, even at 192/24. The kvetches about build quality are crap. Yes, the case is plastic. So what? Are you going to be drop kicking this thing? Jeez, it is a delicate device, as most recorders are. They do not respond well to rough handling and dropping three feet out of your hand onto hard surfaces. Handle it with appropriate understanding that it is not built for combat duty. Look, it's a hundred bucks. It isn't going to sound like RCA Nashville, okay? What it can do is give you references; the ability to grab an idea without running to a big rig recording deck - and losing the inspiration of the moment in the process. This allows you to capture that inspirational moment, that serendipity RIGHT NOW. Refine it later.

very sensitive. Really great quality audio. VERY SENSITIVE. so much so i realized i need a much quieter place to record! I've used this to record myself talking (attached to tripod about 4 feet away from me); and also to record A-10 warthogs flying over my house. it picks up dogs barking through 500 feet of forest. It's just that good! (it also picks up every electric motor within a few hundred feet, too) with a decent software package this is probably better than my old rig, which was a sony camcorder powered stereo mic, a sony minidisc (net MD), and a stereo microphone preamp. Actually, it is better, because it's all one unit and has no moving parts. I haven't messed with every setting, but it is very easy to use and feels and sounds very high quality. would recommend to anyone!

With all the positive reviews I can only imagine what the people who love this are actually recording. Even up close to the mic speaking in a normal tone of voice the playback is so low I can barely hear what's been recorded. Trying to record an instrument with this unless the mic in right at the sound source is a joke, and forget about recording playing and singing at the same time. I don't know what I would use this for. Maybe with a mic that jacks into the device it would be ok, but it only accepts 3.5mm. Good construction, and bad follow thru. After this I'd never buy Tascam again.

While it may seem strange that I am dinging the rating for this product due to having the wrong included accessory; after opening the factory sealed box with the sticker emblazoned "SPECIAL EDITION! Featuring TASCAM Ear Buds with In-Line Phone Mic" and finding a generic TASCAM TH-EB regular earbud WITHOUT a mic, inline or otherwise instead, I certainly felt like the kid ordering that super duper X-Ray specs just to receive some cardboard cutout piece of something.... Now that I got that off my chest, the actual recorder isn't bad. The buttons feels and sounds a bit plasticy, the case certainly is, the meat of the unit, the actual function of recording sounds okay, perhaps even better than okay for its onboard mics. If only the plasticy buttons didn't sound so loud in use while recording with the onboard mics. Pairing it with a quality offboard stereo condenser mic does make this recorder shine, both in sound quality as well as the reduction on handling noise. Unfortunately the offboard mic I tested with cost a fair bit more than what I paid for the DR-05EB. The noise floor is quite acceptable for the price. The usability is pretty straight forward and while I had to refer to the manual to get clarity as to what some settings REALLY MEANT in function, the menu system wasn't so bad as others have lamented. I have digital recorders that have far worse menu systems that requires me packing a cheat sheet with the recorder. So, why the two stars? Because TASCAM dropped the ball in providing an acceptable unboxing experience. Makes me wonder about the actual quality of the product if TASCAM drops the ball on such a simple thing, right? Time will tell.

superb working, quality too good

Excellent voice quality and noice reduction. More than writing a review, see it on my youtube channel #CornerSeatKannada.

Great for recording work

The audio quality is great, but i wouldn't say the same thing about the build. I chose this over the Zoom H1 because the latter apparently feels 'plasticy'. The Tascam's buttons also feel a little cheap. The mould lines are visible on the joints. Probably, not too much to complain over as you get what you pay for. If you intend to use the recorder with a DSLR, use an attenuator cable as the headphone out is amplified (like in most field recorders in this segment)