Tentacle Track E
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Tentacle Track E is a highly regarded bodypack recorder in the location sound community, valued for its 'set-and-forget' reliability and precision timecode. Users frequently praise its 32-bit float recording capability and its ability to maintain sync for up to 24 hours without drift. While it lacks wireless transmission for real-time monitoring, it is often used as a robust alternative or backup in environments with heavy RF interference.
Pros
- Reliable timecode synchronization that stays within one frame for 24 hours
- 32-bit float recording prevents audio clipping in unpredictable environments
- Compact, lightweight form factor that does not get excessively hot during use
- Seamless integration with the Tentacle Sync ecosystem for easy post-production alignment
- High performance that holds up well when compared to more expensive professional mixers
Cons
- Mono recording only; requires two units for stereo configurations
- Potential app connectivity issues reported on older or heavily used units
- Lack of wireless transmission means audio cannot be monitored in real-time
Caveats
- Requires a battery disconnect/reconnect cycle to troubleshoot some sync or app detection failures
- Audio must be synced in post-production as the device records locally to a microSD card
Best for
- Solo shooters and small crews needing reliable backup audio
- Recording in cars or locations with high RF interference and potential wireless dropouts
- Long-form productions where devices need to roll all day without constant monitoring
Avoid if
- Real-time wireless monitoring of the talent's audio is a requirement
- You need a native stereo recording solution in a single bodypack
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is older, with a median age of approximately 392 days, and comes primarily from professional location sound discussions.
Sentiment
10 positive (59%) · 5 mixed (29%) · 2 negative (12%)
Trust + time weighted score: +49% · raw score 47%
What redditors said (10 of 17)
I've a Mix Pre 6 II and the performance of the Track E has never been in question comparing
something like Tentacle Track E might be good since it's light and doesn't get as hot.
I have a well used Tentacle Track E. It stopped showing up in the app, so I disconnected the battery, and now when I reconnect the battery and turn it on, about 50% of the time, it will connect to the app for 1 to 5 seconds and then tell me it has disconnected. The other 50 percent of the time, after a battery reconnect, it does not re-connect to the app at all.
I would just get a Tentacle Track E and let it roll all day with a Tentacle Sync on your camera.
I do a tentacle track E but that’s only mono. I suppose you could do 2 of them. I wish tentacle would come out with a stereo version.
IMHO Tentacle Track E - never had an issue and have 5 of them.
I like my tentacle track e
will a local lav recording on a DR-10L or Zoom F2 or Tentacle Track E or something similar sound better than a wireless recording on Lectro hybrid digital or Shure Axient?
I had a chat with a very experienced sound mixer who told me that the market for sound mixers in Australia has contracted because of the influx of relatively cheap sound gear that can be left to run without monitoring it - e.g. 32-bit float body pack recorders such as the Rode Wireless Pro, Tentacle Track E or Deity PR-2.
I've been thinking on getting a few Tentacle Track E and use those inside cars and scenes where I might get heavy dropouts.
Compare
Tentacle Track E vs Sennheiser MKH 50Tentacle Track E vs DPA 2017Tentacle Track E vs Wisycom
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