Topic: Need opinions

[jkm78]

I need everyones opinions, I bought the microtrack 24/96 and had several problems.  After sending it back to m-audio three times I am fed up with the unit.  The problems I faced were the 1/4 input didn't work so I sent it back.  The second time I sent it in for being in loop mood.  The third time I sent it in was because it powered down during a recording, it froze up duing a recording, and it was still looping after I had updated the firmware.  At any rate, I am ready to buy another unit.  I am between the Sound Devices 722 which I can buy one for a very cheap price or the Tascam HD-P2.  If any of you can take a moment to give me your opinions that would be great or even your thoughts on another unit, I wwould greatly apprecaite it. 

Thanks,
JKM

[Nick Graham]

Between those 2 choices, a 722 hands down. Better build, HD based, better pres, better A/D conversion.

Not to take away from the HDP2 which is a very high quality unit itself, but the 722 is in a league of it's own.

[fozzy]

Between those 2 choices, a 722 hands down. Better build, HD based, better pres, better A/D conversion.

Not to take away from the HDP2 which is a very high quality unit itself, but the 722 is in a league of it's own.

qft

What are you planning on running in front of it.  An ACM 671 would also be another option or even an R4

[Gizby]

The 722, definitely. Most people don't even bother running a pre in front of it. I'm curious, what is the 'very cheap price'?

[terrapinj]

the HD in the 722 is a huge plus as well

[F.O.Bean]

the 722 is one of the most HQ things Ive ever owned or touched for that matter

[jkm78]

Thanks for all your opinions.  I apprecaite all your time and efforts.  I work at a company based in NYC where we sell, rent, and services all audio equipment for film.  With that in mind, that is where I can get a great price on the 722.  I own a pair of AKG c1000's.  The last few shows I have gone to I have used the KM184's so those would be the two different mics in front of the 722.  By the way, if you guys ever need gear or need your gear fixed, please don't hesitate to ask me and I will see what I can do for you.  Again I appreciate your honest feedback.

JKM 

[F.O.Bean]

Thanks for all your opinions.  I apprecaite all your time and efforts.  I work at a company based in NYC where we sell, rent, and services all audio equipment for film.  With that in mind, that is where I can get a great price on the 722.  I own a pair of AKG c1000's.  The last few shows I have gone to I have used the KM184's so those would be the two different mics in front of the 722.  By the way, if you guys ever need gear or need your gear fixed, please don't hesitate to ask me and I will see what I can do for you.  Again I appreciate your honest feedback.

JKM 

hmmm, c1000's>722 eh? never heard that combo before

I would think that 184>722 would sound great. maybe PM csheperd and ask him what he thinks of straight 184>722

[Rick]

get a 671 or HDP2 or even 670/660 and invest in a good pair of mics instead of the 722. You'll get more bang for the buck with a good pair of mics.

[OOK]

get a 671 or HDP2 or even 670/660 and invest in a good pair of mics instead of the 722. You'll get more bang for the buck with a good pair of mics.

T+ Rick
I can't agree more.....722's 44's 02's Yeah they are great, but 700-1500$ better, thats marginal.  To my ears  the SD stuff isn't that much better sounding than an ACM671 or HDP2.  My rig is  Ho's>minime>HDP2.  I would stack it up against a SD machine anyday.  Don't get me wrong they are great pieces of gear, I just don't think it sounds that much better than other cheaper stuff out there, mod'd or not.

[jkm78]

at first everyone is telling me to get the 722, but as soon as I mentioned the c1000's, everyone said upgrade the mics and use the HD-P2.  please give me your thoughts.
JKM

[OOK]

at first everyone is telling me to get the 722, but as soon as I mentioned the c1000's, everyone said upgrade the mics and use the HD-P2.  please give me your thoughts.
JKM

The biggest thing that will impact the sound of your recordings will be the mics.  With that every piece of gear thats made imparts its own signature to the sound of the recording.Thats why you see so many different kinds of rigs.  Don't always let price be your determining factor though.  there are some killer mics out there for the price.  Your best bet is to set yourself some kind of budget and work from there.  Price can determine what kind of set up you can have.  I just heard a set up today that blew be away and its probably no more than 1100 total.  It was a set of AT3031's>Aerco mp>R9.  This combo sounds fantasic.  To me its on par with multi thousand dollar rigs.  But caution, its more than just the gear its location, acoustics, there are just so many variables that play into good sound.  Your best bet is to listen to as many different combos you can find before making a decision.  The best place to do this is here:

http://www.archive.org/browse.php?collection=etree&field=%2Fmetadata%2Fcreator

under search type in a venue you are familar with in terms of sound.  Then listen to the different sources listed.  This will be a starting point.  Some people start cheap then build their systems over time till they become more familar with whats out there. 

And lastly let your ears be the judge.  Like I said I heard the above combo and was blown away.  Knowing the price of gear out there I thinks its awsome when some one comes up with a great combo that can hold its own with the big boys.  Just down load this combo and listen.

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35007

Sorry if I confused the matter more its just there are so many to choose from.  Set your buget and go from there......Oh yeh and have fun doing it.  peace JK

[F.O.Bean]

I would run 184>722/acm671/acmhdp2/etc and be done with it. unless you want interchangeable capsules and spending more moeny, id stick with the 184's and run an all-in-one box ala the 722/acm671/acmhdp2/etc.......havent heard many if any at all 184>722/acm671/acmhdp2 so seacrh far and wide for those mics and all of those recorder options and see what best suites your needs.....budget is also key......

get a 671 or HDP2 or even 670/660 and invest in a good pair of mics instead of the 722. You'll get more bang for the buck with a good pair of mics.

