In the beginning, I considered getting the Zoom H1 but I later changed my mind. At the same time I was considering making a purchase the Tascam DR-05 became available. The Tascam DR-05 was more appealing to me. It was totally new to the market, had a cooler look, and seemed well made. After additional research, I was convinced that the Tascam DR-05 was the right digital recorder for me. Weeks later, I went online and purchased this recorder.
Inside the Box
Once the order arrived I was eager to take a look at the Tascam DR-05 in person and see what the box contained. Inside the box with this recorder were a 107-page instruction manual, two AA alkaline batteries, MiniUSB cable (0.8m), and a 2gb microSD card installed in the recorder.
It was about 5 ½ inches in height, 2 inches wide, and had a few extra characteristics that my microcassette recorder didn’t have. It had two omnidirectional stereo microphones, mic/ext in jack, headphones/line out jack, hold switch, USB 2.0 port, microSD/microSDHC slot, a mono speaker on the back, a 1/4 inch screw-hole (just below the speaker) for attaching either a tripod or a microphone stand, and a strap attachment at the bottom of the recorder.
Old vs. New
The Tascam DR-05 is very different from my microcassette recorder or any other recorder that I have ever owned. So, it took a while to figure out how to operate it. But once I did, I discovered how much better digital recorders are. First, there will never be a concern about any tape problems such as “tape eating” or any other mechanical problems that can damage a tape. As I mentioned earlier I have never experienced this with my most recent microcassette recorder, but I felt that I may have problems in the future. Second, clarity is no longer an issue. I have made recordings that were so clear and accurate that it would be difficult to tell the difference between the original and recorded version. My microcassette recorder never seemed to have clarity. It was useable but it often sounded muffled and flat. Third, the Tascam DR-05 is better equipped than my microcassette recorder. Being able to easily find what’s been recorded is one example of how the DR-05 is better equipped. Recordings are stored in folders that have individual files. Recordings/files are played back on individual tracks. On the playback screen, individual tracks can be selected quickly with the fast forward or rewind button. Combine this with the elapsed time indicator, and you will be able to find your recordings or a certain section of a recording quickly and easily.
With my microcassette recorder, I had the ability to change the tempo of my recordings, if I needed to. But, it was slight and the playback was often muffled and bland. The Tascam DR-05 can do much better at changing the tempo of recordings. With this digital recorder, the tempo can be increased or decreased several degrees without changing the pitch. I have also found that in this mode(in comparison to my old recorder) the sound is a whole lot better too.
The Tascam DR-05 has many capabilities but, it does something else that my old recorder can’t do. The Tascam DR-05 has the ability to loop a selected section of a track. This capability and others make this recorder a step above my microcassette recorder are any other type of tape recorder.
The Built-in speaker
As I mentioned earlier, the Tascam DR-05 has a built-in mono speaker. Overall, I would describe it as a good speaker. It’s not the perfect speaker but it’s adequate enough for playback.
While the built-in mono speaker may not be perfect, Tascam makes it possible for other options. One option is to add a set of headphones. I have found that a good set of headphones really improves the sound during playback. Before I plugged in my headphones, I almost questioned my decision about buying this recorder. The built-in speaker was good and had much more clarity than my microcassette recorder, but it wasn’t impressive. After I tried my headphones, I knew I made the right choice. With the headphones, clarity, volume, and fullness were significantly better.
Beyond headphones, PC speakers can also enhance the sound of this recorder during playback. In my experience PC speakers produce a sound that is a level above headphones. I recently connected a set of PC speakers with subwoofer to this recorder and was impressed by the results. The sound had even more clarity, fullness, and volume. It was very similar to the sound produced by a home stereo system.
So, if you’re not satisfied with the sound from the built-in speaker you will definitely be satisfied with a good set of headphones. But, if you want to have home stereo-like sound and have multiple people hear your recordings at once PC speakers(a good set preferably with a subwoofer) would be the overall best option.
Battery life
There are four ways to power the Tascam DR-05. It can be powered by two AA or Ni-mH(rechargeable) batteries, The Tascam PS-P515U adapter, and USB bus power using the included USB cable.
