TASCAM Portacapture X8 Receives Pro Moviemaker’s Gear of the Year Award

TASAM is pleased to announce that its Portacapture X8 High Resolution Adaptive Multi-Recorder recently won the Gear of the Year (GOTY) Award from Pro Moviemaker Magazine. With a rich feature set that includes 32-bit float point recording technology, the ability to stream up to 8 tracks (6 inputs and 2 mix) via USB, and other features that enhance its overall ease of use, the Portacapture X8 was determined to be the ideal audio capture tool for anyone seeking pristine audio quality with a huge sound that is far wider than that captured by 24-bit recorders.

In determining the Portacapture X8’s key attributes, the unit’s 32-bit float point recording technology was praised for the ability to capture clean, natural sounding audio and adjust the audio levels up or down during postproduction without the fear of clipping or other distortion. This feature makes the Portacapture X8 particularly valuable for one-person shooters, as it makes capturing professional caliber sound effortless.

The Portacapture X8’s 6 discreet audio inputs were deemed another key factor in receiving the GOTY Award. The fact that the recorder ships with two detachable condenser microphones that support both the A-B and X-Y positions was also noted—and these can be removed so that users can access the adjacent 3.5mm inputs. These features were determined to be noteworthy because they contribute to making the Portacapture X8 a ‘risk-free’ choice for capturing high quality audio.

Another Portacapture X8 attribute that was considered noteworthy is its screen. This easy-to-use color touchscreen makes it easy to visually keep track of settings and the unit’s launch monitor provides quick settings for recording common sources such as music and podcasts, as well as AMSR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) for dealing with very quiet sounds. Equally important, for full control, one needs to simply select Manual.

It was also noted that the Portacapture X8 now has synchronization capabilities. With the addition of the optional TASCAM AK-BT1 Bluetooth® dongle for the Portacapture X8 and either the newly announced ATOMOS CONNECT devices, AtomX SYNC or Ultrasync Blue timecode sync adapters, videographers can now seamlessly—and wirelessly—synchronize the Portacapture X8’s 8-track recording capability using 192kHz/32-bit float point recording technology with a wide array of video cameras, including DSLR and Mirrorless models.

Paul Youngblood, TASCAM Director of Product Marketing, commented on the Pro Moviemaker GOTY Award, “All of us at TASCAM are delighted to have our Portacapture X8 be recognized by Pro Moviemaker’s Gear of the Year Award. This product is the result of the efforts and imagination of numerous engineers and audio professionals who have sought to develop a versatile and extremely capable recording tool for today’s videographers and film professionals. We are honored and we thank you.”