Need Comments on Sound Devices 744T at DVinfo.net

Dan Keaton · February 18th, 2006, 01:44 PM

I am seriously considering the purchase of a Sound Devices 744T 4-track hard disk and compact flash recorder.

I am very pleased with my a Sound Devices 302 mixer. I assume that the 744T is of similar high quality.

I am looking for any comments, pro or con, concerning the 744T.

Recommendations toward the purchase of other devices are also welcome.

I wish the 744t had 4 mic pre's instead of just two.

I am also considering the TASCAM HD-P2, but I really want a four channel recorder. Any comparisons are welcome.

Steve House · February 18th, 2006, 02:15 PM

You could send your 302's stereo output to the recorder's channel 3&4 while using the mic inputs on 1&2. Or trade the 302 iun on a 442 and use the mixer to send 4 line level channels to the recorder.

Seth Bloombaum · February 18th, 2006, 04:54 PM

The 744 is awesome. I don't have one but a sound guy brought his to a recent 10-day shoot, all I can say is "wow". Sound Devices makes good stuff, the 744T is great.

My post-production chain wasn't as straightforward for .bwf as I thought it would be, you should check into how you'll pull in the sound. His post with pro-tools works fine. I had to use BWF Manager to split from polyphonic bwf to individual channel bwfs.

Brian Maier · February 18th, 2006, 08:26 PM

I purchased a HD-P2 on thursday and will be exchanging it on monday for a 744t. Originally I wanted the 744t to pair up with my 422 but figured that I could save some money with the HD-P2.

My biggest gripes with the HD-P2 are:
-Build quality
-No line in through xlr
-Doesn't have bag/over shoulder friendly button placement

Oleg Kaizerman · February 20th, 2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

I am seriously considering the purchase of a Sound Devices 744T 4-track hard disk and compact flash recorder.

I am very pleased with my a Sound Devices 302 mixer. I assume that the 744T is of similar high quality.

I am looking for any comments, pro or con, concerning the 744T.

Recommendations toward the purchase of other devices are also welcome.

I wish the 744t had 4 mic pre's instead of just two.

I am also considering the TASCAM HD-P2, but I really want a four channel recorder. Any comparisons are welcome.

very limiting recorder for serius work ( i have on for almost a year)
but it cheap ( not so if you compare it with good mixer in front and stand allone burner=at least 7-7.5 k)
if you have more money to spend - the deva is much better product
if you dont really need 4 channels - look for tascam as cheap option

Kevin Wild · February 20th, 2006, 07:50 PM

Guys, you are really comparing apples to oranges here. I just bought the Tascam P2 and it is amazing at this price point. If I wanted to spend $4000 rather than $999 on a recorder, I would have probably gotten the SD744T, too! This is not a fair comparison, in my opinion.

The Tascam is great and alone at it's price point. I think the Marantz is close, but still a few hundered dollars more.

It's definitely built more prosumer than pro, but after only one application, I love it. I think you guys are being a little hard on a sub-$1000 recorder that has timecode functionality!

It's a great little unit. Perhaps not as professional as others, but 1/4 the price. It does a lot for the money.

Just my $.02.

KW

By the way, Dan. After your generous offer last week, let me know if there are any questions or test I can run for you. Also, if you're in this area, stop by and borrow it so you can test it yourself!

Brian Maier · February 20th, 2006, 09:34 PM

Your right they are aimed at different segments of the market, but the OP was asking for a comparisson of the two. For the money the HD-P2 is a pretty well rounded package.

Dan Keaton · February 21st, 2006, 11:36 AM

Sorry for the delay in responding. I have been sick with a bad cold or flu.

I think the TASCAM HD-P2 is a wonderful device. However, I wanted a minimum of four channels.

Based on advice from this thread, I also researched the DEVA recorders. At over $10,000, these are definitely out of my price range.

It would be interesting to perform side by side tests of the HD-P2 and the 744T.

I also agree that it really isn't fair to compare a $1000 device to a $4000 device.

Kevin, thanks for the offer. I will visit the next time I am in your area. I will be willing to assist in any of your future projects.

Jacques Mersereau · February 21st, 2006, 01:42 PM

One of our professors here purchased a 744 and she had a hard time
getting it set up and working so I went over to help.

The 744 is a great device, but I would not say it is for the casual user.
There are TONS of menu choices to be made and set. That interface
is NOT the best I have seen, but with some head scratching and some
calls to their tech support one does finally 'get it', but the interface is
not very intuitive.

I hope to take it out in the field this spring and see how it compares
to the complex mobile rig I normally haul out to record bird songs.

Ty Ford · February 22nd, 2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

I am seriously considering the purchase of a Sound Devices 744T 4-track hard disk and compact flash recorder.

I am very pleased with my a Sound Devices 302 mixer. I assume that the 744T is of similar high quality.

I am looking for any comments, pro or con, concerning the 744T.

Recommendations toward the purchase of other devices are also welcome.

I wish the 744t had 4 mic pre's instead of just two.

I am also considering the TASCAM HD-P2, but I really want a four channel recorder. Any comparisons are welcome.

I just finished reviewing it for two magazines. A very good sounding box with remarkable feature set.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Kevin Wild · February 22nd, 2006, 09:52 PM

Ty, which "it" were you speaking of? The original 744T post heading or the HD-P2 which we spoke of in recent posts?

Thanks. Look forward to reading your reviews...either one.

KW

Ty Ford · February 22nd, 2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Wild

Ty, which "it" were you speaking of? The original 744T post heading or the HD-P2 which we spoke of in recent posts?

Thanks. Look forward to reading your reviews...either one.

KW

sorry. I reviewed the 744T.

