Agreed, same here! I'd love to see another comparison video. As far as ASMR goes this is easily in my top 10 - but too short :) unintentional ASMR videos are always the best because they are genuine. I was able to pickup subtle differences on the recorders - especially with the second one.
Was brought here from an unintentional asmr channel, you've got natural talent for it. Maybe one day try a full whispered video, I'm sure the asmr community would love it. Cheers man.
Thank you. I don't recall the exact settings on the gain levels for the recording. I tried my best to get a 'visual' match on the recording level displays between the three recorders. It's quite tricky to get a match between the levels between the recorders: for example on the Zoom, the display is very small and the gain dial is very sensitive around the number 7 and 8 to small changes. What I can say is that each recorder is very capable and provides plenty of gain. No issues between them.
From your test the zoom has horrible noise floor problem. I had heard complaints in some of the forums, but I never imagined it was this bad! Why would they come out with such a nice recorder and have garbage pre amps is beyond me. The Roland also was noisy, but it had half the zoom noise. I was shocked that the Tascam has the lowest noise pre amps of the trio, considering the DR-40's noisy front end. I recently bought the DR-60D, and although the gain steps can be heard when adjusting during recording, you'll never hear it when adjusting during dialog. You have to have a constant amplitude input to hear the steps, which doesn't occur in most real world scenarios. Great review! Thanks for your time!
I was surprised how good the Tascam sounded comparatively speaking for the money. Also I was a little shocked that I noticed more noise on the H6 more than the others. Considering the price I would have expected it to be quieter than the $199. Tascam. The Roland sounded good all around. I need to research price of that. But for the affordability of the Tascam and the ability to use on camera. I think it wins. I did notice a great Tascam XY mic one could buy. Saw it in amazon and it seemed really directional. So I think I'm sold in the Tascam. Thanks for this video. It helped me decide.
Hey man, not sure if you're aware but you're gaining a lot of traction with the ASMR community. Thank you for your videos, they're helping a lot of people! Also, can't tell if you're from the north, south or the midlands and its driving me up the wall 😂
Fantastic video Eddie. Very professionally done and much appreciated. One thing that would make it easier for the listener (especially for a one with an uneducated ear) to compare these was if there was a short sampling clips say 5-10 seconds of each in a row :) Really enjoyed this. Would be blown away if you did one with a few lav mics as well. Anyways keep up the great work!
***** :-) Yes, they all have very good sound quality. From a pure sound quality point of view, it's very difficult to tell any difference. The choice really comes down to your needs and preferences for other physical & software features and usability.
Your first and now this video review of these three recorders have been VERY useful, sir. The complaints about wanting an A/B comparison are unfounded. Aside from the futility of worrying about 24/96 sound quality comparisons on a RUclips video, we can easily jump from unit to unit in your video by marking the time of a given section for each recorder, then jump back and forth easily. Keep up the great videos. For me, the Roland wins, due to ease of accessing menus and not needing the camera mounted functionality. Your videos took the mystery out of the choices and I agree that they all sound great, so it's more a question of features and usability for one's specific needs.
Nice comparison. I'm listening to this on headphones, and to my ears, the zoom h6 sounded best. I didn't hear the noise floor that some mentioned, though I experienced it on an H4 I owned before it mechanically died prematurely. I own a Tascam DR-60D, and have found it to be good, for what it does, and the somewhat hollow sound I heard from it matches my experiences. A shame that the zoom has a bit more noise than you would expect for the price, as heard by some of the listeners, as other recorders, especially some of the Sony models, seem to do it better. There are some interesting tests done by a guy out of Germany, named Martin Doppelbauer who showed that while the noise floor on a number of these was so low as to be not an issue, harmonic distortion was a concern on the Zoom. It would be interesting to duplicate his H4N tests on a H6. You might google his site if you are interested.
Thanks for the video and detailed analysis! There hasn't been anything new to come out in the last 3 years has there? At the end of the day I feel like these devices are all superb and i should shift focus to the microphones I decide to record with.
Hey @Chris, you're welcome. I think there have been incremental updates like the Tascam DR-60D mkii. Also some lower-tier products like Zoom H4N Pro, and higher end products like Zoom F8. But I think these three models are still battling it out for the video market. As you say, they all give great results. About microphones, let me know which ones you're thinking about and what you're planning on using them for.
Thanks for review, you just saved me some money. The Roland pres sound more dynamic,smooth, and relatively realistic sounding. The Tascam pres sounded less dynamic, but smooth and natural nonetheless. Not bad for the money. I'm surprised how cheap and shitty the Zoom sounds considering it's rave reviews. The pres on the Zoom give this weird sounding coloration. They are definitely dynamic, but they're thin, hollow and cheap sounding.
Wow, really great test, especially since you included the original audio files. I see both the Tascam and Roland both have the same noise floor, right around -51 dB and the signal runs to about -15 dB, so with either recorder, you are getting a good s/n ratio. The choice really seems to be about all the other features they offer. I was curious what you had the Microphone Sensitivity set to on the R-26. Thanks!
Hey Flying High, glad it was helpful for you. Sorry I can't remember the exact level on the R-26. For any of these units, it always helps if you have a microphone with a high output level and low self-noise level. That way you don't need to use a high recording gain and get a clean output signal.
