Sound Devices 722 Manual

722
High Resolution Digital Audio Recorder
User Guide and Technical Information
rev. 1.15
Sound Devices, LLC
300 Wengel Drive • Reedsburg, WI • USA
[phone] • fax: [phone]
Toll-Free: [phone]
www.sounddevices.com
1.8" HDD
2.5" HDD

Introduction
1
Quick Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Powering the Unit
Menu Navigation Basics
Connecting Audio Sources
Routing Inputs to Tracks
Recording Parameter Setup
Recording
Playback
FireWire File Transfer
Front Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
LCD Display Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Left Panel Connectors and Controls . . . . . . . . . . 11
Right Panel Connectors and Controls . . . . . . . . . 12
Back Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Input Setup and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Input Source Selection
Analog Inputs
Signal Presence and Peak Indicator
Digital Input – AES3
Digital Input – AES3id (S/PDIF)
Input Delay
Word Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Clock Master
Clock Slave
C. Link – Multi-Unit Linking
Input-to-Track Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Outputs – Analog and Digital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Analog Output Bus
Digital Output Bus
Headphone Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Choosing Headphone Sources
Setting Headphone Source Options
Multi-Function Controller (Encoder) Behavior
Headphone Favorite Selection
Headphone Playback Mode
Warning Tones
Metering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Output Meter
Meter Ballistics
Peak LEDs
Tone Oscillator
LCD Contrast & Backlight, LED Brightness
Sample Rate and Bit Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Sample Rates
Bit Depths
Audio File Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
WAV
MP3 – MPEG Layer 3
Recording and Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Recording
Playback
AutoPlay
Storage Medium – Internal Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Formatting
Drive Repair
Drive Type
Drive Failure
Drive Replacement
Storage Medium – Compact Flash . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
When to Use CF
Formatting
Testing
Drive Repair
Qualified CF Cards
File Naming / Numbering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Scene Numbers
Take Numbers
File Management and Copying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
File Finder Navigation
File Directory Screen
Setting/Clearing Flag Bits
Automatic Flag Clearing
Folders
File Time and Date
File Size Maximum
File Copying – Between Internal Drives
File Transfer – FireWire
Powering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery
External Powering
Charging
Firmware Upgrades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Version Information
Upgrade Process
Setup Menu Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Built-In Presets
User Setups
Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Connector Pin Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Power Consumption Variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Recording Time Calculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Uncompressed Recording Time in Track-Hours
MP3 Compressed Record Time in Hours
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Menu Navigation Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Warranty and Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Software License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Table of Contents

722 User Guide and Technical Information
2
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing the 722. The super-compact 722 records and plays back audio to and from
its internal hard drive or Compact Flash medium, making field recording simple and fast. It writes
and reads uncompressed PCM audio at 16 or 24 bits with sample rates between 32 kHz and 192 kHz.
Compressed (MP3) audio playback and recording are also supported.
The 722 implements a no-compromise audio path that includes Sound Devices’ next generation
microphone preamplifiers. Designed specifically for high bandwidth, high bit rate digital recording,
these preamps set a new standard for frequency response linearity, low distortion performance, and
low noise.
With documentary and ENG recording engineers in mind, the 722 is very small, while still being fea-
ture-rich. No other recorder on the market matches its size and feature set. In addition, its learning
curve is quite short—powerful does not mean complicated. While the 722 is a very capable recorder
by itself, it truly excels when used in conjunction with an outboard audio mixer such as Sound
Devices’ own 442 or 302.
Sound Devices took advantage of the best in professional and consumer electronics technologies to
bring incredible feature depth with ease of use. Its two recording media (hard drive and Compact
Flash) are highly reliable, industry standard, and easily obtainable. The removable, rechargeable bat-
tery is a standard Sony-compatible Li-ion camcorder cell. The 722 interconnects with Windows and
Mac OS computers for convenient data transfer and backup.
Copyright Notice and Release
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the expressed written permission of SOUND DEVICES,
LLC. SOUND DEVICES is not responsible for any use of this information.
SOUND DEVICES, LLC shall not be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses
incurred by purchaser or third parties as a result of: accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or
alterations to this product, or failure to strictly comply with SOUND DEVICES, LLC’s operating and installation instructions.
Microsoft Windows is registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer. Other
product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
The sound waves logo is a registered trademark of Sound Devices, LLC.

