Tascam dr-680 features

[richgilb]

Am I right in assuming that the DR680 does not have a metronome, yet the much cheaper DR-2D does?

[PoxyMusic]

Originally Posted by richgilb

Am I right in assuming that the DR680 does not have a metronome, yet the much cheaper DR-2D does?

A metronome?

No, it doesn't. The DR680 isn't considered a personal recorder, it's a field recorder.

[richgilb]

You may assume this to be so, but Tascam clearly don't. They put it on their site as the flagship portable handheld recorder, yet it has less features than the ones below.

http://tascam.com/products/handheld_recorder/

Shame really, it would have been good for drums.

[rytmenpinne]

Originally Posted by richgilb

You may assume this to be so, but Tascam clearly don't. They put it on their site as the flagship portable handheld recorder, yet it has less features than the ones below.

Products :: Handheld recorder | TASCAM

Shame really, it would have been good for drums.

I also think it would be handy, however, I think using a dedicated metronome is just as easy and more flexible since you don't have to dig in menus to turn it on and off.. you can't monitor the drums tho.. wich is a bummer, unless you run it through a mixer...

throw them a mail.. it really should just be a matter of a couple of lines in the firmware..

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by rytmenpinne

I also think it would be handy, however, I think using a dedicated metronome is just as easy and more flexible since you don't have to dig in menus to turn it on and off.. you can't monitor the drums tho.. wich is a bummer, unless you run it through a mixer...

throw them a mail.. it really should just be a matter of a couple of lines in the firmware..

Too late for now. I bought a Zoom H4N for quick and dirty mobile recording and resigned myself to lugging gear about for the foreseeable future when taking things a bit more seriously. I did nevertheless look on their website for feedback for about 2 minutes and gave up.......

[MichaelPatrick]

There's no accounting for taste or marketing. Glad you got what you wanted.

[Marik]

Originally Posted by richgilb

Am I right in assuming that the DR680 does not have a metronome, yet the much cheaper DR-2D does?

Last week we were in a very fine French restaurant. They did not have heavy gravy and did not serve Coke. Amazingly enough, you could find those in much cheaper Wendy's... where on top of that the portions are muuuuuch bigger!

Best, M

[tsvisser]

Wait a sec, I just checked my Nagra VI and lo' and behold... no metronome either. What an f'n rip!

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by Marik

Last week we were in a very fine French restaurant. They did not have heavy gravy and did not serve Coke. Amazingly enough, you could find those in much cheaper Wendy's... where on top of that the portions are muuuuuch bigger!

Best, M

So you equate a DR-680 to a very fine French restaurant?

Holding the restaurant thought, I would say that the lack of metronome is more like not having a knife and fork. Recording drums is, surprisingly, a field activity for some recordists. And, alas, the drummers I work with can be more cheeseburger than foie gras.

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

Wait a sec, I just checked my Nagra VI and lo' and behold... no metronome either. What an f'n rip!

Even with a metronome, your observation is still valid.

[king2070lplaya]

So, metronome aside, is this a pro-quality piece? How are the converters, pres, internal analog architecture, clocking, battery life, etc? It seems like it'd be a nice piece when you need to go remote with no external power (street recording, for example) but still want to use good mics. Insights please?

[PoxyMusic]

Originally Posted by king2070lplaya

So, metronome aside, is this a pro-quality piece?

It's pretty good, especially considering the price. I'd say it's in the professional camp, but just barely. I think Tascam did a really good job filling a void in the market. Lots of us would like a good quality portable multitrack, but a SD788 would be overkill.

Don't try taking it to Antarctica!

[charles maynes]

Originally Posted by PoxyMusic

It's pretty good, especially considering the price. I'd say it's in the professional camp, but just barely. I think Tascam did a really good job filling a void in the market. Lots of us would like a good quality portable multitrack, but a SD788 would be overkill.

Don't try taking it to Antarctica!

if you were in Antarctica you would find the 788 to be a great hot plate too!

[postprosound]

Considering that tascam made this for FIELD recording, along with live recording, i don't think a metronome was at the top of the feature list. i don't think it was meant to replace a DAW or other 'studio' recorder.

[rumleymusic]

I would be more inclined to discredit a device because it has a gimmicky feature like a metronome. But that is just me.

[Foldedpath]

Originally Posted by king2070lplaya

So, metronome aside, is this a pro-quality piece? How are the converters, pres, internal analog architecture, clocking, battery life, etc? It seems like it'd be a nice piece when you need to go remote with no external power (street recording, for example) but still want to use good mics. Insights please?

I've had mine for a few months now. I've used it with the internal preamps, and also with some good outboard preamps (AEA TRP, Great River). I think it's "pro quality" in the mic preamps and converters, with some compromises in overall build quality to get the price down (see below). I'm very happy with the converter quality, especially. It seems at least as good, and possibly better than the RME Fireface I've been using. The file management is good, and the UI is easy to work with. Haven't lost a recording or had any hiccups so far. There are a few things that probably disqualify it as being completely pro quality for some folks:

• For some odd reason, it records all the common file formats up to 192 kHz, but it's missing a 88.2k option. Doesn't affect me, but it might be a problem for some people.
  
• It doesn't do frequent save-in progress like some of the higher-end machines, so it's important to keep batteries in the unit for safe power-down if you're recording on AC power.
  
• The case is plastic, and the switches and buttons don't feel especially robust. It's an inevitable trade-off at this price; quality machining and metal costs money. It's certainly good enough for what I'm doing, which is mostly recording indoors, or outdoors under non-stressful conditions. But I would aim for a Nagra or SD recorder for truly harsh field conditions. On the other hand, you could buy several of these DR-680's for the cost of a Nagra, so...

