TASCAMDR-44WL – 4-track handheld recorder with Wi-Fi functionality

Excellent quality audio recorder. Briefly had a Zoom H4N and regretted buying that when realising a H5 was a better machine for not much more cost, so I sold the H4N and bought an H5. The H5 was faulty upon arrival (but otherwise is a lovely machine) and was thus refunded, however lack of stock forced me to buy the Tascam (which I secretly wanted anyway, especially because of that generous screen and wifi connectivity).I have no regrets whatsoever. First, and foremost, the audio quality is beautiful. Crisp and deep and natural in character. My machine had an older firmware installed, which meant that wifi connectivity especially with the android app was buggy and unpleasant. All bugs are eliminated though once you upgrade the firmware and the machine runs beautifully in conjunction with the remote control apps on android and iOS.I would never have bought any extra mics for the H5 (as the ones which come with the H5 sound the best anyway), so the lack of alternative mic options doesn't bother me - and anyway the phantom powered XLR inputs provide endless options for external mics. I wish I could use the Tascam like an audio interface (like the Zooms), but then, why do I need that when I can just record on the Tascam itself? Perhaps it would have been fun to use the mics as an input to an iPad app (like the H5 can achieve), but that's not exactly an urgent requirement for me anyway.Some people dislike the build quality of the Tascam. I personally love the design, and find it more attractive than the Zooms, especially with that lovely large screen. The H5 probably wins in terms of build quality, but overall I find the Tascam more pleasing and more intuitive to use especially when paired with a smartphone, but even without it's a pleasure to use. Individual rotary controls for channel levels on the Zoom is a top feature, but it takes a very short time to get used to the method employed by the Tascam (with its single wheel), and with the smartphone app it doesn't get any more intuitive than that.Very happy with it.

I've been looking for a portable recorder to better capture audio than I can get via my phone. Torn between this device and its sibling, the DR-22WL which is smaller and more easily portable, I finally settled on the DR-44WL when I learned about its dual recording capability - you can choose to make a recording in two different formats OR at two different recording levels simultaneously. With the latter, should audio levels get so high that the recording becomes limited/distorted, the lower level "fall-back" track can still be used.I have no experience of other recorders so can't comment on how this unit compares to them, but using it to make recordings of a couple of performances in Symphony Hall, Birmingham I was left astounded at the quality of the audio captured. The subjects offered a wide dynamic range and the dual level recording feature worked exactly as I'd hoped. Leaving the input level set to its default, the device captured perfect recordings across different musical groups. I'll need to spend a little time figuring out optimum input level settings, but in the meantime the device saves me from my own limitations.The Wi-Fi integration, I initially dismissed as something that would have limited utility but I wouldn't be without it now. Battery life has been great and the device has plenty of advanced features that I'm not ready to tackle yet; 4 track recording, Multi-Track recording, XLR Mic inputs, Mid Side Mic capability and track mixing functionality. Nice surprises were the inclusion of a metronome and chromatic tuner functions.The DR-44WL comes with a soft case, power supply, mic stand adapter, foam wind-shield and hot-shoe adapter that aren't supplied with the DR-22WL. It was also fitted with a Class 4 4GB Micro SD HC card and adapter, so there is no immediate need to buy one with the device unless you need something bigger.The device takes a second or so to switch on/off, and requires a deliberate action to slide a sprung switch and hold it in position until the unit activates/deactivates but this I see as an advantage and security against accidental operation. Once operational the device responds to button presses quickly. The record button requires two presses to activate. The first press initiates a 'record hold' function that lets you check inputs and levels and adjust them as required, the second press starts the recording.The only downside I've found so far is that the recordings the device creates expose weakness elsewhere - the wide frequency range captured by the device can't be reproduced by my favourite headphones so I'll have to replace those now too *sigh*

Instruction manual not great - I had to learn about most of the features from YouTube. But once you know how it works it's very easy to use and produces a good quality recording.

A fantastic piece of kit - I have been hooking this up to my Yamahaa keyboard to record the samples and tunes I create for the soundtrack for a movie I am making - I also use it to record real sound effects I create - Its brilliant.The sound quality is crisp and very easily editable in Audacity and Sound Forge. It has wifi features and is so easy to just pull out the memory stick and take the sounds off directlty if you don't want to use the wifi - This is well worth the money.

The DR Control app doesn't currently support live audio streaming over WiFi only streaming of playback already recorded audio. I used a small battery powered Bluetooth transmitter/reciever the sterio 3.5mm jack plugs into line level or headphone out on the Tascam and was easily paired with my Bludio UFO Bluetooth headphones I just put both devices in close proximity in pairing mode and within a couple of seconds they had paired I had already set the Bluetooth transmitter/reciever to transmit. The end result was I could control the Tascam functions over WiFi using my IPhone and independently monitor live audio over Bluetooth to my Bluetooth headphones surprisingly with almost undescernable latency. This Tascam build quality is good but not as good as the original DR-40 and you loose the AB mic configuration in the DR-44wl. The Bluetooth reciever by Jetech is what I used to get my live audio feed from the Tascam's audio output and this is available to purchase on Amazon.

Al principio no entendía muy bien.Pero viendo tutoriales en youtube vi que es mucho más fácil de lo que pensaba.La relación calidad precio es inmejorable.

È un bel registratore magari poco adatto al tipo di registrazioni che faccio io, e magari non uso nemmeno microfoni adatti al tipo di registrazioni che faccio, ma le regolazioni sono tutte digitali e quindi nessun cursore che si sposta involontariamente, ha il menù in italiano e tanti altri pregi. Unici nei, il display sempre acceso in registrazione con alimentazione esterna, dovrebbe essere disinseribile, e il telecomando assolutamente inutile; non funziona. Si collega al cell via BT ma dopo 2-3 minuti salta tutto e non lo puoi piu ricollegare, se non spegni la registrazione. Ma per favore Tascam..... avete fatto un buco nell'acqua qui, che ci voleva a dare la possibilita di telecomandare l'apparecchio con un telecomando a filo.

I must say the sound quality of this recorder really blew me away. Considering that it was released in late 2014, now it's been more than six years, but I challenge anyone who can beat the sound quality of this recorder under a studio setting. I purchased this unit not expecting much difference on the sound, but because it is uniquely featured with WIFI capability. Funny thing is though, the wifi is probably what I least like about (it is way too slow- but still must consider its age), it is after all par excellence on recording "voice." It does that perfectly.

Die internen Mikrofone haben eine exzellente Audio-Qualität. Bemerkenswert ist, dass der Rekorder saubere Mitten und brillante Höhen liefert und dennoch auch tiefste Bässe aufzeichnen kann - mit anderen Worten, es haut einen echt vom Hocker. Dabei sind die internen Mikrofone extrem neutral, ohne Färbung, sehr natürlich. Und ausreichend laut sind sie auch. Verglichen mit dem Zoom H5, Zoom H4n Pro, Tascam DR-40X sind die internen Mikros klar besser. Für DR-40(X)-Besitzer: Die XLR-Vorverstärker sind nicht anders als am DR-40(X). Im direkten Vergleich ist keine Differenz nicht auszumachen, sie klingen identisch. Wahrscheinlich sind die Vorverstärker die Selben. Wobei sie klanglich bei beiden Rekordern natürlich nicht schlecht sind.Die WLAN-Verbindung funktioniert perfekt (iPhone7). Eine klare Empfehlung für diesen Rekorder. Für einige wirkt der DR-44wl billig: Ich konnte das nicht feststellen, die Verarbeitung ist gut und über jeden Zweifel erhaben. Für mich macht er einen qualitativ hochwertigen Eindruck.

Excellent