Tascam DR-100 MKII with iPad first generation USB charger

[Lotus 7]

I have a DR-100 (original) and I believe it uses the same power supply as the MK-II.
The supply I have is the Tascam PS-520 (photo below) and it's rated at 5 V. at 2.0 Amps. It actually puts out 5.16 Volts (no load) and about 5.05 (at 1.5 Amps) so your iPad adapter should be fine.

One thing to consider: If you charge a DR-100 through the USB port, the current is limited to less then 1/2 amp to avoid overloading standard computer USB power sources. It takes 3 to 4 times as long to recharge the internal LiI battery through the USB port than it does through the coaxial power connector. If you don't need to power the iPad any longer, you might consider changing the USB connector for a coaxial connector that fits the Tascam (Center pin is (+) The power regulator that "cuts-off" battery charging is in the DR-100, not the power supply, so almost any 5V. supply can be used.

Other DR-100 stuff you may not be aware of:

Even if you use the set-up menu to select the internal LiI battery as the power source, if you insert a couple of AA cells, the DR-100 will switch seamlessly to the AA cells when the LiI battery is discharged. The battery indicator will change from "empty" (no bars) to "full charge" (3-bars) when the recorder switches.

Battery life is very dependent on
(a) If you have phantom power on
(b) How much current your powered mics use
(c) How much you use the display backlight

I've gotten anywhere between 2 and 3.75 hours on a fully charged internal battery, and another 1.5 to 2.5 hours on a set of new alkaline AAs.

The other major DR-100 issue is the limited amount of current the phantom power supply can put out. After finding out that the DR-100 would not work with half of my mics, I tested the unit and also had an e-mail converstion with Tascam Customer Support. In order to preserve the battery life, they limit the phantom supply to a low level. My first gen DR-100 will power (2) mics that draw 1.9 mA or less or (1) mic that uses 3.5 mA.

A pair of mics rated at 4.2 mA don't receive enough current to function, and the Tascam mic pres have a -30dB buzzing noise when any mics that draw medium to high current are plugged in. This is clearly a limitation of the 48V. phantom supply because running the DR-100 on the 2 Amp AC power supply does not help at all.

When I want to use the DR-100 with any "higher current" mics, I always use an external Denecke PS-2 running on it's own 9V. battery. The Denecke will power (2) 4 to 5 mA mics for about 4 hours on (1) battery.

Another issue with the DR-100s is that they tend to be temperamental about SD cards. For best results, only use "Class-10" SD cards. I've found a few "Class-4" cards that work, but most don't. Also, before any important recording session, I always run a full format on the SD card in the Tascam.

Deleting the often large files leaves the SD cards fragmented and that can cause the DR-100 to sometimes not recognize a SD card on boot-up. If that happens, you may need to "erase" or format the SD card in a computer using a card reader.

Finally, if you want to copy a audio file to a computer DAW, you should consider doing it by using the USB port to mount the DR-100 on the computer to copy the files, or by using a card reader. The Tascam analog "line " output and DAC has a residual noise floor that is significantly (about 15 db!!) higher than the noise floor of the recording ADC. The recording will be much quieter if you do a direct digital transfer of the data. Avoid that little 3.5 mm "line" out if you can. If you do mount the DR-100 on your computer, do not erase any files on the SD card via the computer. The DR-100 builds its own root directory, and removing any files can screw it up. Only erase individual files in the Tascam.

[HenryLatch]

Dear Lotus 7

First of all, let me thank you so much for your detailed reply and hints, especially concerning the power supply question!!!
Unfortunately I still use my iPad charger so I can't modify it, but as long as it does the service It will be ok, time is not a question for me as long as it does fully charge my Li battery and does not turn it into a less time duration battery its all good!

I'm aware of most of things you stated concerning an optimized use of the battery: the phantom power question, backlight usage; also about the sd cards situation and not using the line in.
I never use the line in to pass a sample to my computer or daw, I always do it via mounting the recorder on my desktop copying the file(s) and when I need to sample an external device (vinyl, tape or other) I use my firewire sound card that has good preamps.

