We like! Sound Devices 788T

I like the look of this, it's the new hard disc recorder from Sound Devices. 8 tracks this time, four of them with XLR input. It builds on what is good about the 744T and adds useful features like USB keyboard support.

I've yet to see one "in the flesh" and the UK price could be a high at the moment but it looks like a fabulous machine.

More info and pictures of all the panels can be found on the Sound Devices website

BWAV utilities for Apple Mac

BWAV Lister, Reader and Writer for Apple Mac OSX are three excellent audio file management utilities from Quesosoft. The Writer and Lister are very useful when transfering BWAV files from a hard disk recorder (like my Sound Devices 744T) to a computer before burning to DVD.

The Writer allows you to change the Meta Data which goes with each file. You can, for example change the names of individual tracks within the files and user bit values. Very useful if you have not had a chance to do this in the field when changing set ups quickly. You can also play the files direct from the edit window to check content.

BWAV Lister simplifies the task of making sound report sheets (screen shot above). Import your files into a folder and then scan that folder within the program. Lister will then generate a list of info including file name, time code and user bit info, duration, track names etc. You can then chose which information you want exporting to a text file, and in what order. I then cut and paste this information into a sound sheet I generate in word and then add notes.

Lister and Writer are a bargain at $70 for both ($30 for Writer alone, $50 for Lister). Reader is freeware and allows you play BWAVs and to view the metadata but not change it.

I'm using Writer V 1.05 for mac (there is now a Beta version for PC) and Lister 1.5.1b. More info and downloads from the Quesosoft website.

Sound Devices Combo

On my current documentary project I'm using a combination of equipment that is new to me. It's mostly a "run around" with lots of different characters popping in and out at random so it's mainly been recorded on a boom.

I've chosen to use the Sound Devices 744T for my recorder and put the boom straight into that. I can leave it switched on for hours waiting for that important scene to happen and it's quite light on battery use. I've not used more than 2 lithium NP1's in a day so far.

My main gripe about the 774t was that it only has two full size XLR inputs (the other two inputs being miniature TA3 sockets) and two level controls on top. I was hoping not to carry a full size mixer as well so for situations where I want to use one or more radio mics I have a Sound Devices MixPre connected to the TA3 pair. The mixer is very small and light so hardly adds anything to the weight of my bag. Also in the bag is a Hawkwoods APR1 rack which powers my radio mic receivers as well as mixer and recorder. The whole thing weighs about the same as the SQN4S and APR1 rack I use regularly to send sound down a cable to a camera but it records up to four discreet tracks as well.

The system has worked out very well and allows me to switch the mixer off when I'm not using extra mics and save battery power. The whole rig is in a bag made especially for me by KT Systems (talk to Ian, he's very helpful). It's a kind of mini organiser bag, big enough to contain everything, but not so ridiculous I can hardly get through the door.

Disadvantages? Well the 744 gets VERY hot. Fine in the winter cold of England but in South Africa it's adding to the general discomfort of boiling hot days. Honestly, you could fry an egg on the thing (or me once I have been carrying it next to me for a bit) but the unit continues to work just fine. You have to watch out, if you turn the unit off for more than two hours the time code is lost. You won't waste much battery leaving it on, but I tend to turn it off for a while every now and again just to let it cool down.

MAD - Dir Leo Regan

Coming soon...
To be broadcast on Channel Four during April 2008









The Doctor Who Hears Voices
Drama documentary, 70mins Kudos/Ch4




Starring - Ruth Wilson & Rufus May
Director of Photography - Johann Perry
Sound Recordist - Mary Milton
Editor - David Hill
Director - Leo Regan


Dr Rufus May is a maverick psychologist.
He thinks madness is a good thing.
Last week Ruth Fielding* came to see him for the first time.

Ruth’s a junior doctor who’s hearing a voice telling her to kill herself.
Most doctors would say Ruth is a danger to herself and others, and have her sectioned.
Rufus is different.
He doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with hearing voices.

Rufus May is one of the most controversial doctors working in the NHS today.
He thinks all mental hospitals should be shut down, there’s no such thing as schizophrenia and medication destroys lives.
He says we should learn to love mad people.
He does.
He was mad himself once.

To protect Ruth’s identity an actor is used to tell her story and some details have been changed.
Everything you see with Ruth is based on original transcripts, recorded over twelve months.
Everything else is documentary footage, filmed as it happened.


This is an unusual project where documentary and drama are used together. I recorded only the drama sections of the project with Johann Perry as DOP. The documentary sections had been shot by director Leo Regan previously over a period of months. Drama reconstruction was used to protect the identity of the real "Ruth" here played by actress Ruth Wilson. Rufus May appears as himself across documentary and dramatised sections which gives real continuity to the piece. We wanted to match the shooting style of the drama sections as closely as possible to the documentary style. The documentary had been recorded almost exclusively with radio mics placed outside the clothing of characters. To match this I put radio mics on the outside the clothing of both actors in situations where we felt Leo would have done this had it been documentary. These weren't always the mics I actually used for recording the sound, most often this was done with radio mics which were concealed under clothing to protect them from wind noise. Hence on most of the exterior shots the Ruth and Rufus are wearing two mics, one functioning and one as a prop. On the interior shots most often they both wear only one mic which is on top of clothing and functioning. There are also a few times where Ruth wears only a concealed mic, for situations where we thought Leo would not have had a chance to mic her up in a pure documentary situation and would just have used his camera mic.

The programme was shot in standard definition on a Sony Z1. In order to stay cable free sound was radio linked to the Z1 from my SQN. Johann carried two radio mic receivers in a bag around his waist which was linked with short XLRs to the camera. Sound was also backed up on a Sound Devices 744T which was also very useful for making wildtracks while free of the camera.

*Ruth Fielding is not her real name.