Topic: Tascam DR-680 MKii

[Gutbucket]

F8 and F8N feature timecode but no word-clock.  I don't believe they can be clock-linked/cascaded.  Maybe share transport controls using timecode or the remote app which is IOS only (I've not used either of those features).

Its most important to consider the features critical for the way you want to work. I used to clock-link 680 + R44, or both 680s together to get 10 to 12 clock sync'd channels, but decided I don't really need to do that anymore. Other than recording SBD to a separate 2ch recorder for syncing later, I've not used more than 8ch myself since going to the F8. 

[lukpac]

Its most important to consider the features critical for the way you want to work.

That's the key point.

If I was definitely limited to 8 channels, the F8 would probably be a great choice, especially since it has 8 mic inputs as opposed to the 680's 6. It looks like a very impressive machine.

But...I'm not always limited to 8 channels. Even if I was most of the time, there are still times when I'm not, in which case the F8 would be, if not useless, far from ideal.

That's the name of the game when it comes to these digital recorders. While different machines can be superficially very similar, there can be make or break features on some for some people.

[Gutbucket]

Bingo!

[GLouie]

Just curious, when did Tascam discontinue the DR680mkII?

[lukpac]

Just curious, when did Tascam discontinue the DR680mkII?

Not sure, but this time two years ago several retailers were showing it as discontinued or unavailable. TEAC claimed at the time they didn't know why retailers were showing that.

Looks like it was marked as discontinued on their site sometime between August 2020:

https://web.archive.org/web/20200805050928if_/https://tascam.com/us/product/dr-680mkii/top

And October 2020:

https://web.archive.org/web/20201024121205/https://tascam.com/us/product/dr-680mkii/top

Possibly still available outside of the Americas? Still on their European site:

https://www.tascam.eu/en/dr-680mkii.html

And seemingly still available at Thomann:

https://www.thomannmusic.com/tascam_dr_680_mkii.htm

And while the HS-P82 still shows up on Tascam's site:

https://tascam.com/us/product/hs-p82/top

B&H claims it's discontinued:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/657379-REG/Tascam_HS_P82_HS_P82_8_Channel_Field_Audio.html

[phil_er_up]

TASCAM FIRMWARE ISSUE: Has anyone else noticed this?

I have used this deck extensively since swapping my original DR680. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this, as I am sure it is a firmware issue and is not unique to my deck. I have written Tascam Customer Service 6 times now but have yet to hear back. (I did get an automated response one time saying they would contact me after reviewing my letter, but that was it). I pretty much cut and paste the same letter with small modifications each time in the hopes that one day, I'll get a response. I get around the issue by leaving a note stuck to my recorder so I do not forget the issue which would be easy to do. Here are parts of the letter explaining the issue. I don't know if the issue existed on my DR680, because I never went digi with it. I do like the menu layout on the DR680MKII better than the original, but wonder if the issue existed (Ironically, the menu layout for this using this feature set are amongst the biggest differences between the original and MKII) then or not, and hope they'll deal with it, but have my doubts...

There seems to be an issue that should be fixable with a firmware update. I have written before but not heard back. In the "FUNCTION" menu if you are recording "Digital" (SPDIF) to the mix track (which I call tracks 7 and 8 for ease of reference) you need to set the DIN/MIX settings to "DIN MON" (from the default of "MIX MON") but the deck will not hold the setting of "DIN MON". As soon as you power off and then power it back on for the next use, it reverts back to "MIX MON". There is no way to hold the setting "DIN MON", making it very easy to forget to change it back. You may not notice too, because the MIX channels when set to "MIX MON" the default (which I call 7 and 8 for ease of reference) will be moving if any of channels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 are in use.

Long story short: If there can be a fix (firmware upgrade) so that in the "FUNCTION" menu whatever setting is chosen in the "DIN/MIX" menu would stay chosen like all the other settings, this would be really good. I hope this is clear, Please respond back this time.

Figured it out so no advice needed.

Thanks.

[jefflester]

I switched to a Zoom F8 a few years back but continue to have issues with too-hot line level signals so have gone back to using DR-680mkII. But now twice I've had this issue - I can't read the SD card on my computer. I format the card in the deck and it records just fine but then I can't read the card with a USB card reader on Win10 PC, says it needs to be formatted. My workaround has been to play the recording on the 680 and take the 6 line-outs and real-time record into F8, jeez what a pain. I will experiment with different cards and formatting on PC vs. deck to see if I can find a combo that works, but this seems like a strange problem.

[Gutbucket]

That is a pain!

Have you tried a USB connection between recorder and computer?  Will be slow, yet  not nearly as slow as your current work around.

