This is the Tascam DR-10L, my favorite audio recorder of all time. Heads up: the Tascam DR-10L has been discontinued, so this link goes to its replacement, the Tascam DR-10L Pro.
Out of the box you get everything you need to record high quality audio. But after using this recorder for a few years now, there are some accessories I’ve bought for it that I would highly recommend having in your gear bag as well. Four of them, specifically. And if at any point you get bored of listening to me ramble, all of it is in one list.
The BEST Batteries
The DR-10L takes one AAA battery, but you should know that not all batteries are created equal, and there are two types I recommend.
If you only need to record about four hours of audio, rechargeable NiMH batteries should be fine, and they’re a great way to save money because you can use them over and over. I’ve had a great experience with Amazon Basics high capacity batteries and Eneloop Pro batteries.
But if you need to record longer, say you’re filming a wedding and you want to put a mic on the bride and groom as soon as they start getting ready and not take it off them until after the ceremony is complete, which could be half a day or longer, in that case I would highly recommend investing in lithium batteries.
I’ve been using Energizer lithium batteries when filming weddings, and these last an entire wedding day easily, recording 10 hours straight or longer. I’ve never had one die. They’re amazing.
The only con is that they’re not rechargeable, so I replace them after every wedding and use the partially used one in electronics around my house.
Replacement Lav Mic Clip
I see people online fairly often asking for help because the lapel clip for the stock lav mic the recorder comes with has been broken or lost. And surprisingly, Tascam does not sell a replacement lapel clip for the DR-10L. I’ve looked everywhere.
But I have good news for you.
The Tascam DR-10L lav mic capsule is actually the exact same size as the very popular Sennheiser ME 2 microphone capsule. And guess what: they use the exact same lapel clip. So you can buy the Sennheiser MZQ2EW, also at B&H, and it will work perfectly.
I’ve seen it anywhere from eight to eleven dollars online, which, let’s be honest, is frankly ridiculous for a tiny piece of metal that probably costs two cents to make. But I digress. Having one in your bag as a backup can be a lifesaver if you manage to lose or break yours while you’re filming.
Mic Attachment Options
Sometimes you’ll be filming in a windy environment. Let’s say an outdoor wedding ceremony. In that situation I would not recommend using the standard lapel clip the DR-10L comes with, because then the mic is directly exposed to the air.
Instead, I would recommend investing in a set of Rycote Stickies and Overcovers.
The way these work is that instead of using the lapel clip, they let you attach the lav mic to a shirt or a jacket, and the stickies are sticky enough not to come off. Then you take one of the overcovers and place it over the other side of the microphone.
This helps insulate the mic from clothing rustle and results in even more wind protection. I bring these with me to every wedding I film.
Save $ With Lav Mics
This last one has the potential to save you the most money. You could almost call it a hack if you wanted to. People love hacks, right?
A while ago I made a video about how to mic a bride on a wedding day. To do that, I recommend buying the white version of the Tascam DR-10L, because it comes with a white cord that should easily match the color of most brides’ dresses.
Here’s the secret though. If you don’t want to pony up the $200 for a specialized white DR-10L that you’ll probably only use for that one scenario, Tascam sells a white version of just the lav mic and cable for 90 bucks. That’s the TM-10LW, and it works perfectly with the regular black DR-10L. So if you already own one of those, you can save $110 and mic the bride with a white lav mic and a black recorder. The recorder should be in a thigh strap anyway, so it won’t be visible.
Want to save even more money?
This may require a bit more patience on your part, but I’ve commonly seen both B&H and Amazon put the white DR-10L on sale for as low as $129. I usually post about those deals in my Facebook group.
And that discount means you could get a white DR-10L for $129, then add a black lav mic, which Tascam also sells for 90 bucks and which is at B&H too, and have a super versatile DR-10L setup that works for both brides and grooms for $219. Not bad.
Those are the four accessories I always have in my bag when using the Tascam DR-10L.
Also, if you happen to be a wedding filmmaker, you probably want to book more couples and film more weddings. To help you out with that, I’ve created a free guide that’s gonna walk you through some practical steps you can take right now in your business. It’s a completely free gift to you.