Also about the mics, I currently use a RODE NTG2 with an AA battery so I always avoid to turn the phantom power on, I will have to use it in the future with the RODE N4 though, so your hints were good in terms of duration of the Li battery and also the AA. Also I already tried the S/PDIF to output a file from my DAW to the TASCAM and it worked great! My goal with this recorder is to use it because of the UNI mics for special purposes (i found they sound quite nice, and the gain doesn't need to be pushed that much for good results I recorded sounds with 3 / 4 of gain) and also because of the S/PDIF. I'll soon buy the SOUND DEVICES USBPre 2 (which I recommend!!!) and a portable USB rechargeable battery, and will use the TASCAM mainly as device to store 96khz 24Bit files via S/PDIF out of the SD to the S/PDIF IN of the TASCAM. What this means is that other than using the SD USBPre 2 as an audio card, I will be using the clean preamps of SOUND DEVICES and digitally transfer the audio signal to the TASCAM.

Thanks also for the hint of not erasing files on the computer while mounting the SD card, I was used to this with my ZOOM H2 and it worked ok, but now I will not do it with the TASCAM. I also always take the time to do a full format when preparing a field recording session, I did it with a 32GB Toshiba SDHC card and although it was previously used in a video camera it seems to be working great!

Anyway, thanks again for your very nice and gentle answer!!
If you have any interesting new things to say, that you discover from the use of the unit, please share as I will do the same.

We stay in tune!!

Best Regards,

H.

[Lotus 7]

Henry,

Great, sounds like you're already having a good time with your DR-100 Mk II.

I'm also a fan of Sound Devices products and have a USBPre -2 which I use with a MacBook and also a 788T SDD which is used when I need more mics. Both are excellent pieces. The only thing I don't like about the USBPre-2 is that it has no front panel phantom power switches. I always like to completely remove all phantom power before connecting/disconnecting my mics, so with the "Pre-2" I have to disconnect the USB +5 volt power to do that. It does have DIP switches for phantom power, but those are hard to reach and are under a rubber plug and not intended for everyday use.

If you do get a SD USBPre-2, you might want to take a look at the Pelican Model 1060 "Micro Case". I have one and it's a perfect fit for a "Pre-2 and a USB cable. It's much nicer than the more expensive soft case that SD sells. (pics attached)

Cheers!

[HenryLatch]

Dear Lotus 7,

Many Thanks again for your hints on the Pelican Model 1060 "Micro Case" for the USBPre 2!! It will be useful for sure, I hope its not too expensive... I'll put it right away on my to buy list :-)

I had a suggestion from a friend for a USB portable battery to use when I buy the SD USBPre2 it's this one ( TeckNet® iEP387 7000mAh Dual-Port 2.1Amp Output: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics ) can you suggest yours? is it better? (thanks in advance)

I see you have many good gear!! Congrats!! I chose this set (TASCAM DR-100 MKII + SD USBPre2) for my rack for field recordings because the cheapest SD the 702 (without timecode) is still to expensive here in europe, and with less than half the budget I hope to get a similar sound to the SD family recorders.
DO you hear any significant difference concerning the Preamps of the SD 788T and SD USBPre2?

Lastly, I wonder what's your main activity, is it sound for cinema / tv or documentary? I'm mainly into sound art, so I base my sound recordings for live performance and to soundscape compositions / electroacoustic music. So regarding my area I'm into getting the better mics, not of the high end lines of market (Neumann, SCHOEPS, Oktava, Sennheiser, etc...) but middle-low end, so I bought (for a shotgun direc. mic) the RODE NTG2 because I saw it was the best price quality rate (the NTG3 is better I know but more than half the price of the NTG2), and I'm interested in shotgun mics, stereo mics (single units or XY pair), binaural and hydrophones. So can you share any hints on your mics or on mics you know that could be useful for my recording set?

