Florida-based audio tech/producer Michael Fitz-Gerald, who focuses a large segment of his work on helping others create various podcasts and related social media endeavors, has TASCAM Portacapture X8 and X6 portable audio field recorders at the center of his production toolkit.
In addition to the social media activities, Fitz-Gerald also captures audio for a variety of live events and performances, and says of the recorders, “I love the fact that each line can be captured as a separate 32-bit audio file. This makes it easy to quickly grab a file and make whatever adjustments to it that I deem necessary. Depending upon the nature of the project, I can use the Aux inputs with an XLR cable and add wireless mics to the feed. This provides tremendous versatility for working in a wide range of environments.
“When I run livestreams, I can connect either the X8 or the X6 via USB-C to my MacBook and run OBS (Open Broadcaster Software),” he continues. “Doing so will provide me with a perfect audio signal with all the limiters and effects already applied to avoid clipping. What I really like about this arrangement is that I can run the Portacapture via USB power, so I needn’t worry about loss of battery power. Both the Portacapture X8 and X6 provide all the versatility needed to handle projects ranging from wedding videography to podcasts or livestreams.”
The Portacapture X8 offers a variety of presets optimized for various recording tasks that include settings for multi-track recording, podcasting, music, voice, and field recording. They make it easier to best configure the Portacapture depending upon the nature of the project. Further, the recorder lets users create their own custom settings. “I’ve become a big fan of the manual mode, as this makes it very easy to see what is going on and gives me a great set of features like noise gates, limiters, and more,” he says.
Fitz-Gerald recently began working with the Portacapture X6, noting, “The X6 is really compact and yet still very versatile. The fact that you can record 6 tracks (4 individual and 2 mix) simultaneously is terrific. Further, the two XLR input terminals are compatible with both 24V and 48V phantom power to support recordings with multiple mic/line inputs. Combine this with a 6-in/2-out USB audio interface function and you have tremendous flexibility in a very capable, compact package — and the unit’s 2.4-inch touchscreen makes it easy to keep track of what you’re doing.
“The fact that both the Portacapture X8 and X6 record using 96 kHz, 32-bit float recording is another huge benefit,” he concludes “This feature provides high-quality audio that can be a perfect complement to video and other aspects of any broadcast-type project. Coupled with XLR inputs and dual built-in mics with switchable AB/true-XY patterns plus USB and AUX inputs, the recorder can handle most any type of input you encounter. The Portacapture is one compact, highly portable device that enables me to be prepared for just about anything.”