Quick Start Guide
3
Quick Start Guide
The 722 is an extremely powerful and flexible portable audio recorder. Before recording, familiarity
with the product is essential. Several settings should be verified or set based on individual recording
needs.
Powering the Unit
1. Apply power to the unit by connecting the (included) removable, rechargeable Li-ion (lithium ion) bat-
tery to the back panel battery mount. The metal tabs on the mount line up with the electrical contacts
on the battery. From the factory, the battery may not have a charge, so external DC may be needed for
initial operation and charging. Connect the included AC-to-DC power adapter to the DC input plug to
power and charge the removable Li-on battery.
2. Press and hold the power key (150 ms) to power up the unit. To power down the unit the power button
must be held for one second.
If this is the first time the recorder has been powered, or if it has been without a battery for an ex-
tended period, the date and time may need to be set.
Charge the included Li-ion battery for 6 hours prior to initial use.
Menu Navigation Basics
The setup menu provides options for recording, routing, and control parameters. The single layer
menu structure allows for very quick navigation and selection of functions. To enter the setup menu
press the front panel key. Once in the setup menu, the following conventions are shared for
navigating among selections and to select specific parameters.
• - enters setup menu
• item- highlighted menu item
• ✔- selects highlighted item or parameter
• - moves up in menu and between menu parameters
• - moves down in menu and between menu parameters
• ✘- exits the selected menu or menu altogether
• The stop key will exit from any menu and cancel any changes. Use it to escape out of the
setup menus.
The right panel Multi-Function Controller (labeled “Select”) is a convenient control to quickly navi-
gate among menu items and item options. Its push-to-select function duplicates the check mark in most
menus.
Connecting Audio Sources
1. Connect audio sources, either analog or digital, to the input connectors.
2. Set the appropriate input type and level—analog mic, analog line, or digital—with the adjacent slide
switch.
3. If mic-level inputs are used on XLR 1 or XLR 2, make certain that phantom power, input limiters, and
high-pass filters are activated, as required.

722 User Guide and Technical Information
4
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
Routing Inputs to Tracks
Before recording, inputs must be assigned to tracks. Each of the 722’s two inputs can be assigned to
the two tracks (A, B). Sixteen possible routing combinations are shown on the front panel with four
blue LEDs. Illuminated LEDs indicate input-to-track assignment.
1. Press the input key to cycle through factory routing presets. The 722 has four often-used presets
for quick setup of input-to-track routing combinations. Note the routing combinations on the blue LEDs
with each successive press.
2. If none of the preset routing combinations are suitable, assign a custom routing. Sequential presses of
the input key will eventually cycle to the custom routing option (see Input to Track Routing, pg. 18).
From the custom input routing menu any input can be assigned to any track, including multiple inputs
assigned to a single track.
3. Press Exit to leave input routing mode.
If no input is assigned to a track the 722 will not enter recording mode.
Recording Parameter Setup
For most productions, the general recording parameters of sample rate, bit depth, media selection,
and file format are changed infrequently. Enter the setup menu to verify recording settings. Sample
rate and bit depth are displayed on the LCD panel.
1. Select the bit depth as needed.
2. Set the sample rate as needed.
3. Select the file format for recorded files.
4. Select the storage medium (internal hard drive, Compact Flash, or both) for recording.
Recording
Now that file basics are set, you are ready to begin recording. The 722 is a record-priority box. Press-
ing the record key cancels all functions—except file operations—and immediately starts recording
a new file. When record is pressed, the red record LED illuminates to confirm record mode. The
filename in the LCD display shows the currently recorded file. Push the stop (150 ms) key to
end recording.
Playback
When recording is stopped, the most recently recorded file is immediately available for playback.
Press the key to begin file playback from the beginning of the file.
To select a file for playback:
1. Press and hold the key to select the folder (directory) for playback, either internal hard drive or
Compact Flash. The default playback directory is the volume being recorded.
2. Use the Multi-Function Controller, or the arrow soft-keys, to navigate through the file directory.
3. Once a file is highlighted, press the play key to begin playback.
When playback has finished, the filename will begin flashing. Use the fast-forward key or
rewind key to step through files in the folder, or press the stop key to exit playback mode.
FireWire File Transfer
When connected via FireWire (IEEE-1394a) to a Mac OS or Windows OS computer (see Specifications
for computer requirements), the internal hard drive and connected Compact Flash storage mediums are

