Topic: Sound Devices 702 does anyone know this peice????

[cavernut]

In my research i came across this recorder. If i used this wouldn't it suffice for a preamp and a recorder as well?
Would this be better than using a V3 with my MTII?
What are your opinions of this recorder?

[Brian Skalinder]

Lots of people run the Sound Devices 702 (CF-based), or its cousin the 722 (HDD-based + CF capability).  It's an excellent all-in-one preamp / ADC / recorder.  The 702/722 and V3 are both top notch preamps and ADCs.  It's really just a question of preference at that quality level, and/or whether one wants to run an all-in-one preamp/ADC/recorder (702/722) or V3 + recorder.

[cavernut]

I did some more reading and it seems that the only difference in the 702 and the 722 is the 80gig hard drive.
The Price difference is about 600 bucks.
Do people usually get the 702 or the 722. At those price points its kinda a go with the one with the better resale value. Plus you would be able to record at the highest resolution also and NOT have to worry about running out of space on the CF card....

Does this recorder record both internal and external simultaneously?

What are your opinions about the both models?

[boojum]

The Sound Devices 7xx series can be researched at the company website.

The 702 is CF; the 722 HD and CF and external.  The 702 does external firewire drives.  The 744 has four inputs but two are line-in only; no pre-amp; two are pre-amp.  The 788 has eight inputs, all with pre-amps.  I have some SD recorders so am not entirely unbiased.  I bought them because I thought they were they best solution for me.  They are all good.  They are rugged.  They are easy to use.  The factory can fix it easily should it need fixing and it is an overnight FedEx away and not offshore.

With the 722 you get a choice; with the 702 it is CF.

http://www.sounddevices.com/products/7.htm

Resale value on SD is good regardless of the model.

[OOK]

I have a 702.  I can say without hesitation it is one of the best single purchases I have ever made in terms of this hobby.  The Preamps/AD are top notch.  I seriously doubt I will buy another recorder of any kind for many many years.  It is very easy to use, set up.  The recordings are fantasic, but this is dependant on many other factors outside the recorder.  At this point all I am doing is buying different mic caps, mics ect......

No more media to buy....CF cards are cheap and easy to use...

IF 2track recording is what your into.....the buck stops hear!

Peace OOK

[J.T.L]

I have a 702.  I can say without hesitation it is one of the best single purchases I have ever made in terms of this hobby.  The Preamps/AD are top notch.  I seriously doubt I will buy another recorder of any kind for many many years.  It is very easy to use, set up.  The recordings are fantasic, but this is dependant on many other factors outside the recorder.  At this point all I am doing is buying different mic caps, mics ect......

No more media to buy....CF cards are cheap and easy to use...

IF 2track recording is what your into.....the buck stops hear!

Peace OOK

x2

[oleg]

you have 32,48,64 and 100gb cf cards available  from pretec if you need long time recordings .
the 7o2 could be hooked to external hd drive or fire wire cf card reader to dump the same data  what make the 722 not really worth to buy , not to mention power consumption which is much smaller with cf cards only

[oleg]

http://www.ptiglobalusa.com/prcfca23.html

[manitouman]

I have to agree, this recorder is the shit! CF cards are so cheap now that you could save the $600 extra that a 722 will cost you and get a 702 and drop another $100 and get a 32GB CF card and be set. I've got extra cards so running out of space is never an issue. I'll have my 702 for a long time. I don't need 4 channel and I sure don't want to depend on a hard drive when I can use CF cards which enable the recorder to run cooler and your battery will last much longer.

[John Willett]

Nice machine - but also consider the new NAGRA LB that has just started shipping.

[TNJazz]

Nice machine - but also consider the new NAGRA LB that has just started shipping.

It does look great, and the hot swappable card thing is very cool.  How would one reconcile all those tracks in post if you had to hot swap right in the middle of something?  does the internal card write some kind of marker on the file that keeps everything synched for later re-assembly?

Sorry for the thread hijack.  Back to Sound Devices fluffery now!

[udovdh]

With a buffer you can just join the two WAVs.
No audio is lost if the new card is ready for writing before the buffer rolls over.

[cavernut]

The Nagra LB sounds really good. I was looking at Nagras site. Where do you recommend buying it from? What is the best price that you have seen?

[John Willett]

The Nagra LB sounds really good. I was looking at Nagras site. Where do you recommend buying it from? What is the best price that you have seen?

I can't answer the question without knowing what country you are in.

