Topic: Serious Problems w/ the Tascam DR-680 (and their customer service)

[acidjack]

I have to say, since co-purchasing one of these with another taper in my area, I have been exactly as unimpressed with the functionality, build and general quality of this thing as I thought I'd be.

Besides that is now boots sometimes and says "Power Down - System ROM error", it also will not sync with the USBpre2 or any other digital source correctly. 

The USBpre2 has worked flawlessly into my R-44 every time.  I have it set to 24/48 and the 680 set to the same. 

It hit "PAUSE" on the 680 and instead of going into proper REC/PAUSE, a message constantly flashes in the background, but too fainly to read, that says "DIN ...."   I can't read the "..." part.  I checked the connection multiple times, tried assigning the digi signal to both channels 5/6 and the mix channels 7/8, and same thing happened both times. Better yet, when locked like this, the only way to get it out is to take the batteries out and/or cut the external power supply.

I don't know if it's an SD problem or a 680 problem, but given that the USBpre2 works fine with my other deck, I'm thinking it's the Tascam.  I believe my firmware is 1.20 (I checked a few hrs ago so may have that wrong).  It was purchased like 2 mo ago.

It really hurts the functionality of the deck for me for the last 2 channels to not work properly.  I know others have had similar issues with it, so unless my firmware is out of date, what can I do?

It really speaks poorly of Tascam that this thing doesn't work better than this. At minimum, it should not be the case that the deck just locks and can't be unlocked. 

UPDATE: It's not the firmware - both the 680 and the USBpre2 are at the latest firmware.  I have to think this problem is on Tascam's end, as I still get the faintly flashing "DIN UNLOCK" message when I connect the USBpre2.  It seems unlikely to me that it's the cable considering that the cable works perfectly well on the R-44. 

Any other suggestions, besides "call Tascam"?

I'm at least not getting the SYSTEM ROM error right now.  Running it tonight with 6 channels of analog, so we'll see how that goes.

[John Willett]

I have to say, since co-purchasing one of these with another taper in my area, I have been exactly as unimpressed with the functionality, build and general quality of this thing as I thought I'd be.

Besides that is now boots sometimes and says "Power Down - System ROM error", it also will not sync with the USBpre2 or any other digital source correctly. 

It hit "PAUSE" on the 680 and instead of going into proper REC/PAUSE, a message constantly flashes in the background, but too fainly to read, that says "DIN ...."   I can't read the "..." part.  I checked the connection multiple times, tried assigning the digi signal to both channels 5/6 and the mix channels 7/8, and same thing happened both times. Better yet, when locked like this, the only way to get it out is to take the batteries out and/or cut the external power supply.

I don't know if it's an SD problem or a 680 problem, but given that the USBpre2 works fine with my other deck, I'm thinking it's the Tascam.  I believe my firmware is 1.20 (I checked a few hrs ago so may have that wrong).  It was purchased like 2 mo ago.

It really hurts the functionality of the deck for me for the last 2 channels to not work properly.  I know others have had similar issues with it, so unless my firmware is out of date, what can I do?

It really speaks poorly of Tascam that this thing doesn't work better than this. At minimum, it should not be the case that the deck just locks and can't be unlocked.

Have you spoken to Tascam about it?

And what was their response?

I have found , very very often, that people complain about a product on a forum but never talk to the manufacturer - the manufacturer is then never aware of a problem that needs a fix and does nothing.  But whenm told will sort it immediately.

[thekittycatt]

kirkd had a problem getting the 680 to lock with his USBpre2 when he first bought his USBpre2.  He talks about it in the 680 thread.  It works fine now.  You might want to send him a pm.

[kirk97132]

Hey that was an issue with firmware on the USBPre2.  So you do need to have the correct firmware installed.  BUT if I am reading this right you are hving a problem with
1.) the deck giving you a SYS rom error message
2.) no digital lock
3.) reading the display on your 680. display that should read (DIN Unlock or Lock)

1. could be related to SD card?  I dunno. 
2. digital lock have you tried another cable?  Have you verified that deck and preamp are set the same IE: 48Hz or 96Hz
3. is there any chance that the contrast was turned down on the display.
4. make sure the pre2 and 680 have newest firmware. 
those would be the basics Has this been happening since you got the preamp?  Do you have a problem reading the screen when the pre2 is not in the chain?  What are you using to power the pre2?  What are you using to power the 680? 

