SD 744T syncing SBD patch with microphones

[nak700s]

Hey ya'll...

When using a Sound Devices 744T to record a 4 track recording while taking a line out of the soundboard and hanging up microphones, could anyone offer some tips on how to sync the soundboard with the mics so the timing would be perfect going into the 744T, and not be off?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Gutbucket]

The general rule-of-thumb is 1 millisecond per each foot of offset (actually closer to 1.1 ms/foot), if that's what you're asking for.

As to the specifics of how to go about setting channel delays on a SD 744T, I'm not much help.

[nak700s]

Thank you Gutbucket...that is exactly the info I'm looking for.  I don't know how to do the setting either...yet, but then again, I didn't think I needed to until now.  I'll look at the manual to see how, but didn't know how to figure out the difference.

[rippleish20]

Most devices limit the delay to 30 ms.

[nak700s]

If I'm over 30 feet back, I have no business recording ;-)

[Gordon]

it's so easy to do in post since both sources are the same deck.  just shift the file (sbd) once to lineup.

[fsulloway]

Yep to what Gordon said. Personally I see no reason to set the delay on the 744. More than likely you'll want to play with it in post anyway.

[rippleish20]

If I'm over 30 feet back, I have no business recording ;-)

It's quite easy to be further than 30 feet back when you also have a soundboard patch and are also recoding an audience with the same deck (unless you get a patch from onstage and the microphones are on stage too).  I often find myself trapped in a less than desirable location audience taping wise in order to get a soundboard also...

[Gutbucket]

Personally I see no reason to set the delay on the 744. More than likely you'll want to play with it in post anyway.

Making a live 2-ch down-mix is probably be the most common reason, for streaming, patching out, and/or recording a scratch stereo mix to the same deck (DR-680, SD Mixpres) or to an alternate deck.  But yeah, more optimal to tweak alignment by ear afterwards in most cases.

[capnhook]

If you need a LIVE MIXDOWN, you can get one of these to delay the SBD, and then feed AUD and SBD to a mixer/recorder.


http://www.hallresearch.com/page/ad-340


You can get up to 510 mS delay with this puppy.  Sometimes they show up for a good price, used on the fleabays.

[nak700s]

If I'm over 30 feet back, I have no business recording ;-)

It's quite easy to be further than 30 feet back when you also have a soundboard patch and are also recoding an audience with the same deck (unless you get a patch from onstage and the microphones are on stage too).  I often find myself trapped in a less than desirable location audience taping wise in order to get a soundboard also...

Most of the time, the board is at stage lip, and my mics are also at stage lip, or on the stage micing a particular amp or overhead drums.  This question is geared for the times I am in a small venue that the SBD is on the floor, but it's a small enough venue that the SBD is 20-25 feet in front of the stage.  There are very few times that I would be further back than that, but it certainly happens 1-2 times a year.

I have never lined up the channels in post, because I never felt I needed to.  Now, I'm thinking that I may need to from time to time when recording in these small venues that I'm 20-25 back at the board.  How would I correct the timing in post?

[capnhook]

20 feet is about my limit.....after that it sounds unnatural to not delay the SBD.

[Gutbucket]

How would I correct the timing in post?

Select the tracks you wish to shift, then slide them along the time-line until they are correctly aligned with the others.  You may need to unlock the channels or tracks in your DAW software to allow this shifting movement.

[nak700s]

If you need a LIVE MIXDOWN, you can get one of these to delay the SBD, and then feed AUD and SBD to a mixer/recorder.


http://www.hallresearch.com/page/ad-340


You can get up to 510 mS delay with this puppy.  Sometimes they show up for a good price, used on the fleabays.

Nice toy...but the last thing I need is more equipment to carry in, and to drop another $350 on more gear!  I'm pretty sure if I need to set a delay, I can do it internally on the 744 (please correct me if I'm wrong).

[rippleish20]

If you need a LIVE MIXDOWN, you can get one of these to delay the SBD, and then feed AUD and SBD to a mixer/recorder.


http://www.hallresearch.com/page/ad-340


You can get up to 510 mS delay with this puppy.  Sometimes they show up for a good price, used on the fleabays.

Nice toy...but the last thing I need is more equipment to carry in, and to drop another $350 on more gear!  I'm pretty sure if I need to set a delay, I can do it internally on the 744 (please correct me if I'm wrong).

A digital delay is selectable on each channel of the 744T

Sample Frequency Maximum Amount of Delay Available (per input)
44.1 /48  kHz         30 mS
96  kHz                  15 mS
192 kHz                 7.5 mS