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Sound Devices 788T Portable Field Recorder

Sound Devices 788T

The 788T: Portable, Eight-Track Recorder with Time Code

The 788T is a powerful eight input, eight-track digital audio recorder designed for production sound. Building on the success of the proven 7-Series architecture, the 788T offers greatly expanded input and output connectivity while continuing the 7-Series heritage of extensive control in a compact package.

Its eight full-featured inputs ensure superb audio quality. They accept either microphone or line-level signals, provide 48 V phantom power for condenser microphones, offer peak limiters for microphone inputs, and fully adjustable high-pass filters. Extensive routing flexibility allows each input to be routed to mixed tracks or to isolated tracks.

Sound Devices 788T Panels View

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The 788T has three options for recording media, internal 160 GB SATA hard drive, CompactFlash media with UDMA support, or an external FireWire hard drive or DVD-RAM (with bus powering). Any or all of these can be used simultaneously. Additionally, when connected to Mac OS, or Windows computers with high-speed USB or FireWire 400/800, the 788T functions as a high-speed mass storage device.

To simplify interconnection with mixers and cameras with AES3 connectivity, the 788T has eight channels of balanced AES3 digital input and six channels of balanced AES3 output. The 788T can be clocked from external word clock or from video sync. The 788T has a high-accuracy time code reader/generator on board. It includes auto-record features to chase external rec-run video sources. To simplify metadata entry the 788T directly accepts USB keyboards. Keyboard shortcuts can be programmed to control menu items and machine transport. The extensive power of the 788T simplifies any production sound setup.

Pricing Information

Key Features

  • Eight recording tracks
  • Eight mic/line inputs, each controlled with front panel, pop-out gain controls
  • Each input has solo headphone monitoring, 48 V phantom, limiter, polarity reverse, high-pass, and selectable delay
  • 8 x 2 mix assignment
  • Backlit LCD display viewable in any environment
  • 8 x 13-segment Peak/VU meters with arm LED
  • Word clock in and out with tri-level video sync support
  • Time code generator supports all data rates; holds time code for four hours with no power sources attached
  • Internal 160 GB, 2.5-inch SATA hard drive
  • CompactFlash slot with UDMA support
  • Powered by removable Li-ion rechargeable batteries
  • External DC power input operates unit and charges Li-ion battery
  • Back panel multi-pin connector for one-cable connection to digital mixing board (AES input/output, power, switch closure in/out)
  • FireWire 400/800 and USB 2.0 for ultra-fast connection of CF and HDD to computer
  • USB keyboard input for control
  • Aluminum & stainless-steel chassis for exceptional durability and light weight
  • Designed for the same operational environmental extremes as Sound Devices field mixers

