Topic: Syncing a Tascam HS-P82 and DR-680mkII

[Rally_AK]

Anyone know if it's possible to sync a HS-P82 to a DR-680mkII, or vice versa, using the cascade function?

The 680mkII can output and accept AES3-2003/ IEC60958-4 (AES/EBU) via the digi out/in and the HS-P82 can sync via AES inputs (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8) but I'm not sure if the 680 uses AES to provide sync to the slave unit or if the AES inputs on the P82 can be used for cascading.

Also, I believe the 680 uses Consumer Format AES/Cbit info and the P82 only accepts Professional Format AES so they might not be able to lock on to each other in the first place.

If cascade doesn't work between the two is there a device that can provide clock to both units, such as a USB Pre 2 or something else?

I'll be able to test this in a couple days, when my P82 arrives, but wanted to see if anyone had tried this out yet.

[Rally_AK]

For anyone that's interested, connecting the 680mkII and P82 via AES does NOT work. As expected, they won't lock because the P82 needs to see professional grade AES, and the 680 only sends consumer AES.

Next step will be to test cascade via the BNC ports on the P82, just need to track down a BNC to RCA adapter which might be a tough find in Alaska.

[Gutbucket]

Try clock sync'ing the DR-680 to the digital out from the HD-P82.

Sounds like that's what you are talking about by going BNC out from the P82 > RCA in to the 680.  That should provide clock sync, but not transport control cascading, so you'll need to start and stop recording on each deck separately.  You will be able to record all 6 analog inputs on the 680.  You needn't record the digital signal to the 680's stereo track unless you would like to.  Set correctly, you should see a DIN LOCK message appear on the 680 screen when it detects and locks to the external digital signal.

[Rally_AK]

Yeah, I was really hoping to get transport control cascading working between the two but after digging in the P82 manual that doesn't appear to be an option. The closest thing to transport control is that the P82 can start and stop recording via Time Code sync/un-sync from an external signal (e.g. camera, TC generator, etc...). Being that the 680 doesn't have TC, that rules that out.

I'll give your suggestion a try. If I can get the 680 to sync with the clock of the P82 that'll make aligning the channels in post a bit easier. Even dealing with drift in post isn't that bad, just an extra step I'd rather not deal with.

[MakersMarc]

If you put a 70d in the chain I heard it becomes an IED.

[Rally_AK]

If you put a 70d in the chain I heard it becomes an IED.

Ha! Wonder what'd happen if I added my DR100 to the mix?! It'd probably open a black hole in to a shenzhen sweatshop! 

[Rally_AK]

Try clock sync'ing the DR-680 to the digital out from the HD-P82.

Sounds like that's what you are talking about by going BNC out from the P82 > RCA in to the 680.  That should provide clock sync, but not transport control cascading, so you'll need to start and stop recording on each deck separately.  You will be able to record all 6 analog inputs on the 680.  You needn't record the digital signal to the 680's stereo track unless you would like to.  Set correctly, you should see a DIN LOCK message appear on the 680 screen when it detects and locks to the external digital signal.

I was able to get clock sync to work via AES. The reason they wouldn't sync before is because the digi output on the 680 was set to S/PDIF instead of AES/EBU. I soon as I changed it to AES the P82 locked right up to the 680's clock at 48kHz! I couldn't get it to lock at 96 or 192 but that's not a big deal, the important part is being able to record all 16 channels synced to the same clock, pretty awesome!

[Gutbucket]

Cool, good to hear.