Quick Start Guide
5
mounted onto the computer as “letter” accessible drives. Use the appropriate FireWire cable, either
6-pin to 4-pin or 6-pin to 6-pin, for interconnection. Files on the 722 can be treated as if they are local
files, including renaming files, copying, and playing directly from the 722 storage medium. No driv-
ers are required with operating systems meeting the specifications.
In general, it is good practice to copy all needed audio files from the 722 to a computer before any process-
ing is performed on the files.
To connect the 722 for FireWire transfer:
1. Stop all playback and recording activity.
2. Make certain the 722 battery is fully charged, or connect to external DC.
3. Connect the 722 to the host computer with a FireWire cable.
4. The 722 will enter FireWire transfer, indicated by COMPUTER CONNECTION in the LCD display. All func-
tions of the 722 are stopped while the 722 is connected to a computer through FireWire.
5. Navigate the drives on the computer and copy all needed audio files to the computer.
To avoid possible directory corruption on the 722 internal media, do not interrupt the connection process
during transfer and always properly dismount the drives from the operating system. On Mac OS plat-
forms, drag the drive icons to the trash. On Windows platforms, use the “Disconnect External Media”
icon in the system tray.

722 User Guide and Technical Information
6
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
1) Digital Input LEDs
Indicates the presence of digital signal
on the respective input. When flashing,
indicates that digital input is selected
but no valid digital clock signal is pres-
ent.
2) Input 1 Gain
Controls the analog gain (input trim) of
the channel 1 input. Normal mic input
range is from 25 dB to 70 dB, low gain
mic range is from 10 dB to 55 dB, line
input range is from −6 dB to 18 dB. For
line-level inputs, this control can be
defeated and gain can be setup menu-
controlled. If the LCD display shows
“locked” when the pot is turned, gain
control of the line-level input is menu-
controlled. When inputs are linked as
a stereo pair, Input 1 Gain controls the
gain of both inputs.
3) Input 2 Gain
Controls input 2 gain, as in #2 above.
When inputs are linked as a stereo pair,
Input 2 Gain controls left-to-right bal-
ance.
4) MENU Key
Used to access all 722 setup menu selec-
tions. When in menu mode, used to
move up through the menu selections.
5) LCD Display
Primary display of 722 status. The LCD
is backlit using the LCD backlight con-
trol (#15).
6) Tone Oscillator Key
Used to activate the tone oscillator. Tone
frequency, tone level, and routing are
controlled in the setup menu. Press and
hold to activate.
7) Input-to-Track Matrix LEDs
Blue LEDs indicate inputs (1 and 2)
enabled for recording to tracks (A and
B). A solid blue LED indicates an input
is routed to a track. A flashing LED dur-
ing “custom” routing mode shows the
selected input/track combination.
8) INPUT Select Key
Used to cycle through the four factory
preset input-to-track routing combina-
tions plus the custom routing menu. In
the custom routing menu any input can
be routed to any track. See Input-to-Track
Routing, page 18.
9) Level Meter LEDs
Two, 19-segment track level-meters indi-
cate level in dBFS. Metering ballistics are
selected in the setup menu.
Front Panel Descriptions
All settings of the 722 can be accessed and monitored through the front panel LCD and navigation
keys. This allows the unit to be placed in a production bag along with field mixers and wireless
transmitters and receivers.
142021222324
26
27
28
29
5 6
1516171819
25
4
21 10
13
7 8 93
12
11

