At 2:25 PM -0500 3/19/05, Walter Knapp wrote:
>From: "Rich Peet" <>
>
>>
>>
>> I had the opportunity to play with the new 722 last night that is
>> owned by another member of this list.
>>
>> It is a wow.
>> If you think that a small hard drive recorder must be a fragile
>> machine you will be changed the first time you hold it. I did not
>> measure the case exact but the main impact panels have to be at least
>> 1/4" plate aluminum. It really looks like it could survive being
>> thrown up against a wall and looks very rain resistant.
>
>Did you take it out in the rain or toss it against a wall while it was
>recording? Looks can be deceiving. Real life experience will find out
>the truth.
>
>I somehow doubt 1/4" plate aluminum. Way overkill and too much weight. I
>happen to have some 6061 plate aluminum here in that thickness. No way
>I'd want a recorder's case built out of it. Though it might be nice if
>they used that alloy as it's more corrosion proof than others.
Has 1/8' aliminum lids on both sides. Unfortunately, I tried the
impact crash test: 12 feet onto concrete while inside a canvas
backpack. It survived, still recording to the Int HD..
One tip I would caution users about is heat build-up. It generates
too much heat to leave to running in a closed case unless its very
cold outside. I haven't done summer recording yet but I'll err on the
side of good ventilation.
>
>> Although you have over 60 menu options to customize with, to record
>> with the unit from out of the box to a stereo track is under 10
>> seconds knowing nothing about the machine at all.
>>
>> There really is not a another recorder that will do what this one will
>> and the capability is amazing.
>>
>> The only function I saw not functional that I would ever want was
>> addressed in the manual as a future software upgrade revision. That is
>> to be able to direct firewire copy and/or mirror to an external
>> firewire hard drive. Currently, it can mirror to flash chip but for
>> transfer outside the machine to an external drive it does take another
>> computer with a firewire port.
>
>For the price it's actually not all that exciting. Were it priced so
>poor folks could afford one it might be interesting.
Right, its not a great "deal" but I do think its a really fine
recorder. We'll know in 5-10 years whether its a good investment. If
short takes and 16 bits are adquate, I'd definitely recommend a
NH-900/MP-2 combo and if there's extra money, to spend it on mics.
>
>This is especially true as commitment to something capable of recording
>that well also means a commitment to high quality microphones. And we
>have already had the discussion where high quality mics were dismissed
>as too expensive for poor folks.
>
>Remember when a person was told that if they wanted to get into quality
>nature recording the buy in was a Nagra? It seems that's where we are
>headed.
>
>Yes I do think it's a ok recorder. But it's hardly a miracle or unique.
>It would be a miracle if it was priced appropriately.
I assure you that SD employees are not running off to their
northwoods cottages with surplus income from sales. They have taken a
lot of risks and very big upfront costs to make two fine portable
recorders that do 95% of what we ask. Its been stated many times that
we represent a tiny, tiny niche,.. It will be a miracle if
manufacturers continue to respect our needs if ALL we do is complain.
If I have to buy 5 recorders in my lifetime and end up paying $5000
more for gear that was made by employees who were paid
"appropriately" -- I'll be fine with that. Rob D.
>
>Walt
>
>
>
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