T+ Rick
I can't agree more.....722's 44's 02's Yeah they are great, but 700-1500$ better, thats marginal.  To my ears  the SD stuff isn't that much better sounding than an ACM671 or HDP2.  My rig is  Ho's>minime>HDP2.  I would stack it up against a SD machine anyday.  Don't get me wrong they are great pieces of gear, I just don't think it sounds that much better than other cheaper stuff out there, mod'd or not.

really? you think hos>mme>hdp2 is as good as the 7x series I never cared for the mme as an all-in-one and cant see HOW the hos>mme sounds as good as HQ mics>722 but everyone hears things differently so...... In the right mix/location and with the right mics, I think mics>722 is as good as it gets. unfortunately, most nights the sound is subpar and I like running the v2>722 combo. fortunately for us tapers, there are GREAT resources like archive.org and bt.etree.org and other fabtastic lossless trading sites and we can d/l diff sources and see which we prefer. this just wasnt possible only 10 years ago......we had to go by the few tapes we had with quality lineage and listen closely to the older tapes and what they preferred....hell, i bought my 480's in 1999 after hearing only a handful of dats with the 480's and only heard 480>dap1 up until that point. so i made a BOLD decision back then. i liked their sound from some 1998 summer Phish tour DATS I patched from and traded for and they had interchangeable capsules. so i was sold right there. had them since 1999. nowadays you can literally listen to dopzens of shows for ANY given mic/pre/adc/recorder combo and see what we REALLY prefer.....

[OOK]

I would run 184>722/acm671/acmhdp2/etc and be done with it. unless you want interchangeable capsules and spending more moeny, id stick with the 184's and run an all-in-one box ala the 722/acm671/acmhdp2/etc.......havent heard many if any at all 184>722/acm671/acmhdp2 so seacrh far and wide for those mics and all of those recorder options and see what best suites your needs.....budget is also key......

get a 671 or HDP2 or even 670/660 and invest in a good pair of mics instead of the 722. You'll get more bang for the buck with a good pair of mics.

T+ Rick
I can't agree more.....722's 44's 02's Yeah they are great, but 700-1500$ better, thats marginal.  To my ears  the SD stuff isn't that much better sounding than an ACM671 or HDP2.  My rig is  Ho's>minime>HDP2.  I would stack it up against a SD machine anyday.  Don't get me wrong they are great pieces of gear, I just don't think it sounds that much better than other cheaper stuff out there, mod'd or not.

really? you think hos>mme>hdp2 is as good as the 7x series I never cared for the mme as an all-in-one and cant see HOW the hos>mme sounds as good as HQ mics>722 but everyone hears things differently so...... In the right mix/location and with the right mics, I think mics>722 is as good as it gets. unfortunately, most nights the sound is subpar and I like running the v2>722 combo. fortunately for us tapers, there are GREAT resources like archive.org and bt.etree.org and other fabtastic lossless trading sites and we can d/l diff sources and see which we prefer. this just wasnt possible only 10 years ago......we had to go by the few tapes we had with quality lineage and listen closely to the older tapes and what they preferred....hell, i bought my 480's in 1999 after hearing only a handful of dats with the 480's and only heard 480>dap1 up until that point. so i made a BOLD decision back then. i liked their sound from some 1998 summer Phish tour DATS I patched from and traded for and they had interchangeable capsules. so i was sold right there. had them since 1999. nowadays you can literally listen to dopzens of shows for ANY given mic/pre/adc/recorder combo and see what we REALLY prefer.....

Good sound is such a subjective thing.  What sounds good to one may sound great to another and vice versa. Agian just my opinion.......

[F.O.Bean]

I would run 184>722/acm671/acmhdp2/etc and be done with it. unless you want interchangeable capsules and spending more moeny, id stick with the 184's and run an all-in-one box ala the 722/acm671/acmhdp2/etc.......havent heard many if any at all 184>722/acm671/acmhdp2 so seacrh far and wide for those mics and all of those recorder options and see what best suites your needs.....budget is also key......

get a 671 or HDP2 or even 670/660 and invest in a good pair of mics instead of the 722. You'll get more bang for the buck with a good pair of mics.

T+ Rick
I can't agree more.....722's 44's 02's Yeah they are great, but 700-1500$ better, thats marginal.  To my ears  the SD stuff isn't that much better sounding than an ACM671 or HDP2.  My rig is  Ho's>minime>HDP2.  I would stack it up against a SD machine anyday.  Don't get me wrong they are great pieces of gear, I just don't think it sounds that much better than other cheaper stuff out there, mod'd or not.

really? you think hos>mme>hdp2 is as good as the 7x series I never cared for the mme as an all-in-one and cant see HOW the hos>mme sounds as good as HQ mics>722 but everyone hears things differently so...... In the right mix/location and with the right mics, I think mics>722 is as good as it gets. unfortunately, most nights the sound is subpar and I like running the v2>722 combo. fortunately for us tapers, there are GREAT resources like archive.org and bt.etree.org and other fabtastic lossless trading sites and we can d/l diff sources and see which we prefer. this just wasnt possible only 10 years ago......we had to go by the few tapes we had with quality lineage and listen closely to the older tapes and what they preferred....hell, i bought my 480's in 1999 after hearing only a handful of dats with the 480's and only heard 480>dap1 up until that point. so i made a BOLD decision back then. i liked their sound from some 1998 summer Phish tour DATS I patched from and traded for and they had interchangeable capsules. so i was sold right there. had them since 1999. nowadays you can literally listen to dopzens of shows for ANY given mic/pre/adc/recorder combo and see what we REALLY prefer.....

Good sound is such a subjective thing.  What sounds good to one may sound great to another and vice versa. Agian just my opinion.......

I agree bro, everyone hears things WAY differently