[acidjack]

Hey that was an issue with firmware on the USBPre2.  So you do need to have the correct firmware installed.  BUT if I am reading this right you are hving a problem with
1.) the deck giving you a SYS rom error message
2.) no digital lock
3.) reading the display on your 680. display that should read (DIN Unlock or Lock)

It sounds like I may need to update the firmware on the USBpre2, as maybe that will fix it. The Tascam is on 1.20 which I understand to be the latest.  But yes, I have the other three problems as well.  Plus the deck doesn't seem to want to run at all off of new AA batteries.  The ROM error is just strange as this has started appearing when I turn it on, before I even connect the USBpre2.

What the display does is flicker the DIN message rapidly in the background rather than appearing brightly on the front.  The rest of the display is quite bright - it's just the error message that flickers rapidly. 

I also couldn't get it to digital lock with the digital out on an R-44, but I am now told that when connecting the digi-out of another deck, you may have to connect the digi-out of the 680 to the digi-in of the deck you are taking the out from, which kind of makes no sense to me, but....

1. could be related to SD card?  I dunno. 
2. digital lock have you tried another cable?  Have you verified that deck and preamp are set the same IE: 48Hz or 96Hz
3. is there any chance that the contrast was turned down on the display.
4. make sure the pre2 and 680 have newest firmware. 
those would be the basics Has this been happening since you got the preamp?  Do you have a problem reading the screen when the pre2 is not in the chain?  What are you using to power the pre2?  What are you using to power the 680?
[/quote
all good questions.  SD card is new and didn't give me this ROM error the last time I used it.  Not sure what that is about.  I haven't tried a different cable, but this cable is what I use in the -44 and it has worked fine many times.  I DID verify that the deck and pre and both set to 24/48

Screen contrast is fine - like I said, the problem seems to be that the message itself just flickers. 

Both the deck and pre are powered off of a Tekkeon batt running at 12v for the Tascam and the correct 5v for the USBpre2.  Batt powers the deck fine.  Batt powers the 44 and USBpre2 fine when used together.  USBpre2 seems to be working normally other than that it won't lock with the 680.   

[darby]

Hey that was an issue with firmware on the USBPre2.  So you do need to have the correct firmware installed.  BUT if I am reading this right you are hving a problem with
1.) the deck giving you a SYS rom error message
2.) no digital lock
3.) reading the display on your 680. display that should read (DIN Unlock or Lock)

1. could be related to SD card?  I dunno. 
2. digital lock have you tried another cable?  Have you verified that deck and preamp are set the same IE: 48Hz or 96Hz
3. is there any chance that the contrast was turned down on the display.
4. make sure the pre2 and 680 have newest firmware. 
those would be the basics Has this been happening since you got the preamp?  Do you have a problem reading the screen when the pre2 is not in the chain?  What are you using to power the pre2?  What are you using to power the 680?

1.) the deck giving you a SYS rom error message
2.) no digital lock
3.) reading the display on your 680. display that should read (DIN Unlock or Lock)

these were the symptoms I had when the main board on the 680 I had took a SHIT... sure hope this isn't your problem

[rastasean]

New firmware: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=139081.msg1869158#msg1869158

Sound Devices USBPre 2 firmware revision 1.03

[acidjack]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

[hi and lo]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

FML

[F.O.Bean]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

Thats awful. Hope its a quick fix You should just resell once it gets fixed and buy another R44

[darby]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

boy, doesn't this sound familiar

[axomxa]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

Boy, the more I read the more I'm glad I bought the B & H 5 yr plan. . . Will run my first mutlichannel project Friday night and already apprehensive about it. .  .

[F.O.Bean]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

Boy, the more I read the more I'm glad I bought the B & H 5 yr plan. . . Will run my first mutlichannel project Friday night and already apprehensive about it. .  .

If I were you, I'd test it at home 1st by the horror stories I'm hearing already

[darby]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

Boy, the more I read the more I'm glad I bought the B & H 5 yr plan. . . Will run my first mutlichannel project Friday night and already apprehensive about it. .  .

If I were you, I'd test it at home 1st by the horror stories I'm hearing already

run your D50 for a 2 channel backup

[axomxa]

....and it's official. Deck is totally dead. Barely turns on (hold down PWR for 2+ min), all inputs dead.

Not very impressed with Tascam at all. Deck has been used less than 10 times.

Boy, the more I read the more I'm glad I bought the B & H 5 yr plan. . . Will run my first mutlichannel project Friday night and already apprehensive about it. .  .

If I were you, I'd test it at home 1st by the horror stories I'm hearing already

Thanks did just that last night and will tonight. . . and tomorrow night probably too ;-)