If you’re a DSLR shooter, you know that having an independent audio recorder can be a must for getting quality sound. There are a lot of affordable flash recorders that can deliver great audio, but only a few of them have features like XLR inputs and multi-channel recording. Three models stand out: the Zoom H4n, the Tascam DR-100mkII, and more recently, the Tascam DR-40. How do they stack up in terms of features filmmakers want, and which one delivers the sound you need? I aim to delve into these questions and more, so read on!
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First offI approached this comparison from the perspective of my own shooting needs and recording practices. I tend to record through external mics, primarily my shotgun mic (a Sennheiser K6/ME66), either on-camera (less than ideal) or on a boom pole (more ideal) -- rarely do I use the internal mics, so those really aren’t a focus of this comparison (although I do have some words about them). I've owned and used a Zoom H4n for the past few years, and it has served me well. I have no qualms about pointing out its limitations, nor its strengths.