Hardware Descriptions
7
10) Power Key
Used to power up and power down the
722. When off, press and hold (150 ms)
to power. When on, press and hold (1
second) to power down.
11) Charge LED
Indicates the status of the onboard
battery charger. Flashes when exter-
nal power is connected and battery is
charging; solid when battery is fully
charged.
12) Power LED
Indicates that the 722 is powered and
available for operation. Flashes when
the removable battery or external DC is
in a low-voltage state.
13) Record Key
Used to start recording. The 722 is a
record-priority device, pressing this key
activates recording and discontinues all
other functions, except file operations.
Pressing key while recording can set a
cue marker or start a new file, as select-
ed in the setup menu.
14) Stop/Pause Key
Press (hold for 150 ms) to stop
recording.
In playback mode, a single press pauses
playback (play-pause), allowing audio
scrubbing with the FF and REW keys.
Another press of the key enters play-
stop mode where the FF and REW keys
select files for playback from the current
directory. One more press of the key
exits playback mode. In the setup menu
the stop key is also used exit from any
menu, returning to the main display.
15) LCD Backlight Key
Toggles LCD and key backlighting. Hold
down and turn the Multi-Function Con-
troller to vary the brightness of LEDs. In
menu mode, functions as the cancel key.
16) Fast Forward Key
Performs fast-forward (FF) scrubbing
through the played file when pressed in
playback and play-pause mode. Play-
pause indicated by flashing A-time on
LCD. Fast forward rate increases the lon-
ger the key is held. In play-stop mode
(indicated by flashing filename on LCD)
selects the next file in the record folder
(either daily folder or main folder).
17) Play Key
Plays back the file displayed in the LCD.
If pressed immediately after recording is
stopped, the most recently recorded file
is played back.
18) Rewind Key
Performs reverse (REW) scrubbing
through the played file when pressed in
playback and play-pause mode. Play-
pause indicated by flashing A-time on
LCD. Reverse playback rate increases
the longer the key is held. In play-stop
mode (indicated by flashing filename
on LCD) selects the previous file in the
record folder (either daily folder or main
folder).
19) HDD Key
Press to enter the directory listing of the
selected storage medium (either internal
hard drive or CF). Selected medium is
shown in white type. Press-and-hold to
toggle between available mediums. If
only one media is present, press-and-
hold is disabled.
Pressing simultaneously with MENU
opens the time code jam menu.
20) Headphone Output Peak LED
Indicates overload of the headphone
amplifier. When lit, the headphone cir-
cuit is overloading. Reduce headphone
level.
21) LIM LED
Indicates that the microphone input
limiters are engaged. This LED does not
show input limiting activity (see descrip-
tor #27, Microphone Input Limiter LEDs).

722 User Guide and Technical Information
8
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
22) Link LED
Indicates that channels 1 and 2 are
linked as a stereo pair. In link mode the
channel 1 potentiometer controls gain,
channel 2 potentiometer controls left-
to-right balance. Inputs can be linked as
either a stereo L/R pair or as a a Mid-
Side (MS) pair.
23) Media Ready LEDs
Indicates storage media is present and
available to record; IN (internal hard
drive), CF (Compact Flash), EX (exter-
nal Firewire device) [EX not available in
firmware version 1.x]. Flashing indicates
media problem.
24) Media Activity LEDs
Indicates storage media read/write
activity. IN (internal hard drive), CF
(Compact Flash), EX (external Firewire
device) [EX not available in firmware ver-
sion 1.x].
25) High-Pass Filter LEDs (mic-level only)
Indicates that the high-pass (low-cut)
filter is active for the individual channel.
26) Phantom Power LEDs
Indicates phantom power (48 V) is ac-
tive for the individual channel.
27) Microphone Input Limiter LEDs
Illuminates orange when limiting is
occurring on the microphone input. If
constantly lit, the microphone input is
being “hit” with too high of a signal.
Turn down the input sensitivity until
limiting occurs infrequently.
28) Input Signal Presence LEDs
Indicates presence of analog or digital
signal and its relative level on each of
the four inputs.
29) Input Peak (Overload) LED
Indicates analog signal is approaching
clipping (–3 dBFS) on each of the four
inputs.

Hardware Descriptions
9
1) Battery Level Indicator
Shows the voltage level of the remov-
able rechargeable battery or external
power sources. External power over-
rides internal power when present.
Graphical bar for relative level and
numeric indicator for precise voltage
measurement.
2) File Name Display
Shows file name actively being recorded
or played back. In playback-stop mode,
flashing file name indicates that the fast-
forward and rewind keys can be used to
step through files in the current play-
back directory.
3) Absolute Time (A-time) Display
Shows the elapsed time of the file being
recorded or played back. Flashes in
playback pause mode. In this mode the
FF/REW keys will scrub through an
open audio file.
4) Time & Date Display
Alternating display between the set date
and time of the 722. This information is
written as the creation date for gener-
ated audio files.
5) Bit Depth Indicator
Shows the set record bit depth. In play-
back, shows the file bit depth.
6) Sample Rate Indicator
Shows the set record sample rate. In
playback, shows the file sample rate.
7) Headphone Source Display
Indicates the source for headphone out-
put. Sources and selection order are user
selectable in the setup menus.
8) External Media Space Status
(space remaining/record ready)
Not available on version 1.x firmware. Bar
graph indicates amount of record time
remaining on the external FireWire vol-
ume. Numbers show time in hours and
minutes based on the presently selected
number of record tracks, sample fre-
quency, bit rate, and file type.
9) Internal Hard Drive Status
(space remaining/record ready)
Bar graph indicates amount of record
time remaining on the internal hard
drive. Numbers show time in hours and
minutes based on the presently selected
of number of record tracks, sample fre-
quency, bit rate, and file type.
LCD Display Descriptions
1
8 7
6
5
4
2 3
9
10
11
12