Wonders if recording at the same rate from each device and using the same high spec microphones would anyone really be able to hear anything (did you?) i couldn't from this but the audio is transcoded when uploaded to youtube and vocals dont carry much detail on thier own anyway is my understanding, that's why so many audio books are in 64-128 kbps mp3 and sound fine. I enjoined the video either way via the UIASMR channel
Strange but sound from H6 sounds like enhanced by some kind of mastering, it causes Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, like after some audio plugins.
Hi, if you check out my newest video there is an XY mic comparison between R26 and H6. There is a link to original audio too in the description for the new video (RUclips won't let me post a link in comments here, sorry).
Great review Eddie, thanks for posting. I'm currently using the Tascam DR-100 MkII and I'm happy with it. However, I'm thinking of upgrading to the Zoom H6 because I need more than 2 XLR inputs for podcast interviews. I generally sit around a table and plug in mics like the Samson 2QU or Shure SM58. Do you think the Zoom H6 is a good choice? Clean pre-amps are my main concern. In your test, the condenser mics sound wonderful and with low noise floor. I'm worried that I might not get such a result with mics that need more gain. Is there another portable recorder on the market that you think I should look at?
Hi. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. You might consider a Cloudlifter for low output dynamic mics. This is a low-noise pre-amp powered from your recorder XLR jack. It sits between your recorder and your dynamic mic, like a Shure SM58. This can be a solution by providing a higher level output from your mic (with low noise) into your recorder pre-amps, so that your recorder pre-amps don't have to work as hard (and add less noise): cloudmicrophones.com/cloud12/?page_id=222 I have a Shure SM58 and can record an example for you, if that helps. Let me know what sort of test would be useful for you on the H6.
Thanks for your comment Eddie. I've got a Cloudlifter and I also use a Fethead for extra gain. I prefer the Fetheads because there's only one XLR cable required, not two. I've compared both with the Samson 2QUs and I couldn't hear much difference between them. Any tests you feel like posting with the Zoom H6 would be interesting for me. I think I've pretty much decided to buy one, but they run at about 400 euros here in Spain, so I'm obviously doing a lot of research before spending that much money!
Yes, it records separate tracks to the SD card, as follows: XY mic recording is a single stereo track, and XLR inputs 1, 2, 3, and 4 are recorded as separate tracks too (separate files). When connecting to a computer as an audio interface the recording can be configured to be multi-track (separate tracks) or a stereo mix.
Very useful. Best comparison review so far. But where is everyone seeing the noise floor with H6? I'm a novice with sound and having to decide on a package to get equipped for general video work. Now have a D6 Canon. Will having no phone jack make it impossible for me to ever record only on camera? So much more work to go double system (recording on a separate recorder and have to sink it all up. Sincing software is still a hastle.) Well I have a lot to learn! When I listened to the three tests I thought the H^ was less sensitive to low sounds and it sounded more boomy than the Tascam. Still can't decide. But I like the possibility of using the H6 as a multitrack interphase.
Audio comparison in video using Rode NT5 Mic. Raw audio can be downloaded - see 'About' description for link. - Sampling 44.1kHz, WAV, 16 bit, no filters - Rode NT5 Mic - Roland R26, Zoom H6, Tascam DR-60D Recorders
I think the Roland and Tascam generated just the slightest amount of noise. You really can only tell when you’re silent. The zoom on the other hand is quite noisy.
I've Rode Mic NTG-2. I think I need a good recorder to raise my work. I can't afford much though. I simply can't decide even after listening twice of your test which is best - means I'm naive with this kind of knowing supple differences between them. Please tell me your opinion which device should I buy for my dslr video shoot for short movies and may be wedding videos. Thank you very much, sir.
Hi, the sound quality of each recorder is excellent. If price is important to you, the Tascam seems the lowest price at the moment. If you need it principally for DSLR and a single shotgun, then the Tascam will work great. Remember that the Tascam doesn't have built-in microphones and it can't be used as a 'usb audio interface' - but if this is not important to you, then that's ok. If the most important thing is low price, good usability, connections for 1 or 2 shotgun microphones with XLR, and good sound quality, then the Tascam will be a good choice. [Please remember that each of these recorders will use batteries quite quickly, so you may want to buy plenty of rechargeable batteries to keep the lowest cost over time.]
prattarazzi Thank you very much for your advice. I will seriously take it when I buy one. If may I ask you another advice, what is your opinion of Sony PCM 50D recorder to use for dslr shoots?
great review, I am wondering what kind of XLR cable you are using. Can you tell me also if you have experiences with the Mogami Gold cables. I am working with the Zoom H6 with NT5.. Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks
Hi, Eddie. Having listened to all the takes from each recorder on high quality headphones, I can honestly say that I cannot hear any difference between them. Having said that, using only the voice to test a recorder may be limiting. Musical instruments, on the other hand, are far more demanding, producing many different tone colours and volume levels. I suppose all 3 devices use similar hardware and so will all do a good job. Thanks anyway.
Hi. Yes, they're all excellent sound quality, certainly if someone's using them to capture dialogue I can't tell the difference. The real questions are what are the essential requirements for you. Need to connect to your computer to use as an audio interface? You can't use the Tascam. Need more than 2 XLR inputs, then you need the Zoom. Want built-in microphones, then you need either Zoom or Roland. Need a touchscreen, then it's the Roland. Don't care too much, and just need a great recorder at the lowest price? It's the Tascam. etc.
