[music]
Before we start recording with the Portacapture X8
let’s go over the physical features of the unit and get it set up.
Firstly we can see the large 3½-inch color touch screen.
From here we can easily navigate all the built-in apps,
access all the settings and control all aspects of functionality.
On both the left and right side of the unit are four XLR/TRS combo jacks.
In addition to microphones we can also plug in any gear that may have ¼-inch (6.3-mm) outputs.
The left side of the unit features ⅛-inch external line in and line outputs
perfect for but not limited to using with cameras.
Next to those is the headphone output and the headphone volume control
for monitoring recording and playback.
Attached to the top of the X8 are the built-in large-diaphragm condenser microphones.
These can be switched between A-B and X-Y patterns.
To do so, simply unscrew the fastener at the base of each mic,
pull them out, then switch sides and re-secure them.
The mics only attach one way, so it’ll be easy to notice if we have them in the wrong position.
On the right side of the Portacapture is the USB-C connection,
the SD card slot and the power button.
To power on our Portacapture X8, we’ll need to push the power button to the left
towards the On/Off symbol and hold briefly.
Once the unit powers up, we’ll be taken to the launcher display.
This is where we can access all the different apps for all our recording needs.
Simply touch the screen and scroll through the wheel.
On the bottom right corner of the launcher display we see the General Settings icon.
Touch that to access the Portacapture X8 settings.
Here we can change various parameters.
Record Settings allows us to make changes to the file format, sample rate
and bit depth along with enabling Record Pause, Auto Record, Dual Record and Pre Record.
Dual Record allows users to record both WAV and MP3 files simultaneously.
Input/Output Settings is where we can enable phantom power,
trim the gain on the mics, turn the built-in speaker on and off, and add reverb.
In “Camera Settings” we can adjust the output level to a camera or other device
as well as enable Auto Tone for the beginning and ending of recording.
Auto tone provides an audio cue tone for level reference and identifying new takes
while recording audio and video together.
Opening Other Settings we can see controls for peak mark, auto mark,
SD card reader function and enabling Bluetooth control.
“System Settings” allows us to change the date and time, file name format,
language options and format the loaded media.
We can enable auto power save, select the power source, select battery type,
adjust power save mode parameters and change the screen contrast –
all from the Power/Display settings.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, we’re ready to start recording.
Check out the links on your screen for more tips and tutorials on the Portacapture X8.
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