I have used the AA batteries that came with this device and I was satisfied. I felt that they lasted a reasonable amount of time. But, I recently switched over to rechargeable batteries. I felt that they would be more convenient, and possibly help me save money over time.
Durability
I have had the Tascam DR-05 since late August of 2011 and I haven’t had any problems. This device has been performing well.
Recording Duration
In the beginning, when I first considered this recorder, I wondered about the recording capacity of the microSD card. Having always used cassette tapes I wasn’t sure if those microSD cards could hold enough information.
But, after using the Tascam DR-05 things have become much more understandable. The MicroSD card that comes with this recorder is decent. I am currently recording in Wav(stereo) 16bit format at 44.1 kHz. With this setting, I get the maximum recording time, which is 3 hours and 22 minutes. So far I am satisfied with this setting. I have been recording my guitar practice sessions etc. for a while, and I still have space on the microSD card.
Besides Wav format, the Tascam DR-05 can record in MP3 (mono or stereo) format. I haven’t recorded in this mode yet but it has the highest recording duration. With the 2gb microSD card that comes with the DR-05, it can record up to 149 hours and 4 minutes.
The 2gb microSD card has a decent capacity for starting out. But if you are looking for more storage the DR-05 can accept 4gb and 8gb microSD or microSDHC cards. With a 4gb MicroSD or MicroSDHC card, it has a recording duration of 6 hours and 44 minutes using Wav(stereo) 16 bit at 44 kHz. With the 8gb MicroSD or MicroSDHC card the recording duration is 13 hours and 28 minutes using Wav (stereo) 16bit at 44 kHz. In Mp3 mode (stereo or mono) 32Kbps at 44.1 kHz/48 kHz a 4gb microSD or microSDHC card will have a duration of 298 hours and 8 minutes. In that same mode and setup, an 8gb microSD or microSDHC card has a duration of 596 hours and 16 minutes.
Overall, I am satisfied with the recording duration of the 2Gb microSD card. It has more recording capacity than I thought and I think that anyone who purchases the Tascam DR-05 will be satisfied with the capacity of the included microSD card.
PC Connectivity
The Tascam DR-05 has the ability to connect to your PC. Once the DR-05 is connected users will have the ability to transfer files from the DR-05 to their PC, using the included USB cable. Users can also transfer files from their PC to the DR-05. I have tried both and despite not being used to these types of recorders I found it fairly easy.
If you decide to connect the DR-05 to your PC, you will need a USB port and either a Windows or Macintosh operating system. For Windows, you will need either XP, Vista, or Windows 7. For the Macintosh Operating system, you will need Mac OS x10.2 or later.
You don’t need a PC (Like the majority of recorders out there) to fully use the DR-05. But, in my opinion, it gives the Tascam DR-05 more versatility.
Overall
Overall, I would recommend the Tascam DR-05. It has a visually appealing appearance and is packed with many features. It’s more advanced than traditional tape recorders and has many capabilities. It was originally designed with musicians in mind but is often used by a variety of people. Currently, I am using the DR-05 for guitar practice and it is proving to be a benefit. I have even found an extra benefit that I only realized after I made the purchase, the DR-05 is capable of playing your MP3 music files from your PC. This and a combination of other capabilities and features make the Tascam DR-05 worth purchasing.
• Omnidirectional stereo microphones
• Internal mono speaker
• 44.1/48/96KHZ,16/24 bit Wav Format recording.
• 32-320 Kbps MP3 format recording
• Peak reduction function
• Automatic level control
• Limiter Function
• Low cut filter
• Change playback speed without affecting the pitch
• Looping function
• Musical instrument tuner
• Playback equalizer
• 3.5mm(1/8) jack for external stereo microphone or external stereo line input
• 3.5mm(1/8) line/headphone output jack
• 128 X 64-pixel LCD screen with backlight
• Mini B type USB 2.0 port
• microSD/microSDHC capable
• Can be powered by two AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries,
AC adapter(Tascam PS-P515U), or USB bus power
• PC connectivity
• Transfer files from the recorder to PC
• Transfer files from PC to the recorder
• USB cable included
• Tripod attachment screw-hole
• Hold switch
• plus many more
 |
Photos:
