Tascam DR-07XP Portable Audio Recorder

Tascam DR-07XP Portable Audio Recorder

The Tascam DR-07XP is a 2-channel handheld recorder that records in 32-bit float resolution, the format that has changed field recording: because a 32-bit float WAV captures an enormous dynamic range, a take that looks too quiet or too loud on the meter can be normalised in editing without the hiss penalty of 16-bit or the clipped peaks of a badly set gain stage. For interviews, weddings, lectures and location sound, that means one less thing to get wrong at the moment it matters.

The built-in stereo microphones are unidirectional condenser capsules on adjustable mounts, so they can be arranged in an A-B configuration for a wide stereo image or crossed in X-Y for a focused image with strong mono compatibility. The capsules handle sound pressure levels up to 125 dB SPL, covering everything from a whispered interview to a live band at close range. Recording runs to microSD cards up to 512 GB, at sample rates up to 96 kHz.

Key Features

• 32-bit float recording – recover quiet or loud takes in post, no critical gain setting
• Adjustable built-in stereo condenser microphones, A-B or X-Y positioning
• Microphones handle up to 125 dB SPL for loud sources
• microSD/microSDXC media up to 512 GB, WAV (BWF) and MP3 formats
• USB Type-C 2-in/2-out audio interface mode for computer recording
• External stereo mic/line input with plug-in power for lavaliers and other mics
• Limiter, low-cut filter, reverb, EQ and auto-level functions onboard
• Up to 17.5 hours of recording from two AA batteries

Why 32-bit float changes handheld recording

With a conventional recorder, the recordist watches levels constantly: too low and the noise floor rises when the file is amplified later; too high and the waveform clips permanently. A 32-bit float file removes that trade-off because the converter captures far more dynamic range than any real-world source produces. A door slam next to a quiet voice is preserved at both extremes, and levels are set afterwards in the editor. For run-and-gun work – events, journalism, field interviews – it converts the recorder from an instrument that must be ridden into one that can simply be placed and trusted.

More than a recorder

Connected by USB-C, the DR-07XP works as a 2-in/2-out audio interface for a computer, so the same device records voiceovers and streams at the desk. Musicians get a chromatic tuner, overdubbing and a pre-record buffer that captures the two seconds before the button press, while the built-in 0.3 W speaker allows quick checks without headphones. A tripod mounting point, backlit display and 17.5-hour battery life round out a recorder designed for full days in the field.

Complete technical data – formats, microphone ratings, input and output levels, battery life – is listed in the specifications table on this page.