Many thanks for your attention and nice meeting you here!!

All My Best,

H.

[Lotus 7]

Henry,

Sorry for the long post, but hopefully it will cover your questions.

Welcome to Gearslutz. You will find it an interesting, if somewhat "opinionated" forum. Here you will find people interested in audio with a wide range of interests, backgrounds and expertise. Just remember that what you read here may be written by someone who truly "knows" what he or she is speaking about, as well as someone who only has an opinion, or is completely wrong.

Regarding your specific questions, I'm afraid I can't be of much help, but there are people here who can if you post in the right places.

There is a lot of discussion about the relative merits of low to mid-priced microphones and many opinions of which are best for differing purposes. You will find claims of $200 mics that "sound as good as" $2000 mics and arguments stating the opposite. I haven't used any RODE mics but know people who like and use them as well as people who don't. I've read great things about the Line Audio CM-3 which is very inexpensive in Europe, that may be one to look into. I've never seen or used one, however. Another possibility you might look into is looking for a nice used set of AKG 414s. For a "upper/mid" priced mic they are very good and highly underrated. There are plenty around and they work great in a wide range of applications.

I don't have a battery power source for my USBPre-2 because I use it (and power it from) with a MacBook Pro (running LOGIC) when I need a simple 2-channel recorder. I am not a musician or sound designer myself. I do classical recording for professional musicians, composers, and student musicians including work intended for commercial release, private label release, audition and publicity package use and archival recordings of live performances. I occasionally do recordings for composers who need "sound capture" for classical compositions using electronica components.

The hardware I use depends on the application and ranges from a 80 kG, 16-channel rack mounted system, down to the USBPre-2 + MacBook system with a Manfrotto Nano mic stand and a pair of Sennheiser MKH-8040s weighing all of 4 kG total. For a lot of applications needing 4 to 8 channels I use the SD 788T SSD which is great if timecode is need for eventual video sync, and even with a couple of Shure S-15 stands and several small mics, is something that I can carry to a location without needing an assistant.

For the musicians I typically work with, the top priority is usually having the highest possible "accuracy" in the recording. They want a record of what they actually sounded like. They don't want it to be "enhanced". That means using mics and mic pres that don't impart any unnecessary color or distortion in the recording. I use MiLab DC-196s, Sennheiser MKH-8040 and 8020s, Schoeps MK-4s, MK2s and MK22s, and DPA 4006s mostly but also have a number of LDC and extended bandwith ribbons sometimes used for "spot" mics. I don't use vacuum tube mics and have very few mics which use transformer coupling. I love the MiLabs for use in venues that don't have the best sounding reverberation characteristics.

I like the USBPre-2 preamp for its "transparency" and find it very similar to the (8) mic pres in the 788. For my other systems I have TRUE multi-channel pres and Grace M-101s which I find have slightly lower noise and sound a little clearer than the SD pres. I've used, but don't own a Millennia HV-3D which I also like very much.

Regards, and have fun recording.

[HenryLatch]

Dear Lotus 7,

Excuse the replying delay!!
Thank you, once again, for your extensive and detailed reply!!!
Also, I appreciated your suggestion on the Line Audio CM3 mics, I browsed the net and found someone who recorded and uploaded samples online and it sounds decent (http://scaudio.co/2012/05/line-audio...ycote-s-series), and these mics are very affordable :-) danke!!!

So you are a professional recordist :-) nice!! you work with very good material, so it seems by the list of mics / brands and rack(s) you use!!

Thanks for the hint on the Grace Design preamp, I didn't knew this brand and it seems very nice from a fast look and reading, although a bit expensive, I will research about it more.

Finally, very nice meeting you here and as I'm sure it will be in good condition, if you ever need to sell used material, specially mics for field recordings and sound devices products don't hesitate in contacting me via this post or to the following email jugxxis@yahoo.com

All My Best and Keep on with the recordings!!!

H.