Hi Eddie, I am a flutist, musician. I am looking for an audio portable recorder for recording my music during the concerts ( if possible without other mics outside). I would like to have rather proffessional recording to have possibility to use it on my website etc...I would not spend more than 400 Dollars. I have no experiences with recording of myself and small chamber music groups ( usually we play flute and strings ( from 3 to 5 people together) thats why I prefare not to use other external mics. Mb can you help me to choose anything? Thank you for your response in advance, Hana
Hi Hana. The Zoom H6 or Roland R26 both have good quality built-in (included) microphones and would be suitable - they also have ability to connect extra microphones if necessary. Both retail for about $400 US Dollars. The only additional equipment you'd need are 1) Headphones/earphones (to listen to your recording). 2) SD (memory card to record audio onto). 3) A tripod/stand to attach the recorder to (this is optional, but will make it easier to hold and direct the recorder, and to adjust the height of the recorder if you want to position the microphones above the musicians). If need to keep the entire cost less than $400 USD, I'd suggest you take a look at the Zoom H5 that retails for about $270 and leaves $130 budget to buy the headphones, SD cards and tripod.
I need a help with my new Zoom h6 - it has a noise even without a mic, i just switch one of the channel ON and get quite loud noise. Do you know, why? But here, on this video i don't see any noise at all. Thank you for answer!
Like others have said, I Dont agree with your testing methodology. Further more for an audio test, the volume is so low that its hard to hear you properly. While I wouldn't normally recommend normalization, in this case I would.
Do you happen to remember what you set the volume dials to on each recorder? After downloading your audio files it seems the audio from the zoom is louder. I've tested the DR-60 only and noticed that I had to pump up the volume all the way to get my readings close to -12db. Was wondering if that was an issue with the Zoom or the Roland? Thanks for the great video!
So what is your preference Peter? I like the H6 but to be honest above 7 gain on the dial the signal:noise is dramatically increased. I don't think the H6 is suited to condenser at distance but excellent with a dynamic mic a close range.
Well, from a usability point of view, the level adjustment and meter displays are larger and clearer for someone doing constant level adjustment and booming on the Roland. Gain level changes are predictable with the dial. The Zoom has a small display in comparison and the large jump in gain around 7 on the dial may annoy someone booming and adjusting levels on quiet dialogue with a low-output mic. [But, if they're using a high-output mic and dialogue isn't too quiet, it may never be an issue!]
Great video, I own zoom h6 and I use lavalier mic for interview. I want to get rid of these background noise while recording so that it reduces my workload in post. Earlier i used to record audio with same mic directly to my canon 550d with help of magic lantern camera hack software and i used to get clear sound without any background noise. It gave me clear sound even in parties where in music is playing and people are talking. Please help
I have just recently bought an H6 and I was wondering if it is possible to plug in 4 different mics and be able to bring them up on 4 different tracks in a DAW? For example, I would like to put the X/Y recorder mic in a piano, run mic 1 to an AKG451 on an acoustic guitar and then run mic 2 to an MTR231 recording vocals and I would like to track each instrument separately in my DAW - which is Logic Pro 9 connected via USB to my Macbook Pro. Is that possible? Whenever I have multiple mics plugged in to my H6 only one track on Logic records all the sounds... So do the levels need to be perfect on the recorder before it gets to the computer or is there a way I can adjust the gain of each separate track on Logic? If that is possible I cannot figure out how to do it. I'm a bit of a novice with DAWs and interfaces as I have just purchased my first of each one. Can you please help?
Hi Andrew, Yes, you can do this. I'm using a Macbook Pro. 1. Power off on H6 2. Plug USB cable between H6 and your computer 3. Power on H6 4. Look on H6 screen. Choose the option for 'Audio interface' and click on H6 to select. 5. Look on H6 screen. Choose the option 'Multi track' and click on H6 to select. 6. The interface is now connected to your computer in multitrack mode (rather than just giving you a single stereo mix) 7. On your DAW, select the input audio hardware device as the H6 - the device should present itself with a maximum of 6 individual tracks from the H6, so you can set the levels appropriately in your DAW for your tracks. Hope this helps. Cheers, Eddie
prattarazzi Eddie-- Sometimes when I plug in the H6 my computer does not prompt me to choose between 6 channels. I'm not quite sure how to get this to work. I have the XY mic activated and an SM57 plugged into the first XLR slot but the sound goes to only one channel on Logic. Do you know how to remedy this? Thanks for your help.
Hi Andrew. Grab your H6. Check it has the latest firmware version (current is version 2). 1. Switch H6 on. 2. Press the Menu button on the right hand side of the H6. 3. Look at H6 display 4. Select the 'USB' menu item on the H6 display and confirm. 5. Select the 'Audio interface' menu item on the H6 display and confirm. 6. Select the 'Multi-track' menu item on the H6 display and confirm. 7. Select the 'PC/Mac' menu item on the H6 display and confirm. The H6 should now leave the menu system and go to the main screen and it will be in USB Audio Interface (Multi Track Mode) mode. Hope that helps. Cheers, Eddie
Hi Prattarazzi, why were the three mikes placed so far from each other? I think the distance between any two of them is far too much when it is compared both to the distance from the source and to the distance of the reflecting surface from them mics. As we know, usually few centimeters make a huge difference in terms of the sound recorded. Thank you.
