DR-680 splitting long recordings

mish mash · 31st January 2012

Hey slutz,

has anyone else run into this problem:

I've been testing my 680 for running time with an emergency car starter and an inverter, by setting it up to record over night. The power seems to work fine. Using 4 channels of phantom power at 24/48, I can completely fill up my 8gb card which gives me just under 4 hours of recording (this is the largest available sd card i have at the moment)

The problem is that, when I go to look at the files on the card, they are split into two sets. At some point past the 2 hour mark, the first set of 4 channels of audio ends, and the next begins. If I line up the files in my DAW, there doesn't seem to be any recording time lost, so it's not something I can't work around. But I would really like to just have one file for the duration of the take.

Anyone else experience this?

Bibster · 31st January 2012

they're probably split in 2Gb chunks. the 2Gb is the maximum filesize on FAT32 disks, the filesystem most commonly used on memory cards.

rcrowley · 31st January 2012

Why do you consider it to be a "problem"? All media schemes break data into manageable chunks. File-based media (video, audio, or even still images) would be impractical otherwise. This is normal and expected.

MichaelPatrick · 31st January 2012

This is normal behavior because computers and other systems have limits on the size of any single file.

Page 32 of the user manual says

...the maximum recording file size is 2 GB. If the file size reaches 2GB while recording, the unit automatically continues recording in a new take and stops recording the current take.

mish mash · 31st January 2012

hm.

missed that in the manual. thanks for pointing that out.

I realize this is a moot point, but while it may be part of the media scheme, it's a "problem" because it doesn't accurately represent a recording event. In the perfect world, I would have one file for every one time i hit the record button (x # of tracks).

thanks for clearing this issue up.

MichaelPatrick · 31st January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by mish mash

hm.

missed that in the manual. thanks for pointing that out.

I realize this is a moot point, but while it may be part of the media scheme, it's a "problem" because it doesn't accurately represent a recording event. In the perfect world, I would have one file for every one time i hit the record button (x # of tracks).

thanks for clearing this issue up.

This is nothing new. We used to record with open reel tape. At 15ips we'd get about 50 minutes and the recorder just stopped when the tape ran out.

With today's massive digital storage and processing capabilities I wouldn't complain about a few small inconveniences.

Foldedpath · 31st January 2012

I look at the 2gb limit as more of a feature than a bug with the DR-680. Unlike some of the higher-end recorders, it doesn't continuously write, close and re-open the active recording files as a safety feature (AFAIK, based on earlier info posted here). If you lose power or some other glitch happens with the recorder, you could lose the currently active files.

That shouldn't be a problem when you're recording of a large battery system, and it's one reason I always keep batteries in my DR-680 even when I'm running off AC power. Regardless, having files closed out in 2gb chunks makes me feel better than having one humongous open file.

JEGG · 31st January 2012

Mishmash-
A little off topic, but:
Just curious, why are you using an inverter?

mish mash · 1st February 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEGG

Mishmash-
A little off topic, but:
Just curious, why are you using an inverter?

do you mean why am using the whole car battery + inverter setup? or why bother with the dc to ac inverter since the 680 takes DC anyway?

the whole setup is a fairly ugly, temporary solution to the portable battery problem that comes with being the owner of a 680. I'm borrowing the battery and inverter from a friend, so for the time being it works and it's free - although heavy.

From poring over the battery related threads on this site, I finally decided to get the walmart DVD battery. Ship to store. Wait a week. Go to pick it up - wrong thing sent - some 7.2v thing that obviously wouldn't do (there's another post somewhere about how the supply on the 12v ones is low and rather than saying 'out of stock' wally just sends the wrong product hoping no one notices).

So now, am not sure how to power my unit remotely for long periods. I am very curious about these
Portable 12V LED Power Supplies - High Capacity Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery - ElementalLED.com
(they've been mentioned elsewhere on the forum), but am nervous about pulling the trigger at the risk of frying the recorder. The specs seem to check out, but without an account of someone having tried it successfully, it seems risky, especially with the 680 which seems especially susceptible to power related issues.

JEGG · 3rd February 2012

Are you sure you need huge batteries?

