Marantz PMD680 User manual

1
SETTING UP
Features
• MPEG I Layer 2 compression technology for recording
and playback of mono MPEG audio.
• Recording and playback to and from appro ed
PCMCIA PC Cards (ATA flash or hard disk card).
• MS-DOS compatible file system.
– MPEG Files in .wa , .mpg, and .bwf.
– PCM files in broadcast .wa and .bwf.
• A wide ariety of input and output jacks.
– Microphone input jacks (XLR and 1/4”).
– Line le el RCA input and output jacks.
– Digital coaxial output jack (SPDIF, 48kHz).
– Telephone jack (input/output).
• Three recording modes; LP, MP, and SP.
• Bit rate is assigned to each mode by presetting.
• Three record le el options: manual, manual with
limiter, and automatic le el control (ALC).
• Skip playback and repeat playback using a built-in
EDL (Edit Decision List).
• In pre-recording mode, 2 seconds recording prior to
the recording start is done.
Unexpected chance of starting recording is not missed.
• 3-way power supply:
– 8 Alkaline AA (R6) batteries
– AC adaptor (supplied)
– Rechargeable Ni-Cad pack (optional)
• ANC (Ambient Noise Control) switch for eliminating
unwanted background noise.
• Built in clock automatically imprints each file with the
date and time of creation.
• Built-in mono condenser microphone.
• Built-in speaker.
• Backlit LCD display.
• Remote jack for external start/stop control.
FOREWORD
This section must be read before any connection is made
to the mains supply.
WARNINGS
Do not expose the equipment to rain or moisture.
Do not remo e the co er from the equipment.
Do not push anything inside the equipment through
the entilation holes.
COPYRIGHT
Recording and playback of any material may require
consent. For further information refer to the following:
—Copyright Act 1956
—Dramatic and Musical Performers Act 1958
—Performers Protection Acts 1963 and 1972
—any subsequent statutory enactments and orders
INTRODUCTION
Please read these operating instructions carefully. We
recommend that you read the entire user guide before
you connect or operate the unit.
After you ha e re iewed the contents this manual, we
suggest that you make all system connections before you
attempt to operate the unit.
PRECAUTIONS
The following precautions should be considered when
operating the equipment.
When setting the equipment ensure that :
– air is allowed to circulate freely around the equipment
– the equipment is on a ibration free surface
– the equipment will not be exposed to interference from an
external source
– the equipment will not be exposed to excessi e heat, cold,
moisture or dust
– the equipment will not be exposed to direct sunlight
– the equipment will not be exposed to electrostatic discharges
• In addition, ne er place hea y objects on the equipment.
• If a foreign body or water does enter the equipment, contact
your nearest dealer or ser ice center.

2
SETTING UP
How to Use this Manual
This manual is di ided into the 6 sections described
below. To find out how to use a specific control, refer to
the “Index of Parts, Controls, and Display" on page xxx.
SETTING UP
This section pro ides information you need to prepare
to use the unit to begin with.
GENERAL FUNCTION
This section pro ides information about functions and
operations which are common between recording and
playback.
RECORDING
This section pro ides information about how to select
arious recording sources, how the selected source is
manipulated, and how each of recording beha ior
works. These are useful to make the best use of ariety
of recording function which the unit pro ides according
to your recording purpose.
PLAYBACK and EDITING
This section pro ides information about playback and
editing. There are arious ways to access where you like
to listen. There are arious ways of repeat playback.
You can put mark where you like to access. Further, you
can program the playback to skip or repeat based on the
marks you put.
PRESETTING
This section pro ides information about presetting of
arious parameters. Thus, you can tailor the units to
match best to your style of using the unit.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This section includes detailed information about error
handling, PC card recording system, trouble shooting,
the specifications, and the “Index of Parts, Controls, and
Display”, which allows you look up operations of
specific controls.
Contents
SETTING UP
Batteries and AC Adapter .................................................. xx
Power On/Off ....................................................................... xx
Setting the Date and Time .................................................. xx
Understanding PC Card ..................................................... xx
Connecting Microphones.................................................... xx
Connecting Analog Components ...................................... xx
Other Connections ............................................................... xx
GENERAL FUNCTION
Charging Battery .................................................................. xx
Low Battery Warning and Auto Power Off.................... xx
Data Display .......................................................................... xx
Key Lock ................................................................................. xx
RECORDING
Selection and Manipulation of Input Source.................. xx
Recording Beha ior Settings .............................................. xx
Operation ............................................................................... xx
PLAYBACK and EDITING
Basic Operation ..................................................................... xx
Repeat Play ............................................................................ xx
Marking and EDL Playback ............................................... xx
Track Handling ..................................................................... xx
PRESETTING
Presetting Parameters.......................................................... xx
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Error Handling...................................................................... xx
Requirement for Card.......................................................... xx
File Structure ......................................................................... xx
System Limitations............................................................... xx
Troubleshooting.................................................................... xx
Specifications ......................................................................... xx
Index of Parts, Controls, and Display .............................. xx

