Topic: SD 744t or Oade ACM MOD R4 pro?

[soamike]

Wanting to get a 4 track recorder and want to know peoples thoughts on both units.  I think I'll usually run with an external pre in front, either my V3 or my SD MP-2.  I like how the R4 has 4 channels with mic pre's / line inputs and that I could run both of my pre's into the R4, or run 4 mics into it.  I'm assuming on the 744 that channels 1 & 2 are mic inputs only (can they be switched to line?).  How does the AD conversion compare on the two units? Thanks for any input.

Mike   

[boojum]

7xx's run mic (lo and hi) and line-in where in I/P's have pre-amps.  Otherwise it is just line-in, well, yeah.   

[audBall]

Have you looked into the R-44 as well?  Oade mods it too.  Modded or not, it looks like a good bang for the buck.  I've had my eye on one for quite some time.

Nice Rig!

[mozmoz8]

What is the price difference between the 2 recorders? I know you can get a used SD744T for about $3500.

[soamike]

Ok, I now realize that inputs 1 &2 on the 744 can be swithed to line in, which I like better.  Thought about the R-44, but I want a hard drive recorder, it only records to sd media, correct? Both the r4 and 744 have 80 gig HD's I believe, and at least the 744 can be upgraded to a larger drive, not sure about the R4 but am guessing it can.  The 744 looks to run bout ~$3500 used to ~$4100 new.  The Oade Mod R4 pro I'm looking at was around $2300 new, haven't seen a used one.  I guess what its going to come down to for my decision is SOUND!  Which unit sounds better?  Are there any AB comparisons on here I could listen to?  Any comments on the quality of the AD converters between the two? Thanks for any help.

Mike   

[audBall]

Yeah, the R-44 records to SD only, no hard drive.  I may be wrong but I swear I read on here that there is no true 'line-in' on the R4 or R44 (not sure about the R4 Pro).  Any input is ran through the initial gain stage before it reaches the A/D, whether the setting is mic or line in.  That being said, I've heard some great recordings with a pre in front of the R4/44.

I'll let others comment on the R4 Pro AD vs 744 AD, as I do not have experience with either.  Perusing recordings on the archive may be of some help.

[OFOTD]

I've owned both units as well as an Oade modded R4.  Went Oade R4 > Oade ACM R4 Pro > 744.

I could go back and forth on my feelings on both units but instead here are some quick thoughts. 

Size:  744 is half the depth of the R4 Pro  (744)
Battery life: Both run about 5 hours per battery  (Push)
Display: I prefer the size and backlight of the R4 Pro (R4 Pro)
Metering: 744 hands down.  My one complaint about the R4 Pro (744)
Controls: Both are easy to use but the R4 Pro has several switches that you have to adjust in the menus on the 744.(Push)
Pres:  Prefer the modded pres of the R4 Pro.  Although the 744 pres aren't bad by any means. (R4 Pro)
A/D: I dislike the 744 a/d section entirely so winner here is R4 Pro by default. (R4 Pro)
Build:  Build is good on both but one is mostly plastic and one is all metal. (744)
Price: R4 Pro modded is half of the price of a 744. (R4 Pro)
Customer Support:  Sound Devices wins this one.  I've had good interaction with Roland/Edirol  though. (744)
Intangibles:  Four pres on R4 Pro/Two on 744,  Half the size but twice the price on the 744. (Push)
 

[easy jim]

^ summed up pretty well above.  The R-4 Pro also has AES/EBU for digital I/O, but I believe the 744 has both AES and s/pdif (on BNC connectors).  The 744 also has wordclock, while the R-4 Pro does not, so there are more external/digital sync options with the Sound Devices unit.

On the other hand, for the money and functionality, it's hard to beat a modded R-4 Pro.  I agree about not wanting to deal w/ SD cards, and the preference for a HD.  And, if you go for an R-4 Pro, swapping out the internal HD is a good idea since the stock HD is 4200 RPM w/ a small cache (find more details by using the search function).  I have a Buman Audio hybrid modded R-4 Pro, 'vintage' on channels 1/2 and 'transparent' on channels 3/4, and am very happy with it.  Feel free to PM me with any other more specific ?s

[terrapinj]

if you plan on any video work the 744 has timecode as well - not sure about the r-4 but i don't believe it has timecode option

[easy jim]

The R-4 Pro has true timecode (on a BNC connection) as well.  I believe the R-4 and R-44 do not.

