Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I use this mainly for recording live shows/performances, but it also comes in handy when I need to playback music pre-show (and want something more substantial than an iPad).

If I had to give one criticism, it would be that the outputs are of the mini xlr variety, and the adaptor cables are not included (extra $60 to get line level XLR out of the unit).

Otherwise, it is awesome, just like all sound devices products.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

Easy to use (after the initial set up). Beautifully made. Perfect sound quality.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

for me the 702 was perfect. by default it samples the WAV files at 30fps, but download WAVEAGENT, it's free and allows you to change the framerate to anything. 23.97 in my case. transfer the files from the CF card to your hard drive then drag that folder into WAVEAGENT choose the framerate and it converts everything at no quality loss in a few seconds. not bad. and it saved 600 bucks.

for quality and dependability and overall performance you can't beat a 7 series recorder. sound devices are the absolute best.

they used this thing on WALL-E for crying out loud.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

Using this for radio production, music capture in the field, binaural and stereo recordings. Also fantastic for oral history capture! Quick learning curve to become familiar with the OS.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I love this recorder!!! I use it in field recording settings, and it is lightweight, yet durable. The sound is fantastic! It is a bit tricky to set up the first time, but then it is quite easy to use.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

The 702 Sound Devices recorder delivers quiet, dynamic, detailed, and clean sound. I'm sure there may be better professional recorders, but this unit is portable and delivers very professional results. It will reveal the quality of your microphones and amplifiers. Some of its majic may be the quality of its analog to digital and digital to analog converters. You do not have to go to 96k or 192k digitalization rates to get the good sound. 20x48k sounds excellent. I have used other portable recorders but this unit to my ear is by far the best. The unit is very flexible and yet very simple to use. As my video cameras have no time code ability, I chose the plain SD 702. It has been my most rewarding addition and is highly reccommended. It not only sounds great, its built to very high mechanical and component standards. At under $2000.00 it in my opinion is a best buy.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I am an advanced amateur video photographer and avid audiophile who has long been frustrated by lousy audio quality despite "good" cameras. In my quest for better sound, I first tried better microphones inputing to the camera, then better professional microphones with mixer and preamp imputing into camera, followed by recording directly to a digital recorder. This last move resulted in greatly improved sound and my Sony D50 has served me well and remains as backup or where less intrusive recording is desired. The move to the Sound Devices 702 has further improved my recorded sound to audiophile quality. I read the long manual of the 702 before buying it and was concerned it might be so complicated to set up that it would end up never used or fail due to my lack of understanding. While the menu has over 80 items, it is very easy and intuitive to use. While very flexible, it is very easy to set up. The device is small with every square inch used. It is not a toy but a delightful, portable and powerful recorder that astounds the user with the quite nature of its preamps and the quality of its recording. I did not know how good some of my microphones were until I heard the detail recorded with the 702! If you are interested in quality sound, buy the 702 and don't repeat my expensive learning curve. Though expensive, I think they are a best buy in audio and are built to last.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

This was recommended to me by an audio professional on a consultation call. I had to hook two people up to lav mics but my camera was single channel. This records the sound from both of my sennheiser lavs and I can import it to my projects very nicely!

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

In a growing field of portable audio recording devices, the Sound Devices is in a class by itself. The recording quality is just as good as the Apogee gear I've heard. Preamps are extremely quiet. We were quite impressed with the music reproduction, especially when used with a Rode SF24 ribbon mic. Controls are well laid out and the meters are accurate, configurable, and quite useable. Balanced outputs are handy for driving peripheral gear such as headphone distribution amplifiers or power amplifiers. A full-featured parameter list allows many versatile configurations including M/S. Very rugged construction.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

Great 2 track recorder, that can be used on a job and look professional. Only draw back of this model is no time code, but you could get that is wanting to pay the money for T model. I rarely need timecode. this model also doesn't have an hard drive, i wouldnt pay for the 722, i would get a lacie shock resistant HD and use the firewire port. Thou if you buy a 8 gB CF card like i did, it will last you a while. I use this with my Sound Devices 302 mixer and they link up perfectly.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

We use this product for field recordings for our video productions. We moved up from a separate mixer and recorder and this unit is everything we thought it would be. We have owned Sound Devices products in the past and as always it is very well built and extremely rugged.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I own both the 702 and the 722
They are rock solid seamless linear recorders
But I still need to run my SQN or Sonosax pre's in front for my foley work !!

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I would not trade my Sound Devices for anything.I bought it for three things.

