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

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Tascam seems to generally make good, reliable products. This definately looks like a great value for the money.

I've had a DAP1, and three DA-20's that disagree.

isn't moke on the same list of people who diagree with the notion tascam = quality?

The parting shot on mine about what is "wrong" with it could be that the preamps are bad (the PMD-620), or when you adjust the volume nob, it drops samples (ala the R-44). It could resample the digital input or not sync all of it's channels to an external clock (The R-4 among others). All sorts of shit could be "wrong" depending on what you want/expect the hardware to do, or a minimum accepted performance level. It could be a sterling recorder that is perfect in every way, but $1k for 8 channels makes me wonder...

[Todd R]

The parting shot on mine about what is "wrong" with it could be that the preamps are bad (the PMD-620), or when you adjust the volume nob, it drops samples (ala the R-44). It could resample the digital input or not sync all of it's channels to an external clock (The R-4 among others). All sorts of shit could be "wrong" depending on what you want/expect the hardware to do, or a minimum accepted performance level. It could be a sterling recorder that is perfect in every way, but $1k for 8 channels makes me wonder...

I agree that there are quite a number of things we would like to have and that may not be implemented to our satisfaction with this unit (loss of signal during gain adjustments, not syncing the analog channels to the digital channels, etc).  I guess we can only wait and see on that front.  As to quality of the preamps, I expect that comparing/assuming something akin to the HD-P2 or DA-P1 would be the more likely reference point than the PMD-620.  Not just since the latter is marantz not tascam, but since the tascam products are more in the pro/prosumer category and the 620 is more in the consumer category in my mind.

As to the quality vs price -- I'm still hopeful it doesn't mean bad quality just since the price is the same as for former 2ch and 4ch units.  That's the way electronics go -- over time, the functionality or a given type of technology improves, but the cost stays the same (as opposed to the costs falling).  Seems to be the way of the world with electronics whether its computers, audio/stereo receivers, tvs, dvd/blu-ray players, whatever.  Why make the blu-ray player cheaper when you can throw in network connectivity and keep charging $200-250 for it?  I'm hoping its this type of market activity at work, and not that they've made it 8ch, but made it all crappy.

[H₂O]

I can't speak to the DA-20's but my DA-P1 has never given me any issues what so ever.  Still running flawlessly after all these years.   

Buy a lottery ticket! 

My DA-P1 was in the shop more than in the field - POS IMO.

[darby]

having owned a DA-P20 (remember those?) a DA-P1, a DA-20 and now my HD-P2
I won't hesitate buying another Tascam product when funds become available

[H₂O]

The DA-P1 had a nice feel to it - but the transport was less than reliable. 

The DA-20 was a great deck, I had a Fostex D-5 and would sware by it - both where made by Pioneer though.

I would buy Tascam products again as DAT was not the most reliable format and the P1 was less reliable than most.

[datmike]

having owned a DA-P20 (remember those?) a DA-P1, a DA-20 and now my HD-P2
I won't hesitate buying another Tascam product when funds become available

My P20 is still rolling after 20 years......

[Ozpeter]

The DR-680 web page doesn't mention any effects built in - which IMHO is good, except the R-44 effects include the vital (for me) MS stereo 'effect'.  I do hope Tascam hasn't deemed that unnecessary as being able to connect a mid-side mic rig direct to such a device is very handy, and MS is (perhaps) more often used for location recording than in the studio - so location recording equipment should be able to support it.

[Jhurlbs81]

should be some pretty cheap hd-p2's around soon

[darby]

having owned a DA-P20 (remember those?) a DA-P1, a DA-20 and now my HD-P2
I won't hesitate buying another Tascam product when funds become available

My P20 is still rolling after 20 years......

should be some pretty cheap hd-p2's around soon

considering what I would get out of mine
I'd be better off just hanging on to it... you never can have enough recorders

[travelinbeat]

you never can have enough recorders

The same goes for channels, as in this device =)

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

I've been thinking about picking up a R-44, but this looks pretty inviting.

I know most of the time I will only use 2 or 4 channels, but I like the option to run 2 channels of mics, 2 channels of SBD mix, and still have 4 channels left over for individual feeds from the board or maybe even on stage mics, etc. The many possibilities would be really nice.

Another nice option would be patching a few extra sets of mics in a larger TS (like Red Rocks) so I can pick and choose what sounds the best (maybe as a combo mix or just the best stereo source).

Hopefully the tax man is nice to me this year!

[dgale]

Another nice option would be patching a few extra sets of mics in a larger TS (like Red Rocks) so I can pick and choose what sounds the best (maybe as a combo mix or just the best stereo source).

That is appealing to me as well - I'm usually the only person recording at open-recording shows I go to, but occasionally other folks show up and it'd be nice to grab their feed as well and check out what sounds best later.  I just picked up a Motu, so I should have plenty of channels available to me and I hope it expands my creativity with multiple mics etc. to enhance sbd feeds.

[yug du nord]

should be some pretty cheap hd-p2's around soon

At the rate it's going, it might end up being the cheapest deck around....  which is crazy, for all that it can do.

[sunjan]

Sweetwater put up a video demo:

[yltfan]

I have been doing lots of 6-8 channel recording lately (sbd, on-stage, 1 or 2 aud), so this is calling to me! I look forward to the official TS review and might have an r-44 for sale sometime soon...