Totally agree! I use Tascam X8 and also Zoom H4n, Zoom H1n, Zoom H1e. I'm disappointed by Essential "family" - it should be a great answer to Portacapture small family from Tascam. Unfortunately, Zoom re-packed old recorders to new "futuristic" chassis and added 32-bit float. Even USB-controller is the same, very slow 2.0 model (yes, connector is modern USB-C, but internally it's still USB 2.0)... Sorry, Zoom, I love F3 and F6, but H-family needs more refreshing touch.

I've cut Zoom a big break when my H5 plastic became a sticky mess, and they replaced the entire unit for free...even though it was well beyond warranty. The UI isn't great. The lack of built-in BT or app control is sad,  and the battery life is horrid (when using phantom power, at least). I do wish Roland would update their field recorders, as I found  that their microphones are superior to both Tascam and Zoom's offerings.

Thanks, very nice video.
I slowly shifted from Zoom to Tascam w/ the x6 as the beating heart of my (now all-Tascam) setup. Better build quality. Stronger multi-functionality. Better for iPad-only workflow.

I gave this video a like for mentioning the fact that us visually impaired people are a corner of the voice recorder market and finally Zoom did something for us.  It's not perfect but I wish every voice recorder had talking menus.  Heard so much about Tascam but until they add some voice guidance like Olympus (OM system) and Zoom I will stay clear.

The visually impaired is an important market as audio and podcasts must thr the education and entertainment mediums of choice. Super good.of you to point out.

Great review. I buy/use tascam because of the battery life. Zoom recorders die too fast. I do a lot of field recording and can't be changing batteries all the time. Thanks for the great review!

When “Hand Holding” my X8. I use A/B Mic set up and a Manfrotto mini tripod. Zero handling noise.

I have been recording YT videos for years with various USB interfaces such as the Scarlett and Motu.  I purchased a Zoom F3 and found the process to be horrible with many buttons and a convoluted menu.  I then purchased the Tascam Portacapture X6 with 8 buttons and a great screen but another super convoluted menu system with many sub menus which aren't obvious...thus na steep learning curve, but great audio.  I then purchased the Zoom H4 essential.  I find that it has the best menu system by far and the audio is ok for me.  So for a person that want's a simple process to add audio to a camera or computer I highly recommend the Zoom H4 essential.  I used the XLR mic input with a Beyerdynamic Zoom mic.

H5 / 6 Studio is now leading again.

I have heard a lot of reports that those attachesd XY mics are flimsy light plastic and very prone to breaking on both the X6 and 8

Thank you for this review, I was going back and forth and couldn't decide. Getting the Tascam X6 now.

I have quite a few recorders. Where the X8 shines is the variety of functions. Besides being a recorder, you can use it as a mixer,  a DSP processor, a podcast tool, etc etc. Also, on the X8 you have a lot of connectors, it will take whatever mic :)

Tascam always make easy to use, great sounding gear. The X6 is great and the only handheld/portable recorder I know of that has a noise gate as part of it's on-board effects.

I've always liked Tascam more because they seem to me to be better-built equipment with much better menus and more accessible buttons. I had a DR-05 and now I have the H1n... The feeling of fragility of the H1n next to the DR-05 is remarkable... I know that what matters is the final quality of the audio, but there are things that I consider beyond the audio... I don't know whether to upgrade my H1n to an H4n Pro or go back to the Tascam. I like Tascam's rotating mic system (XY or AB)

What caused me to settle upon my Tascam X8 was ultimately the extensive feature set/capabilities of the device which pretty much meet or best Zoom recorders in its class.  As well, I was pretty much turned off by what Zoom did with the Essentials series because of all the 32 bit float hype going around these days.  It's not that I'm against 32 bit float -- but it's because I want that feature along with other feature sets/capabilities which offer me the greatest flexibility in term of a handheld recorder.  Or in other words I needed a recorder that would offer long term growth  in terms of  my audio work.  Simply put the X8 offers me the aforementioned in terms of its robustness.  Of course, the X8 is not perfect because it does have some  odd idiosyncrasies -- like not showing audio levels when the record/pause function is turned on -- but those are minor in terms of what the X8 offers me overall.

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All this video did was make me curious about the nail color 😊. Joking...good presentation

When a lavalier mic plugged into Tascam X6, this device still records 32bit, right?

nice to see this!

The H5 recording lights flash when it peaks. The screen on the Tascam might be good, but doubling the batteries is absolutely not worth it IMO. I second what you said about the H5 rubber finish. It was so nice when it was new, but mine is disgusting at this point, and it's borderline embarrassing to me on jobs. I'd strip it down to the plastic happily, and have rubbed it down with alcohol to get the worst of it off.  That said, it's pretty old and it's been been through extremes of temperature and still works flawlessly.