Hi. The mics are held like that because it's the only mechanical rig I've got to hold 3 mics equidistant to each other in a stable arrangement. When I spoke into the mics, my voice was projected on-axis to the centre point between the 3 mics.
prattarazzi Here is a good article on testing mics: www.dpamicrophones.com/en/Mic-University/Tech-Guide/How%20to%20test%20the%20performance%20of%20a%20microphone.aspx Additionally, the large reflecting surface i.e. the wall near the microphones introduces a kind of comb-filtering effect to the recorded sound where the frequency distance between the peaks and the valleys of the frequency response depends on the distance from the microphone to the wall. Which is three different values for the three NT5s in this situation causing different colorations from microphone to microphone. I would have used a single mic stand and some velcro straps. And definitely would have moved the microphones somewhere near the center of the room. These, however, will not have any influence on the noise floors of the recorders...
Given that he's trying to compare different recorders and not different mics, wouldn't it be better to use a single mic with the same signal "splitted" and sent to the diferent recorders?
Interesting concept, but I think your method was a bit crude. Did you have any metered levels on the recordings? a camera on the recorders would have been a bit more interesting. Also- just to be fair your voice has very little dynamic range for a test of this sort ..
Hi Pete. I tried to visually level the recordings between the different meters on each device to the same dB level before recording started. That's where usability comes into play. The meters on the Roland R26 and the Tascam DR60-D are both nice and clear and have other features like displaying a 'sticky' maximum signal level. The meter on the Zoom H6 is quite tricky to read - very small and narrow as all channels are squeezed onto the screen together.
Hey John, the Roland R26 and the Zoom H6 internal mics are very good. They both have XY condenser mics that could be used for recording interviews, music, etc. I found it quite difficult to hear the difference between some external Rode NT5 mics, compared to the xy mics on the Zoom H6. They really are quite good.
it is almost impossible for consumers to purchase equipment for recording with any real good knowledge as to how to move forward. It's a gamble game with restocking fees as part of the cost for the industries refusal to allow us to test equipment in stores.
hi on your previous video you say it's a 3.5 mili jack, "MILI" you keep saying mili. it's a mini jack that is 3.5 mil. Maybe your getting the two words mixed up. I'm sure you mean a 3.5 mil. and also the input of the r26 you say it has a input for XLR and phono which is incorrect as it has a xlr/1/4 inch jack. I only point this out as people watching this as a learning tool will learn incorrect terms and thinking it has phono in the center of the which is a connection used on record players and tape decks, cd players etc.
Found you from the Best Unintentional ASMR channel, great video!
Hey, thank you :)
Agreed, same here! I'd love to see another comparison video. As far as ASMR goes this is easily in my top 10 - but too short :) unintentional ASMR videos are always the best because they are genuine. I was able to pickup subtle differences on the recorders - especially with the second one.
prattarazzi I’m sure you know but if you don’t look up test mics asmr and you’re the first vid! Great job
I was thinking this video should be filed under "Unintentional ASMR" videos!
Yeeeeesss
Great comparison video, thanks for using our NT5 mic
Thank you :-)
this man carries himself with such a kind and positive energy absolutely incredible
Roland R26 0:00 ( 1:46 / 2:21 )
Tascam DR-60D 3:09 ( 4:56 / 5:31 )
Zoom H6 6:19 ( 8:04 / 8:40 )
EumlOriginal Hey, thanks for adding the shortcuts into the audio! Very useful. Eddie.
12345 this is a test of nt5 going into asmr. many tingles I got from you.
Was brought here from an unintentional asmr channel, you've got natural talent for it.
Maybe one day try a full whispered video, I'm sure the asmr community would love it.
Cheers man.
Thank you. I don't recall the exact settings on the gain levels for the recording. I tried my best to get a 'visual' match on the recording level displays between the three recorders. It's quite tricky to get a match between the levels between the recorders: for example on the Zoom, the display is very small and the gain dial is very sensitive around the number 7 and 8 to small changes. What I can say is that each recorder is very capable and provides plenty of gain. No issues between them.
I thought the most natural and warm one was the roland. Thnx for the video. I´ll be looking further into the Roland
"I am sitting in a room different from the one you are in now, I am recording the sound of my speaking voice..."
Great video. Thanks!
Just came to give a “Thumbs up” from seeing it on Unintentional ASMR 🎤🎧👍🏼
Yay! Thank you!
From your test the zoom has horrible noise floor problem. I had heard complaints in some of the forums, but I never imagined it was this bad! Why would they come out with such a nice recorder and have garbage pre amps is beyond me.
The Roland also was noisy, but it had half the zoom noise. I was shocked that the Tascam has the lowest noise pre amps of the trio, considering the DR-40's noisy front end.
I recently bought the DR-60D, and although the gain steps can be heard when adjusting during recording, you'll never hear it when adjusting during dialog. You have to have a constant amplitude input to hear the steps, which doesn't occur in most real world scenarios. Great review! Thanks for your time!
5:30 is so relaxing even if it’s not meant to be
Yes I know it’s a repeat of a video but I just chose one of the three times he does it
I saw this somewhere else but had to give you the view instead. Totally worth it. Your voice is very nice
Hey, thank you :-)
I was surprised how good the Tascam sounded comparatively speaking for the money. Also I was a little shocked that I noticed more noise on the H6 more than the others. Considering the price I would have expected it to be quieter than the $199. Tascam. The Roland sounded good all around. I need to research price of that. But for the affordability of the Tascam and the ability to use on camera. I think it wins. I did notice a great Tascam XY mic one could buy. Saw it in amazon and it seemed really directional. So I think I'm sold in the Tascam. Thanks for this video. It helped me decide.