722 User Guide and Technical Information
10
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
10) Compact Flash Status
(space remaining/record ready)
Bar graph indicates amount of record
time remaining on the Compact Flash
media. Numbers show time in hours
and minutes based on the presently se-
lected number of record tracks, sample
frequency, bit rate, and file type.
For all three media types, an asterisk in front
of the media descriptor indicates that the me-
dia is selected for record. Highlighted media
descriptor indicates media selected for record
monitoring, playback or file directory display.
11) Input 1/2 Level
When control knobs are adjusted, indi-
cates the gain level in dB for each analog
input gain control. Top display is input
1, bottom display is input 2. Normal mic
input gain range is from 26 dB to 70 dB,
low gain mic range is from 10 dB to 50
dB, line input range is from −6 dB to 18
dB. “LOCKED” will be displayed on the
LCD when the pot is turned with digital
inputs, and with line inputs with menu
control.
12) External Digital Clock Indicator
The 722 is locked to a valid external
digital or word clock source when the L
is in the display.
Cue Marker Display (not shown)
In record mode, indicates when cue
markers are set. Markers set by pressing
the record key (option must be selected
in setup menu). In playback mode, dis-
plays cue points numerically as they are
reached in a file.

Hardware Descriptions
11
1) XLR Input 1/AES3 Input 1&2
Dual function input connection. Input
type set with switch (see #3). Active-bal-
anced analog microphone- or line-level
input for input 1. Transformer-balanced
two-channel AES3 input (1 and 2).
2) XLR Input 2
Same as Input 1 above for analog sig-
nals. Input type set with switch above.
Active-balanced analog microphone- or
line-level input for input 2.
3) Mic-Line-AES3 Input Switch 1
Selects the input level and mode of the
input XLR 1 connector.
4) Mic-Line Input Switch 2
Selects the input level, mic- or line-level
of input XLR 2. NOTE: there are two re-
dundant switch positions for line-level.
5) TA3 Master (L/R) Analog Outputs
Active-balanced, line-level analog L/R
outputs for the Master Analog Out-
puts. Program source and attenuation
level are user selectable. Pin-1 ground,
pin-2 (+), pin-3 (–).
6) Headphone Output
3.5 mm TRS stereo headphone connec-
tor. Can drive headphones from 8 to
1000 ohm impedances to required levels.
Tip left, ring right, sleeve ground.
7) Headphone Volume
Adjusts the headphone volume. NOTE:
the 722 is capable of producing ear-dam-
aging levels in headphones.
8) Tape Output
Unbalanced tape (–10 dBv nominal)
output on 3.5 mm TRS stereo connector.
Signal source is identical to the Master
Output Bus. Tip left, ring right, sleeve
ground.
Left Panel Connectors and Controls
1 8 7
6
5
4
2
3

722 User Guide and Technical Information
12
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
1) AES3id Input
Unbalanced digital input accepta two
channel AES3 (or S/PDIF) on BNC con-
nectors. Supports sample rates up to 200
kHz.
2) FireWire (IEEE-1394) Port
Connection to a computer to access the
internal hard drive and Compact Flash
volumes as mass storage devices. Direct
connection to Mac OS (10.2+) and Win-
dows (XP- and 2000-only) computers.
3) C. Link In/Out Ports
RS-232 protocol interface on 6-pin
modular (“RJ-12”) connector for linking
multiple 722’s together. Word clock and
machine transport are over C. Link.
4) External DC In
Accepts sources of 10–18 volts DC for
unit powering and removable Li-on
battery charging. The Hirose 4-pin con-
nector is wired pin-1 negative (−), pin-4
positive (+). Pin-2 (−) and pin-3 (+) are
used to charge the removable Li-on
battery. DC ground at both pins-2 and
3 is at the same potential as chassis and
signal ground.
5) Word Clock Input and Out
Provides clock input and output for the
722. Word input accepts sample rates
between 32 kHz and 192 kHz. Word
clock output is the rate that box is run-
ning. There is no sample rate conversion
utility in the 722.
6) AES3id Output Bus 2
Unbalanced digital output, two-channel,
for Output Bus 2. Signal source is menu-
selected.
7) Multi-Function Controller
When in the setup menu, the controller
scrolls between menu selections; push
enters selection or enters data. In record
and playback modes, selects headphone
monitor source; push action user select-
able.
Right Panel Connectors and Controls
1
7 6 5 4
3
2