3
SETTING UP
Batteries and AC Adaptor
Alkaline Batteries
The PMD680 uses 8 standard AA-type alkaline batteries.
Load as shown in the following illustration.
Battery replacement
When the battery alert indicator ( ) appears in the
display, replace all batteries with new ones. Once this
indicator appears there are approximately XXX hours of
battery life remaining.
Fresh alkaline batteries can pro ide up to XXX hours of
continuous recording or playback.
Notes
• When recording, to a oid problems caused by loss of
battery power it is recommended to always use new
alkaline batteries.
• Use only AA batteries for replacement.
• Be sure to insert the batteries with correct polarity (as
illustrated on the battery compartment).
• Remo e the batteries if the unit will not be used for an
extended period of time.
• Battery life may ary depending on the conditions under
which the unit is operated (en ironmental temperature,
humidity, speaker usage, etc.).
• If batteries leak, dispose them immediately. A oid
touching the leaking material or letting it come into
contact with clothing, etc. Clean the battery compartment
thoroughly before installing new batteries.
AC adaptor
When recording for extended periods, or using this unit
in a studio en ironment we recommend using the AC
adaptor.
to AC outlet
Notes
• It is recommended to always use a Marantz AC adaptor
(DA740PMDU).
Ni-Cad Rechargeable Battery
(optional)
The PMD680 can use an optional Ni-Cad rechargeable
battery. Be sure batteries are fully charged before use.
These batteries ha e a longer operating life than
standard alkaline batteries, reducing the number of
battery changes required under hea y usage (see
below). Refer to the following illustrations to load the
battery.
Battery replacement
When the battery alert indicator ( ) appears in the
display, charge the battery or replace the rechargeable
battery with a fully charged one. Once this indicator
appears there are approximately (???) hours of battery
life remaining.
Fully charged Ni-Cad batteries can pro ide up to 3
hours of continuous recording or playback.
Charging time
Approximately 3 hours.
Notes
• When recording, to a oid problems caused by loss of
battery power it is recommend to always use fully charged
batteries.
• Battery life may ary depending on the conditions under
which the unit is operated (en ironmental temperature,
humidity, speaker usage, etc.).
• It is recommended to only use the Marantz AC adaptor
(DA740PMDU) for charging the rechargeable battery.

