Topic: TASCAM DR-680 portable 8-track #4

[MULETAPER]

I bit the bullet, I ordered my 680!!!

[achalsey]

I bit the bullet, I ordered my 680!!!

Congrats!  I paid for mine on Saturday, hopefully get it by the end of the week!   

[MULETAPER]

only question I have now, is what type of card should I run a 32 gb? or will a 16gb be enough?

[hi and lo]

only question I have now, is what type of card should I run a 32 gb? or will a 16gb be enough?

Go big... 32

The sandisk ultra is perfect. You don't need the extreme and even the standard speed card will do.

[MULETAPER]

thanks Hi and Low you've been helpful.

great bunch here.... +T's to all.

[bobbygeeWOW]

Here's  a perfect power choice in the YS:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=157199.new#new

[dgpretzel]

...With that said, the 1/4" TRS inputs are no different than the XLR inputs other than the shape.  AND, the 1/4" TRS input will accept a 1/4" TS input just fine...

I'm uncertain of the precise meaning, here.  Could this mean that one could plug an unbalanced 1/4" TS phone plug into one of the DR-680 analog in's, and it will work?  That is, I wouldn't have to buy or build a unbalanced (1/4" TS)-to-balanced (1/4" TRS) adapter cable (transformerless, so I guess the whole run is effectively unbalanced, but it would be very short, so I don't think I care).

Thank you.

DG

[hi and lo]

Anyone ever experienced an issue with the DR-680 they believe would be related to overheating?

[Gutbucket]

Yes, that will work with any unbalanced output equipment and any balanced output gear which is cool with bridging pins 1 & 3.  Cable run will be unbalanced.  Last week I ran an Aerco preamp that has unbalanced RCA outs into the 1/4" ch 5/6 inputs using RCA > 1/4" TS adapters.

[Gutbucket]

Anyone ever experienced an issue with the DR-680 they believe would be related to overheating?

You maybe?

I can recal a few odd things occuring at an outside festival in hot sun, not sure if that was heat related or even exactly what happened.  I suspected heat possibly combined with lower than specified 9v power at the time.  Didn't loose a recording and the issues cleared up by powering down and back up.

[bobbygeeWOW]

I've run mine raging hot at festivals and been concerned but nothing's happened yet!
I did have a card fail on me once on one of those hot days but the deck's been fine.

[Chuck]

Anyone ever experienced an issue with the DR-680 they believe would be related to overheating?

Yes, my DR-680 started to distort on all inputs recording Wilco at Red Rocks in June. The bottom of the recorder near the power jack was really hot. It was in the high 90's that day too. When I got the recorder home, I tested it and the LCD screen showed that I was on AC power even though I tested it with the internal batteries, and it wouldn't record anymore. I sent it to Tascam for repair. $182 to replace the power supply board. Now, I was running three pairs of condenser mics. One of those pairs was Audix M1290's, which draw 5-6 mA each. Tascam said that load should be a problem with the recorder, but...

FWIW, in my field bag, the bottom of the recorder is covered over, so I'm going to re-arrange things to leave some space around the bottom for air circulation.

[dlh]

Anyone ever experienced an issue with the DR-680 they believe would be related to overheating?

Yes, my DR-680 started to distort on all inputs recording Wilco at Red Rocks in June. The bottom of the recorder near the power jack was really hot. It was in the high 90's that day too. When I got the recorder home, I tested it and the LCD screen showed that I was on AC power even though I tested it with the internal batteries, and it wouldn't record anymore. I sent it to Tascam for repair. $182 to replace the power supply board. Now, I was running three pairs of condenser mics. One of those pairs was Audix M1290's, which draw 5-6 mA each. Tascam said that load should be a problem with the recorder, but...

FWIW, in my field bag, the bottom of the recorder is covered over, so I'm going to re-arrange things to leave some space around the bottom for air circulation.

Good to know; thanks.
I'll keep an eye (finger) on mine. (the 680, that is)

Dave

[Chuck]

I have to say hat I have had some trials and tribulations with my DR-680. But, I'm giving it one more chance. I don't have the $$ for a Sound Devices recorder and I absolutely love having the ability to record three or even four pairs of sources on the same clock. Even with the repair costs I've incurred I believe it's still worth it.

[hi and lo]

Anyone ever experienced an issue with the DR-680 they believe would be related to overheating?

Yes, my DR-680 started to distort on all inputs recording Wilco at Red Rocks in June. The bottom of the recorder near the power jack was really hot. It was in the high 90's that day too. When I got the recorder home, I tested it and the LCD screen showed that I was on AC power even though I tested it with the internal batteries, and it wouldn't record anymore. I sent it to Tascam for repair. $182 to replace the power supply board. Now, I was running three pairs of condenser mics. One of those pairs was Audix M1290's, which draw 5-6 mA each. Tascam said that load should be a problem with the recorder, but...

FWIW, in my field bag, the bottom of the recorder is covered over, so I'm going to re-arrange things to leave some space around the bottom for air circulation.

Bingo! Thanks Chuck, this is the EXACT behavior I experienced this weekend (unfortunately also at wilco) and have been able to reproduce while troubleshooting at home. I'm running the 680 in the same gear bag as my AD2k+ and after 90 minutes or so, when everything is beyond hot-to-the-touch, the 680 preamps start to go completely haywire and if you pull the AC Adapter, the unit continues to behave as though it is on AC.

Problem goes away as soon as the unit is cooled. Not sure if replacing the power supply board would do anything or if it's actually damaged. Quite possibly this is normal behavior when overheating. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the deck once it cools back down.