Paul Isaacs

Something else to bear in mind when choosing the speed of a CF card is whether you will ever want to record multitrack audio in BWAV mono format instead of poly format. Recording high track counts as mono files is more intensive an operation than writing to a single contiguous poly file. If you ever see yourself recording 8 tracks @ 96/24 or 12 tracks @ 48/24 in mono format , I would personally recommend UDMA to give you that extra headroom and confidence that media isnt going to be too slow Paul

This bug is fixed in v2.63 firmware for the 744T and 702T. Paul

I don't think its any secret that we're working on something of this nature. No thumb twiddling going on here:) The CL-2, 788T-SSD and v1.71/v2.63 firmware updates are the new things we're introducing at this year's NAB. Paul

Hi Michael, Sorry to hear you've been having these TC issues in 2.61. FYI, our tech support guys are waiting to hear from you to get more details about your particular setup (e.g. Frame rate, Ext Power Function etc). Please call them at your earliest convenience. We'd like to be able to replicate/fix this issue as quickly as possible. thanks Paul

There have been many 788 enhancements and fixes over the last 6 months. The latest firmware version is V1.65 Paul Sound Devices, LLC

Yes, we are currently investigating these DVDRAM issues. What is important is that our tests have shown that the 788T is capable of simultaneosuly recording up to 8 tracks polyphonic to INT HDD and DVDRAM provided DVDRAM media has minimal dust and scratch marks and optical drive is OK. Having said that, we are working on some strategies to make the 788T more forgiving of DVDRAM media imperfections and optical drive alignment tolerances. Paul Sound Devices , LLC

Folks Sound Devices 788T new firmware, V1.65 is available now. http://www.sounddevices.com/download/788t-firmware.htm *8 track recording at 88.2/96khz simultaneously to 2 media *Inputs can be routed to any track either pre-fade or post-fade. *Latching tone option. PLUS other enhancements. Paul

In the 744T, it was just a labeling technique to clearly differentiate in the user interface between input designators (1,2,3,4) and track designators (A, B, C, D). The 788T continues down this path for consistency. As far as poly and mono files track designators are concerned, the Sound Devices machines have always conformed to the industry 'standard'; in other words Track L appears as track 1. Importing a 788 file into Wave Agent will show that quite clearly. Paul

Youre point is a valid one and I think perhaps the use of the 'L' and 'R' labels has created a misconception that the 788 is limited in its routing capability. Once you realize that they are JUST labels and that: Track L = Track 1 Track R = Track 2 Track A = Track 3 Track B = Track 4 " " Track H = Track 10 Track X1 = Track 11 Track X2 = Track 12 . . the true flexibility becomes apparent. Part of the reason characters were chosen as track designators is because of the 744 heritage where tracks are labeled A-D. Because the 788 is a true mixer/recorder, it was felt that calling track 1, 'L' and track 2, 'R', was a fairly logical step because these tracks are typically used as the mix tracks. Unfortunately, it seems that many users now think that these HAVE to be used as mix tracks, when in actual fact, they dont. They can be used as ISOs too. Paul

In the meantime, here are just a couple of examples of what you can do now when using a board to provide the mix and ISO feeds: -Digital out (mono mix from board) on to track L and 7x analog out (pre-fader from the board) onto tracks A-G (or R-F or any combination of tracks). -Digital out (mono mix from board) on to track L&R and 7x analog out (pre-fader from the board) onto tracks A-G. -Digital out (stereo mix from board) on to track L&R and 6x analog out (pre-fader from the board) onto tracks A-F. And remember, you still have Aux tracks 1 and 2 for other routing flexibility, typically for feeding video village or boom ops etc. Paul

The next firmware update will include the ability to make any track pre or post fader. Which means any track can be an ISO track and any track can be a mix track. You choose. Another wish granted:) Paul

You're not the first person to ask and we certainly appreciate its usefulness. We usually try and prioritize new features according to client demand. Paul

