Hydrogenaudio Forums > FLAC recording support in new Sound Devices Firmware

Full Version: FLAC recording support in new Sound Devices Firmware

Hydrogenaudio Forums > Lossless Audio Compression > FLAC

rdvdijk

Apr 7 2007, 03:23

Got this from:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=82484.0

QUOTE

Sound Devices is located in the North Hall, booth, N9314.
New 7-Series Firmware to Preview at NAB

Sound Devices will be previewing the next release of firmware for its 7-Series recorders. Included in this release are several powerful new functions.

Lossless Audio Compression

No matter how large a storage volume, data compression can be a useful tool. This is especially true when recording to CompactFlash storage cards. Sound Devices will be previewing its next revision of firmware containing lossless audio compression. Based on the Open Source FLAC encoding algorithm, 7-Series recorders (702, 702T, 722, and 744T) gain the ability to record data-compressed audio to local storage while maintaining all file metadata. A companion PC software utility will allow for extraction of files back to industry-standard Broadcast Wave files. Compression ratios are program-dependent, though rates between 2:1 and 3:1 compression are common.

goodnews

Apr 7 2007, 05:55

Here is a link to the 4 devices made by Sound Devices (Digital Recorders) that are said to support FLAC via firmware for recording:

http://www.sounddevices.com/products/index.html

Here is more for their Press Releases about their use of FLAC. They appear to have extended FLAC (tags?) to save Broadcast Wave data for later conversion back to Broadcast Wave via their Software:

http://www.sounddevices.com/news/badger.htm

Quote for above press release:

"Our 7-Series recorders continue to gain new, important features through our no-charge firmware updates," says Jon Tatooles, Managing Director. He adds, "We are especially excited for customers to explore recording data-compressed files using our on-board FLAC encoder and PC software decompression tool. FLAC greatly enhances CF cards as an effective interchange medium."

FLAC is an Open Source encoding algorithm used to data-compress sound files. No audio information is lost while compressing files more than 50%. Sound Devices developed a method to extend the protocol in order to keep all Broadcast Wave and iXML metadata intact upon decompression.

Maurits

Apr 7 2007, 08:28

It is a bit too specialist for me but I believe this topic mentions these extensions:

Peer-review of FLAC metadata format additions, AIFF RIFF/WAVE chunk preservation

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