Recording King Guitars: Tascam BB1000CD Portable CD/SD Recorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought one of these for practice. I'm a cellist, and recording myself has always meant getting up from my chair, putting down the instrument, using two hands to press an annoying combination of buttons to start the recording, sitting back down to record, then eventually having to get up again to listen on headphones. That's a lot of wasted time. I snapped up one of these new boombox/recorders as soon as it came out because it promised to get rid of all that hassle.
It's true, recording couldn't be easier. There's an included wireless remote. Just press record twice, then start playing. Press stop, then press play to hear yourself through the speakers built into the unit. Instant gratification!
Only problem is that the speakers are mediocre. My free Dell computer speakers sound better than the Tascam! Through the Tascam speakers the cello sounds muted. The upper harmonics don't come through. It might be fixable if there were an EQ on the unit, but there isn't. It isn't the built-in microphones--those are actually pretty good. On headphones, the treble comes through fine. It's definitely the speakers.
I'm giving the recorder three stars because everything else is perfect. But it really isn't any use for string players without decent speakers. If you're looking for something to use for practicing, you might as well buy a Tascam DR100 Portable Recorder (which also includes the wireless remote) and plug in a pair of computer speakers.

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Built to make recording to CD as simple as pressing record on a cassette boom box, the battery-powered Tascam BB1000CD portable CD/SD recorder can record to Secure Digital (SD) memory cards or blank CDs. It's a great choice for schools, houses of worship and band rehearsal spaces. You can choose from four built-in microphones or XLR mic inputs. The two front and two back mics can be individually trimmed for a balanced recording, and tracks can be immediately played back through a built-in 10W sound system.
The recorder offers uncompressed recording to CD-R/RW media for audio CDs. The SD Card can capture as WAV file or MP3 files, and SD Card recordings can be burned to CD. The BB1000CD can use two microphones on the front of the unit, two mics on the rear, or a pair of XLR mic inputs with phantom power as the recording source. Tracks can be played through the built-in speaker system, and can be looped and slowed down without changing the pitch.
The built-in tuner and metronome provide audio-visual feedback for practicing students. A set of AA batteries powers the unit, or it can be plugged in with the included power supply. The BB1000CD also includes a wireless remote for starting the recording from anywhere on stage.
For recording just to SD/SDHC media, check out the Tascam BB800.
Features
Recording to CD-R/RW or SD/SDHC memory card
Uncompressed PCM recording (CD/SD)
MP3 recording (SD)
Long duration recording capabilities (MP3 format)
Copy function dubs from SD card to CD, and from CD to SD card
Four built-in high quality condenser microphones for 360-degree recording
Built-in 10W stereo sound system
Simple operation with dedicated knobs and keys
Variable speed audition with key control
Loop playback
Metronome and chromatic tuner
Over-dub recording
Powered through 8 x AA batteries or AC power adapter
2 x XLR mic inputs with +48V phantom power
Stereo pair of RCA line input jacks for connecting external devices
Stereo pair of RCA line output jacks for connecting external devices
Compatible with SD cards up to 2 GB in size and SDHC cards up to 32 GB in size
Wireless remote control unit included

Specifications
Frequency response: 20-20 kHz (±1 dB)
Distortion (THD+N): 0.05 percent (1 kHz LPF 20 kHz)
Signal to noise ratio: 85 dB (1 kHz, LPF 20 kHz A-weighted)
Battery life (continuous operation):
Up to 1.5 hours of CD playback
Up to 2.5 hours of SD record/playback, speaker output mode
Up to 4.5 hours of SD record/playback, headphone output mode

Line input (L/R, unbalanced):
Nominal input level: -10 dBV
Maximum input level: + 6 dBV
Minimum input level: -22 dBV
Input impedance: 20 kΩ

External mic (L/R, balanced):
Connector: XLR-3-32 (1: GND 2: Hot 3: Cold)
Nominal input level: -13 dBV
Maximum input level: + 3 dBV
Minimum input level: -55 dBV
Input impedance: 2.4 kΩ

Line output (L/R, unbalanced):
Connector: RCA pin jack
Nominal output level: -10 dBV
Maximum output level: + 6 dBV
Output impedance: 200 kΩ

Speakers: 3 inches x 2
Amplifiers: 5W + 5W
Dimensions: 14.96 x 8.06 x 4.21 inches
Weight: 7.5 pounds

What's in the Box BB1000CD Portable CD/SD Recorder, wireless remote control (with battery), owner's manual