ULN-2 into Tascam DR-680-How?

[choros]

Thanks Michael - I have tried that as well with no luck.

We're going to do some more tests today with other devices - (DVD Player etc.) to try to get a digital signal to communicate with the DR-680. I've done several things to try to get the SPDIF to lock via suggestions from MIO Mailing list (Metric Halo - B.J., and others).

John (johnsound) is going to contact me and help me run some tests today. (thanks John!!) I'll update later today with results, hopefully. I think we're thinking that if I can't get digital signal from any other device than this DR-680 that I have is faulty, then I'll have to decide if I want a new one sent to try this all over again.

Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks,

Jay

[johnsound]

Hi Michael,

Once the Stereo Rec in the Record menu has been set to DIN (Digital In for those of you following along) the Input Select Digital/Analog setting in the I/O menu has no effect: inputs 5 & 6 will be analog. Only when the Stereo Rec setting is Mix does the I/O setting allow you to switch between analog and digital on inputs 5 & 6. One of the many rather confusing aspects of this machine!

Regards

John

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

Try like johnsound said but change the INPUT SEL to DIN.
I/O
INPUT SEL - DIN
A. OUT SEL - DIRECT
D. OUT MODE - SPDIF

[tnjazz]

I wish I could be of more help but we no longer own the Tascam deck so I don't have one handy to offer any further suggestions beyond what John and Michael have already provided.

All I can say is good luck! Best thing to do is feed it a variety of digital sources to test. My guess is that some will work and some won't. I doubt the Tascam itself is faulty though. Just how they are handling the digital stream from various sources...

Dirk

[johnsound]

Jay and I did some work over the weekend and made progress. He'll no doubt fill you in later.

Thanks,

John

[choros]

EDIT: John beat me to this post.

Thanks Dirk. We've had some breakthroughs - and plenty of oddities - just this morning. I was going to post a lengthy, detailed update later or tomorrow. I wanted to make sure what we've figured out is working consistently for a couple days.

You've all been VERY helpful. Incredibly so! Thanks! Especially johnsound, and his delightful English accent, who spent yesterday morning on Skype phone with me from London, testing, configuring and explaining things.

Long story short: It's locking at 44.1k now and I've found a workaround to get the sample rate to lock at 48k too. I can't switch back and forth at will between the two sample rates without powering down, unplugging, switching around the SPDIF cable and back again etc. but it's manageable and I'm ok with it. I have the process all typed out in an email. I'll post soon. 96k is not locking between the two devices however - and doesn't sound like it ever will be for some reason? But, I have my ULN-2 Snapshot States set up to monitor through the ULN-2, without having to use the Macbook, which I'm happy about etc. so it looks like I'll be keeping it as it will do what I want.

So, Thanks again! As I told John, and he agrees, the behavior between the two devices is very odd, but, if it's a consistent odd and one that I know and can manage, I'll keep it and deal with it. Like I said, I'm very happy with the fact that I won't have to use my Macbook on location (or in same room in small studio) and I still can use the ULN-2's A/D and preamps -into a small, (easy to use, once you know how!) quiet, flash recorder. - And I'll also be able to record 4-6 more tracks if/when needed.

Also, John has the Busman mod and seems to be happy with it. I may look into getting this done too, down the road, if I find I'll be using the other channels a lot or want to use it without my ULN-2. I haven't done much testing with the stock preamps but I will with SDC's. I did actually try them with my Beyer M160 Ribbons and as I figured, they were too noisy - this was on a quiet source - classical guitar. The ULN-2 pres have gotten me very spoiled with these Ribbons.

I got the carry case, a Sandisk 32GB Class 4 Ultra SDHC card that's working fine with it, and I'll be able to get the same quality sound as I would be getting with my ULN-2/Macbook setup - so I'm pretty happy now. A strange trip it's been getting here - but I've learned a lot about both devices doing it!

Thanks,


Jay

[choros]

UPDATE! I've got 44.1k, 48k, AND 96K working no problems now! I'm VERY excited about this! I can also switch sample rates at will without being hooked up to my macbook or powering down either device etc. All I have to do now is have two SPDIF cables hooked up - so that, I guess, each device is communicating each way with each other. I want to have both cables hooked up anyway because I've routed and made my Snapshot States in the MIO Console- one for each sample rate - so that I can monitor and playback through my ULN-2 (or both devices at the same time, if I want, for a total of two headphone outs on location - sans MacBook). DELIGHTFUL!

Anyway, it wasn't always like this for some reason. I guess each device just had to get to know each other better - and me them. Now we all know and like each other just fine and are getting along wonderfully!!

Thanks everyone for all their AMAZING help here, there and everywhere! What a wonderful world - and forum this is!!