You should definitely do asmr videos brother. I would definitely always watch lol!!
Hey man, not sure if you're aware but you're gaining a lot of traction with the ASMR community. Thank you for your videos, they're helping a lot of people! Also, can't tell if you're from the north, south or the midlands and its driving me up the wall 😂
Eddie, thank you for making this video. Extremely useful to me in deciding best set up for our podcast equipment.
dude i dont know what it is about you but you warm my heart i hope you have a great life
Clear, focused review. Appreciated.
Thank you. Happy you found it useful. Eddie
You have the perfect Voice/Technic for ASMR. You should make more informative videos like this while whispering.
Fantastic video Eddie. Very professionally done and much appreciated. One thing that would make it easier for the listener (especially for a one with an uneducated ear) to compare these was if there was a short sampling clips say 5-10 seconds of each in a row :) Really enjoyed this. Would be blown away if you did one with a few lav mics as well. Anyways keep up the great work!
i can't tell the difference, am i the only one? they all sound pretty good
***** :-) Yes, they all have very good sound quality. From a pure sound quality point of view, it's very difficult to tell any difference. The choice really comes down to your needs and preferences for other physical & software features and usability.
prattarazzi thanks for your quick reply. i only have a zoom h1 now, do you think the h6 or dr-60d will make a huge difference?
Hi. Sorry, I don't have a H1 to compare, but this might help ruclips.net/video/PvTl7Cmqcx8/видео.html
***** Hi. Sorry, I don't have a H1 to compare, but this might help ruclips.net/video/PvTl7Cmqcx8/видео.html
prattarazzi Thank you!
Your first and now this video review of these three recorders have been VERY useful, sir. The complaints about wanting an A/B comparison are unfounded. Aside from the futility of worrying about 24/96 sound quality comparisons on a RUclips video, we can easily jump from unit to unit in your video by marking the time of a given section for each recorder, then jump back and forth easily. Keep up the great videos. For me, the Roland wins, due to ease of accessing menus and not needing the camera mounted functionality. Your videos took the mystery out of the choices and I agree that they all sound great, so it's more a question of features and usability for one's specific needs.
Thank you! I'm glad it was useful for you. Eddie
I was here for Tascam Dr-60d Mk II.....thanks for a wonderful comparison
Nice comparison. I'm listening to this on headphones, and to my ears, the zoom h6 sounded best. I didn't hear the noise floor that some mentioned, though I experienced it on an H4 I owned before it mechanically died prematurely. I own a Tascam DR-60D, and have found it to be good, for what it does, and the somewhat hollow sound I heard from it matches my experiences. A shame that the zoom has a bit more noise than you would expect for the price, as heard by some of the listeners, as other recorders, especially some of the Sony models, seem to do it better. There are some interesting tests done by a guy out of Germany, named Martin Doppelbauer who showed that while the noise floor on a number of these was so low as to be not an issue, harmonic distortion was a concern on the Zoom. It would be interesting to duplicate his H4N tests on a H6. You might google his site if you are interested.
Hi Al. Thanks for the feedback and info. I'll check out your suggestions.
Thanks for the video and detailed analysis! There hasn't been anything new to come out in the last 3 years has there? At the end of the day I feel like these devices are all superb and i should shift focus to the microphones I decide to record with.
Hey @Chris, you're welcome. I think there have been incremental updates like the Tascam DR-60D mkii. Also some lower-tier products like Zoom H4N Pro, and higher end products like Zoom F8. But I think these three models are still battling it out for the video market. As you say, they all give great results. About microphones, let me know which ones you're thinking about and what you're planning on using them for.
I think Roland was best, and zoom second. Very informative thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this relaxing video.
Happy you found it relaxing. I just posted a Meditation video too, you might enjoy.
thank you for making this amazing video! i hope you have a lovely day
Thanks for review, you just saved me some money. The Roland pres sound more dynamic,smooth, and relatively realistic sounding. The Tascam pres sounded less dynamic, but smooth and natural nonetheless. Not bad for the money. I'm surprised how cheap and shitty the Zoom sounds considering it's rave reviews. The pres on the Zoom give this weird sounding coloration. They are definitely dynamic, but they're thin, hollow and cheap sounding.
prattarazzi good find man. This one kicks ass!
I was reminded of you because a guy called Ed Pratt is unicycling across the USA.
I've tried the unicycle before - they're tough to ride!
Sounds like an ASMR witch makes you feel some tingles on your skin… :)
Wow, really great test, especially since you included the original audio files. I see both the Tascam and Roland both have the same noise floor, right around -51 dB and the signal runs to about -15 dB, so with either recorder, you are getting a good s/n ratio. The choice really seems to be about all the other features they offer. I was curious what you had the Microphone Sensitivity set to on the R-26. Thanks!
Hey Flying High, glad it was helpful for you. Sorry I can't remember the exact level on the R-26. For any of these units, it always helps if you have a microphone with a high output level and low self-noise level. That way you don't need to use a high recording gain and get a clean output signal.
Hi Eddie! You need to do more of this! I’d pay.
I'm trying to do some more now :-) I've posted a few videos more recently.
Excellent review! 24-bit audio would likely have less noise all around. Thinking about going with the Roland R26
Wow this puts me to sleep! Thanks for the video
There are differences between the three, but I couldn't tell you which is best. It may be a matter of personal taste.
Very useful. Thanks.
Hi Sainte. Glad it was useful for you. Eddie.
i would say the tascam has a deeper, fuller quality to it compared to the roland, which was more bright. i haven’t heard the last one yet.