Bottom line: it looks and feels a little cheap, compared to something like a Nagra or Sound Devices recorder, but I think the audio performance is very good. It fills a nice market niche for those of us who can't justify the cost of the higher-end field recorders.

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by PoxyMusic

It's pretty good, especially considering the price. I'd say it's in the professional camp, but just barely.

And this guy sees how close it is to being in the professional camp and perhaps makes it so.....

BUSMAN AUDIO - modifications

[PoxyMusic]

Originally Posted by richgilb

And this guy sees how close it is to being in the professional camp and perhaps makes it so.....

BUSMAN AUDIO - modifications

I have this mod, it definitely improves things. I think Foldedpath sums up my position..it's not so much the audio quality as it is the build that prevents it from being truly "pro".

Works for me, but if I was in the field constantly I'd go for something more robust.

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by rumleymusic

I would be more inclined to discredit a device because it has a gimmicky feature like a metronome. But that is just me.

That is a strange value to have. Do you track drummers remotely?

[king2070lplaya]

I do, almost exclusively anymore. I use, when I require a metronome, either a terrific protools plug metronome that I have (TL Metro) or a Dr. Beat. Both allow easy subdivision and tempo changes, and the latter is very easy to interface. Dig em.

Thanks for the details folks, this sounds like a device worth looking into!

[sonare]

I am sure this thought is dating me-- but whatever happened to the notion of PRACTICING with a metronome to improve one's time? Even with a fantastic drummer there is a slight give-and-take (called musical feel)-- this is always eradicated with click-tracks and other crutches. But maybe the difference in how it sounds is now lost on the listener--

Back to the DR680-- I have had one since the beginning-- and it is the undisputed winner in "bang for the buck"-- add a USP Pre2 and you have SD quality mic pres for 2 channels. The NagraVI is king but royalty always costs-- and in this case about 8 times the price of a DR680 (ONLY $2.5k more than a SD788).

There are several threads on the 680-- just click SEARCH

[sonare]

Originally Posted by PoxyMusic

it's not so much the audio quality as it is the build that prevents it from being truly "pro".

You seem to be the first GS guy to do this-- can you give more details?

Rich

[hughesmr]

Originally Posted by PoxyMusic

I have this [Busman] mod, it definitely improves things.

Please elaborate on this. I know the op amps are swapped out, but as someone who has used/heard the 680 both with and without the mods, I'd like you to describe in some detail how the mods improve the performance in practice.

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by sonare

I am sure this thought is dating me-- but whatever happened to the notion of PRACTICING with a metronome to improve one's time? Even with a fantastic drummer there is a slight give-and-take (called musical feel)-- this is always eradicated with click-tracks and other crutches. But maybe the difference in how it sounds is now lost on the listener--

Think more along the lines of self-elevation into the gearlsut-elite-holier-than-thou camp.

[rmx16]

Originally Posted by tsvisser

Wait a sec, I just checked my Nagra VI and lo' and behold... no metronome either. What an f'n rip!

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by Foldedpath

.
[*]It doesn't do frequent save-in progress like some of the higher-end machines, so it's important to keep batteries in the unit for safe power-down if you're recording on AC power.

If you or anyone else knows the "frequency" (frequent or infrequent) of saves in progress I'd be interested in knowing. Thanks.

[Foldedpath]

My understanding (someone correct me if it's wrong) is that it doesn't do any intermittent saves at all. Files stay open for the duration of each take, and are only closed when you hit the Stop or Pause button. That's based on this other GS thread about trying to recover a file after power loss.

Batteries loaded in the unit will act as a UPS if you're on AC power and it dies, with a seamless switch-over and no data loss. I've tested that and it works. If you're doing a location gig on battery power only, just watch your battery life and be careful about using too many mics on phantom power. If it were me, I'd be using this with an outboard battery pack in that situation.

[Uncle Dennis]

What i would like to know is how to improve workflow when importing the files into a DAW. The machine records to 6 analogue and 2 digital channels (if you set it up so)
I record jam sessions for a few hours, and when it comes to bringing them in for editing due to the 4 gig file limit there are loads of files, some in 6 channel multi wav format, and the others in 2 channel linked stereo. This means i have to import each one (time for waveform display to be updated etc) end to end them, and explode them into mono files, not to mention separate the stereo files to 2 x mono and end them too. This takes quite a while on my PC, which isnt old or slow - It's just tedious.
Anyone know of a simple way to end this trudgery, other than get a computer soundcard, or record less ?

[richgilb]

Originally Posted by Uncle Dennis

What i would like to know is how to improve workflow when importing the files into a DAW. The machine records to 6 analogue and 2 digital channels (if you set it up so)
I record jam sessions for a few hours, and when it comes to bringing them in for editing due to the 4 gig file limit there are loads of files, some in 6 channel multi wav format, and the others in 2 channel linked stereo. This means i have to import each one (time for waveform display to be updated etc) end to end them, and explode them into mono files, not to mention separate the stereo files to 2 x mono and end them too. This takes quite a while on my PC, which isnt old or slow - It's just tedious.
Anyone know of a simple way to end this trudgery, other than get a computer soundcard, or record less ?

That really sucks. I was expecting a wav 100 feet long in my DAW assuming I did not press stop or pause

[Matti]

Since the files are BWAV they should find their places in a program supporting
broadcast wav?

Matti