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

[kirk97132]

ok thanks.   Has anybody figured out what they mean by:
"Cascade function for running two units together"
I don't see any type of hook up in stock pictures that would support syncing two decks.   Any body got a lead on a manual yet?

And I wonder if this will run on 9v?  Like the P2 does.  Even though it states 12v, the P2 would still run on 9v input. 

[H₂O]

ok thanks.   Has anybody figured out what they mean by:
"Cascade function for running two units together"
I don't see any type of hook up in stock pictures that would support syncing two decks.   Any body got a lead on a manual yet?

My guess is that this would work with the SPDIF ports kinda like what KORG did with the MR-2000

[TNJazz]

Just ordered myself one of these as well.  Looking forward to giving it a go!

[hammerhorror]

Just ordered myself one of these as well.  Looking forward to giving it a go!

Me too!

[spcyrfc]

cant wait to hear about battery life on these things.

[willndmb]

ok thanks.   Has anybody figured out what they mean by:
"Cascade function for running two units together"
I don't see any type of hook up in stock pictures that would support syncing two decks.   Any body got a lead on a manual yet?

And I wonder if this will run on 9v?  Like the P2 does.  Even though it states 12v, the P2 would still run on 9v input.

prob via the digi out > in

[kirk97132]

It would be great if it had menu options like the P2 that allowed it to accept a clock source via the coax.  And as far as I can tell the only way to get 8 tracks of recording is to use the coax in.  That also leads me to believe that the coax will be channels 7/8.   It also seems a little odd that tascam states: "Two of the recorders can be connected with a cascade cable for up to 16-track recording on battery power. "  Why just on battery power?  Or is that a typo of some sort. 

[H₂O]

It would be great if it had menu options like the P2 that allowed it to accept a clock source via the coax.  And as far as I can tell the only way to get 8 tracks of recording is to use the coax in.  That also leads me to believe that the coax will be channels 7/8.   It also seems a little odd that tascam states: "Two of the recorders can be connected with a cascade cable for up to 16-track recording on battery power. "  Why just on battery power?  Or is that a typo of some sort.

Some of the tracks could be "mixed" tracks (i.e. 6 tracks analog + 2 mix tracks = 8 tracks recorded)
 

[TNJazz]

Yes, 6 analog inputs plus a coax digital = 8 channels.

The decks don't daisy chain via SPDIF though, otherwise their literature is wrong because they would really only have 14 distinct channels being recorded.  That would be kind of lame.

I'm guessing there's another linking connector somewhere.  Perhaps via USB?

The comment about up to 16 channels on battery power is just poorly worded.  It's designed as a battery powered deck, of course.

Soon enough we'll all know the answers to these questions and more.  I'm very interested to try one of these out, that's for sure!

[SmokinJoe]

I'm very interested.
- 50% of the time it will be a bitbucket behind my V3.
- 40% of the time it will be a bitbucket behind my V3 + SBD.
- 10% of the time it will be Onstage mics > v3 > bitbucket + SBD + ambient mics + patch from a buddy as a comp.

So in my case anyway, that's 4 line-in, 2 via digi-in, and one pair using the Tascam preamps.  Even if the preamps are reasonably (on par with a stock UA5/R4/R44/HDP2), I'd be perfectly happy.

At this price point I expect to make some concessions. I don't care if it has a built in Mid/Side decoder. I'd rather record the raw tracks and mix them at home.  If it does "digital resampling" like my R4, that doesn't bother me either.

The thing that concerns me is how configurable the inputs are... for instance on my R4, you can't record channels 3&4 alone, you record 4 channels and the front 2 are empty.  That's tolerable to some extent especially with an R4's hard drive.  But if I had to record 6 blank channels to run SPDIF only, that would not be acceptable to me.  I'll need that info before I write a check.

[stevetoney]

The thing that concerns me is how configurable the inputs are... for instance on my R4, you can't record channels 3&4 alone, you record 4 channels and the front 2 are empty.  That's tolerable to some extent especially with an R4's hard drive.  But if I had to record 6 blank channels to run SPDIF only, that would not be acceptable to me.  I'll need that info before I write a check.

I just pre-ordered so I'm excited to talk about this recorder, even if I have no clue what the answer to your question is.   

I have no idea how configurable it is, but I'd think with 8 channels to choose from where some of the channels have different input connector types, there would HAVE to be some sort of routing control to be able to choose the number of inputs and have those inputs selectable to specified outputs.  Although I suppose it wouldn't be a requirement, it would seem excessively limiting with 8 channels if there was a 1 to 1 assignment of channels to output tracks.  The specs seems to make it sound like it has enhanced mixing functions over some products, so that seems maybe to be a clue that there would be some flexibility of channel assignment.  Finally, since there's obviously some kind of channel selectivity for setting levels (only one level control with the buttons along the bottom to select channels), then it might also stand to reason there would be some input to output routing selectivity. 

[kirk97132]

OK so Full Compass says decks are back ordered till 3-31-10(ish).

Call 800-356-5844 ex1386 Talk to Adam and he'll give you a price of $828 including shipping.  Tell him Kirk sent you   Can't wait to get this sucker

[tgakidis]

Looks like this baby is right up my multi-channel alley!  I let you boys figure out the bugs and pay top dollar.  I sure Steve (tonedeaf) will be selling his in a couple months 

[stevetoney]

Looks like this baby is right up my multi-channel alley!  I let you boys figure out the bugs and pay top dollar.  I sure Steve (tonedeaf) will be selling his in a couple months 

I'm already taking offers Ted!  LOL.

[darby]

$867 delivered around the end of March from FC