Tascam Portacapture X8 – High Resolution Adaptive Multi-Recorder

The Tascam Portacapture X8 is a High-Resolution Adaptive Multi-Recorder. It offers uncompromised audio quality with sampling rates up to 192 kHz and 32-bit floating-point resolution. This means it is ideal for later lossless post-editing with DAW software.

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Tascam Portacapture X8 – High-Resolution Adaptive Multi-Recorder

The Tascam Portacapture X8 is a High-Resolution Adaptive Multi-Recorder. It offers uncompromised audio quality with sampling rates up to 192 kHz and 32-bit floating-point resolution. This means it is ideal for later lossless post-editing with DAW software.

Four XLR/TRS jacks plus in and out for your camera and other equipment

The Portacapture X8 features four professional, locking XLR/TRS combo inputs for mic- and line-level signals. As a result, it is ready for most of your daily recording challenges. Additional mini-jack input and output each enable you to hook up your camera or other audio devices.

When creating video footage, for example, you can record a guiding track with slate tones on your camera to simplify synchronisation during post-editing of the video material. You can adjust the level of the camera output. This means that the Portacapture X8 can be adapted to virtually any camera model.

Of course, there is also a headphones output, which is powerful enough to keep you in control even in noisy environments.

Flexible handling – wherever you feel creative

The Portacapture X8 weighs less than 500 grams including batteries. You can mount it directly onto a DSLR or camera or combined with AV rigs thanks to its rear cold shoe adapter. You can also attach it to mic stands or wireless receivers.

Fastened this way, your Portacapture X8 is less susceptible to handling noise and your recordings turn out even better.

Innovative, powerful, yet simple

Right after start-up, the large colour touch screen of the Portacapture X8 shows the Launcher which lets you easily select the best audio settings that match your application. Taking advantage of these presets, you have more time to focus on the actual recording without having to struggle with complicated settings.

Should you, however, prefer to set everything yourself, the MANUAL app offers you all the possibilities to do so – including a Recording Guide that leads you through the required settings screens, if you like.

Portacapture X8 allows you to set your levels with ease

The Portacapture X8 provides a preset level setting to achieve a wide dynamic range utilizing premium dual A/D converters and recording technology with 32-bit floating-point resolution. The result is content with uncompromised audio quality even with low-level recordings. When editing the audio data later, you can increase the level without deteriorating the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N).

Also, the internal normalize function can automatically align the level of the stereo mix file after recording.

Combining these features, there’s no need to use valuable creative time finding the right audio level that matches the recording.

USB audio interface for your computer

The Portacapture X8  utilizes plug-and-go driverless functionality. This means that is can be used as a compact mixer with built-in microphones for live streaming via OBS or similar platforms. It also offers direct recording of video narration and dialogue directly to DAW and editing software.

The Portacapture X8 streams up to eight tracks (six inputs plus stereo mix) through USB. By supporting the USB Type-C Power Delivery standard, the unit can simultaneously supply any external microphone with phantom power via the USB bus. For video or audio conferencing, use the Portacapture X8 as your USB stereo microphone and even record the audio simultaneously.

Premium large-format microphones

The Portacapture X8 comes with two high-quality condenser microphones, each with a diameter of 14.6 mm. This is the largest in the Tascam lineup. With a detachable mechanism; both L and R mics can be flexibly attached and detached from the main unit to form A-B or X-Y mic patterns.

  • A-B Pattern: Ideal for creating a wide stereo field
  • X-Y pattern: Provides extra-clear reproduction with reduced phase displacement between both channels

Combined with the dual A/D converter, 32-bit floating-point processing and sampling rates up to 192 kHz, these microphones capture everything from the quietest rustle to the loudest spectacle.

Wireless remote control (with optional Bluetooth adapter)

The Portacapture X8 can be remote-controlled via mobile devices; such as smartphones and tablets (iPad and Android devices) using the optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth adapter. Furthermore, the Portacapture Control app can be downloaded for free; from the Apple Store or Google Play.

