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

[discopanic1]

Yeah I'm just gonna get Me a new digi cable today and test when home see if just a bad cable. We shall see.

[Fried Chicken Boy]

We experienced heat issues with our DR 680 mkI at Greyfox.

Kindms tells me there is a thread, maybe this one, which indicates others have had heat issues.

There's some talk about the heat issues in the 680mkII thread. > http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=171565.0

Gutbucket has a few posts about it on pages 7 & 8, but there might be something about it elsewhere in the thread, I haven't read through it all. 

[rocksuitcase]

We experienced heat issues with our DR 680 mkI at Greyfox.

Kindms tells me there is a thread, maybe this one, which indicates others have had heat issues.

There's some talk about the heat issues in the 680mkII thread. > http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=171565.0

Gutbucket has a few posts about it on pages 7 & 8, but there might be something about it elsewhere in the thread, I haven't read through it all.

Thanks FCB. I'm headed to that thread now to check what was said re: overheating

[discopanic1]

Luckily mine was just a bum digi cable. Got a new one and the 680 works as should.

[danny3]

rocksuitcase: without getting carried away with words here (there is plenty of conversation in the 680 threads) the 680 will definitely act up when it gets too hot. Multiple phantom power use when hot can also be problematic.
The issues you posted on the prior page sound similar to what many have shared that they experienced... it's happened to me.

What I recommend is try to get as much shade and airspace over your bag and deck as you can.

I've only needed to worry about it once so far this summer, but I went out prepared with a second rig and splitters. (I figured it all out at home first.)  I could then alternate decks, and ran the 680 for the later acts.

[rocksuitcase]

rocksuitcase: without getting carried away with words here (there is plenty of conversation in the 680 threads) the 680 will definitely act up when it gets too hot. Multiple phantom power use when hot can also be problematic.
The issues you posted on the prior page sound similar to what many have shared that they experienced... it's happened to me.

What I recommend is try to get as much shade and airspace over your bag and deck as you can.

I've only needed to worry about it once so far this summer, but I went out prepared with a second rig and splitters. (I figured it all out at home first.)  I could then alternate decks, and ran the 680 for the later acts.

Good idea, and basically what we wound up doing. once the sun went down and/or the rain started we were OK.
I was wondering if, especially in camping situations one could use a little dry ice at the bottom of the bag. The roadies for BT and HORDE used to use dry ice to cool off the front line onstage at those sweltering venues. I have a picture of it somewhere, but they would put the dry ice in a container (i.e. plastic garbage can) then place a humidifier above it and feed the dry ice out of the humidifier fans straight onto the amps. A side benefit was it made for some cool "smoke" effects from behind the bands without any annoying vanilla smells!
So I was thinking bring the dry ice in like a medium ammo box, open the box up below the gear bag and it might keep things cool.? 
Danny3- THANKS for your input, at least we can rest assured the issue was more than likely the heat and not something with the mics and/or onboard pre-amps.

[Gutbucket]

I'm pretty sure it's the known overheating problem. Shut down until it cools and it should work fine again unless it overheats again.

I carry a couple chem instant-cold packs (first aid, crush them and they'll get cold for a while, bought a number of them at the dollar store) which I plan to use if it happens again or if the situation gets really hot, but just ventilating the bag better, packing it looser, not putting my V3 immediately next to it and keeping the bag shaded with a small 'Gackbrella' has kept it from happening since I've become aware of the problem.  Both the MkI and MkII seem equally susceptible.

I'm currently out of town and have been mostly off-line, but logged in and saw this thread and just wanted to help.  Should be back on-line next week.

[rocksuitcase]

Thanks for the input GB. We had the 6/12V Eco-Charge battery inside the bag with the 680 and it was packed a bit tight. In the past, with other rigs, I might have been inclined to keep the battery outside the bag or even on the ground so it can "vent" the heat into the ground. With the heat and humidity at GreyFox this year (THU/FRI we had a 94, feels like 102 show up on our weather channel!) I should have been more aware that it could happen.

I hope being off-line is by design and a good/relaxing thing!