ftp: tapers.org
login: ftp4all
pass: ftp4all
dir: /drive1/_gear_comparisons/722_ACM-HDP2
Took out these two units last night for kicks and ran them side-by-side, all-in-one v. all-in-one. I've labelled the tracks so it's not blind, though I recommend people listen in an ABX environment to hide the source info.
Copy of info file:
*****************************************************************
* *
* COMP: Sound Devices 722 / Oade Bros ACM Tascam HD-P2 *
* *
*****************************************************************
Built To Spill
2007-07-17
Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre
Recordist : Brian Skalinder / bskalinder@yahoo.com
Location : Center, clamped to balcony, dropped down ~8', forward ~1.5'
Mic Config : ORTF (17cm, 110ยบ)
Source : Schoeps MK5 (cardioid) / KC5 / CMC6 > XLR splitters >
[1] KindKables interconnects > Oade Bros ACM Tascam HD-P2
[2] KindKables interconnects > Sound Devices 722
Record Format: 24-bit, 48 kHz
Conversion : Lexar CF card reader / 722 > firewire > PC
Edit : MAGIX Samplitude SE v8.3
16b-44k : normalize, resample, dither
24b/48k : normalize, dither
Original: none
Final Format : 16b/44k, 24b/48k, original 24b/48k
Thought I'd run a little comp to get a sense for how the Oade Bros ACM Tascam HD-P2 compares to the Sound Devices 722 as an all-in-one preamp/ADC/recorder.
I ran both boxes with phantom ON (in hindsight, I shouldn't have...as my 722 battery died prematurely and created a couple artifacts in the P2 recording). Not ideal, but I didn't have an independent phantom power source.
Since it's quite hard to match levels precisely on two different recorders with two different metering scales, I normalized and then dithered both sources in the 16b/44k and 24b/48k samples to achieve very close average RMS levels. (see below for stats)
I've also included the original recordings from each recorder in case someone wants to listen to the samples unedited. However, I think this makes for a more difficult comp due to minor, but noticeable, volume levels.
Anyway...happy listening!
=================================================================
bts2007-07-17_722_16b-44k.flac
=================================================================
Left Right
Min Sample Value: -27722 -27372
Max Sample Value: 29083 32741
Peak Amplitude: -1.04 dB -.01 dB
Possibly Clipped: 0 0
DC Offset: .003 .003
Minimum RMS Power: -57.57 dB -58.77 dB
Maximum RMS Power: -9.85 dB -9.23 dB
Average RMS Power: -17.9 dB -18.22 dB
Total RMS Power: -17.15 dB -17.4 dB
Actual Bit Depth: 16 Bits 16 Bits
Using RMS Window of 50 ms
=================================================================
bts2007-07-17_ACM-P2_16b-44k.flac
=================================================================
Left Right
Min Sample Value: -27436 -27607
Max Sample Value: 28639 32766
Peak Amplitude: -1.17 dB 0 dB
Possibly Clipped: 0 0
DC Offset: .003 .003
Minimum RMS Power: -57.71 dB -58.81 dB
Maximum RMS Power: -10 dB -9.25 dB
Average RMS Power: -18.04 dB -18.24 dB
Total RMS Power: -17.29 dB -17.43 dB
Actual Bit Depth: 16 Bits 16 Bits
Using RMS Window of 50 ms
=================================================================
bts2007-07-17_722_24b-48k.flac
=================================================================
Left Right
Min Sample Value: -27796 -27377.94
Max Sample Value: 29082.44 32767.98
Peak Amplitude: -1.04 dB 0 dB
Possibly Clipped: 0 1
DC Offset: .003 .003
Minimum RMS Power: -57.57 dB -58.77 dB
Maximum RMS Power: -9.85 dB -9.23 dB
Average RMS Power: -17.9 dB -18.22 dB
Total RMS Power: -17.15 dB -17.4 dB
Actual Bit Depth: 24 Bits 24 Bits
Using RMS Window of 50 ms
=================================================================
bts2007-07-17_ACM-P2_24b-48k.flac
=================================================================
Left Right
Min Sample Value: -27409.22 -27566
Max Sample Value: 28637.14 32767.87
Peak Amplitude: -1.17 dB 0 dB
Possibly Clipped: 0 1
DC Offset: .003 .003
Minimum RMS Power: -57.71 dB -58.8 dB
Maximum RMS Power: -10 dB -9.25 dB
Average RMS Power: -18.04 dB -18.24 dB
Total RMS Power: -17.29 dB -17.43 dB
Actual Bit Depth: 24 Bits 24 Bits
Using RMS Window of 50 ms