Topic: New Sound Devices Firmware ***Coming Soon***

[mmedley.]

Oh yeah baby!!! Recording to FLAC. 

 Sound Devices is again pleased to exhibit at NAB. We invite you to be our guest at the show. Click on the NAB logo below for a no-charge guest pass to the exhibits. Make certain to register today; guest registration closes on April 06, 2007.

Link to Registration

Sound Devices is located in the North Hall, booth, N9314.
New 7-Series Firmware to Preview at NAB

Sound Devices will be previewing the next release of firmware for its 7-Series recorders. Included in this release are several powerful new functions.

Lossless Audio Compression

No matter how large a storage volume, data compression can be a useful tool. This is especially true when recording to CompactFlash storage cards. Sound Devices will be previewing its next revision of firmware containing lossless audio compression. Based on the Open Source FLAC encoding algorithm, 7-Series recorders (702, 702T, 722, and 744T) gain the ability to record data-compressed audio to local storage while maintaining all file metadata. A companion PC software utility will allow for extraction of files back to industry-standard Broadcast Wave files. Compression ratios are program-dependent, though rates between 2:1 and 3:1 compression are common.


MP2 and MP3 Compression

In addition to lossless compression, 7-Series recorders gain the ability to record to the audio-compressed MP2 and MP3 file formats at a wide range of compression ratios. These audio-compressed formats are perfect for transcription and scratch track recording.


Multi-Unit Linking Enhancements

7-Series recorders add enhancements to facilitate multi-unit linking. Stop by the booth for a preview!

[rowjimmy]

holy crap
If I start seeing/taping more shows i think the 7x series has become a no-brainer.

[fozzy]

now that I have the 120gig harddrive i probably won't be using this unless i can edit in native flac format but still a sweet addition and show that SD has their ear to the ground to enhance features.

[rowjimmy]

It's especially valuable, I'd think, to folks using the 702. Saves on compact flash media.

[fozzy]

It's especially valuable, I'd think, to folks using the 702. Saves on compact flash media.

i underestimated this impact since I don't use CF
basically doubles CF capacity, which makes  the 702 a little more practical factoring in the cost of media

[thegreatgumbino]

That's pretty damn slick.  Too bad they don't offer a 744 CF only version to save some dough.

[grayp]

that is pretty sweet.

[Brian Skalinder]

Encoding on-the-fly, while recording, makes me nervous - just one more opportunity for something to go wrong.

[Sanjay]

I like this since I rarely track out my stuff    Straight to my music server + HD for archival

[Brian]

holy blue fuck! YES! i also trust that SD engineers know what they're doing

[F.O.Bean]

holy blue fuck! YES! i also trust that SD engineers know what they're doing

agreed!

but one other thing. once recorded in flac, is it going to take longer to transfer/decode? if it takes longer to transfer, then use THEIR flac decoding(I prefer frontend) then open in an editing program, when in the same time I could just transfer/open in WL.......

still slick as hell and i'll probably use it now that I can do 24/96 at a festie on the stock INHDD

[baustin]

can't you hit a button on the 7xx units adding a seamless track split on the fly?

i like that, a show completely tracked and flac'd show as soon as you walk out of the show! 

[Shawn]

holy blue fuck! YES! i also trust that SD engineers know what they're doing

agreed!

but one other thing. once recorded in flac, is it going to take longer to transfer/decode? if it takes longer to transfer, then use THEIR flac decoding(I prefer frontend) then open in an editing program, when in the same time I could just transfer/open in WL.......

still slick as hell and i'll probably use it now that I can do 24/96 at a festie on the stock INHDD

a FLAC is a FLAC. you should be able to use any flac decoder (like frontend).

the question is... are than any tools to edit/track in flac format?

[MattD]

can't you hit a button on the 7xx units adding a seamless track split on the fly?

i like that, a show completely tracked and flac'd show as soon as you walk out of the show! 

Yup, the record button does that. I think it also has a "pre-roll" equal to the buffer setting, so you can hit it up to x seconds late.

[monochromic]

Lossless Audio Compression

useful feature for those running at festivals and/or cf cards. gotta love the continual development of the 7-series!