Hardware Descriptions
13
1) Security Slot
Compatible with the Kensington®Secu-
rity Slot specification. Useful for secur-
ing the recorder to a fixed object with a
compatible computer lock.
2) Compact Flash Slot
Accepts Compact Flash medium with
the label-side up. Compatible with Type
I, Type II, and MicroDrives.
3) Battery Mount
Accepts Sony®InfoLithium L- or M-Se-
ries removable rechargeable batteries,
or batteries conforming to this mount.
Numerous capacities, from 1500 mAh to
6000 mAh are accommodated.
Back Panel Descriptions
1 32

722 User Guide and Technical Information
14
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
Input Setup and Control
The 722 has two inputs and two record tracks. Inputs are selectable between analog or digital sourc-
es. Analog inputs are connected with the balanced XLR connectors; digital inputs can be connected
to either XLR Input 1 (AES3) or the BNC input (AES3id).
Input Source Selection
Input types are selected in pairs. Each input pair accepts analog or digital audio. The XLR input
signal is selected with slide switch above the connector.
Manually selecting the audio source is used to force the inputs to analog while using an AES3 or
AES3id input to lock the 722 to an external sample rate.
Digital sources connected to AES3id BNC inputs override analog signals on the corresponding XLR
input. The BNC input signal type is set in the menu settings Input 1,2: Source. For most situations
the appropriate setting is auto select—the 722 will choose the input type based on signal present.
The 722 is capable of off-speed sample rates when clocked from either external digital inputs or the
word clock input.
Input sources can be set to “disabled (power save)”. This option shuts down all circuitry associated
with the inputs to reduce power draw and extend battery runtime during playback. When an input
pair is disabled, the digital input LEDs associated with the pair will flash.
Analog Inputs
Analog inputs on XLR connectors, are the primary connection into the recorder. These inputs accept
balanced or unbalanced mic- or line-level signals. Gain control for mic inputs 1 and 2 is adjusted
solely by the front panel push knobs. Gain for the line-level inputs can be controlled by the front
panel potentiometers or via menu settings. Line input gain is controlled in 0.1 dB steps.
A digital input present on the BNC inputs will override an analog signal present on the XLR inputs un-
less the input source is set to analog in the setup menu.
In the setup menu, the following functions can be controlled for analog inputs 1 and 2:
Phantom Power (mic- and line-level inputs)
Phantom power (48 volts) can be activated for analog inputs. When active, phantom is indicated by
the illuminated front panel LEDs ( ).
Phantom power can be applied to both mic- and line-level inputs. Using the line-level input setting with
microphones is useful in extreme SPL environments such as concert recording. Make certain to turn off
phantom power with line level output devices susceptible to damage from DC.
Shortcut: To toggle phantom power without entering the menus, press and hold the tone key then
press the menu key for channel 1. Channel 2 phantom can be toggled by pressing the tone key then
pressing the HDD key. If the inputs are in line level mode, phantom power will not activate from the
shortcut keys and must be activated from the menus.
Input Limiters (mic-level only)
Microphone inputs 1 and 2 each have a limiter circuit designed to prevent input overload. In normal
operation, with proper gain settings, the limiters should rarely engage. When activated, these limit-
ers will prevent unusually high input signal levels from clipping the analog input stage of the pre-

