TASCAM Portacapture X8 and X6 Portable Audio Field Recorders Help Michael Fitzgerald Capture Sound Effortlessly

February 2024... When a large segment of your work involves helping others create their various podcasts and related social media endeavors, the ability to produce a wide range of content quickly is an all-important consideration. While content creation is key to many such endeavors, helping guide people through the process of how to get started is equally challenging. For all such endeavors, the ability to produce high quality audio is one of the key considerations and, to make this happen, Michael Fitz-Gerald (AKA Fitz) relies on the versatility of his TASCAM Portacapture X8 and Portacapture X6 Portable Audio Field Recorders.

In addition to his social media activities, Fitz also captures audio for a variety of live events such as weddings and various performances. He discussed one of his favorite Portacapture features, "I love the fact that each line can be captured as a separate 32-bit audio file. This makes it easy to quickly grab a file and make whatever adjustments to it that I deem necessary. Depending upon the nature of the project, I can use the AUX inputs with an XLR cable and add wireless mics to the feed. This provides tremendous versatility for working in a wide range of environments."

"When I run livestreams," Fitz added, "I can connect either the X8 or the X6 via USB-C to my MacBook and run OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). Doing so will provide me with a perfect audio signal with all the limiters and effects already applied to avoid clipping. What I really like about this arrangement is that I can run the Portacapture via USB power, so I needn't worry about loss of battery power. Both the Portacapture X8 and X6 provide all the versatility needed to handle projects ranging from wedding videography to podcasts or livestreams."

When queried about the various features of the Portacapture X8 and X6 that he considers so vital to the way he operates, Fitz offered the following thoughts. I love the fact that the Portacapture X8 has a wide range of ports that makes it easy to interconnect the recorder with other gear. This, coupled with the fact that it records each line separately and still provides a mix makes the Portacapture really flexible in terms of any editing that may be required."

"The fact that both the Portacapture X8 and X6 record using 96 kHz, 32-bit float recording is another huge benefit," Fitz explained. "This feature provides high quality audio that can be a perfect complement to video and other aspects of any broadcast-type project. Coupled with XLR inputs and dual built-in mics with switchable AB/true-XY patterns plus USB and AUX inputs, the recorder can handle most any type of input you encounter. The Portacapture is one compact, highly portable device that enables me to be prepared for just about anything."

The Portacapture X8 offers users a variety of presets optimized for various recording tasks. These include settings for multi-track recording, podcasting, music, voice, and field recording. These presets make it quick and easy to best configure the Portacapture, depending upon the nature of the project. Further, the recorder lets users create their own custom settings. This enables one to quickly and easily set the Portacapture in whatever way works best for the user. "I've become a big fan of the manual mode, as this makes it very easy to see what is going on and gives me a great set of features like noise gates, limiters, and more," Fitz reports.

Fitz is equally enthusiastic about the Portacapture X6, which he began working with just recently. "The X6 is really compact and yet still very versatile," he said. "The fact that you can record 6 tracks (4 individual and 2 mix) simultaneously is terrific. Further, the two XLR input terminals are compatible with both 24V and 48V phantom power to support recordings with multiple mic/line inputs. Combine this with a 6-in/2-out USB audio interface function and you have tremendous flexibility in a very capable, compact package—and the unit's 2.4-inch touchscreen makes it easy to keep track of what you're doing."

"I should also point out that I routinely run into multiple scenarios where I need to make sure the environmental noise will not ruin the recording," Fitz explained. "For such situations, the noise gate has helped me a lot. Plus, having the ability to adapt to any mic with or without phantom power has been a life saver!"

Before shifting his attention to the business of the day, Fitz offered these parting thoughts, "I'm really torn about which Portacapture I like better: the X8 for its extra ports or the X6 for its extra buttons. In the end, when I pack my gear to go on gig—be it a wedding or podcast—I know I will be fine with either recorder. With a TASCAM Portacapture, you simply can't go wrong!"

For more information about Michael Fitz-Gerald, visit https://open.spotify.com/episode/6moNvMMGzCRisMT98FFGoA?si=4302b9ee3ae14c9e&nd=1&dlsi=dc29f5efa9384e8c. To contact him, please visit www.fitzaey.com or email him at info@fitzaey.com.