Perfect test! Thank you!
Thanks :-) Glad you enjoyed it.
Cool video bro, and nice job! :)
Wonders if recording at the same rate from each device and using the same high spec microphones would anyone really be able to hear anything (did you?) i couldn't from this but the audio is transcoded when uploaded to youtube and vocals dont carry much detail on thier own anyway is my understanding, that's why so many audio books are in 64-128 kbps mp3 and sound fine. I enjoined the video either way via the UIASMR channel
They’re all very high quality. Even with headphones listening to the source, it’s impossible to really hear any difference.
Strange but sound from H6 sounds like enhanced by some kind of mastering, it causes Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, like after some audio plugins.
No, no kind of mastering or plugins.
I experienced it, too, haha.
Hi, if you check out my newest video there is an XY mic comparison between R26 and H6. There is a link to original audio too in the description for the new video (RUclips won't let me post a link in comments here, sorry).
Do some asmr man this is great
Your voice is made for ASMR
Great review Eddie, thanks for posting. I'm currently using the Tascam DR-100 MkII and I'm happy with it. However, I'm thinking of upgrading to the Zoom H6 because I need more than 2 XLR inputs for podcast interviews. I generally sit around a table and plug in mics like the Samson 2QU or Shure SM58. Do you think the Zoom H6 is a good choice? Clean pre-amps are my main concern. In your test, the condenser mics sound wonderful and with low noise floor. I'm worried that I might not get such a result with mics that need more gain. Is there another portable recorder on the market that you think I should look at?
Hi. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. You might consider a Cloudlifter for low output dynamic mics. This is a low-noise pre-amp powered from your recorder XLR jack. It sits between your recorder and your dynamic mic, like a Shure SM58. This can be a solution by providing a higher level output from your mic (with low noise) into your recorder pre-amps, so that your recorder pre-amps don't have to work as hard (and add less noise): cloudmicrophones.com/cloud12/?page_id=222
I have a Shure SM58 and can record an example for you, if that helps. Let me know what sort of test would be useful for you on the H6.
Thanks for your comment Eddie. I've got a Cloudlifter and I also use a Fethead for extra gain. I prefer the Fetheads because there's only one XLR cable required, not two. I've compared both with the Samson 2QUs and I couldn't hear much difference between them.
Any tests you feel like posting with the Zoom H6 would be interesting for me. I think I've pretty much decided to buy one, but they run at about 400 euros here in Spain, so I'm obviously doing a lot of research before spending that much money!
Does the H6 record on separate channels for separate editing in post? Or would it lump all the audio tracks together in one output file?
Yes, it records separate tracks to the SD card, as follows: XY mic recording is a single stereo track, and XLR inputs 1, 2, 3, and 4 are recorded as separate tracks too (separate files). When connecting to a computer as an audio interface the recording can be configured to be multi-track (separate tracks) or a stereo mix.
Cool! I'm saving my pennies. Hopefully I'll get hold of one in a month or two.
Thanks! Very Helpful!
Thanks for a good audio test ! But a directly A-B switch comparsing will be more useful !!!
I cane from best unintentional asmr. You should start an asmr channel !
Very useful. Best comparison review so far. But where is everyone seeing the noise floor with H6? I'm a novice with sound and having to decide on a package to get equipped for general video work. Now have a D6 Canon. Will having no phone jack make it impossible for me to ever record only on camera? So much more work to go double system (recording on a separate recorder and have to sink it all up. Sincing software is still a hastle.) Well I have a lot to learn! When I listened to the three tests I thought the H^ was less sensitive to low sounds and it sounded more boomy than the Tascam. Still can't decide. But I like the possibility of using the H6 as a multitrack interphase.
Audio comparison in video using Rode NT5 Mic. Raw audio can be downloaded - see 'About' description for link.
- Sampling 44.1kHz, WAV, 16 bit, no filters
- Rode NT5 Mic
- Roland R26, Zoom H6, Tascam DR-60D Recorders
I think the Roland and Tascam generated just the slightest amount of noise. You really can only tell when you’re silent. The zoom on the other hand is quite noisy.
Thank you 😊
I've Rode Mic NTG-2. I think I need a good recorder to raise my work. I can't afford much though.
I simply can't decide even after listening twice of your test which is best - means I'm naive with this kind of knowing supple differences between them. Please tell me your opinion which device should I buy for my dslr video shoot for short movies and may be wedding videos. Thank you very much, sir.
Hi, the sound quality of each recorder is excellent.
If price is important to you, the Tascam seems the lowest price at the moment. If you need it principally for DSLR and a single shotgun, then the Tascam will work great.
Remember that the Tascam doesn't have built-in microphones and it can't be used as a 'usb audio interface' - but if this is not important to you, then that's ok.
If the most important thing is low price, good usability, connections for 1 or 2 shotgun microphones with XLR, and good sound quality, then the Tascam will be a good choice.
[Please remember that each of these recorders will use batteries quite quickly, so you may want to buy plenty of rechargeable batteries to keep the lowest cost over time.]
prattarazzi Thank you very much for your advice. I will seriously take it when I buy one. If may I ask you another advice, what is your opinion of Sony PCM 50D recorder to use for dslr shoots?
U Nyunt Shwe Sorry, I don't know the PCM 50D.
prattarazzi thanks!!
Nice work. Thanks.
