Upgrade to Tascam DR-680

Curious about volume control on the 8 channels of the DR-680. It looks like there are two settings per channel (low/high) i.e. no volume dials?

What if low is too low and high is too high?

My problem is I often get one instrument channel feed and one voices channel feed - when the instruments overpower the voices, the volume controls on my camcorder are so sensitive that a couple of clicks down results in an inaudible signal and a couple of clicks up, puts me into redline territory.

Since the sound board is typically operated by "others" at the stage/music events I tape, I want to find a way to adjust volume myself between one sound board instrument channel and one sound board voice channel (the volume dials at the camcorder just won't allow this).

I cannot, as a one-trick pony, have a battery of mics for instruments and then 4-6 others for voices and do my own mixing.

Any suggestions?
 
The 680 is not good for 'mixing of the fly', (nor was it designed for it) A recorder like the R44 with analog level pots may be better.. The only suggestion I can think of is taking pre-fader feeds from the house, sub-master or matrix stem mixes and don't worry about trying to mix on location.. that's the advantage of multi-track recording anyway.
FWIW, The 680top panel high/low switches are mic preamp gain. They have no affect in line level mode which bypasses the mic pre.
The DR-680 has a track/channel record level (trim) and an internal software mixer volume and pan, continuously adjustable and control the headphone monitor and (stereo) recording mix to tracks 7-8 (if so selected). The 'mixer' does not affect the RCA output levels which are sourced directly from iso tracks 1-6.
 
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Rick,

I watched a video review on the 680 and as you turn the pots during recording the audio is "stepped" in volume, so it is not smooth, so for that reason you could not really use it for live mixing right?

EDIT CORRECTION: the video I watched was on the 60D not the 680! The 60D when you adjust levels has audible ZIPPER noises so you can not do live audio mixing with it:
http://youtu.be/rGMiIXkiJ9E?t=7m7s

 
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Depends on the sound source. a 'zipper' step noise would likely be audible on string pads and other sustained notes, chords and such. The record trim is not as 'rough' as the 'mixer volume level' control..
It's certainly not a user friendly interface for riding levels..
 
Yes I've been very tempted with the DR-680, especially considering it is practically the same price as a H6 Zoom.. but now re-thinking all my options.

75% of the time I would like to honestly just put a mixer between two mics and go directly into my camera. The odd time (I guess the other 25% of the time) I might prefer to just have a dedicated recorder when running cables to my camera would not be feasible.

So I've been thinking about a mixpre-d or 302, but they cost even more than a DR-680 or H6, so I'm really stumped here. I've even considered just a Shure M367 for going straight to camera.

Any thoughts from your end?
 
Are you sure you are not confusing the DR-60 with the DR-680? They are quite different in price, features and design. Tascam's DR-60 is the competitive model of the Zoom H6.
 
Hi Rick, earlier I had mistakingly said it was the 680 that had the zipper sound issue, but I found the link to that video and its actually the 60D that has the audible zipper noise http://youtu.be/rGMiIXkiJ9E?t=7m7s

As for H6 vs DR-680 in price, well BHphotovideo has them for a difference in price of only $20. I know they are not in the same "class" but you can ride levels on the H6 if using external boom mic, and for other events use it with the included stereo mic should you need to do so.

The DR-680 of course has more channels it can record, "cleaner", and quite different use than an H6 but for the price the DR-680 is very attractive. But if you have to add a mixer to get it to work optimal, then its a whole other animal.
 
BTW, that's likely a special 1 or 2 day (B&H) sale price on the 680... and a 'steal' IMO.
The H6 knobs are more user friendly for sure. They still could be a 'soft knob' and subject to same step volume issues. I've not used one nor looked at a circuit schematic. Good luck in any case.
 
Just took a bite. Dr60D at $250 is a good deal with free plural eyes.
a new h4n is priced almost the same.
 
starcentral said:
Yes I've been very tempted with the DR-680, especially considering it is practically the same price as a H6 Zoom.. but now re-thinking all my options.

75% of the time I would like to honestly just put a mixer between two mics and go directly into my camera. The odd time (I guess the other 25% of the time) I might prefer to just have a dedicated recorder when running cables to my camera would not be feasible.

So I've been thinking about a mixpre-d or 302, but they cost even more than a DR-680 or H6, so I'm really stumped here. I've even considered just a Shure M367 for going straight to camera.

Any thoughts from your end?
Click to expand...

Two options.
1) A juicedlink riggy sounds darn good as a mixer/preamp for mics to many cameras. Very small and practical. $399

2) I actually think the Fostex DC-R302 has better pre-amps than almost any of the above mentioned units.
You can really give it a lot of gain. I personally found it sounds as good if not better than an SD302, though the noise floor might be a touch higher.
Not only is the unit an excellent mixer to camera, but also is a recorder.
You can see the levels very well and feels decently constructed (not plastic like the Tascam's)
Most importantly, it is now $499, down from more than $1000 a year ago.
It never took off like it should have because the marketing was so poor and they had software glitches in the beginning.
An excellent deal.
 
"I actually think the Fostex DC-R302 has better pre-amps than almost any of the above mentioned units."
- That's possible
"I personally found it sounds as good if not better than an SD302"
- Unlikely. I would question your test parameters as well. The Fostex is a mixer/recorder. The SD is a mixer.
 
Rick R said:
...
The H6 knobs are more user friendly for sure. They still could be a 'soft knob' and subject to same step volume issues. I've not used one nor looked at a circuit schematic. Good luck in any case.
Click to expand...

The gain controls on the H6 are continuous and stepless. They're also not damped at all so they will require some finesse for gain riding.

The firmware update added a variable attenuation setting for the line out which makes camera connection a snap.

Fran
 
i jumped on the dr60d in part for the sale price ($249) and the ability to add two tracks to my sony fs100's two tracks.

i thought i would put my sd mixpre ahead of the tascam dr60d and that would allow me to have a quality pre with stepless volumne control.

the dr60d would really be a capable digital data dump plus the handy dandy level reduction software makes it a tool i'm looking forward to testing.

ymmv.

be well.

rob
smalltalk productions/nyc
 
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