At 7:36 AM +0000 1/29/05, oryoki2000 wrote:
>The users manuals for the Sound Devices 722 (two channel, MSRP $2650)
>and 744 (four channel, MSRP $4250) field recorders are now available
>online:
>http://www.sounddevices.com/download/guides/722_en.pdf
>http://www.sounddevices.com/download/guides/744t_en.pdf
>
>Production for 722 and 744T is underway, and delivery to retail
>customers is slowly beginning. Recordists using demo units are
>generally positive about the new machines.
>
>--oryoki
I've been using a 744T for about 5 weeks and I feel like I'm getting
familiar enough with it to make a preliminary report. There were some
hiccups at first for sure, but nearly all of them have been cleared
up in the units going out. The recorder has many amazing features;
I'll comment on ones people may be most curious about.
$4250 is a lot, but I'm very comfortable with the investment so far.
This is truly a portable surround recorder. I mounted my mics on
back-pack with two omni's creating the rear pair and an M-S pair
facing forward, just above my head-- sort of an 18" equilateral
triangle spread. I can walk around freely with this array and the
imagery is very impressive. I placed a 12 volt 9500mah battery
inside the backpack and the 744T and MP-2 are in a 'hip pack" with
their faces looking-up at me just above my belt. Power usage is very
low. I've recorded 4 channels at 24/48K for 8+ hours in temperatures
ranging from -15 degrees to 30 degrees. No battery change. I've been
limiting the individual files to 2GB each, there's an option of 4GB.
You can set the "scene" and "take" and the take number increases with
the creation of each new recording. STOP always finalizes a file.
The files are created in dated folders and can be recorded on the
internal 40GB hard drive, compact flash, or both at the same time. A
$130 2GB card gives me an hour of 4 channels at 24/48K.
Operation is a joy, seriously. Yes, there are many menu settings
that one should run through and become familiar with initially but
all can be set and are remembered with power-up. Many menu shortcuts
too. The LED display covers a huge range, has several response
options and can be quickly turned off. I've worked at night in the
woods and I didn't need a flashlight at all. The LCD menu display is
large and clear-- I struggle with most LCD displays. I still can't
believe how small the 744T is, yet, the only controls that aren't
easy to reach in my hip pack are the CF card (in the back) and the
multi-function controller (side). I'll probably modify my pouch to
access the later knob someday. Big, lighted, "RECORD," and "STOP"
buttons. Many configurations for headphone monitoring including m-s
and confidence.
The 744T's 2 channel mic pre has 70dB gain-- about 5dB more than the
MP-2. I've only used a Lunatec V3 a few times, but I agree with
reports that the 744's sound is similar, maybe more transparent. My
MP-2 mic pre produces a "rounder" sound- especially below 250Hz. The
744's pre brings out spatial depth and detail in my MKH 30/40 M-S
pair that I've _never_ heard through my MP-2. I hope SD comes out
with a matching 2 channel mic pre add-on unit. Hard to think I'd
leave my MP-2 at home, but I would.
Sound Devices just completed a significant upgrade of the FireWire
code for downloading files to PC and Mac. It works flawlessly when
downloading to my 1GHz Tibook's internal FireWire connector (Mac
OSX10.3.4), but its currently not working when I place my 744T at the
end of the FW chain. Might just be my hardware or my OS-- they're
just starting to look into this. To the Int HD on my Mac, I've been
getting a FW transfer rate of about 4mbs. Another FW update is
planned that will allow files to be recorded on an external FW drive
for additional space or back-up.
Another possible issue is recording through midnight. The 744 can
have trouble starting a new folder at the date change and can stop
recording. The work-around is to re set the clock to 8am so it can
run for 16 hours. SD may fix this too.
My understanding is there are quite a few 744's on pre-order and its
best to get a request into your dealer if you hope to get one over
the next few months. They say the first 722's will start rolling out
within two weeks with many pre orders to meet. Rob D.
--
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
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