Re: TASCAM DR-680 portable 8-track #5

[lukpac]

I never record the mix track.  Like hi lo said, if you're making a mix of two sources that aren't in pretty much the exact same spot, its a good idea to align them in post to avoid echos or artificial reverb from the delay.  Some people don't worry about this if the mic source is close to the PA, so the delay is minor, but personally even running on stage where the delay is pretty much nonexistent, I still correct for the very small discrepancy.

I'd tend to argue that at least some delay is a *good* thing, and can lend a sense of space. Also less odd phase issues that way. I would likely never "correct" a delay if the audience mics were on stage, and depending on the sound might actually add more.

That said, the mix track is nice for a quick reference (i.e., to throw on an MP3 player or to send somebody a clip), but I'd never use it for the final product. Obviously no chance for any sort of separate EQ/compression/etc with the real time mix.

[Gutbucket]

Welcome to the more than 4 channel recorder club.  Check your firmware version and update it if its not one the most recent or 2nd most recent. You can download firmware update and the complete user manual as a PDF on the DR-680 page of the Tascam website.

The mix file is always 2-ch stereo and can be turned on or off, or alternately set to record the SPDIF input seperately from the other channels (but still synced) which providings the capability of recoding 8 seperate channels.

Sometimes I set the machine to write mono files if those don't consist of obvious stereo pairs or if I want to double the recording time before a file split occurs.  Other times I set it to make multiple 2 channel files because that has the advantage of easy direct stereo playback from the computer without doing anything to the files.

[bobbygeeWOW]

if I want to double the recording time before a file split occurs. 

hey good thinking!

[F.O.Bean]

So when I get one this fall I want to do 4 channel mono so I can do (4) hours at 24/96

[Gutbucket]

hey good thinking!

Gonna see you this year for anything at LiveOak?

So when I get one this fall I want to do 4 channel mono so I can do (4) hours at 24/96

Nope. That would get you 2 hrs. before the 2GB point.  You get 4 hrs at 24/48/mono.

[F.O.Bean]

Oh ok thanks bro. I use 24/44.1 anymore anyway so no biggie. For local shows ill probably roll 24/96 but for festies I do 24/44.1

[bobbygeeWOW]

Gonna see you this year for anything at LiveOak?

'fraid not man. Roving to other places..

[Gutbucket]

Rove on brother, it's a big world out there.

[jbell]

If I'm using the digi in on the 680 for a preamp and want to send an SBD feed to the digi out from either channels 1/2 or 3/4 how would I set that up??  TIA

[lukpac]

If I'm using the digi in on the 680 for a preamp and want to send an SBD feed to the digi out from either channels 1/2 or 3/4 how would I set that up??  TIA

I'm not following what you want to do. Is this correct?

- mics -> preamp/ADC -> Tascam digital IN
- SBD -> Tascam analog 1/2 IN -> Tascam digital OUT ?

I haven't used the digital out yet, so I can't comment too much on that, but why would you need to do that?

[jbell]

If I'm using the digi in on the 680 for a preamp and want to send an SBD feed to the digi out from either channels 1/2 or 3/4 how would I set that up??  TIA

I'm not following what you want to do. Is this correct?

- mics -> preamp/ADC -> Tascam digital IN
- SBD -> Tascam analog 1/2 IN -> Tascam digital OUT ?

I haven't used the digital out yet, so I can't comment too much on that, but why would you need to do that?

That is correct and I want to do that so I can send the digital SBD feed to a friends 680 instead of analog. 

[Hypnocracy]

From the manual:

Digital/Sync In Jack

The signal input on this jack can be recorded on Tracks 5 & 6 or the Stereo Mix (7 &


Digital/Sync Out Jack

The Stereo Signal mixed by the internal Mixer is out put from this jack

If I'm using the digi in on the 680 for a preamp and want to send an SBD feed to the digi out from either channels 1/2 or 3/4 how would I set that up??  TIA

In bold...Are you trying to create TWO digi Inputs? If you want to send channels 1-4 out you can set up a Mix of 1/2 & 3/4 which goes to channel 7 & 8 (in the mix run the levels of 5/6 digi in all the way down)  With Digi Pre on channels 5 & 6

[jbell]

I want to take a SBD feed from channels 3/4 and set them to the Digi coax output so I can run that to the digi input on another 680 (pass along the SBD feed).  That way only one of us has to hookup to the Sound board. 

From the manual:

Digital/Sync In Jack

The signal input on this jack can be recorded on Tracks 5 & 6 or the Stereo Mix (7 &


Digital/Sync Out Jack

The Stereo Signal mixed by the internal Mixer is out put from this jack

If I'm using the digi in on the 680 for a preamp and want to send an SBD feed to the digi out from either channels 1/2 or 3/4 how would I set that up??  TIA

In bold...Are you trying to create TWO digi Inputs? If you want to send channels 1-4 out you can set up a Mix of 1/2 & 3/4 which goes to channel 7 & 8 (in the mix run the levels of 5/6 digi in all the way down)

[lukpac]

If I'm using the digi in on the 680 for a preamp and want to send an SBD feed to the digi out from either channels 1/2 or 3/4 how would I set that up??  TIA

I'm not following what you want to do. Is this correct?

- mics -> preamp/ADC -> Tascam digital IN
- SBD -> Tascam analog 1/2 IN -> Tascam digital OUT ?

I haven't used the digital out yet, so I can't comment too much on that, but why would you need to do that?

That is correct and I want to do that so I can send the digital SBD feed to a friends 680 instead of analog.

If Hypnocracy is correct and the digital out is the mix, just run the SBD to 1/2, pan 1 hard left and 2 hard right, set the levels of 1, 2, and mix to 100 and 3-6 to 0.

Obviously if your SBD input is on 3/4, adjust the mix accordingly.

[Hypnocracy]

FOR THE RECORD....

I've never output anything on the Digi Output of my 680...this is all just my understanding of what is being said in the manual