Tascam DR-1 Manual

TASCAM DR-1 Portable Digital Recorder
Mike Rivers
proof"). The DR-1 is more than a typical field recorder, however. Drawing on 20+
years experience with Portastudios and Trainers, TASCAM has loaded the DR- 1
with features particularly useful to the recording musician.
.
Features
Power is from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack or optional AC adapter.
The battery pack is removable and spares are available for purchase. Charging
is via either the USB port or AC adapter, though at least at this time no charging
station or adapter for the battery pack is available. If you're packing along spare
battery packs, you'll need to charge them in the recorder. Battery life is estimated
at 7 hours when recording in the MP3 mode with the built-in mics. I got a bit more
than 3 hours out of a charge recording 16-bit 44.1 kHz, which is a good match for
the capacity of a 2 GB memory card.
An accessory kit
including a snap-on
cradle with a tripod
socket, a desktop tripod
with a swivel joint, and a
windscreen is available
as an option. See the
photo.
The DR-1 is TASCAM's
entry into the burgeoning
field of handheld 44.1/48
kHz (dare I say "standard
speed"?) digital recorders. It
offers all the common
features you'd expect: built-
in stereo microphones,
external mic and line inputs,
headphone/line outputs, 16-
and 24-bit PCM and MP3
formats from 32 to 320 kbps,
and records to SD flash
memory. A 1 GB SD card is
supplied with the unit,
though it will accommodate SDHC cards as large
as 32 GB when they become available, a nice bit
of future-resistance (nothing is really "future-
The DR-1 feels comfortable in the hand, with all
necessary controls within easy reach. A trapdoor on the
side covers the 4-pin USB port and memory card slot.
While it latches solidly, it feels flimsy when opened, and
I can see this it breaking off (which won't incapacitate
the recorder) fairly early if not handled gently. The built-
in mics can be rotated through 90 degrees to aim them
either toward a user facing the recorder or outward
Update: In the
less than two
years following
this review,
TASCAM has
filled out their line
of hand held
digital recorders,
some downscale
from the DR-1,
some upscale,
with many
features and look-
and-feel in
common. Check
'em all out.