The New 664 from Sound Devices

Sound Devices answer to the Nomad seems to be the 664. Here is a run down of its key features: 

- Six high-bandwidth, low noise microphone preamplifiers with phantom, limiters, high-pass, pan, and direct outputs per channel 

- Four output buses, Left, Right and Aux 1, Aux 2; transformer-balanced for freedom from ground loops; multiple output connectors, including dual multi-pin 

- Built-in production recorder, records all inputs and output buses: 10 tracks total. With CL-6 attached: 16 tracks total. 

- Broadcast WAV recording to dual memory card slots, CF and SD - Record different track combinations and to each card type 

- High-precision, Ambient Recording-based time code generator/reader with auto-recharging of internal TC battery 

- Time code compare tool to measure offset from internal and external time code - Quick, intuitive interface via sunlight readable, transflective LCD menu control 

- Main controls on dedicated knobs and switches 

- Two AES42/AES3 digital inputs (input connectors 1 and 6) 

- AES3 output selection, up to eight channels of AES out (XLR, multi-pin) 

- Expanded return monitoring capabilities, with three camera returns 

- Dedicated communication circuit (PL) - Built-in slate microphone and external slate microphone input connector 

- Powered by AA-battery x5 or isolated (floating) external DC, 10-18V 

- Metalized, gasketed carbon-fiber chassis panels for light weight and durability.

Check Out The New Video:

Oldest Known Recording Unearthed From 1860

Previously the oldest recorded sound was thought to be Edison's phonograph recording of a children's nursery 

rhyme "Mary had a little lamb.." in 1877. So what did they use before the phonograph?

The "phonautograph", is used by etching paper covered in soot. US scientists used a virtual stylus to read the lines. The recording was found by audio historian David Giovannoni who said to the Associated Press "When I first heard the recording as you hear it ... it was magical, so ethereal,"

"The fact is it's recorded in smoke. The voice is coming out from behind this screen of aural smoke."

The phonautograph was made by a Parisian inventor, Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville. The new recording will be presented on 28 March at a conference of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections at Stanford University in California.

The video below is the 10 second clip of "Au Clair de la Lune".




This is the video of Edison's recording of "Mary had a little Lamb"



Thanks

Heinrich Rudolf Hertz - 155th Birthday

Well would be but sadly died at the age of 36! But didn't take him long to see what everyone else couldn't.

Im sure you have guess the young German electronic engineer and physicist who clarified and expanded the electromagnetic theory of light introduced by James Maxwell publishing his theory in 1865. Maxwell was also phenomenal is creating a theory from seemingly unrelated experiments and studies of electricity, magnetism and optics and combined them. He was also known for the first durable colour photograph earlier in 1861 and even did foundation work on rigidity for bridges, and is considered one of the greatest physicists of all time.

Back to our friend Heinrich Rudolf Hertz. He was the first to prove with immense certainty the presents of electromagnetic waves by designing and engineering instruments to transmit and receive radio pulses using procedures to discredit other sources of wireless phenomenon. As such his name was given to the unit of frequency known as, you guessed it Hertz (Hz)

Just So I Don't Breech Copyright :)

See a better image of him from Wikipedia