France-based Aurélien Buiron, known in the realm of electronic music as Ghost in the Loop, is a composer with a unique approach to his craft who specializes in creating performances and recordings in remote natural settings, and he has a TASCAM Portacapture X8 8-channel 32-bit float portable field recorder at the heart of his workflow.
Buiron’s artistic efforts take him to some challenging environments. He’s had the opportunity to record albums in locations such as at the IRAM Millimeter-Wave Observatory and the Zinal Glacier.
“What sets the TASCAM Portacapture X-8 apart is its 32-bit floating-point recording capability,” he explains. “This feature is a game-changer for me, especially when recording in challenging terrains like glaciers using contact microphones and hydrophones. The signal can undergo significant variations in levels, but with 32-bit floating-point recording, I can rest assured I’ll have a usable track—and that’s a genuine comfort in the unpredictable world of field recording.”
The Portacapture X8’s interface has a 3.5-inch color touch panel display and an icon-based launcher system that provides application specific configurations, making it easier to quicky call up optimum settings for a variety of recording tasks. In addition, users can create their own custom setups, either by tweaking one of the presets or simply by creating one’s own configuration preferences.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of the X-8’s interface,” Buiron says. “Everything is quickly accessible without menu diving, which is incredibly convenient when recording in demanding environments. The straightforward design allows for swift adjustments, ensuring I can focus on capturing the perfect sound without being hindered by complex settings.”
“The factory presets are a fantastic time-saver, providing a quick and efficient way to preconfigure the device. Personally, I found the ASMR mode to be a delightful discovery. It allowed me to record incredible sonic textures without even tweaking the device’s gain levels. The ability to record my own preferences is a thoughtful feature, offering a personalized touch to my recording setup. It’s these small details that make the TASCAM Portacapture X8 an even more valuable tool in my creative arsenal.”