4
SETTING UP
Power On/Off
Power on
Sliding the power switch rightward makes power on
and off in turn.
When power is applied from the battery or the AC
adapter, sliding the power switch make the unit enter
standby status.
Sliding the power switch rightward in standby status,
the main power is put on and the unit detects existence
of the card in the card slot.
If the card in the slot is formatted complying with the
units specification, the display blinks showing TOC
(Tabel Of Contents) creating message, then enters stop
status.
About the display in stop status, please refer to the
chapter of "Data Display" on page xxx.
If the card is not formatted complying with the unit
specification, the display shows unformat message.
If the card does not exist in the card slot, the display
shows no card message.
Power Off
Sliding the power switch rightward while main power
is on, the main power is put off after necessary process
for shutdown, and the unit enters standby status.
While recording or rec-pause, the main power is not put
off e en if the power switch is operated.
Setting the Date and Time
Before operating your PMD680, perform the following
operations to set the current date and time.
The current date and time are recorded automatically at
the beginning of each recording.
1 With the power off, slide POWER to the right
while holding down DISPLAY (TIME/DATE).
The unit turns on and enters the date/time
setup mode.
2 Press 1˜4 or ¢˜¡ to set the year, then
press PLAY/PAUSE (3˜8) to enter.
3 Press 1˜4 or ¢˜¡ to set the month,
then press PLAY/PAUSE (3˜8) to enter.
4 Press 1˜4 or ¢˜¡ to set the day, then
press PLAY/PAUSE (3˜8) to enter.
5 Press 1˜4 or ¢˜¡ to set the hour, then
press PLAY/PAUSE (3˜8) to enter.
6 Press 1˜4 or ¢˜¡ to set the minute,
then press PLAY/PAUSE (3˜8) to enter.
7 The seconds start counting from 00 and the
unit automatically returns to its normal
operation mode (stop status) immediately
after you press DISPLAY (TIME/DATE) key.
Pressing PLAY/PAUSE (3˜8) instead of
DISPLAY (TIME/DATE) key, the minute
setting is entered and the menu returns to year
setting menu (step 2).
8 Pressing STOP (7) before setting minute
cancels all the date/time setting.
OVER
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5
SETTING UP
Understanding PC Cards
The model PMD680 records directly to Flash or Hard
Disk-type PC cards. One of the many ad antages is that
it allows you to transfer audio data to a computer
immediately after recording.
Recommended media
SanDisk® PC Card
SanDisk® Compact Flash (with PC card adapter)
SanDisk and Compact Flash are trademarks of SanDisk.
Inserting the card
Notes
• Make sure the card is inserted with the correct side facing
up.
Ejecting the card
Note
The EJECT button is mechanical and ejects the PC card
regardless of the unit’s power or operating status.
Do not press EJECT while recording (when the REC indicator
is lit). This may result in the loss of all data on the PC card.
PUSH
Formatting the PC card
Before using a PC Card for the first time, perform the
following operations to format the PC card so that it can
be used to record audio. This operation completely
erases any information stored on the card. Be sure to
backup any important information before formatting.
Note
You can also use this operation to completely erase a
pre iously used PC card containing audio data you no longer
need.
Operation
1 Start operation in standby mode.
2 Insert card you want to format.
3 Slide the POWER to the right while holding
down ERASE (FORMAT).
4 The format message is displayed.
5 After formatting the card and generate the EDL
file, "done" message is displayed for 3 seconds.
6 The unit enters the stop status.
Display while formatting
Display when the formatting was done (for S seconds)
Notes
• E en the PC card was formatted by MSDOS PC,
formatting by the unit is neccessary to format it in the
unit's format. After this formatting, the PC card is still
readable by PC as MSDOS file.
After using the card many times, it is recommended to do
this formatting operation to streamline the fragmentation.
• Do not eject the PC card or turn this unit’s power off while
formatting is in progress.
OVER
OVER

6
SETTING UP
To output analog audio signals to another
audio component
Connect the source component’s analog line input jacks
to this unit’s LINE OUT (RCA) jack.
Notes
• To connect the mono PMD680 LINE OUT to a stereo input,
a Y-adaptor cable can be used.
To record from or output through a telephone
wire
Connect the phone line to the TELEPHONE IN/OUT
jack.
Notes
• Do not start recording until the telephone connects with
the dialed telephone number.
• Please be ad ised that connecting the PMD680 to a
telephone line is illegal in some countries.
Connecting Microphones
Connect the microphones as shown below.
With the PMD680, you can connect a microphone (for
mono recording) to either the MIC 1 (XLR) jack or the
MIC 2 (1/4" phone) jack.
Notes
• Take care to not connect or disconnect microphones while
recording. This may result in unwanted sounds in the
recording.
Connecting Analog
Components
The following illustrations show you how to connect
analog audio components for recording or playback.
To record from analog audio components
Connect the source component’s analog line output
jacks to this unit’s LINE IN (RCA) jack.
Notes
• To connect a stereo source to the mono PMD680 LINE IN,
a Y-adaptor cable can be used.
MIC (1/4")
MIC (XLR)
or
TAPE DECK, etc.
TAPE DECK, etc.
LINE OUT
LINE IN
Phone
RJ-11 splitter
Wall jack

