Tascam DR2D Portable Digital Recorder

by Tascam

Product Features

• Compact, affordable portable digital recorder for 96kHz/24-bit WAV or MP3 recording to SD cards
• Stereo condenser microphone design with improved signal to noise ratio
• Dual recording function records a copy of your audio at a lower level
• Variable Speed Audition function changes the playback speed without changing the pitch
• Powered by two AA batteries or optional power supply

Product Details

Read the Tascam DR2D User Manual [PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 3 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B003838PHQ
• Item model number: DR-2d
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,181 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #10 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > External Components > Optical Drives > Disc Duplicators
  • #14 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Portable Recorders

Product Description

TASCAM's DR-2d Portable Digital Recorder brings high-resolution recording to a compact, affordable package. It offers up to 96kHz/24-bit WAV or MP3 recording to SD cards, and recordings can be transferred to computer through high-speed USB 2.0. A new dual recording feature records a copy of your audio at a lower level, so if the level suddenly jumps you have a backup instead of a distorted performance. Record using the new built-in condenser microphones or plug in your own.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Mics, 4 track, solid feel, battery issues, September 24, 2010

By 

Mark K Mulrooney (Sunspot, NM United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tascam DR2D Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)

Update: V1.02 Firmware appears to have fixed the NiMH battery issue. No premature shutdown with full or partially discharged NiMH and unit shuts down gracefully on low battery condition. I'm very pleased.

Original Review:
I did my homework and narrowed the choice down to the Olympus LS-11, the Sony PCM-D50, PCM-M10, and the Zoom H4n.
My primary requirement was superb internal mics.
Secondary were a clean Line In (no preamp)if possible, 4-track capability, battery life, and construction quality.

The LS-11 has top end clarity but anemic bottom end (<~70Hz)- making it a bit strident. Its battery life is amazing at >20 hrs.
The D50 is sonically neutral and a standard in this performance/feature category, but pricey.
The M10 has phenomenal battery life >40 hrs, but to my ear, the internal mics are in a class below the other candidates.
The Zoom H4n has much to recommend it and is a 4-track recorder (but not at 96kHZ sampling), but the build quality is not up to the other units and battery life is just passable.

And then this gem popped up when I visited the German Audiotranskription review site:
[...] (use Google translate to read their opinions/methods)

I suggest you listen carefully and compare the organ samples. I was blown away.
Audibly it is an extraordinary performer and exceeds my original narrowed field (even the D50 IMHO).
I have an SD-10 concert grand and the DR-2D reproduces it faithfully.

Plus its a 4 track recorder and at 96hHZ, 24-bit.
It has a clean Line In.
Is solidly constructed.
Menu access/navigation is easy too.

Cons:
Battery life is limited to ~4-5 hrs recording on an AA pair.
I also have had erratic battery low error messages on full eneloop NiMH batts. I just downloaded the latest firmware v1.02.
Hopefully that issue is now fixed. Will update this review if it is/isn't.
I doubt the problem is specific to mine as others have reported battery issues.
It is my only complaint/concern - in all other respects the unit is the overall best of the pack IMHO.

There are numerous other review sites out there with lots of audio samples -

Good luck,

Mark

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great recorder, May 29, 2011

By 

nb (Sao Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tascam DR2D Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)

I use this device to record myself playing harp and it works great. Clean sound, easy to use interface, solid construction, easy navigation. 4 stars because it's not perfect (see my observations below).

I did a lot of research before I bought this recorder and the reviews I found comparing the DR-2D with other top recorders like the LS-10/11, Sony PCM-M10, Zoom H4n were more favorable to the mic quality of this one. I am satisfied with the mic quality.

I compared this recorder side-by-side with the DR-05. The buttons of the DR-05 are bigger and considerably easier to use, but the DR-2D is not bad. The wheel helps, mainly because the DR-2D has many more functions, but is not as good as DR-05's big and solid buttons. I loved the simplicity of the DR-05, but given that the internal mic of this one is better, I preferred the DR-2D.
The buttons of the DR-2D are tiny, but I got used to them.

If you're planning to buy an AC adapter, I bought a Sony PSP 1000 adapter and it works fine. The Tascam adapter costs twice as much. Both are 5V, 2A.
(By the way, kudos to the Sony adapter, I use one on my 2wire AT&T modem after the original died, which seems to be a known problem for this modem.)

A few observations that might help novices like me:
1. All the recorders I used (Zoom H2, Tascam DR-05 and this) record my harp with clean sound, but at very low level (with mid to high mic gain even). I always need to normalize using Audacity to get a volume level comparable to mp3's I have (and it sounds great). Not a flaw, just an observation. I think these recorders are made to record high volume like a full band playing, and acoustic instruments are recorded at low volume. Interestingly, the output is high enough when played from the device itself, in all cases.

2. Mic placement makes an enormous difference. I use this recorder on a $20, light-weight, Polaroid tripod that you can buy from Amazon and it works great. Then I tested many positions until I found which give the best recording.

3. You will probably not find the perfect recorder. I like the DR-2D because of the mic quality, possibility of recording true 2 channel (2 independent files), solid construction, comes with a remote. But I wish the buttons were fantastic as DR-05's, for example. I need 3 buttons clicks to delete a file in the DR-05, and 6 on the DR-2D. Or, as another reviewers said, I wish I could bookmark different sets of gain/sensitivity, etc. Mic sensitivity and volume have dedicated buttons on the side that sometimes I like, sometimes I prefer the DR-05 way. And all this is subjective. So try not to lose your mind doing your research...

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice!, June 29, 2010

By 

Reynalde - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tascam DR2D Portable Digital Recorder (Electronics)

Solid build, no frills, good sound, and
user intuitive. Batteries? Buy brand-name.
Built-in speaker for quick editing.
Stereo sound slightly not as good as the
DR-07, but good separation and quality,
and much more solid and compact.
Buy a Vanguard case from Amazon for
protection.