In this way, you can, for example, record nature sounds in the wild without affecting the result with your own direct presence or your own noises.

Portacapture X8 offers Multi-track recording with up to eight tracks

The Portacapture X8 can simultaneously record up to eight audio tracks in total (six individual tracks + stereo mix). Select which inputs are recorded on which tracks; apply noise-gate, compression, EQ and reverb like you would do on a mixing console.

The MANUAL app allows you to set levels and stereo positions for each of the six input tracks. So you can publish a podcast, vlog, song or other content with a stereo mix.

For the XLR/TRS inputs, Tascam know-how utilizing the in-house-developed HDDA (High Definition Discrete Architecture) mic preamps enables high-quality audio recording.

Included

  • Included mics × 1 (left/right pair)
  • AA alkaline batteries × 4
  • Owner’s Manual(including warranty) × 1
  • TASCAM ID registration guide × 1
  • Intuitive Launcher system using a 3.5-inch colour touch panel display 
  • Recording applications such as basic multi-track recording, podcasting, music, voice (interviews, vlog), field recording, ASMR and more 
  • 4 XLR/TRS locking combo jack MIC/LINE inputs with individual phantom power supply (24V/48V) and in-house-developed HDDA (High Definition Discrete Architecture) mic preamps 
  • Supports up to 192kHz/ 32-bit float point recording 
  • Detachable 14.6mm large-diaphragm condenser mics for both A-B position and X-Y position 
  • Includes 8-in/2-out USB audio interface function 
  • Internal mics can be used as a USB audio source 
  • Internal recording to SD card is available while the unit is functioning in USB audio interface mode 
  • Internal multi-track recording up to 8 tracks (6 tracks + 2 mix) 
  • TASCAM Portacapture Control app for wireless remote control via mobile devices (with optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth dongle) 
  • Dual recording mode enables each track to be recorded with a different file format 
  • Equipped with a variety of functions such as low-cut filter, compressor, limiter, auto-gain control, reverb and noise gate 
  • CAMERA/EXT input allows audio recorded on a camera to be monitored and also supports audio input of wireless microphones and more 
  • CAMERA/LINE output with attenuation function allows for sending audio to external devices like cameras, etc. 
  • Audio monitoring is possible with either headphone output or the built-in speaker 
  • Supports micro SD/micro SDHC/micro SDXC (up to 512GB) recording media 
  • Equipped with a Mark function and slate tone function 
  • Powered by 4 AA batteries, USB bus power, or optional AC adapter (PS-P520U) 
  • Support multi-language menu display (English, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Russian) 

Recording media 

  • microSD cards (64MB –2GB) 
  • microSDHC cards (4GB – 32GB) 
  • microSDXC cards (48 GB –512 GB) 

Recording/playback formats 

  • WAV (BWF): 44.1k/48k/96k/192kHz, 
  • 16/24-bit, 32-bit float 
  • MP3: 44.1k/48kHz, 128k/192k/256k/320kbps 

Number of channels 

  • Input channels: 6 channels maximum 
  • Recording tracks: 8 tracks maximum (6tracks, stereo mix) 

Analog audio input ratings 

Mic inputs (unbalanced) 

Input jacks 1–2(support plug-in power) 

Connectors: 3.5mm (1/8”) TRS mini jacks 

Input impedance: 85kΩ or higher 

Maximum input level: +1 dBV 

Minimum input level: -69.3 dBV 

 

Mic inputs (balanced) 

Input jacks 3–6(input set to “MIC”) 

Connectors: 

  • XLR-3-31 equivalent (1: GND, 2: HOT, 3: COLD) 
  • 6.3mm (1/4”) standard TRS jacksInput 
  • (Tip: HOT, Ring: COLD, Sleeve: GND) 
  • Note: phantom power supported by XLR only 

Input impedance: 2.2kΩ or higher 

Maximum input level: +2 dBu 

Minimum input level: -75dBu 

Input jacks 3–6(Input set to “LINE”) 

 

Connectors: 

