Tascam DR-40X Four Track Handheld Recorder and USB Interface

Product Information

It sounds good, and does more than simply record — it's great to have overdubbing, and a handy backup audio interface into the bargain. The DR-40X supports SDXC cards as recording media, which are available with very large data capacities. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. I'm trying to record it to a stereo file but I'm still hearing the built-in mics and not my external mics. This gives the user direct and remote access to functionality including level adjustment, transport (including record and playback) controls, low-cut filter, and mixing, as well as near real time streaming audio by plugging earphones into the smartphone.

Power comes from three AA batteries (supplied) or the Micro USB‑B port; Tascam offer an optional AC adaptor, but it ran fine off the power supply of my smartphone, and it can draw its power from a computer's USB port. Then, in the Mix Dub mode the recorded overdub is merged into the original playback file, rather as happens with a typical looper pedal (except that the result is recorded, of course! In addition to normal stereo channel recording and Dual Recording mode, DR-40X has "4CH Mode" that can record two different stereo feeds simultaneously.

The dual recording feature provides two extra modes - 'Dual' mode allows the recording of one input source (mono or stereo pair) to create two concurrent files with different input level settings. Other features like variable speed audition, low-cut filtering, chromatic tuner and more can be chosen from the menu.

All image and audio content is used by permission of the copyright holders or their agents, and/or according to fair dealing as per the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.However, 1 times out of 10 when the card is not the issue, having the wrong cable type ends up being the culprit. This means you can record as many takes as you want in Separate mode, and later transfer all of them to a computer (though, again, note that you can choose only one stereo take to audition alongside the initial recording on the DR-40X when used stand‑alone, since it can only play back four channels). Furthermore, any of six reverb effects can be applied to the audio either during recording or playback. It is also suitable for other products powered by DC 5V or USB and can be used with 'any Tascam product powered by PS-P520U adapter or any product powered by USB'. Recordings can be transferred to a computer via USB, using the mini-USB socket on the right side of the unit, though recording division and deletion functions easily located and performed on the DR-05X hardware.