Nomono Sound Capsule vs Tascam Portacapture X8

The Nomono Sound Capsule and the Tascam Portacapture X8 solve different halves of field recording. The Sound Capsule gives you four wireless mics, ambisonic room capture and Studio Cloud for $1,188. The Portacapture X8 is a 32-bit float handheld recorder with six input channels, $499 at launch and $399 at Sweetwater, with external microphones not included.

Key takeaways

• The Sound Capsule is a complete four-person capture system in one 2.9 lb kit; nothing else needs buying before the first interview.
• The Portacapture X8 records 32-bit float at up to 192 kHz. The Sound Capsule does not record 32-bit float and relies on auto-levelling on every mic instead.
• The X8 has built-in stereo mics but nothing to clip on a guest, so budget for microphones, cables and stands for each extra voice.
• Only the Sound Capsule records an ambisonic spatial track alongside the voice tracks, and it is Dolby Atmos-ready.
• Tascam leaves you a memory card at the end of the session. Nomono uploads the session to Studio Cloud automatically.

Side by side

The Sound Capsule is a closed system: a Space Recorder with an 8-mic ambisonic array, four Stellar wireless mics and a charging case. The Portacapture X8 is an open one: a touchscreen recorder with a pair of 14.6 mm condenser mics that can be set to A-B or X-Y, four XLR/TRS combo inputs and two 3.5 mm inputs for the microphones you already own.

Tascam specs are from its product page (checked Oct 2026). Battery figures drop to about 5.5 hours on alkaline and 10 on lithium with phantom power on.

What each price buys for a four-guest recording

Comparing $1,188 with $399 is misleading until you finish the shopping list. The X8 on its own records the room through its built-in mics. Putting four people on separate tracks means four microphones, four cables and stands or booms, plus a microSD card and editing software. Using fact-sheet street prices, four RØDE PodMics at $86 each add $344, which puts the core kit near $743 before cables and stands.

Nomono's number is a single line item. The Sound Capsule is $1,188, and the price includes the first year of Studio Cloud Premium: 600 minutes a month of AI enhancement, 600 GB of storage, unlimited transcription and two editors with unlimited reviewers. After the first year you can stay on the Free plan or continue Studio Cloud from $29/month (Professional) or $99/month (Premium); the hardware keeps working either way. Solo hosts and two-person interviews should look at the Stellar Kit at $348 instead. Full plan details are on Studio Cloud pricing.

Setup time when four guests are already seated

Wireless capture removes the step that costs the most time on location. With the Sound Capsule you clip a Stellar mic on each guest and start recording; auto-levelling sets each mic without anyone riding a knob, and the Sound Capsule is ready to record in under 10 seconds. No cable runs, and no stand pulled over when a guest stands up mid-take. Tascam's answer to setup friction is software: seven preset apps (Manual, Voice, Podcast, Music, Field, Pocketstudio and ASMR) guide signal settings on the touchscreen. Presets shorten the thinking, not the cabling. Our guide to multi-guest panel recording covers the room prep that applies to either rig.

32-bit float on the Tascam vs auto-levelling on the Nomono

Tascam wins this on paper. The X8 records 32-bit float, so an unexpected shout does not clip and can be turned down in editing. The Sound Capsule has no 32-bit float mode; its voice tracks are 16-bit/48 kHz.

Nomono uses a different mechanism for the same problem. Every Stellar mic auto-levels, so four voices at four volumes arrive on four sensibly levelled tracks without an operator, and AI audio enhancement in Studio Cloud handles noise removal and audio enhancement afterward. Judge by what goes wrong: 32-bit float rescues a level set badly, while auto-levelling avoids the setup decision. For unpredictable loud sources such as live music, buy the 32-bit float recorder. For four people talking, the gap narrows.

From TASCAM: how 32-bit float and timecode work on the Portacapture X8.

Room sound and spatial audio

Ambisonic capture is the one feature with no Tascam equivalent. The Space Recorder's 8-mic array records a spatial track of the room at 24-bit/48 kHz alongside the voice tracks, and Studio Cloud Premium includes spatial export and ambisonics download. A Dolby Atmos or binaural mix needs that soundfield captured on the day. The X8's built-in pair gives a good A-B or X-Y stereo image, which is not the same thing. Our explainer on spatial audio for podcasts covers when it pays off.

After the session: memory card vs cloud workspace

The X8 leaves WAV files on a microSD card that you copy, back up, import, sync and clean in whatever software you use. It also works as an 8-in/2-out USB audio interface, and the optional AK-BT1 Bluetooth adapter enables remote control from the Portacapture Control app. Tascam also lists wireless timecode sync with compatible Atomos devices, which matters on a multi-camera shoot. Nomono uploads the session to Studio Cloud for cloud editing, transcription and audio/video sync, so a producer in another city can open it without a file transfer. If you plan to edit by transcript, see our Nomono Studio Cloud vs Descript comparison.

Which recorder fits your work

Weighing another 32-bit float handheld? Our Sound Capsule vs Zoom H6essential comparison covers the $329.99 Zoom, and our roundup of portable podcast recording kits covers the wider field.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sound Capsule better than the Portacapture X8 for podcasting?

For a four-person podcast recorded away from a studio, the Sound Capsule fits better: four wireless mics, room capture and Studio Cloud in one kit. For a solo or two-person show on a tight budget, the X8 at $399 at Sweetwater does the job for less.

Does the Sound Capsule record 32-bit float?

No. Voice tracks are 16-bit/48 kHz and the spatial track is 24-bit/48 kHz. Nomono relies on auto-levelling on every mic. If you need 32-bit float for unpredictable sources, the Portacapture X8 records it.

How many people can you record separately on a Portacapture X8?

It has up to six input channels: four XLR/TRS combo inputs and two 3.5 mm inputs, with the built-in mics as an option. Four guests on separate tracks need four external microphones, cables and stands, none of which ship with the recorder.

What does a Tascam Portacapture X8 cost?

It launched at $499 and sells for $399 at Sweetwater. Microphones, a microSD card and the optional AK-BT1 adapter are extra.

Can the Portacapture X8 record spatial audio?

Tascam does not list ambisonic capture. Its built-in 14.6 mm condenser pair records stereo in A-B or X-Y. The Sound Capsule's 8-mic array records an ambisonic spatial track and the system is Dolby Atmos-ready.

How long does each one record on battery?

The Sound Capsule runs up to 10 hours, or 25 with the charging case, and stores up to 12 hours internally. Tascam quotes about 11 hours on alkaline and 18 on lithium without phantom power, and about 5.5 and 10 hours with it.

Should I buy the Stellar Kit instead?

If you record one or two people, yes. The Stellar Kit has two wireless mics with 15 hours of battery and Studio Cloud Professional for $348. Step up to the Sound Capsule for four guests or spatial capture.

Written by Ruben Åeng, Lead Audio Engineer at Nomono

Audio engineer and Product Manager for spatial audio products at Nomono, with 15 years of experience in film and television sound. Before joining in 2021 he worked as a production sound mixer, dialogue editor and sound designer, with credits including the Oscar-nominated short “Night Ride”.