  • XLR-3-31 equivalent (1: GND, 2: HOT, 3: COLD) 
  • 6.3mm (1/4”) standard TRS jacksInput 
  • (Tip: HOT, Ring: COLD, Sleeve: GND) 
  • Impedance: 9kΩ or higher 
  • Nominal input level: +4 dBu (GAIN:min) 
  • Maximum input level: +24 dBu 
  • Minimum input level: -53dBu 

Line input (unbalanced): EXT IN jack 

Connector: 1/8″ (3.5mm) Stereo Mini jack 

Inputimpedance: 8.5kΩ or higher 

Nominal input level: -10dBV (GAIN:min) 

Maximum input level: +10 dBV 

Minimum input level: -48 dBV 

 

Analog audio output 

Line output (unbalanced): LINE OUT jack 

Connector: 1/8″ (3.5mm) Stereo Mini jack 

Output impedance: 200Ω 

Nominal output level: -14dBV 

Maximum output level: +6 dBV 

Note: 0dBV=1Vrms, 0dBu=0.775Vrms 

 

Headphone output: headphone jack 

Connector: 1/8″ (3.5mm) Stereo Mini jack 

Maximum output: 

  • 45 mW + 45 mW (THD+N 0.1% or less, into 32 Ω load) 
  • Built-in speaker: 0.4 W (mono) 

Control input/output ratings 

USB port 

Connector: USB Type-C 

 

Format: USB2.0 HIGH-SPEED mass storage class 

Bluetooth device connector: For Bluetooth adapter (AK-BT1) only 

 

Audio performance 

Frequency response 

  • Input jacks 1–6and EXT IN jack 
  • 20Hz –20kHz at 48kHz: +0/-0.3dB (JEITA) 
  • 20 Hz –60 kHz at 192 kHz: +0/-2.5 dB (JEITA) 

 

S/N ratio 

Input jacks 1–2 

(20kHz SPCL LPF, A-weighting) 

  • 101dB (48kHz) 
  • 104dB (192kHz) 

Input jacks 3–6, EXT IN jack 

(20kHz SPCL LPF, A-weighting) 

  • 102dB (48kHz) 
  • 105dB (192 kHz) 

Total harmonic distortion ratio (THD+N): (1kHz sine, -5 dBFS input,GAIN:min,20kHz SPCL LPF) 

  • Input jacks 1–2: 0.005% 
  • Input jacks 3–6 (LINE IN): 0.008% 
  • Input jacks 3–6 (MIC IN): 0.006% 
  • Note: JEITA indicates conformance to JEITA CP-2150 

Windows 

Supported operating systems 

  • Windows 11 64-bit 
  • Windows 10 64-bit 

Computer hardware requirements 

  • Windows computer with a USB 2.0 (or higher) 
  • Note: Operation is not guaranteed using the TASCAM driver with ARM64 CPUs. 

Mac 

Supported operating systems 

  • macOS Big Sur (11) 
  • macOS Catalina (10.15) 

Computer hardware requirements:Mac with a USB 2.0 (or higher) port 

iOS/iPadOS device 

  • iOS 14 / iPadOS 14, iOS 13 / iPadOS 13 
  • Note: iOS 15 / iPadOS 15 are currently being tested. 

Android device 

  • Android 10, Android 11 
  • Note: Compatibility has been confirmed, but this does not guarantee operation with all devices. 

Other 

Power 

  • 4 AA batteries (Alkaline, Ni-MH or Lithium-ion) 
  • USB bus power from a computer 
  • TASCAM PS-P520U AC adapter (sold separately) 

Power consumption 

  • 7.5 W (maximum) 

Dimensions: 83 x 205.6 x 41.5mm (W× H× D, including protrusions) 

Weight: 472g/381g (with/without batteries) 

Operating temperature range: 0–40ºC 

 

Included 

  • Included mics × 1 (left/right pair) 
  • AA alkaline batteries × 4 
  • Owner’s Manual(including warranty) × 1 
  • TASCAM ID registration guide × 1 
For more information, please visit the manufacturer's website.