Designed for professional video location work, this very compact file-based four-track audio recorder has an integral time code reader and generator. They record up to four tracks from two microphone/line analogue inputs, two line-only analogue inputs, and two AES3 digital inputs as WAV, MP2 or MP3 files on any combination of removable compact flash card , internal or external drive. File transfer to a computer may be achieved via FireWire or removable Compact Flash card. Comprehensive analogue and digital connectivity is provided. Resolutions up to 24-bit at 192kHz sample rate are supported.
A flexible input matrix permits most routing/mixing combinations to one to four tracks. Available recording formats WAV files at all standard sample frequencies up to 192kHz and MP2 or MP3 files at various bit rates up to 384kbps. Recording media may be any combination of the 160GB internal hard drive, a removable Compact Flash card or an external hard, or DVD-RAM drive connected via IEEE-1394 FireWire. An external word-clock input allows synchronisation of digital inputs with an external source. The 744T incorporates timecode circuitry developed by Ambient Recording GmbH, and will time-stamp files with incoming timecode and synchronise to timecode on playback; all standard frame rates (including drop and pull up/down) are supported. Recorded files are BWF-compatible. The 744T is also compatible with iXML metadata. The analogue inputs have 48 volt phantom power, analogue limiters and hi-pass filters at 40, 80, 160 or 240Hz with 12, 18 or 24dB/octave slopes; all functions are switchable. Headphone monitoring is provided of almost any combination of tracks and inputs, including MS decoding and B-format surround decoding. The 744T incorporates a comprehensive file management system organised to suit the daily requirements of the professional field recordist; filenames may include user-defined scene and take strings. Multiple Sound Devices 7-Series units can be slaved together using the 'C-Link' buss, which distributes transport control, wordclock and timecode. Power source is a standard Li-on camcorder battery or external DC; battery charging is on-board.
On the front panel there are individual transport control keys for record, play, pause, stop, fast forward and reverse, plus further keys for power on/off, Input select/mute, line-up oscillator on/off, LCD backlight on/off and entry to the menu system. An 'HDD' key opens the file management system. All menu-controlled functions are accessed using the multi-function LCD display, which also shows timecode, take and time-of-day time data, scene and take information, and confirmations of various other settings. Input gain control is via two rotary controls; a menu option disables these and sets the gain at a user-selectable value. Recording level monitoring is by four 19-segment, three-colour LED bargraph meters. Other per-input LEDs indicate valid digital inputs, input peak level, input signal presence, microphone limiter action, channel 1/2 stereo linking, phantom power and active hi-pass filter. Recording media status and activity are indicated by yellow and green LEDs respectively for each media type. There are further LEDs indicating microphone limiter in/out, headphone limiter action, record mode, matrix input/track routing, charger status and power on/off.
The left-hand side panel has two XLRs for analogue inputs; input one doubles as AES3 channel one and two input, input 2 as AES3 channel three and four input. Two slide switches select the XLR inputs to microphone, line or AES3. Balanced analogue line level inputs for channels three and four are two TA3 connectors (mini-XLRs). The Master Bus stereo (Left and Right) output is available in balanced form on two TA3 connectors and unbalanced on a 3.5mm 3-pole jack socket. The stereo headphone output, with adjacent rotary level control, is also a 3-pole 3.5mm jack socket.
The right-hand side panel is fitted with two BNC sockets for AES3id inputs; these inputs are alternatives to the AES3 inputs on XLRs. There are two BNC sockets for AES3id outputs; one carries the Master Bus output, the other is menu-definable. Two further BNC sockets provide external word clock input and loop-through. External DC power input is a 4-pin Hirose connector. The side panel also has the FireWire port for connection to an external recording drive or computer/DAW for file transfer, and two RJ12 sockets for synchronising additional recorders via C-Link. A rotary control is used for item selection in the setup menus.
The Compact Flash card slot is on the rear panel, together with access to the battery compartment, and a Kensington-compatible security locking point.
Internal hard drive: 160GB (FAT32).
Removable media: Compact Flash (Types I and II), MicroDrive.
File formats: WAV, mono or poly 16 or 24-bit WAV at 13 sample frequencies from 32kHz to192kHz (including drop-frame and pull up/down). MP3, mono or stereo at eight bit-rates from 32kbps to 320kbps. MP2, mono or stereo, at eight bit-rates from 32kbps to 384kbps.
Recording time with 1GB CF card: 3h 18m (WAV file, fs=44.1kHz, 16-bit, stereo); 30m (WAV file, fs=192kHz, 24-bit, stereo), per track.
External wordclock range: 32 to 192kHz.
Pre-record buffer: 10 seconds (at fs=48kHz).
Data output: FireWire, IEEE-1394a compliant, compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS-X.
Microphone input: 24 to 67dB gain range, -5dBu maximum input level (normal gain mode), 7500 ohms, balanced. Line input: -6 to -18dB gain range, +26dBu maximum input level, 20000 ohms, balanced. Digital inputs: AES3, 110 ohms; AES3id, 75 ohms. Line outputs: +20dBu maximum, 10000 ohms load, balanced. Response: 10Hz to 40kHz +0.1/-0.5dB, fs=96kHz, 24-bit. Distortion: 0.004% THD + Noise, analogue inputs, 1kHz, 22Hz to 22kHz. Battery: Removable 7.2V Li-on, compatible with Sony M or L-type. External power: 10 to 18V DC, 1A minimum. Operating temperature: 5-55 degrees C. Dimensions: 239 x 125 x 45 (w x d x h)mm. Weight: 1.2 kg (without batteries).
Included accessories: AC Power Supply (100 to 240V), 4600mAh rechargeable Li-on battery, headphone adaptor cable, RJ12 C-Link cable, CS-MAN Padded bag, FireWire power conditioner (XL-1394). Recording media is NOT included.
Optional accessories: Compact Flash cards or Microdrives, external hard drive, XL-LCD lexan LCD covers, XL-DVDRAM external DVD-RAM drive, CL-1 remote control and keyboard interface, CS-3 and CS-MAN storage and carrying cases, XL-B2 spare Li-on battery. For cable sets and other accessories, please see Sound Devices Accessories.