High-End Audio Field Recorder

Steve House · December 27th, 2009, 06:51 AM

Don't omit the Aaton Cantar and the Deva from consideration either.

Anthony Ching · January 8th, 2010, 08:12 AM

Thank you Steve, I know Aaton Cantar, but it seems a little older than SD788, and much bigger is size. Deva and Cantar are much more expensive than the pricy SD788. Almost double the price. What I like 788 is the size is the smallest among all these high end recorders, and very easy to operate. The things I don't like 788, is the limiters cannot be activated when more than 4 tracks are used at 96KHz sampling.

Dan Brockett · January 8th, 2010, 09:40 AM

True, PT will not sound as good as Sound Devices, but these days, I am appalled by how many shows I have delivered that never even have an audio sweetening pass, much less any real sound design or a mix. The sad fact is that except in high end work, the video editor has had doing all of the audio and the final mix thrust upon them by cheapo producers who will let stuff just be "good enough".

Video editors, for the most part, are terrible with audio and I have cringed at some of the sound issues that some shows I have produced that have been delivered to the client. But they passed QC, passed muster with the client and my EP was glad at the extra few thousand dollars we saved by not doing sweetening, dialogue editing and a final mix. As someone who used to own a small audio post facility, this drives me up the wall. But when you don't control the budget, most people these days will deliver "good enough", not excellent. I have fought this battle several times over the past few years and have lost each time to money. And to a point, I see their point. If the client and QC don't care, why should we spend an extra $2-5K making the shjow SOUND great? (insert sarcasm).

Pro Tools preamp quality vs. Sound Devices is a very fine point that would be totally lost on 90% of the shows I produce, I am more concerned by just putting a lousy sounding audio mix done by a video editor who is clueless about audio.

Dan

Rick Reineke · January 8th, 2010, 10:34 AM

I saw the Tascam HS-P82 at AES in Oct. An interesting product, designed to compete with the other 8-trk.s. I wouldn't want to use it in a bag for any length of time though. It also can record an additional stereo pair for dailies or 2-trk mixes. Full TC support, and some other unique features including a very nice display and controls. I 'think' recall touch screen features. The street price is to be around $5kusd.

I hear ya Dan... I heard more than a few video editor's mixes that make me cringe...

Nicole Hankerson · January 9th, 2010, 03:52 PM

Did you ever decide? Everyone did list some pretty good choices but also look into the Fostex PD606 if your still in the market for one.

Sound Devices 744T
Sound Devices 788T

I finally got the chance to use a Sound Devices mixer(442) on a set and man the sound it has is amazing. High quality mixer.

Nicole

December 27th, 2009, 06:51 AM	#16
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Don't omit the Aaton Cantar and the Deva from consideration either. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

January 8th, 2010, 08:12 AM	#17
Anthony Ching Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Taipei Posts: 63	Thank you Steve, I know Aaton Cantar, but it seems a little older than SD788, and much bigger is size. Deva and Cantar are much more expensive than the pricy SD788. Almost double the price. What I like 788 is the size is the smallest among all these high end recorders, and very easy to operate. The things I don't like 788, is the limiters cannot be activated when more than 4 tracks are used at 96KHz sampling. __________________ Got 3 'S': Schoeps, Sound Devices, and Sony.

January 8th, 2010, 09:40 AM	#18
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	True, PT will not sound as good as Sound Devices, but these days, I am appalled by how many shows I have delivered that never even have an audio sweetening pass, much less any real sound design or a mix. The sad fact is that except in high end work, the video editor has had doing all of the audio and the final mix thrust upon them by cheapo producers who will let stuff just be "good enough". Video editors, for the most part, are terrible with audio and I have cringed at some of the sound issues that some shows I have produced that have been delivered to the client. But they passed QC, passed muster with the client and my EP was glad at the extra few thousand dollars we saved by not doing sweetening, dialogue editing and a final mix. As someone who used to own a small audio post facility, this drives me up the wall. But when you don't control the budget, most people these days will deliver "good enough", not excellent. I have fought this battle several times over the past few years and have lost each time to money. And to a point, I see their point. If the client and QC don't care, why should we spend an extra $2-5K making the shjow SOUND great? (insert sarcasm). Pro Tools preamp quality vs. Sound Devices is a very fine point that would be totally lost on 90% of the shows I produce, I am more concerned by just putting a lousy sounding audio mix done by a video editor who is clueless about audio. Dan

January 8th, 2010, 10:34 AM	#19
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	I saw the Tascam HS-P82 at AES in Oct. An interesting product, designed to compete with the other 8-trk.s. I wouldn't want to use it in a bag for any length of time though. It also can record an additional stereo pair for dailies or 2-trk mixes. Full TC support, and some other unique features including a very nice display and controls. I 'think' recall touch screen features. The street price is to be around $5kusd. I hear ya Dan... I heard more than a few video editor's mixes that make me cringe...

January 9th, 2010, 03:52 PM	#20
Nicole Hankerson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norcross, GA Posts: 143	Did you ever decide? Everyone did list some pretty good choices but also look into the Fostex PD606 if your still in the market for one. Sound Devices 744T Sound Devices 788T I finally got the chance to use a Sound Devices mixer(442) on a set and man the sound it has is amazing. High quality mixer. Nicole