Sound Devices, LLC - Portable, Professional Audio

When two or more devices are intended to record or playback in sync, it is important to ensure that their word clock sources are locked together to prevent drift between the devices. For digital audio devices, audio sampling rate determines speed. For picture equipment, it is frame rate. Failure to lock audio devices can result in poor audio quality and/or lack of synchronization. (more…)

The 788T has been designed as a ‘big brother’ to the 744T recorder, offering many more inputs and greater headphone monitoring capabilities. Although it is designed as a recorder (not a mixer/recorder), it does offer some mixer-like functionality. One of these functions is the ability to use unused inputs as camera returns.

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The chart below shows speed test results for transfers between a 788T and a MacBook Pro. The selection of storage medium is based on common CompactFlash cards commercially available as of April 11, 2008 (more…)

Hard disk drives are mechanical devices and are susceptible to damage from physical shock. One type of physical shock, called operating shock, occurs when the disk is in operation. During operation, the drive head is typically over the drive platters reading and writing data. When a physical shock to the drive occurs during operation, the head and the platters can come into contact causing both components to be damaged. (more…)

Sound Devices 7-Series recorders are equipped with a proprietary C. Link (control link) 6-pin modular input and output connections. These connections allow multiple 702, 702T, 722, and 744T recorders to be daisy-chained together for recordings requiring high track counts. (more…)

Power consumption varies when using a 7-Series Recorder. The chart below shows the power consumption of a 744T recorder in several configurations. (more…)

Q: What sample rate & frame rate should I set my 702T/744T to when recording sound for picture?

The short answer. . .

Set sample and frame rate to what pre-production tells you (and get it in writing!) (more…)

The 7-Series recorders include two “auto record” time code modes. When the units are in either of these modes, recording starts and stops automatically based on whether time code from an external source is running. This mode is helpful in rec-run video environments to chase a video camera. (more…)

Storage volumes formatted by 7-Series recorders generate three folders in the volume’s root. These folders are named FALSETAKES, TRASH, and SOUNDDEV. The FALSETAKES and TRASH folders can be viewed and emptied from the 7-Series recorder. The SOUNDDEV folder is hidden and cannot be accessed from the 7-Series recorder; it is only visible when the storage medium is mounted to a computer. (more…)

Sound Devices has posted sample files of the latest revision of 7-Series firmware. This sample file repository is available at:
www.sounddevices.com/download/sample-files.htm

The CL-1 Remote Control and Keyboard Interface for 7-Series recorders is commonly used to interface PS/2 compliant keyboards for external control. The unit has six programmable electrical contacts used to automate menu items or control the record, play, and stop functions. (more…)

Most Sound Devices mixers, amplifiers, and recorders have external DC inputs. These inputs can be used with AC transformers (and switching power supplies) to provide power for their operation. The 302, 442, HX-3, MixPre, and MM-1 can be powered from external DC sources with voltages ranging from 5 to 18 volts. The 702, 702T, 722, and 744T can run on external voltages from 10 to 18 VDC. (more…)

With a near complete shift from tape-based digital (DAT) and analog recording formats to file-based digital audio recording formats, the choices of audio file types have exploded. In the recent past, audio engineers would set their DAT recorder to 48 kHz, record its two audio tracks as either dual-mono or stereo, and would then concentrate on the business of getting great sound. With a file-based work flow, there are other elements that need to be considered to ensure a smooth transition from the field or studio to the editing suite. (more…)

The internal hard drive of the 722 and 744T can be removed and replaced if the drive is damaged or if a different capacity drive is required. In typical service conditions Sound Devices recommends hard drive replacement once every three years. (more…)

The 702T and 744T recorders excel in applications requiring precise time code synchronization. To achieve precision time code, these units have extremely accurate internal clocks to generate the time code. (more…)

DVD-RAM is a convenient interchange medium between audio recorders and post production. While DVD-RAM disks share the same size and capacity as DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disks, it is easier to think of DVD-RAM as an “optical hard disk”. (more…)

Sound Devices receives numerous inquiries regarding specifics of the 7-Series recorders. Here are a few of the most popular questions. Note that this FAQ is frequently updated as features and specifications are subject to change. (more…)

Before file-based recording technology was introduced for portable recording, planning storage needs was straight forward—buy enough medium (tape) to cover the recording time. In analog, a 7-inch reel at 7-1/2 ips lasts 33 minutes. A 120 minute DAT tape lasts…120 minutes, whether recorded in mono or stereo. (more…)

Several Sound Devices products, including the 702T and 744T recorders use LEMO five-pin connections for time code. The following is the wiring diagram looking at a connector mounted on the chassis of a product. (more…)

The diagram below illustrates the pin configuration of the XL-LB2 LEMO®-5 to BNC input and BNC output cable. This cable is used to jam SMTPE time code to and from audio and video equipment with BNC connectors. (more…)