Topic: V3s>744s Is it just me?

[Wiggler]

Why, that's impossible!  Everyone knows the 722 pre can't run standalone

That's why I started this thread.  I was trying to figure out why people were spending $2-4,000 on 722s and 744s, and still running external pres and A/Ds.  Will there EVER be a device that will have the pres and A/Ds that "inquiring ears want to hear", so that we can just carry one single piece of gear with a battery?  Excluding mics, stand, cables, etc. etc.

Another choice for about the same price as a V3 plus a 744 you could get a Nagra V.

[ghellquist]

I was trying to figure out why people were spending $2-4,000 on 722s and 744s, and still running external pres and A/Ds.  Will there EVER be a device that will have the pres and A/Ds that "inquiring ears want to hear", so that we can just carry one single piece of gear with a battery?  Excluding mics, stand, cables, etc. etc.

That is exactly what I do as well as a lot of other people. The pres are good. In objective listening tests there is very little difference between the 722 pres and the V3...

IF...

if you use the 722 pres in their sweet spot. It is below -12dB -- blinking yellow lights, never any red lights. The V3 has a different sweet spot -- up close to zero with blinking red lights.

People that are used to the V3 or running old time 16 bit equipment try to run the 722 the same way and end up outside the sweet spot. The difference in volume is very easily handled in post production on your PC. Once the volume has been normalized I bet very few living persons can reliably detect the difference. Very few. You may check this thread, the main difference is difference in levels (it has been proven in numerous tests that the ear always preferr the stronger signal):
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,75230.0.html

Regardless, there is a difference if your ears hear it which is really all it takes. But perfectly pristine perfect recordings can be done with only the 722 and a good stereo mic setup.

Gunnar

[sygdwm]

Will there EVER be a device that will have the pres and A/Ds that "inquiring ears want to hear", so that we can just carry one single piece of gear with a battery?  Excluding mics, stand, cables, etc. etc.

marantz pmd 671 modded by the oade's.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

marantz pmd 671 modded by the oade's.

Except that it doesn't have enough gain for acoustic stuff, right?

Anyone posted a comp of the stock 671 vs the oade?  Same for the ACM P2. It seems like I never see the comps but would like to hear them..  Preferably no PA and live music only.

[china_rider]

Will there EVER be a device that will have the pres and A/Ds that "inquiring ears want to hear", so that we can just carry one single piece of gear with a battery?  Excluding mics, stand, cables, etc. etc.

[/quote]

Hard to say considering that 'what inquiring ears want to hear.' is different between many people.  After taping about 20 shows with it, I'm very happy with my busman mod R-4 with no pre in front of it.  Can't wait to hear it when it comes back with his new lower gain mod.

[F.O.Bean]

I think the 722 can hold its own as an all-in-one box with the right pair of mics that is

I think if i had to sell my v2 id be perfectly happy, i just prefer the grace>722 sound. and preamps to us are like shoes to women, i like having a few preamps to run with Options are a great thing...

[gratefulphish]

Well, I have a loaner V3 that I will try to compare, head to head, with direct in to my R-4 Pro (Busman Mod)  I would love to NOT carry one more piece of equipment, plus battery and cable.  The sound will tell.

[F.O.Bean]

I also like running the 722 line-in because it saves alot of power too. last moedown i ran just 481>722 one day and the next just 483>722 quite happy, especially with the 483>722 sound but the batts were a bitch to keep charged and all that jazz, thank god for them letting me charge at the tent stage

BUT, I wish I wouldve ran my v3 instead I only ran it a few sets on teh first day with some 140's and some mg 200's. i think the tapes wouldve come out better, it seems the v3 smooths everything out over the whole spectrum, which i like alot Its like it always picks the right things to pickup out of the musical spectrum. No matter what mics I shall be running. I think grace>722 will be behind it for quite some time

[BobW]

...so that we can just carry one single piece of gear with a battery?  Excluding mics, stand, cables, etc. etc.

Perhaps the Sonosax Mini R82 ?

[baustin]

the V3 is way more pre than the V2.
I'll take real meters over a single flashing, color changing led any day of the week.
The trim feature on the V2 sucks my nut-sack.
I sold my V2, and have no interest in going backwards.

but the meters are in th digital realm. if you're using the v3 as a pre only, those meters won't do anything for you

1 - Can anybody elaborate on this?

2 - For those of you running V3~>Analog~>7xx, where do you set your levels? -6 on the 744t?

[thegreatgumbino]

the V3 is way more pre than the V2.
I'll take real meters over a single flashing, color changing led any day of the week.
The trim feature on the V2 sucks my nut-sack.
I sold my V2, and have no interest in going backwards.

but the meters are in th digital realm. if you're using the v3 as a pre only, those meters won't do anything for you

1 - Can anybody elaborate on this?

2 - For those of you running V3~>Analog~>7xx, where do you set your levels? -6 on the 744t?

1) The V3 meters work just fine, you just have to change your thought process since the analog output of the V3 doesn't match the numbering on the face (digital). 

2) Run the 7xx levels at "0" and use your V3 for the gain.  This keeps the 7xx in unity (no pre).

See this thread for some good discussion and elaboration on the issue of V3 (analog) > 7xx.