[viceatfruit]

I was looking for 5v 2amp batteries, so i could really power the Tascam for a whole day without worry. I have some great batteries that are 5v, 800millamp output, and run forever.

1-I am curious if anybody knows the minimum power required to run the tascam dr 100 (mrk 2).
2-Does it have a resistor preventing power over 2amps from damaging it?
3-Is anybody having luck with the link listed above TeckNet® iEP387 7000mAh Dual-Port 2.1Amp Output: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics for powering it?
4- myPower™ ALL Plus MP3450 R3 External Laptop Battery i heard works. myPower
Does anybody know how many amps the 5v selector on this puts out, or for any voltage how many amps it puts out.

Thanks
victor

[Lotus 7]

Originally Posted by viceatfruit

I was looking for 5v 2amp batteries, so i could really power the Tascam for a whole day without worry. I have some great batteries that are 5v, 800millamp output, and run forever.

1-I am curious if anybody knows the minimum power required to run the tascam dr 100 (mrk 2).

The DR-100 MkII can draw as much as 1.5 amperes through the external (coaxial) power connector (back-light and phantom power on). With phantom power off, the current is closer to 1 ampere.

The USB port is current limited to 500 mA, BUT that is not enough to fully power the DR-100 alone. The USB port is designed to allow recharging of the internal LiI battery, but not operation of the recorder without the battery installed. With a 5 volt source connected to the USB port, the running time of the internal battery is approximately doubled.

Originally Posted by viceatfruit

2-Does it have a resistor preventing power over 2amps from damaging it?

You seem to have a misunderstanding of how power loads work. At a given voltage (5.0 volts in this case) a load (like the DR-100 MkII) will draw as much current as it needs to function. All is well as long as the power source (the battery or the external power supply) can supply the current while maintaining the required voltage. Being able to supply more current is fine, but does not mean that the higher current will actually flow in the circuit.

For a 500 mA load (for battery charging), it does not matter if the [external] battery can supply 0.5 amps, 1 ampere, or 2.5 amperes. The load (the DR-100 MkII) will still only use what it needs (500 mA or less). It's just like the power available on an AC wall outlet controlled by a 20 ampere circuit breaker. A small phone charger may only draw 0.1 ampere from the 20 A. circuit while a room heater might draw 15 amperes. Just because the current is available, does not mean it will be used.

To fully power the DR-100, you must use the 5 V. DC cylindrical external power port (center pin positive) , not the USB port. The external battery or power supply should be able to supply 2 amperes or more at 5.0 volts.

Originally Posted by viceatfruit

3-Is anybody having luck with the link listed above TeckNet® iEP387 7000mAh Dual-Port 2.1Amp Output: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics for powering it?

That 7000mA-hour capacity battery is rated at a maximum current drain of 2.1 amperes on either of its "high-current" USB ports. This battery pack is ideal for powering the DR-100 and should provide between 5 and 8 hours of operation plus another 2.5 to 4 hours on a fully-charged internal LiI battery pack.

With a battery of this capacity, it would be good practice to install a small, 2.5 ampere GMA fuse (in an in-line holder) to prevent any damage if a wiring short ever occurred.

A USB/USB cable will not allow fully powering the DR-100. You will need a custom USB to cylindrical power connector cable.

Originally Posted by viceatfruit

4- myPower™ ALL Plus MP3450 R3 External Laptop Battery i heard works. myPower
Does anybody know how many amps the 5v selector on this puts out, or for any voltage how many amps it puts out.

Thanks
victor

The myPower battery pack can be configured for any common voltage between 5.0 and 19.0 volts. Total capacity is 50 watt-hours (7 X the TeckNet battery pack capacity). Maximum rated current drain is 3.5 amperes. It's a lithium polymer battery of the type typically used in laptops. It could power a DR-100 for (2) days and (2) nights. You will "fail" before this battery runs down.

Sounds like "overkill" unless you're on a cross-country expedition in the wilderness.