Input Setup and Control
15
amp. The front panel LIM LED ( ) shows that the limiter is engaged. Limiter activity is indicated
by additional front panel LEDs, one for each input channel ( ). The input limiters activate only
with mic-level inputs. The limiters are engaged by (factory) default.
When limiters are engaged, audio on channels 1 and 2 is limited to −6 dBFS.
Microphone-Level Control
Microphone gain is controlled by the recessed front-panel knobs. The gain control adjusts an analog
gain stage and is identical to the input trim on a mixing console or stand-alone microphone pream-
plifier.
Even with the gain controls fully counter-clockwise, there is gain, and consequently audio passing
through the recorder. The front panel gain controls do not function as faders.
Line-Level Gain Control
When in line-level position, the gain for inputs 1 and 2 is controlled by the recessed front panel
knobs or by a menu sensitivity setting. When set for front panel control, the user menu selection for
input 1 and 2 line input sensitivity are lined out and not accessible.
Input Linking (analog)
Analog inputs 1 and 2 can be linked as a stereo pair. When linked, the channel 1 front panel potenti-
ometer controls the signal level of both inputs, and the channel 2 pot controls the left-to-right balance
of the pair. Input gain is calibrated to match from input to input.When inputs are linked, their peak
limiters are linked, as well.
When set as an MS (mid-side) pair, the inputs gain and balance for the pair work the same as stereo
linking.
High-Pass Filters (microphone-level only)
The high-pass filters on the microphone inputs use a combination of analog and digital filters to
reduce sensitivity to low frequency signals. When the high-pass is engaged on an input, its blue
front-panel LED illuminates to indicate it is active ( ). The first pole of the high-pass circuit is an
analog filter at 40 Hz, 6 dB per octave and is part of the microphone preamplifier circuit. Additional
poles of high-pass filtering are done in DSP.
Several frequency and slope combinations are selectable, including corner frequencies of 40, 80, 160,
or 240 Hz, and filter slopes of 12 dB, 18 dB, or 24 dB per octave. The high-pass is selected for each
input independently.
Shortcut: The filters can be toggled with a two-key combination. Press and hold the LCD back-
light key and press the menu key for channel 1 high-pass. Press and hold the LCD backlight
key and press the HDD key to toggle channel 2 high-pass.
Gain Range (microphone-level only)
The microphone inputs operate in two gain ranges, normal and low. The normal range is from 25 dB
to 70 dB of gain. The low range is from 10 dB to 55 dB. The low range is useful for high SPL record-
ing environments.
Signal Presence and Peak Indicator
The signal presence and peak indicators show audio activity before input-to-track routing. In-
put signal presence LED’s illuminate when a –50 dBFS or greater signal is present. Input signal peak
LEDs illuminate when signal levels reach –3 dBFS or greater.

722 User Guide and Technical Information
16
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
Digital Input – AES3
The 722 accepts AES3 (AES/EBU) balanced digital at the input 1 XLR connector. Digital input is two-
channel—AES3 signals on XLR-1 appear at inputs 1 and 2. To use the AES3 input, the input mode-se-
lect switch must be set to AES/EBU. There is no level control for AES inputs.
The front panel digital input LEDs illuminate when digital signal is selected as input. If the
LED is flashing, digital input is selected but a no valid digital clock is being received.
Digital Input – AES3id (S/PDIF)
The 722 accepts AES3id and S/PDIF unbalanced digital signals on the BNC connector. The 722 will
auto detect the type of digital signal and adjust accordingly. Like AES3 signals, this is two channel
input. There is no level control for AES3id inputs.
AES3id inputs override analog signals present at the XLR inputs. To use analog sources while using
the AES3id signal as a digital clock source, select analog in the input source menu selection.
When a digital signal is present, the 722 locks its sample rate to its source frequency. This lock is indi-
cated by a highlighted block on the main LCD display to the right of the bit depth and sample rate
indicators. Recording bit depth is independent of the external digital source.
When locking the 722 to an external digital signal, be certain the source is stable. Loss of digital
signal will cause the 722 to revert to its internally set sample rate, even while recording. The portion
of the file recorded after the loss of signal may not play back properly. Once recording has begun,
unused digital inputs are muted, digital signals that appear on them after the record key has been
pressed will not be recorded or affect the sample rate of the 722.
The 722 clocks itself to the first digital signal presented to it. If the 722 detects a digital signal on the
BNC inputs and locks to that signal, a digital signal applied to the XLR input will be ignored until the
first digital signal is removed.
Input Delay
A digital delay is selectable on each channel of the 722 in one microsecond (µS) steps. 1,000 microsec-
onds equals 1 millisecond (ms). The Multi-Function Controller and menu arrows are accelerated. The
more you press or spin, the faster the delay setting will increment or decrement. Delay is not set until
enter is pressed. The amount of delay available is dependent on the sampling frequency in use.
Sample Frequency Maximum Amount of Delay Available (per input)
32, 44.1, 48, 48.048 kHz 30,000 µS
88.2, 96, 96.096 kHz 15,000 µS
176.4, 192 kHz 7,500 µS
Input delay can be useful for time-aligning input signals from differing sources. For example, digital
wireless mics that have a processing delay in their outputs. In addition, all digital conversion stages
have delay.
Word Clock
Stable word clock is fundamental to high quality a digital audio signal. The 722 uses a highly-stable
crystal to generate its internal word clock frequencies. The 722 can clock external devices from its