[ghellquist]

And, if you go for an R-4 Pro, swapping out the internal HD is a good idea since the stock HD is 4200 RPM w/ a small cache (find more details by using the search function). 

Careful about that. All you might get is higher power consumption - if a 4200 HD is fast enough anything more will not be used.
Gunnar

[ghellquist]

Have to put in a few words here. I have not used the R4 Pro in earnest, seen it only. Have tested the older R4 and that is not a contender.

To me, an important factor is that the SD units are built to be used by professionals. They are built to take abuse and keep on running regardless. Which makes sense as they are targeted at film making -- if you have a full film set with maybe 25 people ticking money the sound recorder simply has to work. The R4-s are more or less consumer grade stuff and needs a bit more of care in handling.

I use a 722 for recording classical music, which I consider to be a more difficult situation than the typical rock concert. It has a lot more dynamic range at least. Both the pres and the AD-s are definitely up to that, transparent without colouring. But of course, your mileage may vary so if you require your pres or AD to color the signal this is probably not your first choice. Coloring can of course be done in post production, in contrast it is very difficult to remove.

One short-coming of the 744T has been mentioned, only 2 mic pres. This makes sense as in a film situation where you would run a few wireless mics and they have line level outputs. Or more common, using a mixer. A mixer allows better monitoring of the input signals then the 744T handles itself -- you can monitor on it but not really hear what the mix. I believe the R4pro has even less in this respect.

Gunnar

[easy jim]

And, if you go for an R-4 Pro, swapping out the internal HD is a good idea since the stock HD is 4200 RPM w/ a small cache (find more details by using the search function). 

Careful about that. All you might get is higher power consumption - if a 4200 HD is fast enough anything more will not be used.
Gunnar

4200 RPM did not seem fast enough to me as I experienced a few issues with the stock drive writing 4 channels at 4xmono 24/48 under heavy vibration conditions which I deduced to be write errors/cache limitations on the stock drive (analagous to the "Slow HDD" error on the regular/original R-4 units).  A switch to a 7800 RPM drive resolved that problem (never has re-occurred), and has had no noticeable effect on power consumption in the field.

The R-4 Pro, also, seems more robust to me than the R-4.  Regarding classical music recording, the Music Dept. at the university where I work (USD) purchased a custom mod R-4 Pro from Cascade Media (when it was still around) and had Busman perform a custom, ultra-transparent mod. on all 4 channels (basically a T-mod., but with an even further reduced noise floor for higher gain usage).  They have used the ultra T-mod R-4 Pro for about a year and a half or so with a pair of Neumann KM184 and a pair of KM183 to a high level of success.  I have basically trained work-study students to run it and set up mics to record their symphony and chamber performances, and the Director of the Music program has been so happy with it that she's virtually retired their old 8 track interface/laptop rig.  The workstudy students, as well as the Music Dept. director, are not exactly the most careful users, and the R-4 Pro (w/ Portabrace) has held up so far - including being taken on a couple performance tours abroad.

[NOLAfishwater]

the R-44 has XLR/TRS inputs so you can run line in off of the board. It is 1/4 the cost of the 744 and about the same size. In addition, it also has 4 built in pres, where the 744 has 2. I love mine more and more. It has digtal out/in and 4 x rca out, if you only want to send output from specific channels. The black screen with white numbering is easy to read and doesn't draw much power. Also, if you want to multitrack, you can link 2 of them together for 8 channels. For the money, it can't be beat.

[JiB97]

the R-44 has XLR/TRS inputs so you can run line in off of the board. It is 1/4 the cost of the 744 and about the same size. In addition, it also has 4 built in pres, where the 744 has 2. I love mine more and more. It has digtal out/in and 4 x rca out, if you only want to send output from specific channels. The black screen with white numbering is easy to read and doesn't draw much power. Also, if you want to multitrack, you can link 2 of them together for 8 channels. For the money, it can't be beat.

agreed.  only $899 shipped from oade with the concert mod is a great deal for 4 modded pre-amps.  this is definitely the next piece of gear i would like to buy if i had the funds.