I'm a experienced user of field recording equipment for live recordings. I have been using several 4-channel and 6-channel recorders for a while now including Edirol R44, Zoom H6 and Tascam DR-680. Each of them both have good as well as not so good features.
Sound quality aside which is good on all of them and usually up to par they all lack in some respect which is natural due to the compromises that is necessary in lower cost equipment. So I have been looking for something that is easy to use, great value for money and easy to transport.
I was looking at Tascams DR-60D, 4-channel recorder but wasn't happy with the bulky design.
But last year, to my delight I found a solution that give me all the perks I need, the sound quality I expect as well as easy handling and portability in the Tascam DR-70D.
Even though I have fairly large fingers, I can still easily maneuver all the buttons and dials when needed.
But since one of the things I do is video recordings with separate audio, I found that the "slate" function in the DR-70D is of great value in post.
This was, it turns out, the function I had long for in all the other recorders. To have a "beep" tone recorded on both the cameras sound track as well as on the audio recorders all channels every time I need it or every time the recording starts, saves me a lot of time and head scratching during post production.
So, with other words, I can really recommend the Tascam DR-70D, mainly due to these features:
* Good sound quality, even on the built-in mics
* Easy to use, even without reading the manual
* Fantastic value for money with it's ludicrous low price
* Smart design that fits either under the camera or in the cameras "hot-shoe mount"
* Long battery life with the external battery box and since the connector is a standard micro-USB, any "powerbank" can also be used as a power source if the internal batteries run out, a feature non other field recorder have, at least as I know of.
So to conclude, I higly recommend this or its "big brother" aimed mainly towards pro-filming, the DR-701D.