Jelmer,
I'm a happy user of a Tascam DR-100 using the line input. I've used
the XLR mic inputs with 25mv/Pa mics and they are a bit hissy with
quiet backgrounds.
The built in mics are crap as expected, but useful for idents. I like
the mechanical input switch rather than having to use a menu.
My machine (Mark I) limits near 100% which is normal for all
digitisers to avoid peak distortion and I peak to well below this,
like -12dB or -15dB and bring up the level later. This allows for
occasional loud sounds to be useable and 16 bit sampling copes with
this with bits to spare (each bit is 6dB). That is the joy of digital.
Check out the hiss with and without mics, preferably with a dummy or
shorted input load (paper clip). I can't remember the preamp hiss
level compared with the mic hiss but I think it was about +6dB. Not
good for very quiet acoustic background levels, bur I've used it on
river recordings. I can reduce this hiss by about 6dB using Audacity
using a noise only sample after an HPF.
Powering mics internally knocks back the battery life, but that is to
be expected. With separate mic powering battery life is asdequate. The
"dual battery" is not useful, but if you know your rechargeable is
gstting low, theoretically it allows you to swap it while still
running, provided you have new alkalines in. More of a sales gimmick.
David
David Brinicombe
North Devon, UK
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce
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