Thanks for the more detailed input, boogie.
many devices can record, and in fact most people who record at high bit rates today are NOT using dedicated "portable recorders"
So what devices are they using - non-portable, rack-mounted devices? I'm genuinely curious. My assumption (perhaps a poor one) was that most users utilize the V3 as a portable field device. For mobile or studio rack-mounted, I assumed people would select a different pre/ADC. I know I would.
-the 722 has a firewire port that could potentially be used as an input in the future with different firmware (SD has already discussed using the firewire port for direct 722-device (DVD-R, HD, etc) support in the future with firmware releases 2.x)
Exciting to see SD built the potential into the device - does the fact that the mere potential exists mean that they've committed to delivering this upgrade strategy?
in fact today i can hook up an R-1 or an R-4 to my computer and record to them directly....so in fact they DO support input over their high speed interface...
Ehhh...but then you still have to lug around a PC/Mac/laptop. Defeats the whole point of the portable recorder - IMO the point is to replace PC/Mac/laptops in the field with these more easily powered, easily configured, reliable devices.
too bad the V3 is a "stupid" box without a control OS that could perform this function even if it had high speed interfaces
Curious - what other currently available truly portable pres/ADCs have a control OS to support this function? I'm wondering if Grace lags behind the market, or if the market is yet to materialize / stabilize - really, just seeking to understand the current state.
-nearly every apple laptop made for the last several years has a firewire port that could be used for input and recording from the V3
True enough, but adding a simple, inexpensive transfer device provides this connectivity. I appreciate your desire to remove the intermediate step - that's why I got my V3 modded for optical output, to remove that intermediate step.
-many pc/x86 laptops made in the last several years have a firewire port that can be used for input (the ones that dont have it natively are easily upgraded) from the V3
So one may easily upgrades the PC to support firewire, or easily add an interface device - I don't see the difference. They're both easy, inexpensive solutions.
firewire is a a BETTER choice for a high speed interconnect than USB as it is a peer-peer technology and not a master-slave technology. unfortunatly some manufacturers have historically seen firewire as a less compatible interface than USB or USB2..this belief is changing as the obvious technical benefits of firewire, esp in device chains is apparent
No doubt peer-to-peer is better than master-slave. As you suggest, hopefully the industry is recognizing the power of the this type of interface.
Anyway, perhaps my assumption above (re portable field devices) is poor, but mainly my perspective is that even now it's premature for Grace to consider a firewire add-on to the V3 since I don't know of any truly portable devices that would support the firewire input (other than laptops, which IMO are a PITA). So...take away my poor assumption - which seems what you were getting at with your last post - and my stance becomes worthless.
Thanks for the informative discussion, boogie, and apologies for my getting a little cranky along the way.