[cavernut]

USA Tampa Florida

[John Willett]

USA Tampa Florida

OK

Nagra USA are here:-
NAGRA USA Inc.
180 N. Belvedere Dr.
Unit 5A
Gallatin, TN 37066
USA
tel: +1 (615) 451 4168
fax: +1 (615) 451 4175
audio.usa@nagra.com

Probably your closest Nagra Dealer is:-
Trew Audio
220 Great Circle Road, Ste 116
Nashville, TN 37228
USA
tel: +1 (800) 241 8994
fax: +1 (615) 256 3542
sales@trewaudio.com
www.trewaudio.com


You can find all the other USA dealers listed on the Nagra website - click on "Sales Network" and then on "USA".

I hope this helps.

[notlance]

Well, this HAS been a major thread hijack, hasn’t it?  I’m sure the Nagra is a fine machine as they have been in the business of building world class recorders for years now, but Sound Devices has a fine reputation also.  However, the Nagra LB will probably be more expensive in the US than the approximately $2000 Sound Devices 702.  Furthermore, if you live in the US, getting service on the SD box will be much easier than the Swiss made Nagra.  SD service and customer support is perhaps the best I’ve seen from any company.

To answer your original question, yes the SD 702 works well as both a mic preamp and recorder.  I record mostly “classical” music, and my 702 has never been the limiting factor in the quality of my recordings.  (Sometimes I wish I COULD blame the recorder!)

[boojum]

USA Tampa Florida

OK

Nagra USA are here:-
NAGRA USA Inc.
180 N. Belvedere Dr.
Unit 5A
Gallatin, TN 37066
USA
tel: +1 (615) 451 4168
fax: +1 (615) 451 4175
audio.usa@nagra.com

Probably your closest Nagra Dealer is:-
Trew Audio
220 Great Circle Road, Ste 116
Nashville, TN 37228
USA
tel: +1 (800) 241 8994
fax: +1 (615) 256 3542
sales@trewaudio.com
www.trewaudio.com


You can find all the other USA dealers listed on the Nagra website - click on "Sales Network" and then on "USA".

I hope this helps.

John, I know you work for Sennheiser/Neuman but do you also work for Nagra?

[John Willett]

John, I know you work for Sennheiser/Neuman but do you also work for Nagra?

No, I don't work for Nagra, just like the stuff.  But the SD 702 is good as well - and if you are considering the 702 the Nagra LB is an alternative product at a similar price and the two should be considered together and you choose the one which best suits your requirements.

[George2]

Buy American.
LB made in China.

[chrisnubar]

the nagra goes from 10-48k and the sound devizor only goes from 10-40k. my neighborhood cats and dogs prefer the nagra, sorry wisconsin.

[digifish_music]

Buy American.

Why?

LB made in China.

Is that bad?

[meatling]

LB made in China.

Is that bad?

That point is moot if it isn't true in the first place. Is it?

[newplanet7]

Buy American.
LB made in China.

Where are your schoeps made? 

[digifish_music]

LB made in China.

Is that bad?

That point is moot if it isn't true in the first place. Is it?

My (silent point ) was that the internet is international, I am in Australia, there are people here from all over the world. So blanket statements like this are a bit silly.

BTW: ...most of the stuff in our homes is made somewhere in Asia. 

digifish

[meatling]

My (silent point ) was that the internet is international, I am in Australia, there are people here from all over the world. So blanket statements like this are a bit silly.

I do agree that it seems a bit odd to exhort all and sundry to "buy American" regardless where they live.

Nevertheless I think that the Nagra LB being made in China might be a valid concern, if it is true. I understand that quality of Mackie products (specifically, the small VLZ consoles as well as the HR824 monitors) went downhill after production was moved to China, therefore I think that worries about a chinese Nagra's quality don't seem irrational.

BTW: ...most of the stuff in our homes is made somewhere in Asia. 

Yes, but that stuff came at a fraction of the price. Especially the stuff from Mainland China, which is still a whole different ballpark than the stuff from Taiwan or Japan.

[George2]

Ya, sorry for the short reply about the LB. I thought it was a good looking recorder.
But it has way more features than the average taper would use... it's for broadcast journalist to edit instantly and can be hooked up to cell phone or internet for transfer back to radio/TV broadcast facility.
So I didn't think an option for straight 2 track recording.
Nagra was here in Los Angeles with the recorder a couple of months ago (Nagra VI as well)
and went to look at them.... that's how I came up with "it's made in China"
I didn't actually see it on the recorder, but older and more experienced sound mixer said that. And nobody else disputed that statement.
There is some good stuff being made in China, but buying a Nagra, I think Swiss precision.
Nagra VI was rather large but very light weight. Apparently very nice preamps on both.
I personally try to stick to locally made products from companies that also have good service departments.

