TASCAM DR-680 portable 8-track #6

[yltfan]

Guess who uses a DR-680 for their field work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsczXAVCF9o

I was at Pickathon all weekend, and caught a couple of these sets, and was pleased to see them running all their mics straight into the Tascam.

[carlbeck]

Can anyone help me understand why the mix level to the right of the channel levels on the display does not match? Last night was a perfect example, I ran two stereo pairs of microphones so four channels. The mix level would be over the dashed line while all four channels were under the dashed line (btw I still think these level displays SUCK, I can't believe how useless they are) I checked the mix levels & all four channels were set at 100, the recording sounds absolutely fine but I still can't wrap my head around why the mix level display is running hotter???

[hoserama]

Mix display is showing the sum track it. Therefore a single input could be fine for levels, but when you combine the two individual sources on the sum track with no mix adjustments, it can go over.

Not a big deal since you're recording each channel discretely.

[achalsey]

Mini-Me S/PDIF will play fine with the digi in, correct?  Or I guess the AES for that matter?

[achalsey]

Mini-Me S/PDIF will play fine with the digi in, correct?  Or I guess the AES for that matter?

Anyone have experience running a 680 with a Mini-Me?  I should have it next week to play with, but was just curious.  I'll have to teach myself all over how to even use the digital input.  I've only used it a handful of times over the two years I've had the thing and always forget what settings to put it on to accept a signal.  Now that I think of it...I should save the instruction book to my phone...

[Gutbucket]

I've only run one 9V DVD at a time.  Maybe 4 hrs or so?  When it comes time to swap DVD batts it switches momentarily to the internal AA's.

Haven't used the Mini-Me, but on the DR-680 you can record the digital input to either ch's 5&6 or the stereo channel.  I always use the stereo channel.  In the menu you'll set the stereo channel to DIN instead of MIX.  The screen will say DIN UNLOCK or something when you put the unit into REC/PAUSE unless it senses a digital input, that message will go away when it locks to the digital input OR you push the button in the center of the jog wheel (at which case it reverts to the internal clock).

Hope that helps.

[Phil Zone]

I ran AA's in the 680 once and they drained at break neck speed.  I run two 9v wally worlds via a parallel power cable.  One battery is at one green after a 4hr show with the other still full.  Is that normal?  Will one drain before the other?  I haven't run only one but suspect it would fare well in that time frame.

Yes usually one drains over the other, not sure why. Maybe it takes from the weaker source or something

[achalsey]

Thanks for the refresher Gut.  I guess some of the point of the digital preamp is to open up the extra channels so will probably run the stereo channel as well.

[capnhook]

I ran AA's in the 680 once and they drained at break neck speed.  I run two 9v wally worlds via a parallel power cable.  One battery is at one green after a 4hr show with the other still full.  Is that normal?  Will one drain before the other?  I haven't run only one but suspect it would fare well in that time frame.

Yes usually one drains over the other, not sure why. Maybe it takes from the weaker source or something

Same experience here.  Different internal resistance?

[waltmon]

680 question -

When you run mics directly into the 680, what do you set your mic gain on?  I've been told high is the setting - just curious if this would vary based on source and mics used...

[lukpac]

680 question -

When you run mics directly into the 680, what do you set your mic gain on?  I've been told high is the setting - just curious if this would vary based on source and mics used...

It will vary based on mics (i.e., dynamic vs. condenser), source (loud rock vs. soft acoustic), and placement (close vs. distant).

The manual suggests using the low gain setting unless more gain is absolutely necessary, but if you have to turn the trim up more than, oh, maybe +13 or so, it's probably better to use high gain and turn the trim down, as there will be less noise. The trade-off is there's an increased possibility of clipping.

I've tried to make notes on what settings I use with various mics in various situations, but I usually still end up adjusting things each time.

[achalsey]

To piggy back on that...is it okay to go line-in directly into the 680?  Or is it best to use mic-in when not using an external preamp?  I've used line in mics > 680 with perfectly fine results (I think...) but thinking about it now that might not be the best idea.

[lukpac]

To piggy back on that...is it okay to go line-in directly into the 680?  Or is it best to use mic-in when not using an external preamp?  I've used line in mics > 680 with perfectly fine results (I think...) but thinking about it now that might not be the best idea.

With a line level source? I've done it a lot, usually from a board/mixer output or insert point. No issues that I've noticed. Can't say I've ever done any sort of measurements, but I've never noticed any sort of issue (like with noise on the "low" mic setting) that would lead me to do so.

The only "issue" I've had is sometimes I can't for the life of me figure out why the level on a mic channel is so low, until I (finally) realize the switch on that channel got flipped from mic to line.

[Gutbucket]

Use whichever input sensitivity switch position (mic/line) gets your levels closest to where you want them with the input trim set to the middle of its range, then fine tune the level using the trim control.  If required, phanom power is available at either input sensitivity setting.

[waltmon]

Did you still have phantom power? I would think that would be the main reason for mic in setting.