Also.. doesn't really solve this problem, but did you try using the advanced limiter on the F8?  That's how I manage "overly hot mics" into the XLR mic-inputs of F8 version 1. Advanced limiter works same for line-in, which is only via TRS on the original F8 and does not provide optional phantom power.  That works for me.  I need phantom to the mics and am unable to switch to using line-in which would otherwise solve the problem for me.

[jefflester]

That is a pain!

Have you tried a USB connection between recorder and computer?  Will be slow, yet  not nearly as slow as your current work around.

Yeah, also shows up as "drive needs to be formatted."

Also.. doesn't really solve this problem, but did you try using the advanced limiter on the F8?  That's how I manage "overly hot mics" into the XLR mic-inputs of F8 version 1. Advanced limiter works same for line-in, which is only via TRS on the original F8 and does not provide optional phantom power.  That works for me.  I need phantom to the mics and am unable to switch to using line-in which would otherwise solve the problem for me.

I may try that. I also tried a 20 dB XLR attenuator, but it was rather inexpensive and had a distinct hum. I had bought 2 and they both behaved the same. 600 ohm impedance ones designed for mic level, but I didn't think that would make a difference. My issue has strictly been with line level. I just bought a couple of ~5K ones designed for line level so I will try those as well. I'd like to avoid the limiter, though I gather it works quite well, reading through one of the F8 threads.

[lukpac]

Yeah, also shows up as "drive needs to be formatted."

Out of curiosity, have you opened up Disk Management? Possibly a long shot, but I once had a drive mapping issue where the media in my card reader wasn't showing up.

Do you have other computers you can try on? Other cards show up fine in the reader?

[rocksuitcase]

Yeah, also shows up as "drive needs to be formatted."

Out of curiosity, have you opened up Disk Management? Possibly a long shot, but I once had a drive mapping issue where the media in my card reader wasn't showing up.

Do you have other computers you can try on? Other cards show up fine in the reader?

My initial thought on reading your initial issue jefflester was the card itself. I have two DR680 mki but have to use very specific cards. There is a list of recommended cards for it somewhere. I've settled on Sandisk Extreme pro 32 GB's.

[Gutbucket]

Also.. doesn't really solve this problem, but did you try using the advanced limiter on the F8?  That's how I manage "overly hot mics" into the XLR mic-inputs of F8 version 1. Advanced limiter works same for line-in, which is only via TRS on the original F8 and does not provide optional phantom power.  That works for me.  I need phantom to the mics and am unable to switch to using line-in which would otherwise solve the problem for me.

I may try that.

Don't want to go too OT on F8 in this 680 thread, but its worth trying.  It's somewhat different than a classic limiter and more transparent than most to my ear.  Instead of having/setting a traditional engagement threshold level, you instead set a "never to exceed" value.  You will want to set that to 0dB.  Turning the advanced limiter on implements a pad (-10dB I think) which is what provides the additional headroom. The limiter then engages progressively, starting ~10db below 0dbFS.  So, any material which would not have clipped previously without the limiter remains unaffected (other than a noise floor increase from the pad, which I've not noticed), the limiter only starts working above that point and even when it does it starts off mildly and progressively ramps up the ratio as level increases further to keep the signal from ever exceeding 0dB.  That allows it to effectively provide additional headroom without any audible effects when only lightly engaged.

The progressive engagement means its doing little at all when just slightly engaged, but clamps down increasingly strongly as the signal level continues to rise and approaches 0dB.  Rather than of an abrupt onset above a threshold setting, it progressively ramps up from a 1:1 ratio (no limiting) to infinity:1 just prior to the signal reaching the targe value, which has been set to 0dBFS.

That's how a digitally implemented / digitally controlled limiter should work IMO.  I previously eschewed limiters, and instead just set levels conservatively, but I leave the F8's advanced limiter on all the time.  It rarely engages, and I don't worry about it if does.

Recording onstage near drums I have seen it get pushed it all the way up to inf/1 ratio.  I can hear the effect on those peaks, but many folks would never notice it, its relatively subtle and waaaay better than outright overload distortion or clipping.

[jefflester]

I switched to a Zoom F8 a few years back but continue to have issues with too-hot line level signals so have gone back to using DR-680mkII. But now twice I've had this issue - I can't read the SD card on my computer. I format the card in the deck and it records just fine but then I can't read the card with a USB card reader on Win10 PC, says it needs to be formatted. My workaround has been to play the recording on the 680 and take the 6 line-outs and real-time record into F8, jeez what a pain. I will experiment with different cards and formatting on PC vs. deck to see if I can find a combo that works, but this seems like a strange problem.

Well now I can't replicate the issue. 8 different cards, 2 the deck didn't like but the other 6 all formatted on the deck and read just fine on the PC. With a controlled at-home experiment (leaving the deck on, just cycling through cards, formatting, recording, removing) so I thought maybe it would matter if I shut the deck down between each one. That had no effect, didn't even matter if I pulled power before shutting down, still all 6 worked fine.