12345 this real asmr many tingles.
great review, I am wondering what kind of XLR cable you are using. Can you tell me also if you have experiences with the Mogami Gold cables. I am working with the Zoom H6 with NT5.. Looking forward to hear from you. Thanks
Hi, Eddie. Having listened to all the takes from each recorder on high quality headphones, I can honestly say that I cannot hear any difference between them. Having said that, using only the voice to test a recorder may be limiting. Musical instruments, on the other hand, are far more demanding, producing many different tone colours and volume levels. I suppose all 3 devices use similar hardware and so will all do a good job. Thanks anyway.
Hi. Yes, they're all excellent sound quality, certainly if someone's using them to capture dialogue I can't tell the difference. The real questions are what are the essential requirements for you. Need to connect to your computer to use as an audio interface? You can't use the Tascam. Need more than 2 XLR inputs, then you need the Zoom. Want built-in microphones, then you need either Zoom or Roland. Need a touchscreen, then it's the Roland. Don't care too much, and just need a great recorder at the lowest price? It's the Tascam. etc.
Hi Eddie,
I am a flutist, musician. I am looking for an audio portable recorder for recording my music during the concerts ( if possible without other mics outside). I would like to have rather proffessional recording to have possibility to use it on my website etc...I would not spend more than 400 Dollars. I have no experiences with recording of myself and small chamber music groups ( usually we play flute and strings ( from 3 to 5 people together) thats why I prefare not to use other external mics.
Mb can you help me to choose anything?
Thank you for your response in advance,
Hana
Hi Hana. The Zoom H6 or Roland R26 both have good quality built-in (included) microphones and would be suitable - they also have ability to connect extra microphones if necessary. Both retail for about $400 US Dollars. The only additional equipment you'd need are 1) Headphones/earphones (to listen to your recording). 2) SD (memory card to record audio onto). 3) A tripod/stand to attach the recorder to (this is optional, but will make it easier to hold and direct the recorder, and to adjust the height of the recorder if you want to position the microphones above the musicians). If need to keep the entire cost less than $400 USD, I'd suggest you take a look at the Zoom H5 that retails for about $270 and leaves $130 budget to buy the headphones, SD cards and tripod.
Hi Eddie, thanks a lot for your quick answer. It helps me a lot to decide. I have already ordered ZOOM H5.
I need help with mics...do you have any vids that compare mics?
Thanks for this excellent vid, all 3 record great, which one on your opinion is the best choice?
I need a help with my new Zoom h6 - it has a noise even without a mic, i just switch one of the channel ON and get quite loud noise. Do you know, why? But here, on this video i don't see any noise at all. Thank you for answer!
dude, make more videos like this
Like others have said, I Dont agree with your testing methodology.
Further more for an audio test, the volume is so low that its hard to hear you properly. While I wouldn't normally recommend normalization, in this case I would.
You're welcome to download the raw audio, normalise it and create an A/B test. The link to audio is in the about section.
Do you happen to remember what you set the volume dials to on each recorder? After downloading your audio files it seems the audio from the zoom is louder. I've tested the DR-60 only and noticed that I had to pump up the volume all the way to get my readings close to -12db. Was wondering if that was an issue with the Zoom or the Roland? Thanks for the great video!
Please get into asmr! This video is great.
The digital interface of the Roland R-26 does not work any longer with the Apple M1 do any one have some solution instead just buying a new recorder?
Definitely think the roland r26 is a little bit better than the others
So what is your preference Peter? I like the H6 but to be honest above 7 gain on the dial the signal:noise is dramatically increased. I don't think the H6 is suited to condenser at distance but excellent with a dynamic mic a close range.
Well, from a usability point of view, the level adjustment and meter displays are larger and clearer for someone doing constant level adjustment and booming on the Roland. Gain level changes are predictable with the dial.
The Zoom has a small display in comparison and the large jump in gain around 7 on the dial may annoy someone booming and adjusting levels on quiet dialogue with a low-output mic. [But, if they're using a high-output mic and dialogue isn't too quiet, it may never be an issue!]
So far the Tascam is the best
شكرا جزيلا
Will you ever comeback to youtube?
Tascam DR-60D or Zoom H5 for live program, Please suggest me.
Anyone gonna tell him??
ASMR dust ❤️
Yes!! He must know.
Great video, I own zoom h6 and I use lavalier mic for interview. I want to get rid of these background noise while recording so that it reduces my workload in post. Earlier i used to record audio with same mic directly to my canon 550d with help of magic lantern camera hack software and i used to get clear sound without any background noise. It gave me clear sound even in parties where in music is playing and people are talking. Please help
1:49 8:08
I just wanna test something
Hi, you think DR-60D is better than Tascam DR-100 mk II?
I have just recently bought an H6 and I was wondering if it is possible to plug in 4 different mics and be able to bring them up on 4 different tracks in a DAW?
For example, I would like to put the X/Y recorder mic in a piano, run mic 1 to an AKG451 on an acoustic guitar and then run mic 2 to an MTR231 recording vocals and I would like to track each instrument separately in my DAW - which is Logic Pro 9 connected via USB to my Macbook Pro.
Is that possible? Whenever I have multiple mics plugged in to my H6 only one track on Logic records all the sounds... So do the levels need to be perfect on the recorder before it gets to the computer or is there a way I can adjust the gain of each separate track on Logic?
If that is possible I cannot figure out how to do it. I'm a bit of a novice with DAWs and interfaces as I have just purchased my first of each one. Can you please help?
