I use a Tascam DR 60D often.
(with condenser mics on the the XLR sockets)
It makes excellent recordings.

When you say "the gain at the highest setting". Do you mean the
rotary gain control on the front panel? You should not need to
have this much above 12 o'clock.

Have you adjusted the on-screen system presets?

Go to Menu - Input Settings and then scroll down until you
see the settings for Ch3/4. The factory default gain setting is
"Low" Change this to "High" and hopefully all will be well.

Iain




"Ar" wrote in message ...
Hopefully the right group for the question.

I bought the Tascam 60D Mk2 as a four track recorder on a tight budget to
replace a stereo track handheld PCM recorder (with mic/line input).

I don't have XLR mic yet to test, but the recorder does have stereo
channel 3.5mm so I thought I could use my stereo microphone to record
"atmosphere" as well as the mic on XLR.

The problem is, even with gain set to its highest setting, the recording
level is still pathetic, at least -25dB. When looking at the audio from
the same mic and my stereo recorder, I could easily drive to 0dB without
maxing out the adjustment on the recorder.

I have since read the 60D does not have a "real" pre-amp for 3.5mm
microphones, they need to output really high. Are there any cheap battery
powered 3.5mm pre-amps that are in-line that I can use for the microphone?

I've found one device, but it isn't exactly small, but it is cheap.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STEREO-MIC...item418b6f5c5d