Sound Devices 888 (SD888) and expanding channels with Dante, thoughts?

[locaudio]

On 8/10/2025 at 7:03 AM, RadoStefanov said:

I wish zaxcom Nova OneUnit had Dante…

 

For me the Nova is almost the perfect machine but there are a couple of things that make using it not worthwhile.

[RadoStefanov]

On 8/13/2025 at 11:11 AM, locaudio said:

For me the Nova is almost the perfect machine but there are a couple of things that make using it not worthwhile.

 

Please share.

 

[Derek H]

I spent a lot of time pouring over the RDL catalog. They have so many cool problem solvers and devices many of which are in a tiny form factor and world be perfect for bag or cart use. Sadly just about all of their equipment requires 24V DC which makes it all pretty much a non starter for us unless you want to use a DC/DC up-converter. 

[locaudio]

On 8/16/2025 at 8:40 PM, RadoStefanov said:

 

Please share.

 

Sure, but this is off topic so I hope this is ok.

 

I don't like the MARF/mirroring system, I think it's a pain.

I don't like that it takes 8 minutes to format/mount the primary card and then a restart is required. It takes 20 seconds with Sound Devices. I also don't like how long it takes for me to make backups of my Primary card.  Also I would prefer SD cards over CF. CF cards are much more expensive and becoming rarer (but I have heard they are more reliable, although I do not know if that is true).

The Nova has either 3 or 4 file naming options, but in reality only 2 are usable because the others can mess up the mirroring system. I would prefer to use one of the non recommended systems (it's what the editors often want in the circles I work in), but I can't.

Also, I don't like the mirroring system for the same reason people on online forms often say the Mix Pre series isn't good enough.

You are 100% reliant on your primary card. I know Zax has internal recording on TX but sometimes I use the analogue inputs and other manufacture wireless. 

 

A lot of that I can live with though and is nothing more than a minor inconvenience with some planning.  My biggest problem however, is how slow it is to disarm/deselect input sources from recording.

I often work on shows with loads of children, all wired. When one needs to leave set, there is no very simple way to instantly disable the input. I wish you could just hit Inputs>solo that track> disable/disarm/mute input. When A CHILD goes to the bathroom I need to take too many steps to make sure the audio is COMPLETELY silenced. I need to deselect from the recording matrix, but then also make sure the fader is down. Or change frequency on TX (if using Zax wireless), or turn off the receiver if using other wireless. Even if you turn the gain down as low as possible, the track is not fully silenced....WHY????

With SD, you just turn the gain knob down the whole way until it clicks and done. Less than 1 second and no chance of that audio being recorded or being heard by anyone.

This is why for a lot of my jobs I still use SD, but it's a real pity because there's lots about the NOVA I love.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

9 minutes ago, locaudio said:

Even if you turn the gain down as low as possible, the track is not fully silenced....WHY????

Worth mentioning that this is now a selectable option on the latest Nova firmware. You can change the behaviour of the trim pots so that the lowest gain setting now mutes.  I've always been confused by why people want to do this in gain rather than fader, but it's now an option.

I 100% agree about the clunkiness of MARF & Zaxcom's mirroring scheme.  It made sense in the '90s.  It doesn't make sense now.

[locaudio]

1 hour ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

Worth mentioning that this is now a selectable option on the latest Nova firmware. You can change the behaviour of the trim pots so that the lowest gain setting now mutes.  I've always been confused by why people want to do this in gain rather than fader, but it's now an option.

I 100% agree about the clunkiness of MARF & Zaxcom's mirroring scheme.  It made sense in the '90s.  It doesn't make sense now.

Wow! I did not know this. This is great news for me! I am going to update as soon as possible. Thank you!!

[RadoStefanov]

2 hours ago, locaudio said:

Sure, but this is off topic so I hope this is ok.

 

I don't like the MARF/mirroring system, I think it's a pain.