Ty

Dan Keaton · February 23rd, 2006, 07:57 AM

Dear Ty,

Thanks for the great news. I look forward to reading your reviews on the 744T.

I am currently attempting to determine if the 744T allows for playback while simultaneously recording. Based on a quick glance at the manual, I do not believe this is supported.

I would use this feature, if it were available, for re-recording dialog (ADR).

Ty, I would be interested if you considered this feature to be important. Or, if there are better ways to do this.

Ty Ford · February 23rd, 2006, 08:53 AM

It wasn't designed to do ADR. It's a field recorder, and a very good one. You could use it to do additional wild tracks, obviously.

ADR is normally done in a recording studio.

Ty Ford

Dan Keaton · February 23rd, 2006, 08:57 AM

Dear Ty,

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Based on Oleg's earlier comments, I was briefly looking into the Deva's, (much more expensive), which had this feature.

Thanks again.

February 18th, 2006, 01:44 PM	#1
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Need Comments on Sound Devices 744T I am seriously considering the purchase of a Sound Devices 744T 4-track hard disk and compact flash recorder. I am very pleased with my a Sound Devices 302 mixer. I assume that the 744T is of similar high quality. I am looking for any comments, pro or con, concerning the 744T. Recommendations toward the purchase of other devices are also welcome. I wish the 744t had 4 mic pre's instead of just two. I am also considering the TASCAM HD-P2, but I really want a four channel recorder. Any comparisons are welcome. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

February 18th, 2006, 02:15 PM	#2
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	You could send your 302's stereo output to the recorder's channel 3&4 while using the mic inputs on 1&2. Or trade the 302 iun on a 442 and use the mixer to send 4 line level channels to the recorder. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

February 21st, 2006, 11:36 AM	#8
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Sorry for the delay in responding. I have been sick with a bad cold or flu. I think the TASCAM HD-P2 is a wonderful device. However, I wanted a minimum of four channels. Based on advice from this thread, I also researched the DEVA recorders. At over $10,000, these are definitely out of my price range. It would be interesting to perform side by side tests of the HD-P2 and the 744T. I also agree that it really isn't fair to compare a $1000 device to a $4000 device. Kevin, thanks for the offer. I will visit the next time I am in your area. I will be willing to assist in any of your future projects. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

February 21st, 2006, 01:42 PM	#9
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	One of our professors here purchased a 744 and she had a hard time getting it set up and working so I went over to help. The 744 is a great device, but I would not say it is for the casual user. There are TONS of menu choices to be made and set. That interface is NOT the best I have seen, but with some head scratching and some calls to their tech support one does finally 'get it', but the interface is not very intuitive. I hope to take it out in the field this spring and see how it compares to the complex mobile rig I normally haul out to record bird songs. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

February 23rd, 2006, 07:57 AM	#13
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Ty, Thanks for the great news. I look forward to reading your reviews on the 744T. I am currently attempting to determine if the 744T allows for playback while simultaneously recording. Based on a quick glance at the manual, I do not believe this is supported. I would use this feature, if it were available, for re-recording dialog (ADR). Ty, I would be interested if you considered this feature to be important. Or, if there are better ways to do this. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

February 18th, 2006, 04:54 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	The 744 is awesome. I don't have one but a sound guy brought his to a recent 10-day shoot, all I can say is "wow". Sound Devices makes good stuff, the 744T is great. My post-production chain wasn't as straightforward for .bwf as I thought it would be, you should check into how you'll pull in the sound. His post with pro-tools works fine. I had to use BWF Manager to split from polyphonic bwf to individual channel bwfs.

February 18th, 2006, 08:26 PM	#4
Brian Maier Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 42	I purchased a HD-P2 on thursday and will be exchanging it on monday for a 744t. Originally I wanted the 744t to pair up with my 422 but figured that I could save some money with the HD-P2. My biggest gripes with the HD-P2 are: -Build quality -No line in through xlr -Doesn't have bag/over shoulder friendly button placement

February 20th, 2006, 07:50 PM	#6
Kevin Wild Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 540	Guys, you are really comparing apples to oranges here. I just bought the Tascam P2 and it is amazing at this price point. If I wanted to spend $4000 rather than $999 on a recorder, I would have probably gotten the SD744T, too! This is not a fair comparison, in my opinion. The Tascam is great and alone at it's price point. I think the Marantz is close, but still a few hundered dollars more. It's definitely built more prosumer than pro, but after only one application, I love it. I think you guys are being a little hard on a sub-$1000 recorder that has timecode functionality! It's a great little unit. Perhaps not as professional as others, but 1/4 the price. It does a lot for the money. Just my $.02. KW By the way, Dan. After your generous offer last week, let me know if there are any questions or test I can run for you. Also, if you're in this area, stop by and borrow it so you can test it yourself!

February 20th, 2006, 09:34 PM	#7
Brian Maier Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 42	Your right they are aimed at different segments of the market, but the OP was asking for a comparisson of the two. For the money the HD-P2 is a pretty well rounded package.

February 22nd, 2006, 09:52 PM	#11
Kevin Wild Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 540	Ty, which "it" were you speaking of? The original 744T post heading or the HD-P2 which we spoke of in recent posts? Thanks. Look forward to reading your reviews...either one. KW

February 23rd, 2006, 08:53 AM	#14
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	It wasn't designed to do ADR. It's a field recorder, and a very good one. You could use it to do additional wild tracks, obviously. ADR is normally done in a recording studio. Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

February 23rd, 2006, 08:57 AM	#15
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Ty, Thanks for clearing that up for me. Based on Oleg's earlier comments, I was briefly looking into the Deva's, (much more expensive), which had this feature. Thanks again. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia