Questions about Sound Devices 702

sasha222 · 19th October 2007

Can you use it just as a standalone preamp? Meaning not record on it but just plug in a mic and send the output to a mixer or whatever?

Also, is the firewire interface just for transferring already recorded files, or can you have the realtme output going to your computer, using it as a soundcard essentially?

Don S · 19th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by sasha222

Can you use it just as a standalone preamp? Meaning not record on it but just plug in a mic and send the output to a mixer or whatever?
I'm sure you can, you just need the cables to do it.

Also, is the firewire interface just for transferring already recorded files, or can you have the realtme output going to your computer, using it as a soundcard essentially?

Call Jerry at posthorn.com. He can answer this. Probably not, knowing that the firewire port is for transfers and real time writing to a disk drive.

ghellquist · 19th October 2007

Well, sort of.

There is no way to use it as a sound card, the firewire does not give any access to the sound chips.

Menu setting allows you to route the input signals through preamps and then out on the output XLR-s and the mini-tele line out. The signal is then AD-converted and DA-converted though, so while still giving great quality a standard preamp could be better. The headphone output could be used at the same time, it has a lot of drive but has slightly more hiss.

At the same time the digital signal is available on the coax output (format is AES or SPDIF), this could be after AD-conversion. So if the rest of the chain can take digital it is there. The 7xx also has wordclock in and out so it can be synched to other units.

All in-all, quite a versatile set of connection possibilities.

Gunnar

Nick M · 20th October 2007

I'm curious as to the problem that you're trying to solve, Sasha. Neither of those applications that you've asked about are obvious functions of the 702.

sasha222 · 20th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghellquist

Well, sort of.

There is no way to use it as a sound card, the firewire does not give any access to the sound chips.

Menu setting allows you to route the input signals through preamps and then out on the output XLR-s and the mini-tele line out. The signal is then AD-converted and DA-converted though, so while still giving great quality a standard preamp could be better. The headphone output could be used at the same time, it has a lot of drive but has slightly more hiss.

At the same time the digital signal is available on the coax output (format is AES or SPDIF), this could be after AD-conversion. So if the rest of the chain can take digital it is there. The 7xx also has wordclock in and out so it can be synched to other units.

All in-all, quite a versatile set of connection possibilities.

Gunnar

So if I understand correctly, the mic signal always goes through AD, and if I want line out from the mic signal I must either go through ad/da or go out digital. Digital out is probably what I'd do.

Thanks for your help.

sasha222 · 20th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick M

I'm curious as to the problem that you're trying to solve, Sasha. Neither of those applications that you've asked about are obvious functions of the 702.

I was wondering if the unit could be used as an auxilary pair of pres in the studio in a crunch.

Also I was wondernig if when mobile, I could interface the unit with my laptop to record straight into the laptop rather than recording onto the unit and dumping to the laptop. I could see myself wanting to do this in some situations, but it's not a necessity. I will probably end up getting an Apogee Duet for that purpose.

Of course my primary use for the unit would be as a standalone mobile recorder. I was just wondering if I could put it to use in other ways if needed.

bove · 20th October 2007

I have a 722:

You can use it as a standalone two channel pre+AD conversion, as it has spdif outputs you can then route to your other gear.

With an inexpensive USB Audio Interface such as a UA-1EX from Edirol, you could use the SD unit as a front end for a laptop via the spdif connnection. While recording to teh laptop, you could also have the SD702 record, providing a convenient backup.

EDIROL UA-1EX USB Audio Interface :: Overview

As far as other useful functions, the Sound Devices headphone amp is nice, and can be used to listen to analog or spdif digital inputs, if that's useful to you. If you were using that USB solution with your laptop, the SD702 can provide you with playback form your computer as well. You just cannot listen to signals from the computer while sending signals to the computer.

The Firewire can only be used when the unit is in "disk drive" mode. It functions just like an external hard drive.

If you're curious about the Sound Devices stuff, just call the company, they're very helpful.

scifijedi · 21st October 2007

i use this as a preamp through the headphone jack and it's sweet,the headphone jack also has a volume knob which is nice.........i owned a martech that was awesome and had lots of headroom....the 702 doesn't have as much headroom......the only time it hisses is when i plug a 58 into it,,,,but with an mkh 30 it's very quiet ,,,running m-s is even more quiet with good mics.......not to bad at all for a recorder.........

19th October 2007	#1
sasha222 Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 695 Thread Starter	Questions about Sound Devices 702 Can you use it just as a standalone preamp? Meaning not record on it but just plug in a mic and send the output to a mixer or whatever? Also, is the firewire interface just for transferring already recorded files, or can you have the realtme output going to your computer, using it as a soundcard essentially?

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19th October 2007	#3
ghellquist Gear addict Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 416	Well, sort of. There is no way to use it as a sound card, the firewire does not give any access to the sound chips. Menu setting allows you to route the input signals through preamps and then out on the output XLR-s and the mini-tele line out. The signal is then AD-converted and DA-converted though, so while still giving great quality a standard preamp could be better. The headphone output could be used at the same time, it has a lot of drive but has slightly more hiss. At the same time the digital signal is available on the coax output (format is AES or SPDIF), this could be after AD-conversion. So if the rest of the chain can take digital it is there. The 7xx also has wordclock in and out so it can be synched to other units. All in-all, quite a versatile set of connection possibilities. Gunnar

20th October 2007	#4
Nick M Gear interested Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 2	I'm curious as to the problem that you're trying to solve, Sasha. Neither of those applications that you've asked about are obvious functions of the 702.

20th October 2007	#7
bove Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 290	I have a 722: You can use it as a standalone two channel pre+AD conversion, as it has spdif outputs you can then route to your other gear. With an inexpensive USB Audio Interface such as a UA-1EX from Edirol, you could use the SD unit as a front end for a laptop via the spdif connnection. While recording to teh laptop, you could also have the SD702 record, providing a convenient backup. EDIROL UA-1EX USB Audio Interface :: Overview As far as other useful functions, the Sound Devices headphone amp is nice, and can be used to listen to analog or spdif digital inputs, if that's useful to you. If you were using that USB solution with your laptop, the SD702 can provide you with playback form your computer as well. You just cannot listen to signals from the computer while sending signals to the computer. The Firewire can only be used when the unit is in "disk drive" mode. It functions just like an external hard drive. If you're curious about the Sound Devices stuff, just call the company, they're very helpful.

21st October 2007	#8
scifijedi Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 208	i use this as a preamp through the headphone jack and it's sweet,the headphone jack also has a volume knob which is nice.........i owned a martech that was awesome and had lots of headroom....the 702 doesn't have as much headroom......the only time it hisses is when i plug a 58 into it,,,,but with an mkh 30 it's very quiet ,,,running m-s is even more quiet with good mics.......not to bad at all for a recorder.........