I don't like that it takes 8 minutes to format/mount the primary card and then a restart is required. It takes 20 seconds with Sound Devices. I also don't like how long it takes for me to make backups of my Primary card.  Also I would prefer SD cards over CF. CF cards are much more expensive and becoming rarer (but I have heard they are more reliable, although I do not know if that is true).

The Nova has either 3 or 4 file naming options, but in reality only 2 are usable because the others can mess up the mirroring system. I would prefer to use one of the non recommended systems (it's what the editors often want in the circles I work in), but I can't.

Also, I don't like the mirroring system for the same reason people on online forms often say the Mix Pre series isn't good enough.

You are 100% reliant on your primary card. I know Zax has internal recording on TX but sometimes I use the analogue inputs and other manufacture wireless. 

 

A lot of that I can live with though and is nothing more than a minor inconvenience with some planning.  My biggest problem however, is how slow it is to disarm/deselect input sources from recording.

I often work on shows with loads of children, all wired. When one needs to leave set, there is no very simple way to instantly disable the input. I wish you could just hit Inputs>solo that track> disable/disarm/mute input. When A CHILD goes to the bathroom I need to take too many steps to make sure the audio is COMPLETELY silenced. I need to deselect from the recording matrix, but then also make sure the fader is down. Or change frequency on TX (if using Zax wireless), or turn off the receiver if using other wireless. Even if you turn the gain down as low as possible, the track is not fully silenced....WHY????

With SD, you just turn the gain knob down the whole way until it clicks and done. Less than 1 second and no chance of that audio being recorded or being heard by anyone.

This is why for a lot of my jobs I still use SD, but it's a real pity because there's lots about the NOVA I love.

Format time has never been an issue for me with MARF. I have a 128gb card and change it when it gets under 40gB.

Never had an issue with naming options. All modern softwares take the metadata anyways.

MARF has saved my life so many times that is 100% worth it. A 633 this year killed a whole take with a celebrity boxer that caused a huge issue and me working extra day to do ADR. The internal battery did not kick in.

One of the main reasons I stay with zaxcom. If you heard the sound it is not lost.

Now the gain….  Believe me I have lobbied Zaxcom to do it for a long time maybe 12 years  but they dont listen.

I have a special firmware that mutes pre fade tracks when you go all the way down. I think Howy will include my custom firmware for the rest.

”I guess my custom firmware is already included”.

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

Worth mentioning that this is now a selectable option on the latest Nova firmware. You can change the behaviour of the trim pots so that the lowest gain setting now mutes.  I've always been confused by why people want to do this in gain rather than fader, but it's now an option.

I 100% agree about the clunkiness of MARF & Zaxcom's mirroring scheme.  It made sense in the '90s.  It doesn't make sense now.

 

It’s not confusing. You dont want iso tracks to record off camera things: I have had many situations “including talent going to restroom” where I have to spend the time after go inside muliiso files and insert silence.

 

The problem I have with zaxcom apart from them going in to some strange products like comtek VTX/VRX is their lack of linear faders or midi control. 

If I was an exclusively cart mixer I would find it very difficult to use zaxcom recorders with their sub quality aria fader controller.

I just purchased an oasis “ which is a really confused gear that  I hate” just because it has normal faders.

The way zaxcom locks you in buying their fader controllers was fine when their fader controllers worked. 

Now it is a big deal because ARIA faders suck so much.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

2 hours ago, locaudio said:

Wow! I did not know this. This is great news for me! I am going to update as soon as possible. Thank you!!

You are looking for firmware 5.02 or higher I believe.  I haven't tested it personally, but this is what it says in the changelog:

 

Quote

5.02 Jul 21 2025
    Added TrimsCanMute setting which will mute an input channel if its trim is set to -20dB

 

[RadoStefanov]

3 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

You are looking for firmware 5.02 or higher I believe.  I haven't tested it personally, but this is what it says in the changelog:

 

 

I came out with how to be implemented and have been testing it.  5.02 only worked analog for me. 5.07 is perfect