Hi Andrew,
Yes, you can do this. I'm using a Macbook Pro.
1. Power off on H6
2. Plug USB cable between H6 and your computer
3. Power on H6
4. Look on H6 screen. Choose the option for 'Audio interface' and click on H6 to select.
5. Look on H6 screen. Choose the option 'Multi track' and click on H6 to select.
6. The interface is now connected to your computer in multitrack mode (rather than just giving you a single stereo mix)
7. On your DAW, select the input audio hardware device as the H6 - the device should present itself with a maximum of 6 individual tracks from the H6, so you can set the levels appropriately in your DAW for your tracks.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Eddie
prattarazzi Eddie-- Sometimes when I plug in the H6 my computer does not prompt me to choose between 6 channels. I'm not quite sure how to get this to work. I have the XY mic activated and an SM57 plugged into the first XLR slot but the sound goes to only one channel on Logic. Do you know how to remedy this? Thanks for your help.
Hi Andrew. Grab your H6. Check it has the latest firmware version (current is version 2).
1. Switch H6 on.
2. Press the Menu button on the right hand side of the H6.
3. Look at H6 display
4. Select the 'USB' menu item on the H6 display and confirm.
5. Select the 'Audio interface' menu item on the H6 display and confirm.
6. Select the 'Multi-track' menu item on the H6 display and confirm.
7. Select the 'PC/Mac' menu item on the H6 display and confirm.
The H6 should now leave the menu system and go to the main screen and it will be in USB Audio Interface (Multi Track Mode) mode.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Eddie
Z-H6>Trd60>Rr26 but sound Trd60 more natural and Z-h6 some more colorful and noise level, imho
So how did the audio differ between devices?
Noise level is the same!
Hi Prattarazzi, why were the three mikes placed so far from each other? I think the distance between any two of them is far too much when it is compared both to the distance from the source and to the distance of the reflecting surface from them mics. As we know, usually few centimeters make a huge difference in terms of the sound recorded. Thank you.
Hi. The mics are held like that because it's the only mechanical rig I've got to hold 3 mics equidistant to each other in a stable arrangement. When I spoke into the mics, my voice was projected on-axis to the centre point between the 3 mics.
prattarazzi Here is a good article on testing mics: www.dpamicrophones.com/en/Mic-University/Tech-Guide/How%20to%20test%20the%20performance%20of%20a%20microphone.aspx
Additionally, the large reflecting surface i.e. the wall near the microphones introduces a kind of comb-filtering effect to the recorded sound where the frequency distance between the peaks and the valleys of the frequency response depends on the distance from the microphone to the wall. Which is three different values for the three NT5s in this situation causing different colorations from microphone to microphone. I would have used a single mic stand and some velcro straps. And definitely would have moved the microphones somewhere near the center of the room. These, however, will not have any influence on the noise floors of the recorders...
stgzoomh4 Thanks for the info. I'll check that out!
Given that he's trying to compare different recorders and not different mics, wouldn't it be better to use a single mic with the same signal "splitted" and sent to the diferent recorders?
Hey Paolo. That's a great idea. I need to save some money to buy a signal splitter. Can you recommend a good one?
Interesting concept, but I think your method was a bit crude. Did you have any metered levels on the recordings? a camera on the recorders would have been a bit more interesting. Also- just to be fair your voice has very little dynamic range for a test of this sort ..
Hi Pete. I tried to visually level the recordings between the different meters on each device to the same dB level before recording started. That's where usability comes into play. The meters on the Roland R26 and the Tascam DR60-D are both nice and clear and have other features like displaying a 'sticky' maximum signal level. The meter on the Zoom H6 is quite tricky to read - very small and narrow as all channels are squeezed onto the screen together.
Can you use three mics at a time with the tascam?
Author fellow.
Do the same comparison, only Tascam 70D.
And in addition to the voice, try to play music in the hall away from the instrument.
How would these recorders sound using the internal microphones? Thank you.
Hey John, the Roland R26 and the Zoom H6 internal mics are very good. They both have XY condenser mics that could be used for recording interviews, music, etc. I found it quite difficult to hear the difference between some external Rode NT5 mics, compared to the xy mics on the Zoom H6. They really are quite good.
Many thanks for the great video and additional information.
What was the gain set to on each unit while you recorded?
Hey Todd. Sorry, but I can't remember the gain settings. It was quite a long ago.
tascam sounds best to me
I know the video is almost five years old now, but asking us to click on ads like you did at 3:00 is actually against Google Adsense guidelines.
Sorry Eddie - you look like a friend of mine named Peter ;)
Informative but bad audio on your part
I wonder what his shirt says, hahaha.
Zoom H6 sounds the best
it is almost impossible for consumers to purchase equipment for recording with any real good knowledge as to how to move forward. It's a gamble game with restocking fees as part of the cost for the industries refusal to allow us to test equipment in stores.
hi on your previous video you say it's a 3.5 mili jack, "MILI" you keep saying mili. it's a mini jack that is 3.5 mil. Maybe your getting the two words mixed up.
I'm sure you mean a 3.5 mil. and also the input of the r26 you say it has a input for XLR and phono which is incorrect as it has a xlr/1/4 inch jack.
I only point this out as people watching this as a learning tool will learn incorrect terms and thinking it has phono in the center of the which is a connection used on record players and tape decks, cd players etc.
Thanks for the clarification. very useful.
LOL
This is a cheating video used only one same sound track.