Topic: TASCAM DR-680 portable 8-track - announced at NAMM

[rastasean]

I spoke with Mr. Chang tonight about my SDHC card issue.
He attributed the problems to possible differences in individual components, from parts suppliers in the two cards.
 
I'm sticking with the PNY HP card.

Well at least it looks like there is resolution on this.

I'm using the 16 GB Transcend TS16GSDHC6 SDHC card. That card is on the DR-680 Tested Media List.

Be sure and let Mr. Chang know that the card should be REMOVED from the tested media list. 

[kirk97132]

Add the Patriot 16GB class 6 sdhc card to the working list. 

[hammerhorror]

I'm using the 16 GB Transcend TS16GSDHC6 SDHC card. That card is on the DR-680 Tested Media List.

Be sure and let Mr. Chang know that the card should be REMOVED from the tested media list. 

This card should NOT be removed from the tested media list until someone else can duplicate the same problems that Chuck had. I use the same 16GB Transcend in my DR-680 without any problems whatsoever. I have filled the entire card several times without any incidents. I believe that there may be something wrong with Chuck's card in particular (or perhaps poor quality control by Transcend).

[rjp]

I bought this card used on eBay.

I don't own a DR-680, but that statement above raises a red flag. Have you tried the card out in a PC to make sure that it actually stores 16 GB and isn't a fake that claims 16 GB but only has 8?

Ebay is about the last place on earth I'd consider going for flash media...

[Chuck]

I bought this card used on eBay.

I don't own a DR-680, but that statement above raises a red flag. Have you tried the card out in a PC to make sure that it actually stores 16 GB and isn't a fake that claims 16 GB but only has 8?

Ebay is about the last place on earth I'd consider going for flash media...

Yeah, after the first time I tested it in the DR-680 and had a problem, I ran CardTest 1.2a on it.
It's a real 16GB SDHC card. For whatever reason, it just didn't play nice with my recorder.

[darby]

on Chuck's request I tested my Transcend class 6 32 Gb card
running 8 channels at 24/48 it ran for 8 hours and totally filled the card
I also have a Verbatim class 6, and assume I will get the same results   

[Ozpeter]

I also have a Verbatim class 6, and assume I will get the same results   

Not necessarily a good assumption.  Given that you can never be sure with cards - and no brand seems to be immune to occasional failures - I'd recommend filling any new card end-to-end at home once if not twice before using it for real for anything at all important.

[Chuck]

on Chuck's request I tested my Transcend class 6 32 Gb card
running 8 channels at 24/48 it ran for 8 hours and totally filled the card
I also have a Verbatim class 6, and assume I will get the same results   

That's very good news, thanks darby!

[darby]

I also have a Verbatim class 6, and assume I will get the same results   

Not necessarily a good assumption.  Given that you can never be sure with cards - and no brand seems to be immune to occasional failures - I'd recommend filling any new card end-to-end at home once if not twice before using it for real for anything at all important.

when I can find 8 hours to let my gear set and just record I'll do it
maybe I will tonite while I'm out getting other stuff done
I have been using cards now for 4 years and never felt the need to fill them before using them 

[headroom]

How is the machine for Playback with Ripped CD`s?
My SONY PCM 50 cannot even play MP3 in the right order 1.....50 Stupid...

[Chuck]

I also have a Verbatim class 6, and assume I will get the same results   

Not necessarily a good assumption.  Given that you can never be sure with cards - and no brand seems to be immune to occasional failures - I'd recommend filling any new card end-to-end at home once if not twice before using it for real for anything at all important.

when I can find 8 hours to let my gear set and just record I'll do it
maybe I will tonite while I'm out getting other stuff done
I have been using cards now for 4 years and never felt the need to fill them before using them 

Here's the long winded version of what happened:

 I was just testing the auto split function, which happens to be at right around the 8GB point when running 8 tracks, the splits are at 2GB for stereo files. Because, I saw the error once when testing the auto split function before the firmware upgrade. I upgraded the firmware soon after and saw it happen again with the new firmware. So, I ran a third test and watched the deck during the crucial time. When the error popped up the third time, I knew something was wrong. That's when I posted here. I'm lucky enough to live very close to Tech-For-Less, a nationwide bulk buyer warehouse. After speaking with the sales guy I always use, he said I could try any of the 16GB cards they had in stock. I dashed over there, tried the HP/PNY 16GB card that was recommended on this thread. It worked. I did have a chance to run a utility on the Transcend card, but the card passed the tests... Also, the card utility on the DR-680 reported that the card could hold 16 GB of files. I figured that that particular card, didn't work in my recorder. Soon after, I spoke with Mr. Chang who felt the issue was with the exact card that I used, not all Transcend 16 GB cards. I'm probably going to get another one of the PNY/HP class 4 SDHC cards at TFL, since it is very cheap and I don't have to pay or wait for it to be shipped.

So, to recap:

Mr Chang at TASCAM believes that one particular Transcend, Class 6, 16 GB SDHC card didn't work in my particular recorder.
I have found that one HP/PNY, Class 4, 16GB SDHC card does work in my particular recorder.

I hope that was thorough enough to fill in all the gaps and questions. If not, let me know.


I still love this thing!   

[dgale]

Can someone post a link for the "9v DVD batteries" that folks have mentioned using with this deck?  I have a DR-680 en route to me and am trying to understand my external power options...all of my current gear still runs on EcoCharge batteries, so I'm trying to understand what folks are currently using and get with the 21st Century.

[Chuck]

Transcend card update:

The Transcend SDHC card I bought had two 8GB partitions on it. That's why it showed 16GB of space in the DR-680, but stopped recording after the first partition was filled up. So, my experience should not dissuade you from using the Transcend 16GB SDHC card.

[kirk97132]

Did you see the partitions on the computer?  How did you discover this?

[Chuck]

Did you see the partitions on the computer?  How did you discover this?

I sold the card to vanark after I bought the PNY/HP card. I told him the Transcend card only recorded up to the 8GB mark on my recorder, he looked into it. I'm not sure how, but he discovered that it had two 8GB partitions on it.