1) High quality sound effects/foley recording (192)
2) On set boom operation recording
3) S/pdif digital in to my mbox, which gives me the best preamps in the industry for use on foley/adr while giving me clean AD conversion and clocking, bypassing the horrible AD/clock from the mbox 2

With up to 192kHz resolution, perfect preamps that are flat to 20k and record up to 40k, rock solid body, face shortcuts for easy operation, options for easy file management, customizable routing and monitoring options, super long lasting battery using standard Sony L or M series, recording to compact flash, or hard drive, or both, s/pdif... the list can go on. I cant say anything too bad about it. Other than it is an investment for sure, and I wish the time-code version wasn't an extra $700... And the LCD display cover is cheap plastic that gets scratched easily.. but I am assuming easy and cheap to replace. But this isn't anything for than a cosmetic issue because the LCD is so bright and clear that you can read it in the brightest time of day. Also, if you want to send XLR out, you will have to buy the TA3 to XLR connectors, which are $51 for the pair. Kind of proprietary IMO, but I know its because they probably ran out of room for another 2 XLRs. The thing is tiny.

Anyways, in conclusion, if you are a professional audio engineer doing any project in need of high fidelity gear, this is the definitive company to purchase from, and you will not be displeased with your investment.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I am very happy that my Marantz 671 developed problems, otherwise I would not have revisited purchasing a 2-channel compact flash recorder. I my opinion the Sound Devices 702 is far superior compared to the 671. Here are specific examples:

1. The mic inputs 1 and 2 can be linked together. In that instance, input 1 controls the volume, and input 2 controls the pan. Much easier than the concentric controls on the 671.

2. The LED readouts can be read anywhere.

3. A high-pass filter with variable settings can be activated when necessary to control room noise and ventilation system noises.

4. A wide range of sample rates and bit depths can be easily set.

5. A rechargeable lithium ion battery is included (good for about 2 hours depending on machine settings).

6. Date and time automatically identified upon power up...you do not have to enter this data.

7. Variable Pre-Roll time can be invoked if needed.

8. There are 2 microphone gain ranges..."normal", and "low"...for very loud recording situations or for very hot microphones.

There are 87 adjustable setting listed in the 74 page instruction guide, so this is a very versatile machine. I just listed listed the ones I like much better than the Marantz 671.

This machine is well worth the money!

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

General sound recording, documentary film. Easy to use, very flexible, very well built.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I use a pair of 702's with LaCie Ext FW drives and 4 cardioid mics to record choral concerts. I aim one pair about 90 deg, other pair 180 deg. I then mix them down to 2 ch with Samplitude Master, adjusting gain between pairs for best image. The C.Link function allows me to use this pair of recorders as a 4 ch. machine. Very convenient to bring 2 Ext Drives to this computer, copy over in very short order.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

This device takes minutes to learn and records great audio. Currently paired with a Canon 7D camera for HD audio and video. Highly recommended for VDSLR users who want great audio to match their visuals.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

Excellent Microphone Pres, great menu, setup options, tough durable solid construction. I have used the 702 in some very challenging recording environments, near flames, fire, explosions, large fireworks, factories, large engines, and heavy machinery and gun fire. Seems to do quite well. I ave to clean the dust off mine after every shoot. Use this with my Neumann RSM-191, and Sanken CSS-5. Perfect for capturing stereo/MS sound effects.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

I use this baby to record traditional music and tales from native people in the Colombian Amazonas (south Amercia) and i couldn´t be more proud of the quality of the result, having a relative Dampness of the 90 % I thought the chasis and the internal circuitry would be affected but that never happened, this unit is a tank, the preamps always got their same quality an never let me down, is compact, so i was able to record anywhere, in a small boat, also in an airplane, using this with a sennheiser mkh 416 is the best way to catch ambients and some tales of the native people with an 90% of relative dampness, for the music having 2 akg 414 acoustic was a good way to got the natural environment of the music, unfortunately they were not good to the dampness.

I recomend this unit for any aplication, the light system is incredible, and the compact flash is a good way to save your files, can record to any sample rate you need and the best is the SM monitoring so you can balance your two mics to know exactly what is the audio you are recording for post.
You can save money buying other recorders like tascam or marantz (i worked with these last year and the sound was good but the chasis was not so the dampness damage it) but for heavy use in xtreme weather situations this sound devices is top of the line.

Comments about Sound Devices 702 - High-Resolution 2-Channel Compact Flash Field Recorder:

This is the recorder of my dreams. 30 years of field recording and finally a machine that delivers everything I want. MS monitoring is great. The transparency of the mic preamp's is awesome. My 25 year old Neumann mics never sounded so good. It's lightweight, there are no battery issues. Even power hungry condenser mics are no problem. Oh yes and the metering and display set up is perfect.