Heat-Resistant Audio Recorder Delivers
A recent project for videogame developer UCool required a hidden-camera setup that would capture people's reactions to a large Plexiglas exhibit featuring iPhone 6s displaying video game characters. The twist was that the interior of the exhibit would often reach temperatures upwards of 200 degrees Fahrenheit, posing unique challenges for the audio team.
Sound mixer Philip Perkins was brought on board to manage the audio elements and chose to use two Sound Devices 744T digital recorders - one placed inside the box and the other kept with him in a nearby location. The setup proved to be a wise decision, as the 744Ts performed flawlessly despite the extreme heat.
Perkins used the internal preamps of the 744Ts to capture audio from two Sonotrim mics rigged in bespoke mounts on the interior of the exhibit. He then recorded those channels on the second 744T and created a mono mix for the director and client, stationed in an RV parked away from the UCool setup.
Reliability Under Fire
The GoPro camera being used for video capture would frequently die once it got too hot, but the 744Ts continued to roll without issue. Perkins notes that even when the internal temperature of the recorder reached a scorching 200 degrees Fahrenheit, it remained operational.
'The GoPro would frequently die once it got too hot,' Perkins explains. 'Two-hundred degrees Fahrenheit seemed to be its approximate cut-off temp. When we'd open up the box to cool off the GoPro, the 744T was always still rolling, even though it was way too hot to touch.'
A Testament to Reliability
The success of the project is a testament to the reliability and longevity of the Sound Devices 744T. Perkins' unit has been in use for over 10 years and still features its original PATA drive, demonstrating the recorder's ability to withstand the rigors of on-location shooting.