Specifications

Sampling Frequency:
internal: 32, 44.1, 47.952, 48, 48.048
external clocking: 32-48.048 kHz via word clock or digital inputs
Internal Data Path and Processing:
32 bit, 192 dB dynamic range
A/D, D/A Converters:
24 bit, 48.048 kHz sample rate maximum
A/D Dynamic Range:
123 dB, A-weighted bandwidth
120 dB, 20 Hz–22 kHz bandwidth
D/A Dynamic Range:
114 dB, A-weighted bandwidth
111 dB, 20 Hz-22 kHz bandwidth
Metering
112-segment (8 x 14), sunlight-viewable, selectable peak, VU, or peak (with or without peak hold) with VU ballistics, variable brightness
Frequency Res. Mic or Line:
10 Hz-20 kHz, +0.1, -0.5 (gain controls centered)
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: Off (0) to 76.0 dB Line: Off, -26.0 to 50.0 dB
Input Impedance:
Mic (XLR and TA3): 3.3k ohm; Line (XLR and TA3): 3.3k ohm
Input Clipping Level:
Mic input: +8 dBu minimum (gain = 10 dB); line input: +26 dBu minimum (gain = 0 dB)
Input Topology Mic and Line
fully electronically balanced, RF, ESD, short, and overload protected; pin-2 hot, pin-3 cold
Gain Matching Mic/Line inputs
0.1 dB increments, channel-to-channel while linked
Common Mode Rejection Ratio
Mic: 40 dB minimum at 80 Hz
High-Pass Filters:
40-320 Hz in 10Hz steps @ 6/12 dB/oct (Setup Menu selectable)
Mic Powering:
(each analog input selectable): 48 V phantom through 6.8k resistors, 10 mA per mic available, menu-selected per channel in mic or line level positions
Mic/Line Input Limiters:
Variable threshold -12 to -2 dBFS; Infinite:1 limiting ratio, 2 mS attack time, menu-selectable release time 200-2000 mS, soft-knee starting approximately 6dB below setting.
Line Output Clipping Level:
+24 dBu minimum, 10k ohm load
Attenuation & Resolution:
0-20 dB, 1 dB increments
Output Topology Line
fully electronically-balanced, RF, ESD, short, and overload protected; pin-2 driven hot, pin-3 driven cold; let pin-3 float for unbalanced connections.
I/O - Digital:
AES3 Balanced AES out 1-4 on TA3 connector; Balanced AES out 5-6 on DB15 connector 110 ohm, 2 Vp-p, AES and S/PDIF compatible with RCA adaptor; Balanced AES in 1-8 on DB15 connector 110 ohm, 2 V p-p, AES and S/PDIF compatible with RCA adaptor
Digital Storage:
internal hard drive SATA interface 2.5-in hard drive 4200-7200 RPM supported, FAT32 formatted, up to 2 TB addressable
Compact Flash CF type I, II, and + (microdrive) compatible, UDMA (x300) compatible, FAT32 formatted, up to 2 TB addressable
File Types
Record: WAV (AES-31 format), mono or polyphonic, at supported Fs, 24-bit or 16-bit;
Playback: WAV (AES-31 format), mono or polyphonic, at supported Fs, 24-bit or 16-bit; MP3 @ 32, 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 256, or 320 kb/s stereo; MP2 @ 64, 96, 128, 160, 192, 256, or 320, 384 kb/s stereo
Utilities
Format, Speed Test, and Repair utility for internal HD, CF and external drive volumes
Data Transfer / Control:
FireWire 400: For connection to ext drives and computers: IEEE-1394a compliant, 6-pin FireWire, Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS X only
FireWire 800: For connection to ext drives and computers: IEEE-1394b compliant, 8-pin FireWire, Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS X only
USB 2.0: Slave mode only. For connection to Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS X only
USB Keyboard Input: For connection to USB keyboards for entering notes and controlling features and functions of the 788T via user selectable keyboard shortcuts.
Time Code:
Modes Supported: Off, free run, record run, 24 hour run, external time code receive
Frame Rates: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97DF, 29.97ND, 30DF, 30ND, 30+
Accuracy: 0.2 ppm, when tuned with Ambient Master Controller, holds TC clock for 4 hours after main battery removal; after 4 hours, retains time of day
Input / Output 20k ohm impedance, 0.3V p-p (-8 dBu) minimum / 1k ohm impedance, 3.0V p-p (+12 dBu)
Sync Input: Word Clock, AES3, Video (NTSC, PAL, and Tri-Level)
Word Clock Output: Square wave, running at sample rate, 3.3vp-p, 50 ohm.
Power:
Power supply (batteries): operating cell, removable 7.2 V (nominal) Sony L-type Li-ion, operational from 6.5-8.5 V, time code battery, 3.6 Li-ion
Power supply (external): 10-18 V, 1000 mA minimum, via locking 4-pin Hirose connector, use Hirose #HR10-7P-4P (DigiKey# HR100-ND) for locking mating DC connector; pin-1 (-), pin-4 (+).
Environmental:
Operation and Storage ambient temperature 5-55° C, relative humidity (non-condensing) 80%
Other:
Tone Oscillator: 100 Hz-10 kHz, variable output, assigned to tracks or outputs (menu-selectable)
Dimensions and Weight:
Size: 45 mm x 257 mm x 163 mm (H x W x D) 1.8" x 10.1" x 6.4"
Mass: unpackaged: 1.7 kg, (3 lbs 12 oz.) without battery

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