Topic: Re: TASCAM DR-680 portable 8-track #5

[danny3]

-Does having channels set to "center" as opposed to panned hard right and left for their respective channels change the sound at all?  I record all tracks mono so just having them set to center doesn't effect the stereo image later on correct?

Pan settings don't do anything to the individual recorded tracks 1-6.  If you set the machine to record a mix of those channels the extra stereo track, panning and level do control the aspects of that mix.

Would you clarify this statement for me please, 'cause I am confused. Probably misinterpreting what you guys are referencing. When I record two channels, left and right mics, I pan full left and right respectively, and the resultant file transfers in stereo.
(edit: my inexperience with 'quoting' has my reply showing up in the quote.)

[jbell]

Maiden Voyage last night(Yarn & Stringdusters)!!  Schoeps MK4>KCY>PFA>DR680 & SBD>DR680.  I'm real happy with the results, with any luck maybe I'll have the shows up in the next week. Now I need a larger bag so I can fit a preamp in my bag. 

[achalsey]

Does having channels set to "center" as opposed to panned hard right and left for their respective channels change the sound at all?  I record all tracks mono so just having them set to center doesn't effect the stereo image later on correct?

Pan settings don't do anything to the individual recorded tracks 1-6.  If you set the machine to record a mix of those channels the extra stereo track, panning and level do control the aspects of that mix.

Would you clarify this statement for me please, 'cause I am confused. Probably misinterpreting what you guys are referencing. When I record two channels, left and right mics, I pan full left and right respectively, and the resultant file transfers in stereo.
(edit: my inexperience with 'quoting' has my reply showing up in the quote.)

Panning the doesn't do anything to recorded tracks.  You can pan your left channel full right and vice versa, and that won't effect the stereo track from channel 1-2 (or whatever channels your mics are into) that gets recorded to your SD card.  Panning only effects is the output mix.  As in what is coming out of your RCA outputs.  You can, however, choose the option to record this mix along with your mic inputs, (to channel 5-6 maybe? Or to the mix channels that make up 7-8? I don't know, I've never done it) so it will effect those two tracks.

[dogmusic]

Well, I ended up buying a used DR-680 this week -- no AC adapter, no shoulder strap, and pretty roughed up. It had been owned by a film sound guy who traded up to an SD 664. I guess he wanted something he could really kick around.

Would have loved to have bought a new one off eBay, but it worked out to over $600 to get it to Canada, and I couldn't really justify the extra 200 bucks.

I did a four track recording a couple days ago and then played it back the same way Gutbucket does -- on my home theater receiver. (It's always been a great way to listen to my old TEAC 3440 tapes.)

The tracks worked out okay, so today I tried an 8 channel recording with my USBPre2. There was a bit of a scare when I couldn't hear playback of the digital track, but then I found a helpful explanation here in these pages about the MULTI/STEREO button and the track was there after all.

My question is this: Is it not possible to monitor playback of all 8 recorded tracks simultaneously on the DR-680 itself?

If you're doing a remote recording, it seems kind of a drag not to be able to hear playback of all your tracks at once.

[Gutbucket]

..You can, however, choose the option to record this mix along with your mic inputs, (to channel 5-6 maybe? Or to the mix channels that make up 7-8? I don't know, I've never done it) so it will effect those two tracks.

Not to ch5&6 but to the extra, 'stereo' channel which can be effectively channels 7&8 if using the digital input but not labled as such.  That extra stereo channel can record either the digital input or the monitor-mix of ch1-6. The file it writes is labled 'stereo'.

My question is this: Is it not possible to monitor playback of all 8 recorded tracks simultaneously on the DR-680 itself?

If you're doing a remote recording, it seems kind of a drag not to be able to hear playback of all your tracks at once.

You can only monitor ch1-6 off the machine. You can only play back either ch1-6 or the stereo channel, but not all eight channels simultaneously.  It's really a six track machine with an 'extra' stereo channel and that's where that limitation shows up.

[dogmusic]

My question is this: Is it not possible to monitor playback of all 8 recorded tracks simultaneously on the DR-680 itself?

If you're doing a remote recording, it seems kind of a drag not to be able to hear playback of all your tracks at once.

You can only monitor ch1-6 off the machine. You can only play back either ch1-6 or the stereo channel, but not all eight channels simultaneously.  It's really a six track machine with an 'extra' stereo channel and that's where that limitation shows up.

Thanks for the clarification. Too bad; but it's still great to have 8 recorded tracks.

I wonder if that's something they could fix in a firmware update -- though doubtful they'll bother, since the DR-680 seems about to be discontinued, perhaps to make way for a true 8 track DR-680 MKii.

[tgakidis]

From another seller who is taking best offers and may go to $500 (someone said they did for them):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tascam-DR-680-Portable-Professional-8-Track-Multi-Channel-Recorder-DR680-/261185676543?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Multi_Track_Recorders&hash=item3ccfe124ff

That was me, and it arrived safe and sound last week.

[dogmusic]

For anyone looking for an external battery pack for the DR680, the ANKER Astro3 which I got from Amazon yesterday seems pretty good.

http://www.amazon.ca/10000mAh-Multi-voltage-External-Lightning-Provided/dp/B005NGKR54/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1366867294&sr=1-2&keywords=anker

I did a test tonight and it ran on 12V for just a bit under six hours, recording four channels with phantom power on.

I neglected to turn off the display. I'm not sure how much of a drain that would be.

[lukpac]

Currently looking to (finally) bite the bullet and move away from my two DR-08s.

From Sonic Sense at $515
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tascam-DR-680-Multi-Channel-Portable-Recorder-DR-680-Extended-Warranty-/171015890654?pt=US_Computer_Recording_Interfaces&hash=item27d15766de

Looks like that listing has ended, but for $520 they throw in headphones and a cable (and extended warranty):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310650111390?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Or for $570 headphones and a handful of cables:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170984005552?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Oddly still $699 on their web site:

http://www.sonicsense.com/shop-by/recording/recorders/multi-track-recorders/tascam-dr-680-multi-channel-portable-recorder.html

Anyone have experience with Sonic Sense?

Currently $520 at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673541-REG/Tascam_DR_680_DR_680_8_Track_Portable_Field.html

And still $699 at Full Compass, but they usually do price matching (waiting to hear back):

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/381381.html

[obaaron]

http://www.sonicsense.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Tasc-dr680

$494 if you sign up as a member....

[obaaron]

just got mine delivered!  Looks like I'm officially done spending money for a while.

yeah right   

[bobbygeeWOW]

Great!
Time to buy more mics!

[jbell]

A used DR680 went for $385 shipped last night on ebay!!  It was in mint condition as well.

[waltmon]

Any opinions on busman modded vs unmodded? I'm very close to purchase.

[tgakidis]

Any opinions on busman modded vs unmodded? I'm very close to purchase.

If you are gonna run a pre in the chain get a stock unit.