Jump to content

Quality Preamps/AD of Sound Devices 644 vs 788


Fredo

Recommended Posts

Can someone comment on the quality of the preamps/AD of the Sound Devices 644 vs. the 788.

 

We plan to use one of both as a front end for recording Foley and would like to know if the 644 preamps are different/better than the ones on the 788.

We have a 744T for our location recordings, so I am pretty familiar with the sound and what I'm after in the 644 or 788.

 

Thanks for your advice

Fredo Gevaert

Temple Of Tune

Belgium

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is just my idea or the prices for US products have increased? Sound Devices 788T has 7.100€ (ex VAT) now.

Of course, the € went down. As discussed in another recent thread, prices go often up with the currency going down, but never up.

I am, however, talking about buying a used 744T used from one of the usual suspects in the US, which sell for a around $2000 or even less. Add to that shipping and VAT (it depends on your personal situation whether you can reclaim that) and import tax. All of this will be arranged for by the vendor and the courier, so it's simple to do and may be a bargain - just calculate for everything to be sure

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I prefer the limiters of the 788T, set to the shortest release time possible.

Slight use might be helpful in getting some sounds (door slams, impacts, all kinds of percussive sounds) more "bite".

 

Me too.
664's low cut do not cut under 80 Hz.
788's low cut can cut under 40Hz.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love the 664! And owned a 744t. Both are fantastic but sound different. To me for foley I'd go with the 744 or 788 for sure..if that's the recorders sole purpose. The 664 will only do 48khz as a sample rate too so that is something to consider when taking about recording foley or sound effects.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for all the replies.

 

As said earlier, we do own a 744T. Reason why I want my Foley front end system to be as good. :)

The problem however is more complicated.

I need to be able to mix different sources to a new track in real time.

Here in Europe, most of us record Foley within perspective.

So, for example, if we have a bicycle coming toward us, we fade from a distant mic to a close mic.

This means we have to have input trims *and* Mix faders, or rotary knobs, at our fingertips.

So the "mixed" signal is then routed into the DAW, while we still have the individual channels as backup in the recorder. (Or recorded on other tracks)

 

Our first idea was to put in a 788 with a CL9.

But since this is no cheap solution and a bit of overkill, looks a 664 would do the job too.

If only we could connect a CL9 to out trusted 744, this would make me very happy. :)

 

Thanks again for your help.

Appreciated.

Fredo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If only we could connect a CL9 to out trusted 744, this would make me very happy. :)

But the Cl-9 won't provide any additional preamps to 744T. However, if you are happy with your 744. why not get a 442 or 302 or MixPre to go along with your 744? Those are great tools to have anyway and a 442 can be had 2nd hand at fairly low prices. The preamps of those mixers are pretty much on par with those on the 664.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

But the Cl-9 won't provide any additional preamps to 744T.

No, but I don't need the extra channels. It's just a matter of  controlling input trims and mix levels.

However, if you are happy with your 744. why not get a 442 or 302 or MixPre to go along with your 744?.

Because I would lose the routing functionality.

 

Imagine a Foley Room that has 4 mics. 1 distant mic, and 3 close mics placed at different places, for different purposes. Having faders at the fingertips allows me to choose which mic/channel is going to the single digital feed to the DAW. (The DAW which gives me all monitoring facilities). This allows me also to mix any mic with any mic into that single digital signal. (Distance vs close-up). In addition to that, I have the trim pots at my fingertips (Door slam vs. cloth movement). And I can also route the individual -non mixed- channels into the recorder or DAW as a safety backup. These are all things that are complicated or impossible with single analog solutions or traditional gear. Or we would have to add an analog or digital mixing stage, before the signal goes into the DAW.

 

With this solution, the trims, AD, Mix faders, and routing come in one package. And it's just a matter of being able to control all these in the most convenient way possible. Which is the CL9.

 

That being said, a 552 would do the job too I think.

 

 

Hope this clears it up.

Fredo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So you're not outdoors in harsh conditions with no shore power, right?

Then why not use a digital desk? Thinking 01V96 or better.

Output the mix to PT, and the direct outs to your 744T's line inputs. Way cheaper.

IIRC, you can assign PT tracks to be recorded in different folders, right? Then you could have one "main" folder and one "iso" folder, and record everything into PT directly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Peter,

 

 

The whole point is that I don't want to use a digital or analog mixing desk.

And/or any other Preamp and DA, except for those that are part of the Sound Devices systems.

I do not want any compromise in Sound Quality (We currently use Lafont LP-21's, and I won't go for anything less quality-wise)

And I want *all* controls (Input Trims & mix faders) at my fingertips.

 

Fredo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And additional to your setup: The 788 also can output digital AES(744 only has SPDIF) while being a wordclock slave. So no DA/AD problems or jitter when recording to a DAW.

Just for the complete picture: the 744T does have AES3 outs as well as WordClock i/o, and is thus perfectly suited to be recorded digitally into a DAW.

It's AES3id which is not exactly the same as AES3, but similar, and it is similar to SPDIF, but again not exactly the same

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just for the complete picture: the 744T does have AES3 outs as well as WordClock i/o, and is thus perfectly suited to be recorded digitally into a DAW.

It's AES3id which is not exactly the same as AES3, but similar, and it is similar to SPDIF, but again not exactly the same

 

Hi Constantin, I never stated the 744 didn't have WC, but good to mention, furthermore, interesting point. Although the 744T doesn't have the hands on capabilities that Fredo asks for.

 

Wiki states "S/PDIF and AES3 are similar in many ways and are interchangeable at the protocol level, but at the physical level they specify different electrical signaling levels, which may be significant in some applications."

 

SPDIF, AES3 and AES3id don't differ that mutch on proticol level, but the physical differences are indeed something to keep in mind.

SPDIF is a real consumer, livingroom, standard to connect the DVD player within short range (10m). AES3 and AES3id to my (new)knowledge are indeed professional, but the only way you'll get the advantages from AES3id (1000m) over the balanced AES3 (100m) is via (75ohm BNC)COAX cable in stead of (110-ohm STP)XLR.

 

You won't see me walking around with Coax and a smile. I rather have a flexible XLR cable that I can use for many purposes, and includes a return line.

 

My humble opinion aside. You should look at your total setup, what equippement am I connecting, what protocols and connectors does it use, do I need WC, what length do I need my cables to be.... and so forth. The less you'll have to convert the less you'll invite problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Constantin, I never stated the 744 didn't have WC, but good to mention, furthermore, interesting point. Although the 744T doesn't have the hands on capabilities that Fredo asks for.

Absolutely, I didn't mention this in disagreeing with you so much, instead I meant to clarify that the 744T has those (or similar) capabilities, too. Anyway, Fredo needs a 788T
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...