Using a set of NiMH AA batteries nominally rated at 2000 mAh, but actually test from 1860-1920 mAh, I get three hours using 4 phantom mic's (at 24/96 if it matters) with the 680. That suggests it's pulling about 500 mA plus heat loss, though it's impossible to say how much of that is going toward phantom power. You'd get a little more time if the recording were not contiguous.

It's easy to get inexpensive low self discharge batteries that test at 2200-2300 mAh (but rated nominally higher). I've never noted the run time with the higher capacity batteries with 4 or 6 mic's.

Maybe it would be easier just to carry a spare 8 pack in a battery case that plugs into the external socket if swapping out the batteries is not an option. There would be no disruption in recording.

Everyone's needs are different, so perhaps that wouldn't work for you.

About the inverter-that's a very inefficient way to go, because the little inverters commonly used produce considerable heat (and often include a little noisy fan), plus the power supply for the Tascam is a switched supply. The combination of a modified sine wave inverter and a switched supply is particularly inefficient. Usually inverters carry a warning about using with switched supplies (can make the switched supplies overheat) but I'm sure you'd never have a problem with the little Tascam unit.

If you end up with a nice lithium system, let us know. I'd be interested in hearing about it.

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31st January 2012	#2
Bibster Gear maniac Joined: May 2011 Location: Near Toulouse, France Posts: 220	they're probably split in 2Gb chunks. the 2Gb is the maximum filesize on FAT32 disks, the filesystem most commonly used on memory cards.

31st January 2012	#3
rcrowley Gear addict Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Portland OR USA Posts: 300	Why do you consider it to be a "problem"? All media schemes break data into manageable chunks. File-based media (video, audio, or even still images) would be impractical otherwise. This is normal and expected.

31st January 2012	#4
MichaelPatrick Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,254	This is normal behavior because computers and other systems have limits on the size of any single file. Page 32 of the user manual says ...the maximum recording file size is 2 GB. If the file size reaches 2GB while recording, the unit automatically continues recording in a new take and stops recording the current take.

31st January 2012	#5
mish mash Gear interested Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Thread Starter	hm. missed that in the manual. thanks for pointing that out. I realize this is a moot point, but while it may be part of the media scheme, it's a "problem" because it doesn't accurately represent a recording event. In the perfect world, I would have one file for every one time i hit the record button (x # of tracks). thanks for clearing this issue up.

31st January 2012	#7
Foldedpath Gear nut Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 85	I look at the 2gb limit as more of a feature than a bug with the DR-680. Unlike some of the higher-end recorders, it doesn't continuously write, close and re-open the active recording files as a safety feature (AFAIK, based on earlier info posted here). If you lose power or some other glitch happens with the recorder, you could lose the currently active files. That shouldn't be a problem when you're recording of a large battery system, and it's one reason I always keep batteries in my DR-680 even when I'm running off AC power. Regardless, having files closed out in 2gb chunks makes me feel better than having one humongous open file.

31st January 2012	#8
JEGG Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 941	Mishmash- A little off topic, but: Just curious, why are you using an inverter?

3rd February 2012	#10
JEGG Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 941	Are you sure you need huge batteries? Using a set of NiMH AA batteries nominally rated at 2000 mAh, but actually test from 1860-1920 mAh, I get three hours using 4 phantom mic's (at 24/96 if it matters) with the 680. That suggests it's pulling about 500 mA plus heat loss, though it's impossible to say how much of that is going toward phantom power. You'd get a little more time if the recording were not contiguous. It's easy to get inexpensive low self discharge batteries that test at 2200-2300 mAh (but rated nominally higher). I've never noted the run time with the higher capacity batteries with 4 or 6 mic's. Maybe it would be easier just to carry a spare 8 pack in a battery case that plugs into the external socket if swapping out the batteries is not an option. There would be no disruption in recording. Everyone's needs are different, so perhaps that wouldn't work for you. About the inverter-that's a very inefficient way to go, because the little inverters commonly used produce considerable heat (and often include a little noisy fan), plus the power supply for the Tascam is a switched supply. The combination of a modified sine wave inverter and a switched supply is particularly inefficient. Usually inverters carry a warning about using with switched supplies (can make the switched supplies overheat) but I'm sure you'd never have a problem with the little Tascam unit. If you end up with a nice lithium system, let us know. I'd be interested in hearing about it.