Product Overview
Sound Devices' 744T is a powerful four-track file-based digital audio recorder. The super-compact 744T records and plays back audio to and from its internal hard drive or Compact Flash medium, making field recording simple and fast. It writes and reads uncompressed PCM audio at 16 or 24 bits with sample rates between 32 kHz and 192 kHz. Compressed (MP3) audio playback from 64 kb/s to 320 kb/s is also supported. The time code implementation makes the 744T ready for any recording job—from over-the-shoulder to cart-based production.
The 744T implements a no-compromise audio path that includes Sound Devices’ next generation microphone preamplifiers. Designed specifically for high bandwidth, high bit rate digital recording, these preamps set a new standard for frequency response linearity, low distortion performance, and low noise.
No other recorder on the market matches its size or feature set. In addition, its learning curve is quite short—powerful does not mean complicated. While the 744T is a very capable recorder by itself, it truly excels when used in conjunction with an outboard audio mixer such as Sound Devices’ own 442 or 302.
The 744T includes a 160 GB SATA Drive and the SATA interface. The removable, rechargeable battery is a standard Sony-compatible Li-ion camcorder cell. The 744T interconnects with Windows and Mac OS computers for convenient data transfer and backup.
Sound Devices 744T Features:
- Two-channels of Sound Devices next generation microphone preamps with phantom, limiters, and high-pass filters
- Channel 3 and 4 line-level inputs on TA3 connectors
- Two-channel, balanced mic/line level outputs on TA3 connectors
- Input-to-track assignment with 256 possible routing combinations
- Records to internal 160 GB SATA Drive, removable Compact Flash, external FireWire drive, or any combination of the three
- AES3 (XLR) or AES3id (unbalanced AES on BNC) digital inputs and AES3idoutputs
- Programmable, sunlight-viewable LED level metering
- WAV or BWF format, mono or poly files, uncompressed PCM audio
- 24-bit or 16-bit (with or without dither) and sampling at 32 kHz–192 kHz
- Ultra-stable Ambient time code circuitry, tunable to
- MP3 playback capability
- FireWire (IEEE-1394) port for high-speed data transfer to computers
- 6-pin modular C. Link serial input and output for unit linking and future control and expansion
- Removable Li-on rechargeable battery compatible with Sony M- and L-mount Li-on batteries
- 10–18 VDC external input powers and charges on-board battery
- Aluminum and stainless-steel chassis for exceptional durability and light weight
- Class-defining compact size
- Designed for the same operational environmental extremes as Sound Devices field mixers
Sound Devices 744T Specifications:
- Sampling Frequency: internal: 32, 44.1, 48, 48.048,88.2, 96, 96.096,176.4, 192 kHz; external: 32–192 kHz via word clock input
- Internal Data Path and Processing: 32 bit, 192 dB dynamic range
- A/D, D/A Converters: 24 bit, 192 kHz sample rate maximum
- A/D Dynamic Range:
- 114 dB, A-weighted bandwidth
- 110 dB, 20 Hz – 22 kHz bandwidth
- D/A Dynamic Range:
- 112 dB, A-weighted bandwidth
- 108 dB, 20 Hz–22 kHz bandwidth
- Frequency Res. Mic or Line: 10 Hz–40 kHz, +0.1, -0.5(gain controls centered), Fs 96 kHz
- Equivalent Input Noise:
- Mic: -133 dBu max (-135 dBV),50ohm source, A-weighted filter
- Mic: -131 dBu max (-133dBV)max, 50 ohm source, 20 Hz–20 kHz BW flat filter, gain fullyup
- Mic: -130 dBu max (-132 dBV), 150 ohm source, A-weighted filter
- Mic: -128dBu max (-130 dBV), 150 ohm source, 20 Hz–20kHz BW flat filter, gain fully up
- THD + Noise Mic: 0.004% max (1 kHz, 22 Hz–22 kHz BW, gain control down,-15 dBu input); line: 0.004% max (1 kHz, 22 Hz–22 kHz BW, gain control down,+16 dBu input)
- Gain: (input dBu to -20 dBFS) mic (normal gain mode):25 to 70 dB; mic (lowgain mode): 10 to 55 dB; line: -6 to 18 dB, 0.1 dBincrements
- Input Clipping Level: Mic input: -5 dBu minimum(normal gain mode, gaincontrol fully down); mic input: +10 dBu minimum (low gain mode, gain controlfully down); line input: +26 dBu minimum (gain control fully down)
- High-Pass Filters: 40, 80, 160, 240 Hz @ 12/18/24dB/oct (all menuselectable)
- Mic Powering (each XLR selectable): 48 V phantom through 6.8k resistors,10 mA per mic available, menu-selected per channel inmic or line levelpositions
- Mic Input Limiters: analog (pre-A/D converter),dual-stage optocoupler andFET, -4 dBFS threshold, 20:1 limiting ratio, 5 mSattack time, 200 mS releasetime
- Analog Line Output Clipping Level:
- +24 dBu minimum,10kohm load
- Attenuation & Resolution 0 to 40 dB, 1dBincrements
- I/O – Digital: AES3-id 75 ohm, 0.5 V p-p, S/PDIF compatible with RCA adapter
- Digital Storage: internal hard drive ATA-5 interface1.8-in or 2.5-in harddrive 4200–7200 RPM supported, FAT32 formatted; CompactFlash CF type I, II, and + (Microdrive) compatible, FAT32 formatted; filetypes: WAV or BWF, mono or polyphonic; MP3 @ 64, 96, 128, 240, or 320 kb/s stereo; utilities: format, speed test, and repair utility for internal HD and CF volumes
- Data Transfer / Control: FireWire peripheral-mode,IEEE-1394a compliant,6-pin FireWire, Windows 2000, XP, Mac OSX only: C. Link 6-pin modular inputand output, RS-232 machine control, wordclock, time code transfer
- Metering: 76-segment (4 x 19), sunlight-viewable, selectable peak, VU, or peak (with or without peak hold) with VU ballistics, variable brightness
- Time Code:
- modes supported: free run, record run, 24hourrun, continuous jam;
- frame rates 23.976, 24, 25,29.97DF,29.97ND, 30DF, 30ND;
- accuracy
- Powering: operating cell, removable 7.2 V (nominal)Sony M- or L-type Li-on, operational from 6 – 8 V; time code battery, 1.2 V AA nickel metal-hydride; power supply (external) 10–18 V, 1 A minimum, via locking 4-pinHirose connector, use Hirose #HR10-7P-4P (DigiKey# HR100-ND) for locking mating DC connector; pin-4 = (+), pin-1 = (-) or pin-3 = (+) andpin-2=(-).
- Environmental:
- Operation and storage: ambient temperature 5–55° C, relative humidity (non-condensing)
- Other:
- LCD Display 202 x 32 pixel, extended temperature, backlit display; tone oscillator 100 Hz–10 kHz, variable output, assigned to tracks or outputs(menu-selectable);
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.8” x 8.2” x 4.9” (45 x 209x 125 mm)
- Weight: 2.6 lbs. (1.2 kg) w/o battery
Firmware revision 2.40 for this product can be found at: http://www.sounddevices.com/download/744t-firmware.htm