Oh - forgot to add that you can program a keyboard shortcut too if you prefer. Just go to the keyboard assign menu to set the shortcut up on any key. (#87). I think that might be your first wish already granted:) Paul

Actually there is already an even quicker way to increment scene names/numbers than you describe. You need firmware v1.51 or higher. Simply press STOP + FFWD to increment the scene name. It takes less than a second:) You can choose whether you increment by character or number in the Scene Increment Mode menu (menu#9). For example: BY character: 100, 100A, 100B, 100C etc By number: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104 etc Each time the new scene is created, the take resets to 1 (if you want it to!). With this firmware, you can also edit metadata and filenames before, during and after recording AND all edits are made across all record media. http://www.sounddevices.com/notes/recorders/788t-151/ Paul Sound Devices

Hi Folks A fix for this issue will be available in the next firmware release due soon Paul Isaacs Principal Applications Engineer Sound Devices, LLC

Simon, The TA3 outputs are balanced digital outputs that should happily drive in excess of 100m provided you use correct impedance cable. Typically, twisted pair cables with an overall screen are best. Paul

Hi Robert, Just to confirm a few points for you: 1) As others have mentioned, the 788T currently only allows 8 simultaneous inputs - they can be any combination of analog or digital. 2) Inputs 1-8 can easily be routed directly to tracks L-F so this means your options are 1 AES mix track plus 7 isos OR 8 x isos all monitored without having to switch meters back and forth. Paul Sound Devices

Yes you can. Paul

Thanks Mark, Brian for your good ideas. All suggestions are considered! Paul

You're right! The new functionality of V1.60 is best tasted with a CL8 controller (now shipping) attached. Without the CL8, you still have access to all the new v1.60 functionality (with the exception of slatemic), however to get the best from this firmware release, we highly recommend using the CL8. The CL8 provides one-handed direct control of many functions like routing in/out of LR or Aux12, limiter, HPF, phase invert, solo, slatemic etc. We made track arming/disarming independent from input activation and routing because it provides more flexibility such as: - the ability to use a track as a mix/summing bus without having to waste disk space recording it - ideal for routing multiple inputs to a single output for ifb, comms, director feeds etc. - as Chris pointed out, a track can now be very quickly armed/disarmed without having to turn on/off inputs so now you can leave your trims at the position you've set. Access to track arming is quick - just press the INPUT button (no scrolling through the MENU necessary) and you can see all 12 tracks simultaneously and their metering, then just rotate the encoder to select track and press to toggle arming. From this screen, you can also access the master gain controls for the LR and AUX mixes. We also have added the ability to route/unroute inputs from armed or disarmed tracks during record. Yes - pressing the light button on its own is now used to toggle the metering so that you can view 12 tracks on the led meters. Paul Principal Applications Engineer Sound Devices

Hi Folks, Just to set a few facts straight . . You can record 12 tracks simultaneously to 2 media and 8 tracks simultaneously to 3 media. Paul Principal Applications Engineer Sound Devices

Hi Michael, The 744T will playback at the sample rate that the file is stamped, so if you want to play at pull up rate, get post to stamp at 48.048k - the 744 will auto detect this and playback accordingly. If post provide you with a 48k stamped file, then you will need to pull it up yourself. You can easily do that using Wave Agent - download it for free from Sound Devices website. Paul Sound Devices

How about "EAR" (Electronic Audio Report) . . . after all, isn't that a sound mixer's most important tool?!! Paul

Just joined this excellent forum and spotted this topic. OK - I know this topic is a couple of months old now, but thought I thought add a bit more evidence to support the fact that the 7-series will happily read any standard FAT32 disk and wav file. I connected a 788T HDD to MAC 10.5.4 via firewire and formatted it FAT32 using Mac's Disk Utility. Then copied a folder of various wav files recorded on a number of different machines including Deva, Cantar, Metacorder, Boom Recorder, Portadrive, Fostex FR2, 744 to the 788T HDD. The disk and all files were accessible and playable and copyable to an external disk via firewire. Paul