Sound Devices 7xx as Mixer? at DVinfo.net

Martin Saxer · March 27th, 2007, 01:50 PM

Is there anything that would prevent a Sound Devices 7xx recorder to double as mixer? I have to plan for minimal weight for my next project. A recorder is a must and I have to buy a new one anyway. But there will be many instances where I would rather need a mixer instead of a recorder. When I look at the SD 7xx specs (pre?amps, limiter, high?pass filter, tone, good metering, line out, phantom, individual knobs for gain control, etc.) I feel it should serve as a good mixer as well.

Opinions?

Martin

Ralph Keyser · March 27th, 2007, 06:14 PM

Well, a recorder really doesn't make a good replacement for a mixer. Taking the 744T as an example (since that's the one I'm most familiar with). You lose a lot of fast control over your audio since most of those features that you mention (limiters, high-pass filtering, phantom power, etc.) are buried in the menu system rather than available at your finger-tips. It only provides two channels of pre-amps (the other two are line level). There isn't an easy way to fade between output channels. There isn't fine control over how channels 3&4 reach the output. The outputs are TA3 connectors instead of XLR. It is a huge power hog for a mixer. All-in-all, it's a outstanding recorder, but not a great mixer.

I don't want to sound too discouraging. The 7 series recorders are great pieces of equipment. If all you want to do is record a couple of channels of audio, then it may be all you need. I often just use the recorder when doing field recording of voice overs, interviews, or sound effects. Couple a 744 with a MixPre, and you have 4 tracks of very high quality audio in a really tiny package. If, however, you are expecting the recorder to work well as a mixer, then you may be disappointed.

Ty Ford · March 27th, 2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Saxer

Is there anything that would prevent a Sound Devices 7xx recorder to double as mixer? I have to plan for minimal weight for my next project. A recorder is a must and I have to buy a new one anyway. But there will be many instances where I would rather need a mixer instead of a recorder. When I look at the SD 7xx specs (pre?amps, limiter, high?pass filter, tone, good metering, line out, phantom, individual knobs for gain control, etc.) I feel it should serve as a good mixer as well.

Opinions?

Martin

If you really felt it would, you'd already own one. :)
I have a 744T and a 442. I would not want to mix with the 744T. I would not want to record with a 442.

Regards,

Ty Ford

March 27th, 2007, 01:50 PM	#1
Martin Saxer Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oxford, UK (until 2008: Lhasa, Tibetan Autonomous Region) Posts: 65	Sound Devices 7xx as Mixer? Is there anything that would prevent a Sound Devices 7xx recorder to double as mixer? I have to plan for minimal weight for my next project. A recorder is a must and I have to buy a new one anyway. But there will be many instances where I would rather need a mixer instead of a recorder. When I look at the SD 7xx specs (pre?amps, limiter, high?pass filter, tone, good metering, line out, phantom, individual knobs for gain control, etc.) I feel it should serve as a good mixer as well. Opinions? Martin

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March 27th, 2007, 06:14 PM	#2
Ralph Keyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 287	Well, a recorder really doesn't make a good replacement for a mixer. Taking the 744T as an example (since that's the one I'm most familiar with). You lose a lot of fast control over your audio since most of those features that you mention (limiters, high-pass filtering, phantom power, etc.) are buried in the menu system rather than available at your finger-tips. It only provides two channels of pre-amps (the other two are line level). There isn't an easy way to fade between output channels. There isn't fine control over how channels 3&4 reach the output. The outputs are TA3 connectors instead of XLR. It is a huge power hog for a mixer. All-in-all, it's a outstanding recorder, but not a great mixer. I don't want to sound too discouraging. The 7 series recorders are great pieces of equipment. If all you want to do is record a couple of channels of audio, then it may be all you need. I often just use the recorder when doing field recording of voice overs, interviews, or sound effects. Couple a 744 with a MixPre, and you have 4 tracks of very high quality audio in a really tiny package. If, however, you are expecting the recorder to work well as a mixer, then you may be disappointed.