These new recorders from many companies are  all very. very good. We are down to personal choice and splitting hairs.

Thank you.

[boojum]

I believe if it were made in China it would say, "Made in China" on it.  That's the law.  If sub-assemblies are made in China and the final product is made in Switzerland it would say, "Made in Switzerland."   Is there something here I am missing?  Has anyone actually queried Nagra on this or a dealer?  Has anyone seen it stamped, "Made in China"?

I am not disputing this.  I am just damned curious.   

[mmedley.]

Nagra pres can, and do, lap SD pres any day of the week. I will have a Nagra VI as my next recorder, I love my 722, but Nagra is the real deal. There is certainly nothing cooler than being able to enable/disable transformers on each and every pre on the Nagra.

[allenc3]

I got an SD702 last month and have been having a ball with it. The trick is to leave milk and cookies by the fireplace. I got an AT897 shotgun mic and an AT825 stereo mic for recording sounds and bands at bars and I am about to get two AT2035's for recording small groups in more controlled locations.

After reading every post on Sound Devices' forum, it looks to me like they sell many more 722's with CF and built-in HDD than the 702 with CF only. I decided to get the 702 because it would run longer on battery without a built-in HDD, why get a digital no-moving-parts recorder and then jam a rotating spindle HDD in it and I knew it could use an external HDD.

The 702 can record to an external HDD via FW and can record to the CF and HDD, if selected, for redundancy. HOWEVER, the external HDD cannot run via FW from the 702 unless you have an external 12V battery plugged in the 702. I got that too, made it from an old video camcorder battery pack, new gell cell battery and SD power cord plug from B&H.

The 722 costs $600 more than my 702 but that difference paid for the two mics and a larger battery and a 320 GB FW HDD (on sale). I got a G-Drive mini combo with FW and USB ports so the drive allows me to hook into any SD7xx Series unit, Mac or PC. The 702 acts as a CF card reader via FW when connected to a Mac or PC, I have both and this does work on either.

Ever since I was a kid I wanted a Stellavox or Nagra tape recorder. Dad got a Revox A77 so that calmed me down for many years. This SD702 is a phenomenal piece of professional gear that although not cheap, it is not that expensive either. That Revox was $750 in 1968 which is $4400 today which is what the SD744 four track unit costs, my 702 was $1875. And this 702 totally kills any Nagra ever made and the Revox too. I hate to say that because I have great reverence for the Revox. And what does that Nagra digital unit cost, $7000?

Finally, I read many SD forum posts where professionals and amateurs alike said it was the best piece of audio equipment they ever owned in 20 years and no one had the slightest regret in buying one. A couple guys said don't spend too much time looking at other units, just get an SD 7xx and you'll never look back.

[allenc3]

I do.

[meatling]

I got an SD702 last month

Mazel Tov ! I have just ordered mine, it is on its way as I write.

I decided to get the 702 because it would run longer on battery without a built-in HDD,

Exactly. I must admit, I had reservations (as instinctively as stupid) to "make do" with the runt of the litter, but in this case it was the logical choice: It would be silly to pay for features I don't use or appreciate, and the differences between the 702 and the other machines (702T, 722, 744T) are only in the features, not in the quality. The 702 represents a very minimalist approach, and I feel there's a certain elegance to that.

And this 702 totally kills any Nagra ever made

.. at least if you disregard the Nagra V, the Nagra VI, and possibly the Nagra LB.

what does that Nagra digital unit cost, $7000?

Yes, and the Aaton Cantar X2 goes for $16000 or somesuch. These machines are in a whole different ballpark, I believe.

Finally, I read many SD forum posts where professionals and amateurs alike said it was the best piece of audio equipment they ever owned in 20 years and no one had the slightest regret in buying one. A couple guys said don't spend too much time looking at other units, just get an SD 7xx and you'll never look back.

In all fairness, we'd have to consider that most of these statements were made before the new machines from Nagra (LB) and Sonosax (SX-R4) appeared on the horizon. I sat on the fence a very long time, and in the end it was the reputation for service (or lack thereof) that swayed my decision against the Sonosax.

[Petrus]

Cantars etc. are in totally different ballpark, but not what comes to quality, only what they are built for. All those recorders mentioned have quite similar specs what comes to audio quality (24/96 capability or "better", dynamic range 114-117 dB, about one bit less than The Best rack AD converters available anywhere). The difference just is the number of tracks and built in rountings/mixers (like Cantar) which reflects in the price.

I have SD722 not 702 and the reason is redundancy of recording on both HDD and CF. Also the fact that I can have about 40 GBs worth of past recordings with me all the time is sometimes nice.