7
SETTING UP
Connecting Digital
Components
The following illustrations show you how to connect
digital audio components for recording.
To output digital audio signals to another audio
component
Connect the source component’s digital input jacks to
this unit’s DIGITAL OUT (coaxial) jack, and set the
DIGITAL OUT switch ON.
Notes
When digital output is not used, turn the DIGITAL OUT
switch OFF.
DAT, etc.
DIGITAL IN
Other Connections
Remote control
Available Functions
The remote Pauses or Un-Pauses the unit when Play
status.
Notes
• The unit must first be put in Play status manually before
the remote connector will work.
Headphones
Connect headphones to the PHONES output to monitor
the sound during recording and playback.
Use the HP/SPK VOLUME knob to control the olume
of the headphones. The sound from the internal speaker
is muted automatically when headphones are
connected.
Contact closure
switch

GENERAL FUNCTION
8
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TIME
12
OVER
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Data Display
Changing Display Information
Pressing DISPLAY (TIME/DATE) key changes the
display information as follows.
During stop mode
qTotal Track No Total Track Time
wTotal Track No Remain Time
(time a ailable for recording
at the selected bit rate)
eCurrent Time
rCurrent Date
Charging Battery
Charging Battery is done while,
• power is supplied from AC adaptor.
• Ni-Cad battery is loaded.
• presetting of battery is Ni-Cad battery (refer to page xxx,
PRESETTING).
• CHARGE slide switch setting is ON
While charging, charge LED blinks. After charge is
completed, charge LED becomes stably on.
Note
• Charge does not happen and charge LED turns off while
power is on. Charge occurs only in standby (power off)
status.
Low Battery Warning and
Auto Power Off
When the remaining battery energy is anticipated to last
in about xxx minutes, battery warning indicator turns
on in the display (1st warning).
After that, when the remaining battery energy is
anticipated to last soon, battery warning indicator in the
display and REC LED start to blink, and beep sound
turns on and off in 1 second inter al (2nd warning).
After 2nd warning, when the battery oltage goes down
lower than operating oltage, the unit enters auto
power off process. If the unit is working (playback,
recording, editing), necessary shut down process (file
update and closing) takes place. Then the power is
turned off and the unit enters standby status.
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TOTAL TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK REMAIN TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TIME
12
OVER

GENERAL FUNCTION
9
During playback
qCurrent Track No Time elapsed on current
playing track
wCurrent Track No Remain time of current
playing track
eCurrent Track No Accumulated time elapsed
(Total time of exiting tracks
pre ious to the current track
+ time elapsed on current
playing track)
rCurrent Track No Total playback remain time
(Total time of exiting tracks
after the current track +
Remain time of current
playing track)
tRecorded Bit Rate Time when the current track
recording was started
yRecorded Bit Rate Date when the current track
recording was started
During Recording
qCurrent Track No Recording elapsed time on
current track
wCurrent Track No Remain recording time
(Time a ailable for
recording)
eCurrent Track No Accumulated recording time
elapsed
(Total time of exiting tracks
pre ious to the current track
+ recording time elapsed on
the current track)
To Illuminate the Display Panel
• Pressing LIGHT key for less than 1 second, the back
light of the display panel turns on for 3 seconds and
turns off.
• Pressing the LIGHT key for 1 second or more, the
back light turns on and keeps on. Pressing the LIGHT
key again, the back light turns off.
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK REMAIN TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TOTAL TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TOTAL REMAIN TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
RECORDED
TIME
12
OVER
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
RECORDED
12
OVER
REC
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TIME
12
OVER
REC
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK REMAIN TIME
12
OVER
REC
SP
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK TOTAL TIME
12
OVER
Keylock
To a oid accident by unintentionally hitting the key,
keylock function is pro ided.
While the KEYLOCK slide switch is set to LOCK
position, any other key operation is neglected except
that;
LIGHT key while power on status.
POWER key while power off (standby) status.
If you operate the other keys, "Hold" message is
displayed for 1 second.
Note
Keylock effects on PRE REC (slide switch), REC MODE (slide
switch), and all push buttons except LIGHT key.
Keylock does not effect on other slide switches.
-dB 50 40 24 6 2 0∞
TRACK
12
OVER

