Hi, Lou,

I just checked my Sound Devices 722

The RAW digital data comes out of the A-D converter (not in WAV or any
other format. It is raw data.

That data can be written to the disk in ONE of several formats. This is
selected from menu item:
   5) Rec: File Type
      with the following options:
         WAV poly
         WAV mono
         FLAC
         MP3 in 8 bitrates from 32 to 320 kb/s
         MP2 in 8 bitrates from 64 to 384 kb/s

In addition, there are menu items
     3) Rec: Sample Rate
     4) Rec: Bit Depth
     6) Rec: Media Select

For MP3 and MP2, the valid settings are limited to 16 bits at a sampling
frequency of 32, 44.1, or 48 kHz and only permits recording to one
medium (HDD, CF, or ext HDD).

FLAC still constrains the machine's sampling frequency to 96 kHz and
below as well as a single output medium.

WAV permits multiple output media as well as sampling frequencies up to
192 kHz.

I see the limitations imposed on non-WAV formats as limitations in
available processing power to handle the higher processing loads for the
non-WAV formats.

It appears that Sound Devices IS treating each of these as a
direct-write format, NOT making a WAV and then converting later.

Cheers,

Richard





On 2015-05-18 12:44 PM, Lou Judson wrote:
> Thanks Richard, but I don’t think so. I own a SD 744 and as the manual you quote says, it records uncompressed PCM but can store in a variety of compressed formats, one of which is FLAC. To me at least, that only reinforces my point - FLAC is a way to store PCM or WAV, not an actual recording format.
>
> In other words, it compreses digital audio, but is not digital audio in itself. That is not to say it isn’t effective and good, just that it is not a format but rather a compression scheme. I would only use it to store audio for long term… not as preservation…
>
> Like rtf is a way to store ASCII data, but isn’t writing without it.
>
> I don’t know why I care so much, except that it seems the Australian claims are not what they think they are.
--
Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800
http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.