Topic: Introducing the Sound Devices 664 Field Production Mixer

[H₂O]

That thing is HUGE! (or the guy in this video is really small).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaYy4d6dfFY

It doesn't look any or much bigger then the 788 and it's definitely smaller then my hs-p82

What sampling rates does it support (in the video you can see 48khz but that's expected)?

Edit - found this -
A/D
24-bit, 114 dB, A-weighted dynamic range typical; 44.1 kHz, 47.952 kHz, 48 kHz, 48.048 kHz SR

Hope they add 96khz at least - someday (like the did w/ the 788)

The aes-42 support rocks!

[StuStu]

That thing is HUGE! (or the guy in this video is really small).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaYy4d6dfFY

It doesn't look any or much bigger then the 788 and it's definitely smaller then my hs-p82

What sampling rates does it support (in the video you can see 48khz but that's expected)?

Edit - found this -
A/D
24-bit, 114 dB, A-weighted dynamic range typical; 44.1 kHz, 47.952 kHz, 48 kHz, 48.048 kHz SR

Hope they add 96khz at least - someday (like the did w/ the 788)

The aes-42 support rocks!

From SD website:
664

Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions: 5.3 cm x 32 cm x 19.8 cm (H x W x D) 2.1" x 12.6" x 7.8"
Weight: 4 lbs. 12 oz. (unpackaged, without batteries)

788
Dimensions and Weight
Size: 45 mm x 257 mm x 163 mm (H x W x D) 1.8" x 10.1" x 6.4"
Mass: unpackaged: 1.7 kg, (3 lbs 12 oz.) without battery


12.6" is pretty wide. It does look nice though. I'm curious about the pres. Great price for what all you get.

[H₂O]

So that is a bit bigger

[RichT]

Had a play with one of these this afternoon at a trade show.  Was impressive- pre's sounded clean with the gain cranked, no transformers in this one.  Routing can pretty much be done anywhere to AES or analogue.  Is only 48k, don't know of any plans to bring up the sample rate, 5s pre record buffer, loads of metadata options. Menus seem intuitive, still lots of knobs and analogue controls (gain knobs will arm tracks etc).

It's bigger and heavier than both the 788T and 552, but less hot than the 788T.

Apparently the first shipment to the UK's already been sold and they haven't even set a price yet...

[Napo]

Sorry for my ignorance but

what is the difference between a field mixer which can record and a field recorder (supposing the same number of inputs/outputs)?

[RichT]

Sorry for my ignorance but

what is the difference between a field mixer which can record and a field recorder (supposing the same number of inputs/outputs)?

Traditionally the mixer would be used like your 'preamp' but often with more channels than your recorder or be plugged directly into a camera, where the mixer would mix various sources on the fly down to 2 (or more channels).  Recorders usually just record whatever goes in.  Normally mixers can't record (although the 552 has a 2-track recorder onboard), and recorders can't mix but this got a bit foggy with the 788T which you can use as a mixer (in the digital domain) with the CL-8 or CL-9 controllers.  The Zaxcom Nomad's (and AETA 4Minx etc) are similar (digital mixers) but have different features as different products converge into being in one box.  The 664 is an analogue mixer with a pretty fully featured recorder onboard.  Both the 788T and 664 will let you record a mix (or mixes) in addition to individual tracks.

[Fatah Ruark (aka MIKE B)]

Not sure I follow the above comment all the way.

Will this device record 6 channels that I could mix down later or do you mix on the fly to a stereo recording?

Just curious. I don't do enough multi-channel recordings to make it worth buying one, but the geek inside me needs to know how everything people are using works.

[Napo]

Many thanks, RichT;

much clear to me.

Now as knolwdge is accumalted over time ('standing on the shoulder of the giants'), I wonder how the mixer can mix various sources (let's say 4 channels) down to two. Does it take the best signal or just overimpose all of them into two? (maybe I should post that in the newbie section  )

Oh, if I had the money I would jump to buy this mixer. It looks so slick and we so much to learn by doing. Being in Italy I should add an hefty 23% VAT ( a real killer).

[RichT]

It'll record both 6 (or even up to 12) tracks *and* the mix at the same time.

The mix will be whatever you choose to send to the main outputs.  It also gives you the option of recording whatever is sent to 2 additional aux outputs (whilst still recording all the inputs)

[Napo]

It'll record both 6 (or even up to 12) tracks *and* the mix at the same time.

The mix will be whatever you choose to send to the main outputs.  It also gives you the option of recording whatever is sent to 2 additional aux outputs (whilst still recording all the inputs)

Cristal clear, RichT. Many thanks.

[hammerhorror]

Just received my Sound Devices 664. Time to have some fun. 

[StuStu]

Just received my Sound Devices 664. Time to have some fun. 

Congrats!

[DigiGal]

No chat on this in a month. Anyone using the 644 want to write up a review?

[blee421]

Hammerhorror-How do you like this unit?Looks sweet!!!

[F.O.Bean]

Hammerhorror-How do you like this unit?Looks sweet!!!

I'm wondering the same. This is the first I've seen/heard of it!