10
RECORDING
Selection and Manipulation
of Input Source
Input Source Selection
Input source is selected from external XLR microphone
connector input, 1/4" microphone connector input,
internal microphone input, line input, and telephone
input.
INPUT LEVEL switch selects from telephone input,
microphone input, and line input. Only when INPUT
LEVEL switch is at the MIC INPUT position, MIC
INPUT switch becomes effecti e. XLR microphone
connector input is assigned to "1" position of MIC
INPUT switch. 1/4" microphone connector input and
internal microphone input are assigned to "2 / INT
MIC" position of MIC INPUT switch.
If a microphone plug is inserted into the 1/4"
microphone connector, the input from the 1/4"
microphone connector becomes effecti e. If a
microphone plug is not inserted into the 1/4"
microphone connector, the input from the internal
microphone becomes effecti e.
Effecti e microphone input
MIC ATTENUATION
MIC ATTENUATION is effecti e only for the signal
from external microphone inputs, i.e. XLR microphone
connector input and 1/4" microphone connector input.
MIC ATTENUATION is NOT effecti e for the signal
from internal microphone inputs and line input.
0dB (no attenuation), -15dB attenuation, and -30dB
attenuation of the microphone input is selected by MIC
ATTENUATION switch. Mic attenuation is used to
normalize the difference in sensiti ity of the external
microphones and realize the best S/N ratio in recording.
Ambient Noise Control
ANC (Ambient Noise Control) is effecti e for all
microphone input and telephone input, but is not
effecti e for line input.
This function filters out unwanted frequencies for
recording.
• Band-pass ( ) : Cuts low frequency (150Hz and
lower) and high frequency (3KHz and higher)
• Flat : No filtering
• Low-cut ( ) : Cuts low frequency (150Hz and
lower)
REC LEVEL
For all inputs (external microphone, internal
microphone, line), three ways of le el control are
selected by REC LEVEL switch
• ALC (Automatic Le el Control): Automated recording
le el adjustment based on the le el of the input signal
(REC LEVEL knob does not effect the recording).
Time constant is long to pre ent sudden fluctuations
in the recording le el.
• LIMITER: Although the recording le el must be
adjusted by REC LEVEL knob, signals o er 0VU
trigger an automatic reduction of the recording le el.
Time constant is short to pro ide quick restoration of
the manually set recording le el.
When limitter works (at signals o er 0VU), REC LED
also dimms as a noticeable warning.
(Refer to Recording Indication on page xx)
• MANUAL: Recording le el must be adjusted
manually using the REC LEVEL knob.
Effecti e Manipulation for Inputs
Recording Level Adjustment
For the input on which REC LEVEL is effecti e (refer to
the abo e table), recording le el should be adjusted
using LEVEL KNOB. Watching the audio le el meter
and monitoring the input sound, use the REC LEVEL
knob to adjust the audio le el meter so that the 0dB
indicator just barely flicker at the highest peak of the
input sound le el. The OVER indicator should not light
(this would result in clipping).
MIC
ON 1 2/INT SP LP OFF
LOCKOFF
SPEAKER
ALC
LIMITER
REC LEVEL
KEY LOCK
MANUAL TEL LINE
INPUT
PRE REC
MP
REC MODE
MIC ATTEN
FLAT
ANC
-30dB
OFF ON
-15dB
0dB
ON 1 SP LP OFF
LOCKOFF
SPEAKER
ALC
LIMITER
REC LEVEL
KEY LOCK
MANUAL TEL LINE
PRE REC
MP
REC MODE
FLAT
ANC
-30dB
OFF ON
-15dB
0dB
MIC
2/INT
INPUT
MIC ATTEN
ON 1 SP LP OFF
LOCKOFF
SPEAKER
ALC
LIMITER
REC LEVEL
KEY LOCK
MANUAL TEL LINE
PRE REC
MP
REC MODE
FLAT
ANC
-30dB
OFF ON
-15dB
0dB
MIC
2/INT
INPUT
MIC ATTEN
MIC INPUT
switch position
1 2 / INT MIC
1/4" connector
Inserted
XLR microphone
connector input 1/4" microphone connector input
Not inserted
Internal Microphone
Input
MIC ANC REC LEVEL
ATTENUATION (Ambieent Noise (ALC, LIMITTER,
Control) MANUAL)
Not effective Not effective Effective
Effective Effective Effective
Effective Effective Effective
Not effective Effective Effective
Not effective Not effective Effective
Manipulation
Input
Telephone Input
XLR microphone
connector input
1/4" microphone
connector input
Internal
microphone Input
Line Input
MIC