Thread: Tascam DR-680 portable audio recorder

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  1. #1 Tascam DR-680 portable audio recorder 
    William Graydon
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    Default 04-29-2012, 05:03 PM
    I previously posted about purchasing a portable audio recorder and then I came across the Tascam Dr-680 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ble_Field.html for only $630.

    I am wondering why mixers are more expensive and if this is a good deal?

    I figure in order to get timecode I will need http://www.red.com/store/products/3b...emo-sync-cable Will I even be able to connect this to the DR-680?

    What do you all think? I don't mind recording audio straight to my scarlet via my a-box but clients and projects often require more "professional" audio.

    I am by no means a sound engineer but as I live in Miami there aren't many here so a lot of times we have to do audio ourselves.

    Looking forward to your responses. Thanks in advance!
    Scarlet-X #1510 "Brigitte Bardot"

    "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John Lennon
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  2. #2  
    Marie Turock
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    Default 04-29-2012, 05:33 PM
    Expensive audio equipment usually provides superior preamps, and is almost always worth the extra investment. Audio is definitely one of those areas where you absolutely get what you pay for, so if you can part with the cash, invest in good audio gear. Anything from Sound Devices will provide ultra clean audio and is worth the cost. I have used many products from Tascam, and the resulting audio is a bit too noisy for my tastes, but that is only my opinion.

    Good luck with your decision!
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  3. #3  
    William Graydon
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    Default 04-29-2012, 06:19 PM
    Marie, what you say is very true. At the current moment I cannot justify spending $1800 on an SD 702. I am worried no though, seeing as the Tascam DR-680 cannot record timecode.

    Does anyone have effective alternatives for this? perhaps recording in camera and also to the recorder allowing for easier sync in post?
    Scarlet-X #1510 "Brigitte Bardot"

    "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John Lennon
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  4. #4  
    Michael Jarvis
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    Default 04-29-2012, 07:17 PM
    I use the Tascam all the time. I also use API pres in the studio. The tascam is a fine field recorder. It gets the job done. As far as timecode goes... Easy solution. Pipe a wireless signal from the tascam to each camera ( I use a Sennheiser unit). Then apply the $150 Pluraleyes plugin in post. Works like a charm everytime and can save you boatload on a timecode recorder. Of coarse...for perfect tone. A Sound Devices unit is premium....but coming in like 4 grand less...Tascam is killer. Quiet clean preamps. Use good mics...and most importantly.... Use them well.
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  5. #5  
    William Graydon
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    Default 04-29-2012, 08:14 PM
    Thanks for the advice Michael! Can you elaborate on the wireless signal? Which sennheiser unit? Do you mean a wireless microphone unit?

    Thanks in advance!
    Scarlet-X #1510 "Brigitte Bardot"

    "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John Lennon
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  6. #6  
    Michael Jarvis
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    Default 04-29-2012, 08:46 PM
    Sure, be happy to. It's actually the Sennheiser G3 Lavalier system for video cameras. There is a small transmitter and receiver. Both battery powered. Gets super great battery life. Take off the Lavalier mic and plug the tascam directly into it. Pipe the receiver(s) directly into the Eric it Scarlet using a standard 1/8 cable. Then the tascam and Red cam both have the same exact audio wav forms. Open up FCP, PP or Avid and use Pluraleyes. 100% accurate everytime. I have great mics and lots of engineering skills. You would never know its not a high end piece of gear .... And I can sync hours of footage is about 10-20 minutes.

    Once it's in sync to the master ... That's when the work comes in. Mix...eq...compress...filter...make it sound rock'n then replace the "scratch master audio" with the mixed audio. Painless...easy....and cheap.... and sounds great.
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  7. #7  
    Michael Jarvis
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    Default 04-29-2012, 08:51 PM
    Sorry about the verbiage ....I'm on an iPhone...damn spellcheck.

    Hey off topic... Do you know if the Zeiss 50mm Ze got set up with the 3.0.0 firmware. I believe it did and I want to pick up that little guy.
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  8. #8  
    William Graydon
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    Default 04-29-2012, 09:48 PM
    Haha. No worries Michael! Thanks for that. Makes sense. I actually just asked a buddy of mine about the zeiss. Looking into a set myself. Will let you know in a few.
    Scarlet-X #1510 "Brigitte Bardot"

    "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John Lennon
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  9. #9  
    William Graydon
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    Default 04-29-2012, 09:58 PM
    It does indeed Michael. just confirmed.
    Scarlet-X #1510 "Brigitte Bardot"

    "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John Lennon
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  10. #10  
    soren k jensen
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    Default 04-30-2012, 02:56 AM
    Got the tascam. Preamps too noisy, but maybe its a "monday model". Will try to get it fixed. Otherwise a decent product at a good price.
    Soren K Jensen
    Research Communicator,
    Aarhus University
    Campus Emdrup, Copenhagen, Denmark
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