Word Clock
17
word clock and accept external clock sources for recording. The 722 ignores external clock, both AES
and word clock, during playback.
Clock Master
When sending digital audio to several devices, one unit is designated as the word clock master and
the others as slaves. Generally, the device with the analog-to-digital converter is designated as the
word clock master.
The 722 can function as an A/D converter and can be used as the master word clock source. Slaved
devices will derive their word clock timing from either their digital audio inputs, S/PDIF or AES/
EBU, or through their word clock input connection. As a word clock master the 722 generates word
clock whether or not audio is sent.
Clock Slave
When using an external digital preamplifier connected to the 722 inputs, the recorder can derive its
clock signal from the AES (S/PDIF) stream (it will slave to the external device), or the external device
can be slaved from the 722 (if the external device has word clock input or accepts clock from the
722’s digital output). If, for example, you are using a wireless receiver with a digital output, it may
not have an external word clock input, and will be the word clock master.
If digital audio is connected to the 722 from more than one digital device, you must word clock the
sources to the same clock, otherwise variations between the sources will render their signals unus-
able.
If the 722 is slaved to external word clock, be certain that the source is stable. Loss of the word clock
signal during recording can cause the 722 to revert back to its internally set sampling frequency. If
this occurs, the portion of the file recorded after the loss of word clock may not play back at the prop-
er speed. For reliability, set the 722 to the same sample frequency as the word clock source. Loss of
the word clock signal in this case will likely cause a glitch in the file, but the file may still be usable.
C. Link – Multi-Unit Linking
The proprietary C. Link (control link) connection allows multiple 722’s and 744T recorders to be con-
nected and clocked together. When linked, the 722 units have a master/slave relationship. When the
master recorder enteres record, the slave unit will roll, as well. Multiple units can be daisy-chained
together to record many tracks. The C. Link protocol links carries the following data:
• word clock
• time code information (744T only)
• RS-232 machine transport data
master
unit
slave
unit
slave
unit
To link units:
1. Connect multiple units as shown in the illustration.
2. Set all linked recorders to the same sample rate, bit depth, file format, and time code frame rate (for
744T units used). This will ensure that all files generated are compatible.

722 User Guide and Technical Information
18
firmware v. 1.15 Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
3. Set scene and take numbers on all linked recorders to the same starting file name. There is no file name
synchronization with multiple unit linking.
When linked, record start and stop on slave units will not affect units “above” it in the linked chain.
This makes it possible for units to get out of synchronization if a unit other than the master is set to
record or stop. Using the master unit will assure that all machines begin and end recording together.
The C. Link jack is a proprietary RS-232 port. Under no circumstances should analog or digi-
tal telephone lines be connected to either jack. Serious damage could result.
Input-to-Track Routing
The 722 uses a simple, yet powerful routing scheme. The routing matrix allows each input to be
routed to any track. Inputs can be routed to a single track to create mono-mixed recordings.
The 2 by 2 blue LED matrix makes it easy to check the set routing at a glance. A solid blue LED indi-
cates an input is assigned to a record track.
inputs can be routed
to tracks in any of
sixteen possible
combinations
Regardless of which tracks are assigned for recording, monophonic file numbering always starts with 1,
i.e., if only track B is selected for recording in a monophonic .WAV file, the resulting filename will have a
_1 suffix, not _2.
Use the Input:Routing selection in the menu to enter input select mode. Alternatively, press the
input key to cycle through the six preset input routing combinations.
The last selection in the list is Custom Route. Press the EDIT soft key to enter custom routing mode.
Custom routing allows any input to be assigned to any record track. When assigning customer rout-
ing, active input and track combination are displayed in white text. The four inputs are shown on the
left; the four record tracks are shown on the right.
To assign custom input routing:
1. Press the input key until Input Routing is displayed in the LCD display.
arrow indicates high-
lighted input is assigned
to highlighted track
select to exit menu and
apply selected routing
select to remove
input assignment
selet to move up
and down menu
2. Press the EDIT soft button ( ) and scroll to the appropriate input screen.