NAB: Sound Devices previewed its next release of firmware for the 7-Series family of file-based digital recorders. This new firmware adds several important new features to the recorders, including lossless audio compression, MP3 recording, and multi-unit linking enhancements.

“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.