Tascam Portacapture X8 Portable Digital Recorder

Tascam Portacapture X8 — 32-bit float field recorder for studio-quality sound anywhere

The Tascam Portacapture X8 is a portable 8-channel audio recorder for musicians, podcasters, videographers, and field recordists. Dual A/D converters and 32-bit float recording capture everything from whispered interviews to amplified guitar cabinets without clipping or noise. A Launcher on the 8.9 cm color touchscreen puts presets for music, podcast, field, voice, ASMR, and pocket studio workflows at your fingertips.

Detachable large-diaphragm mics and 32-bit float headroom

Two 14.6mm condenser microphones — the largest in Tascam's lineup — detach and rotate into A-B or true X-Y stereo configurations, with omnidirectional and cardioid polar pattern options. The 32-bit float engine pairs with dual analog-to-digital converters, so quiet phrases can be raised in post without added noise and loud peaks lowered without distortion. HDDA mic preamps on the XLR/TRS combo inputs deliver an equivalent input noise of -126 dBu or better.

Key specifications that matter on set and in the studio

Six recording apps, eight simultaneous tracks, and storage up to 512 GB on microSDXC cards define the workflow. Phantom power switches per channel, while the built-in speaker and 45 mW headphone output handle on-the-spot monitoring.

• Recording resolution reaches WAV (BWF) up to 192 kHz / 32-bit float, MP3 up to 320 kbps, ensuring lossless headroom for post-production.
• Inputs and Tracks: 6 input channels (4 XLR/TRS combo + 2 built-in mics), 8 simultaneous recording tracks — covers full band capture or four-mic podcast setups.
• Storage: microSD / microSDHC / microSDXC up to 512 GB. Enough capacity for days of multitrack sessions on a single card.
• Power: 4 AA batteries (alkaline, Ni-MH, or lithium), USB bus power, optional PS-P520U AC adapter — up to 18 hours on lithium AAs.

Built for musicians, podcasters, and videographers on the move

Songwriters get Overdub and Punch In/Out inherited from Tascam's Portastudio heritage, plus a metronome and tuner. Podcasters run a four-person workflow with USB mix-minus, while videographers benefit from wireless timecode sync with Atomos devices. The Portacapture X8 is the right choice for creators who need one recorder that travels from home studio to remote location.

Tascam and the Portastudio legacy

Tascam's Portastudio line pioneered cassette-based multitrack recording for home studios, and this model inherits that hands-on philosophy for the 32-bit float era. The proprietary Auto File Save System writes to the SD card every 20 seconds, protecting sessions from unexpected power loss.