I would say that in quality SD7xx is as good as it gets, others might be similar, but also the way these machines are built
and serviced made my choice easy. I do mostly minimalist miked classical recording & video work.

[meatling]

Cantars etc. are in totally different ballpark, but not what comes to quality,

I would think this depends on how you define "quality."

If you only look at the .WAVs that come out, then you may have a point: It may very well be that only few people could tell the difference between simple ORTF recordings made with either machine, therefore interested parties might assert with a certain degree of plausibility that the quality is the same.

Personally however, I would also consider the perceived build quality, and, after having ogled and fondled a Cantar in the flesh, I'm inclined to insist the Cantar's quality is in a different ballpark: Everything there is die-cast or milled from solid blocks of aluminium, the faders are absolutely watertight because they are operated magnetically through the walls of the casing, and so on and so on. This thing is simply stunningly beautiful, and it shows that it's built with absolutely no regard for cost.

I think this even shows on the product shots, just look here and click on the picture for full resolution.

In comparison, I find the SD 7xx machines decidedly plebeian in appearance. The stamped sheet-metal chassis, the ugly phillips screws, it just screams "cost cutting" all over the place. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's just not the same.

[John Willett]

....this 702 totally kills any Nagra ever made

Analogue maybe, but I bet the TA would give it a run for it's money.  But the Nagra D-II, Nagra V, Nagra VI and Nagra LB are certainly as good (probably better) than the 702.

And what does that Nagra digital unit cost, $7000?

The Nagra VI, maybe (I'm in the UK and don't know US prices), but the Nagra LB is of a similar price to the 702 - I think actually *cheaper* than the 702 (in the UK, anyway).

Personally I went for the Nagra VI - just too good a machine to get anything less.

[boojum]

In comparison, I find the SD 7xx machines decidedly plebeian in appearance. The stamped sheet-metal chassis, the ugly phillips screws, it just screams "cost cutting" all over the place. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's just not the same.

I think that those top and bottom plates are actually milled/machined metal stock, stainless, and not stamped metal.  SD is well constructed and pretty rugged.  I do not think they were built to be abused, but they sure seem rugged enough to take some.

I accidentally dropped a synched pair of 722's about three or four feet and they did not miss a beat.  There was no interruption in the recording.  It was an accident and I would not try it again.  Nevertheless, I was pleased and impressed.     

[meatling]

I think that those top and bottom plates are actually milled/machined metal stock, stainless, and not stamped metal. 

I was referring to the panels. I may be wrong, but they sure look like made of one piece of stamped sheet metal to me. Stamped and bent.

Like I said, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just fugly in some places, in particular the firewire port. But it's functional, and robust. Like a Russian tank. And a Russian tank probably isn't watertight either 

[allenc3]

I got an SD702 last month and have been having a ball with it. The trick is to leave milk and cookies by the fireplace. I got an AT897 shotgun mic and an AT825 stereo mic for recording sounds and bands at bars and I just ordered two AT2035's for recording small groups in more controlled locations.

After reading every post on Sound Devices' forum, it looks to me like they sell many more 722's with CF and built-in HDD than the 702 with CF only. I decided to get the 702 because it would run longer on battery without a built-in HDD and why get an inherently no-moving-parts digital recorder with a rotating spindle HDD in it? And I knew it could use an external HDD if needed.

The 702 can record to an external HDD via FireWire and can record to the CF and HDD simultaneously for redundancy. HOWEVER, the external HDD cannot run via FW from the 702 unless you have an external 12V battery plugged in the 702. So I got a G-Drive mini combo HDD with FW and USB ports so the drive allows me to hook into any SD7xx Series unit, Mac or PC. The 702 acts as a CF card reader via FW when connected to a Mac or PC. I got made a 702 battery pack from an old video camcorder battery pack, new gell cell battery and SD power cord plug from B&H.

The 722 costs $600 more than my 702 but that difference paid for the two mics and a larger battery and a 160 GB FW HDD.

Ever since I was a kid I wanted a Stellavox or Nagra tape recorder. Dad got a Revox A77 so that calmed me down for many years. This SD702 is a phenomenal piece of professional gear that although not cheap, it is not that expensive either. The 702 performance totally blows away any Nagra ever made and the Revox too (I have 3 of them). I hate to say that because I have great reverence for the Revox. And what does that Nagra digital unit cost, $7000?

Finally, I read many Sound Devices forum posts where professionals and amateurs alike said it is the best piece of audio equipment they ever owned in 20 years and no one had the slightest regret in buying one. A couple guys said don't spend too much time looking at other units, just get an SD 7xx and you'll never look back.

[boojum]

^^^^^  I am having a feeling of deja vu here.