Tascam Portacapture X8 Multitrack Handheld Recorder
- Eight-track handheld recorder with 32-bit float at up to 192 kHz
- Four XLR/TRS inputs and a detachable stereo condenser mic pair
- 3.5-inch touchscreen and an 8-in/2-out USB-C audio interface
$399.00 USD
Tascam Portacapture X8 Multitrack Handheld Recorder
The Tascam Portacapture X8 is a multitrack handheld recorder with a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, four XLR/TRS inputs, and a pair of detachable condenser mics.
Inputs and Mics
Four locking XLR/TRS combo inputs take mics or line sources through Tascam’s HDDA mic preamps, each with its own +24 V or +48 V phantom power on the XLR side. The included pair of 14.6 mm large-diaphragm condenser mics detaches from the unit and goes back on in an A-B or true X-Y pattern. The two 3.5 mm jacks for these mics also take other plug-in power mics. A 3.5 mm EXT IN jack takes audio from a camera or a wireless receiver.
Recording
The X8 records up to eight tracks at once, six input tracks plus a stereo mix, as WAV files at up to 192 kHz in 32-bit float, or as MP3. Recording in 32-bit float keeps the full quality of each track for editing later in a DAW. Dual recording writes a second file of each track in another format or 12 dB lower.
The touchscreen launcher opens recording apps set up for podcasts of up to four people, music, voice, field recording, ASMR, and manual multitrack work. Processing includes a low-cut filter, compressor, limiter, auto gain, noise gate, EQ, and reverb.
USB, Power, and Camera Use
Over USB-C, the X8 is an 8-in/2-out audio interface at up to 96 kHz, in 24-bit or 32-bit float. It runs on four AA batteries, USB bus power, or the Tascam PS-P520U AC adapter, sold separately. Alkaline cells run about 11 hours with the included mics and no phantom power.
The LINE OUT jack feeds audio to a camera with 20 to 30 dB of attenuation. An automatic slate tone goes to both the X8’s recording and the camera’s, to line them up in editing. A cold shoe on the back holds a mic holder or a wireless receiver, and a 1/4-inch thread fits a tripod.
With the optional Tascam AK-BT1 Bluetooth adapter, the free Portacapture Control app runs the X8 from an iOS or Android phone or tablet. The adapter also lets the X8 receive timecode from Atomos AtomX SYNC and UltraSync BLUE devices.
Features
- Four locking XLR/TRS combo inputs with +24 V or +48 V phantom power
- Detachable 14.6 mm condenser mic pair for A-B or X-Y recording
- Up to eight tracks: six tracks plus a stereo mix
- 32-bit float or 16/24-bit WAV at up to 192 kHz, or MP3
- 3.5-inch color touchscreen with recording apps
- 8-in/2-out USB-C audio interface
- Camera output with attenuation and an automatic slate tone
- Runs on four AA batteries, USB bus power, or an AC adapter
What's Included
- Portacapture X8
- Condenser mics (left and right pair)
- 4 AA alkaline batteries
- Owner’s Manual (including warranty)
- Tascam ID registration guide
Specifications
| Recording Media | microSD (64 MB – 2 GB), microSDHC (4 – 32 GB), microSDXC (48 – 512 GB) |
|---|---|
| Recording Format | WAV (BWF): 44.1, 48, 96, or 192 kHz; 16-bit, 24-bit, or 32-bit float MP3: 44.1 or 48 kHz; 128, 192, 256, or 320 kbps |
| Tracks | 8 maximum (6 tracks + stereo mix); 6 input channels maximum |
| Inputs | 4 XLR/TRS combo jacks (balanced, locking), mic or line (inputs 3–6) 2 × 3.5 mm (1/8″) TRS mini jacks for the included mics or plug-in power mics (inputs 1–2) 3.5 mm (1/8″) stereo mini jack (EXT IN, unbalanced) |
| Mic Input | Inputs 3–6: maximum +2 dBu, minimum −75 dBu, impedance 2.2 kΩ or higher Inputs 1–2: maximum +1 dBV, minimum −69.3 dBV, impedance 85 kΩ or higher |
| Line Input | Inputs 3–6: maximum +24 dBu, nominal +4 dBu, minimum −53 dBu, impedance 9 kΩ or higher EXT IN: maximum +10 dBV, nominal −10 dBV, minimum −48 dBV, impedance 8.5 kΩ or higher |
| Phantom Power | +24 V or +48 V per channel (XLR only) |
| Plug-in Power | Inputs 1–2 (3.5 mm) |
| Outputs | 3.5 mm (1/8″) stereo mini jack (LINE OUT, unbalanced): nominal −14 dBV, maximum +6 dBV, 200 Ω; camera attenuation −20 to −30 dB 3.5 mm (1/8″) headphone jack: 45 mW + 45 mW into 32 Ω Built-in speaker: 0.4 W (mono) |
| Timecode | From Atomos AtomX SYNC and UltraSync BLUE over Bluetooth with the Tascam AK-BT1 (sold separately), firmware 1.20 or later |
| Equivalent Input Noise | −126 dBu or lower (inputs 3–6) |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz, +0/−0.3 dB (48 kHz) 20 Hz – 40 kHz, +0/−0.4 dB (96 kHz) 20 Hz – 60 kHz, +0/−2.5 dB (192 kHz) |
| Dynamic Range | 113 dB or higher (48, 96, or 192 kHz; A-weighted) |
| THD+N | 0.006% or less (mic input), 0.008% or less (line input) |
| USB | USB Type-C, USB 2.0 High Speed; mass storage; audio interface 8-in/2-out at up to 96 kHz, 24-bit or 32-bit float |
| Bluetooth | Tascam AK-BT1 adapter (sold separately) |
| Display | 3.5-inch color touchscreen |
| Power | 4 AA batteries (alkaline, NiMH, or lithium); USB bus power from a computer; Tascam PS-P520U AC adapter (sold separately) |
| Power Consumption | 7.5 W maximum |
| Battery Life | Alkaline: about 11 h (included mics, no phantom power), about 5 h 30 min (+48 V, 3 mA × 2) NiMH: about 9 h 30 min, about 5 h 30 min Lithium: about 18 h, about 10 h (44.1 kHz, 24-bit stereo WAV, power save mode on) |
| Dimensions | 77 × 40 × 205.6 mm (3.03 × 1.57 × 8.09 in), W × H × D excluding protrusions |
| Weight | 381 g (13.44 oz) without batteries; 472 g (16.65 oz) with batteries |
| Operating Temperature | 0 – 40 °C (32 – 104 °F) |
