A colleage in Venezuela has used the Sound Devices 722 as his primary
field recorder for almost three months now. Primarily he is using the
722 to document bird vocalizations, rather than record ambience. So
he uses a Telinga parabola and mic.
The 722 is proving to be a wonderful field tool for his field work.
The 722 is rugged, and reliable under tropical conditions. The 722's
preamp is very quiet, resulting in improved recordings. The
recordings are noticeably better than those made using the Telinga and
HHB Portadisc or Marantz PMD670 recorders.
The 722 records to a hard disc. I still have reservations about using
a hard disc in the field, but my friend has experienced no problems so
far. The hard disc worked fine at elevations above 10,000 feet in the
Andes.
The 722's battery system is proving to be a big asset. The 722 uses a
lithium-ion camcorder battery, securely attached to the outside of the
recorder. The battery lasts much longer than the 8 AA battery sled
used in the Portadisc and PMD670, and it's much easier to change.
Having the battery attached to the recorder is more convenient than an
external battery pack attached by a power cable.
The 722 is designed to use Sony's Info-lithium L or M series
batteries. There is no reason to buy the Sony brand, however. There
are several companies that make compatible batteries for a
considerably lower price.
The retail price for the 722 is holding steady around $2375. Who says
money can't buy happiness?
--oryoki
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