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

[philper]

I'd like to take a look at a DR680 sound file recorded as BWF filetype, if you can post it.  I'd like to see what TC apps like WaveAgent and BWAV reader make of it.

Philip Perkins

I recorded a one minute file and uploaded it here:

http://www.filesavr.com/100425039st12

100425_039_st12.wav

It saved as a .WAV on the SDHC card. I expected it to save as .BWF... but it didn't.
Let me know if that works for you.

Thanks very much for the file, this was very helpful.  BWFs save as .wav anymore--the bwf suffix has been dropped because it caused all kinds of trouble.

The file imported into BWAV Reader just fine as a BWF.  (This app will throw an error if it thinks an import is an ordinary .wav file w/o metadata).    It shows bext  and other data chunks, reads as PCM 44.1 16 bit, with a TC start time of 20:07:00:23.  Interestingly, the origination time is given as 20:08:03, whichI find odd since I thought the DR680 used its internal clock for TC stamping.  It sees the filename as 100425_039_st12.wav.  There is no frame rate shown, no description, originator or coding history.  (Another note--the DR680
shows more chunk info than TC stamped BWFs recorded on an HDP2, but the HDP2 shows frame rate and originator.)

I imported the same file into Sound Devices Wave Agent.  It shows the file as a 2 channel poly BWF, start TC 20:07:00:23, gives length and record date and sample rate and samples since midnight.  Again, no scene/tape/take info, and no frame rate shown.  (One could batch convert all the files to a project frame rate in this app...)

I take this to mean that one could record a TC/BWF job with this machine, and then add the frame rate info in WA if desired.  One's TC notes might be a bit off from what the visible clock would say (I guess),  since the time stamp seems at variance from the origination time (according to BWAV Reader) by over a minute. 

thanks

Philip Perkins

[Chuck]

Glad I could help.

[hammerhorror]

I recorded a few shows with the Tascam DR-680 this past weekend and I am really blown away by this recorder. You simply can't beat it for the price. It is rock solid and so easy to use.

You can use the stock preamps and still get a great recording. Here is an mp3 sample of Schoeps CCM4's > Tascam DR-680:

[Todd R]

I just ordered mine from Full Compass.   They are on backorder, but for $812 shipped, I couldn't resist.  Hopefully they get some in stock soon, though I'm in no particular rush since I still have a Sony D50 to record with.

Thanks again to Chuck for his efforts to test the 680 out and provide me with comps to listen to.

[SmokinJoe]

I'm hoping someone (Chuck??) will have a chance to run a particular test.  I want to know what happens when the digi input gets interrupted.

By that I mean, we have these known experiences in other cases....
- if I'm running optical into an iRiver, and have a glitch, you get a "skip" where music is missing while it resyncs.
- if I'm running SPDIF > R4, I get a "gap" in the music... the deck keeps rolling, but amplitude goes to zero, and then when it resyncs it continues
- It seems to be the case for SPDIF > Microtrack, that the MT locks up hard, and you have to pull the battery to recover.

And it would be interesting to test it using the internal clock, and also clocked to the V3.  Unplug the SPDIF, and then plug it back in.

[Chuck]

I'm hoping someone (Chuck??) will have a chance to run a particular test.  I want to know what happens when the digi input gets interrupted.

By that I mean, we have these known experiences in other cases....
- if I'm running optical into an iRiver, and have a glitch, you get a "skip" where music is missing while it resyncs.
- if I'm running SPDIF > R4, I get a "gap" in the music... the deck keeps rolling, but amplitude goes to zero, and then when it resyncs it continues
- It seems to be the case for SPDIF > Microtrack, that the MT locks up hard, and you have to pull the battery to recover.

And it would be interesting to test it using the internal clock, and also clocked to the V3.  Unplug the SPDIF, and then plug it back in.

Sure, I'll test that this weekend.
I'm not sure what you mean about testing the internal clock that way though. For the V3, I can just pull the coax out and see how the DR-680 handles it. How do you want me to test the internal clock on the 680?

I've been making new silver clad cables for the DR-680 over the past week. I'm in deep...

[SmokinJoe]

Sure, I'll test that this weekend.
I'm not sure what you mean about testing the internal clock that way though. For the V3, I can just pull the coax out and see how the DR-680 handles it. How do you want me to test the internal clock on the 680?

I've been making new silver clad cables for the DR-680 over the past week. I'm in deep...

I was thinking you could set the 680 to either (a) use it's internal clock or (b) lock onto the clock the V3 puts out via it's SPDIF.  Now that I look through the manual again, I guess I was mistaken and I was thinking of some other device I was reading the manual for.  Sorry about that.  So yes, it's one test, not two. 

[Chuck]

I thought the silver clad cable was a little too stiff to use for the RCA to TRS cable, so used some Belden 1508a.
I'll use this to connect my littlebox kit pre-amp to channels 5 & 6 on the DR-680.

[Chuck]

Screen shot in WaveLab of what happens when you pull the digital cable out then plug it back in when recording from a V3.
The DR-680 gives the error message: DIN Unlock

Which means the 680 is expecting to see a digital input, but it is not there.

[SmokinJoe]

Excellent.  That's exactly what I hoped would happen.  If the upstream source dies, the 680 continues with the other 6 channels, and when it can recover, it recovers.

[MattH]

Here is my first show running Milabs straight into the DR-680. I did use XLR splitters to also run a V2 comparison which I will add a link to soon. The DR-680 had phanton on, low gain setting, and gain at 0 (unity). I had to boost levels about 5dB in post.

The Tascam held its own even better than I expected.

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=534839&dllist=1#leechers

Widespread Panic
BOK Center
Tulsa, OK
May 1, 2010


Source: Milab VM-44 Link -> XLR Splitter -> Tascam DR-680 (24/48)
Location: FOB/DFC/7 ft high
Transfer: SDHC Card > AudioGate (Normalize/Dither/Resample/Fades) > CD Wave > FLAC Frontend (Level 6)


Set 1:

01. Glory
02. Holden Oversoul >
03. Stop/Go >
04. Weak Brain, Narrow Mind >
05. Hatfield
06. Papa Johnny Road
07. Old Neighborhood >
08. Big Wooly Mammoth >
09. Who Do You Belong To?

Set 2:

01. Chilly Water
02. Time Zones
03. 1 X 1
04. Flicker >
05. Jam >
06. Surprise Valley >
07. Drums >
08. Papa Legba >
09. Surprise Valley >
10. Let's Get The Show On The Road
11. Conrad the Caterpillar
ENCORE:
12. Impossible >
13. Makes Sense To Me

[headroom]

I am a bit confused about the Coax Digital Output. In the manual page 14 is written:
Transmission occurs at double speed with Sampling 96 kHz and at quad speed with 192kHz Recorderd sampling rate..

No real time playback? Are they kidding?

[Chuck]

I am a bit confused about the Coax Digital Output. In the manual page 14 is written:
Transmission occurs at double speed with Sampling 96 kHz and at quad speed with 192kHz Recorderd sampling rate..

No real time playback? Are they kidding?

It outputs exactly what you set the sample rate and bit rate to for recording. The wording is just goofy.

[headroom]

It outputs exactly what you set the sample rate and bit rate to for recording. The wording is just goofy.
[/quote]

..ok  otherwise it makes no sense TNX

[Colin Liston]

Just marking this thread.  Carry on.