EDC Gear Guides: Sound Devices 633 Recorder

Overview

The Sound Device 633 Recorder its a compact digital mixer that allows for multiple inputs. It is designed for production audio mixing and recording on set and in the field.

The EDC kit allows for 3 XLR inputs making it great for just a few microphones.

It has many advanced features, including timecode, Auto Mixing, Mix Assist, Internal Slate Microphone, and much more. Check out Sound Devices 633 Manual for more advanced instructions.

Table of Contents

• EDC Sound Devices 633 Recorder Component Guide
• Compatible SD Cards
• Quick Start Guide
• Troubleshooting
• Compatible EDC Accessories
• Tips & Tricks

EDC Sound Devices 633 Recorder Component Guide

Back to Top

Compatible SD Cards

• SDHC or SDXC Memory Card Type
• 1 UHS Speed Class
• 4 or 10 Speed Class
• 120 MB/s Write & Read speed

Capacity is dependent on how much you need to record. Luckily, audio files do not take up a lot of space, even the higher quality types. Many short films are able to use 32GB cards for their production. We recommend 32GB or 64GB cards. 

Recommended Cards

SanDisk 32GB Ultra UHS-I SDHC Memory Card

SanDisk 64GB Ultra UHS-I SDXC Memory Card

Back to Top

Quick Start Guide

• First Steps
• Operations & Recording Settings
• Connecting Microphones
• Recording & Playback

First Steps

You will need a SD Card (Not vended by the EDC)
&
a Sony NP-970 battery (Vended separately).

• Inserting an SD Card
  • Open the media door on the side of the recorder
                                                     
  • Gently insert the SD Card into it's slot.
                                                         
  • Close the media door
• Inserting a Battery (can take 2x NP-F970 batteries)
  • Line up the two holes on the bottom of the NP-F970 battery to the pins on the battery plate (located on the bottom of the recorder)
  • Press the battery against the battery plate and slide in gently until the battery clicks into to place.
                                                         
  • To remove the batteries, press in the circled tab and slide the batteries out. 
                                           
• Powering On
  • Toggle the power switch to the right of the LCD screen.
                                                         
• Inserting Headphones
  • Connect the 1/4" headphone adapter to the headphone cable.
  • Insert the adapter/headphones into the head phone port on the right side of the recorder (next to the Media Door).
                                                     

Back to Quick Start Guide

Operations & Recording Settings

• Selecting Headphone Source
  • Press the Headphone/file in dial to display the list of available sources. 
    
    
  •                                          
  • Turn the dial to scroll to your preferred source & press dial in to select.
    • LR ST is recommended for standard recording.
• Formatting an SD Card
  • • You MUST format your card to the 633 to correctly save files on your card. 
  • Press the Menu button
                                                     
  • Turn the headphone/file dial (circled below) to scroll to FILE STORAGE
    
                                                   
  • Press the dial in to select.
  • Turn the dial to  Erase/Format SD. Press in to select.
  • THIS WILL EREASE ALL CONTENT ON YOUR CARD.

Recording Settings 

• Selecting SD Card for file storage & Selecting file type (The default is Wav Poly)
  • Press the menu button.
  • Use the headphone/file dial to scroll to RECORDER & press dial in to select.
  • Scroll to RECORD TO SD.
  • Press dial in to choose a file type and track assignment for the SD Card
    • Options:
                                       
    • WAV Poly is the default. It will record all activated tracks.
  • Selecting WAV Bit Depth (if using WAV as your file format)
    • Use the headphone/file dial to scroll to RECORDER & press dial in to select.
    • Scroll to BIT DEPTH. Press dial in to select
    • Scroll to your preferred bit rate (16 or 24)
      • Use 24 for standard recording to give you more dynamic range.
    • Press dial in to select.
      
      
  • Changing MP3 Bit Rate (if using MP3 as your file format)
    • Press the menu button.
    • Use the headphone/file dial to scroll to RECORDER & press dial in to select.
    • Scroll to MP3 BIT RATE. Press dial in to select
    • Scroll to your preferred bit rate (128, 192,320 KBPS)- Use 320kpbs for best quality. 
    • Press in dial to select.
      
      
  • Setting Sample Rate (Default is 48 kHz)
    • Use the headphone/file dial to scroll to RECORDER & press dial in to select.
    • Scroll to SAMPLE RATE. Press dial in to select
    • Scroll to your preferred bit rate.
      • Standard Sample Rate is 48kHz - see chart below for more information
                     
    • Press in dial to select.

Back to Quick Start Guide

Connecting Microphones

• If using a shotgun microphone or wired lavalier, use an XLR cable to connect the shotgun microphone to the XLR/TRS jack(s) on the XLR inputs on the side of the recorder.
  • Line up the 3 pins on the XLR cable to the 3 holes in the XLR jack. Push in Gently until it clicks.
                                
                             XLR                       ->                       Recorder Inputs
• If using the AVX Wireless Lavalier kit, connect the receiver directly to the XLR jack. The receiver can rotate the pin section if needed.
  Line up the 3 pins on the receiver to the 3 holes in the XLR jack. Push in Gently until it clicks.                                  
                 RECEIVER                             ->                              Recorder Inputs

Back to Quick Start Guide

Recording & Playback

• Activating an Input/Channels 1-3
  • Make sure the Trim Control is pushed out.
    • If the Trim control for an Input is pushed down flat, push it in and it
      will pop out.
  • Twist the the Trim control clockwise until it clicks to activate the
    input. 
                                                               
    • To deactivate, turn the Trim control completely counter clockwise.
      
      
  • Selecting the Input Source to match your Microphone or Receiver
    • Find the number on the front that matches the number on your physical XLR input.
    • Above your Input number on the front, slide the small PFL switch left to access the Input Settings screen.
    • Press the headphone/file dial in to see your options
      • ◦ OFF – Use to deactivate an input without having to change trim.
        ◦ MIC – Use for dynamic microphones or mic-level sources.
        ◦ MIC-PH – Use for microphones requiring phantom power.
        ◦ LINE – Use for analog line level sources.
        ◦ LINE-PH – Use for phantom-powered condenser microphones.
        Provides 48V or 12V phantom power, but at a line-level gain
        range. Useful in high sound-pressure-level environments.
        ◦ AES42 – Use for digital AES42 (Mode 1) microphones.
        ◦ AES3 – Use for a digital AES3 source.
    • Turn the headphone to scroll to your needed setting based off your input.
      • Remember - Do NOT use PH (phantom power) on any microphone/receiver with a battery!!!
      • Only Chanels 1-3 will have all of these options!
        • 4-6 can only do OFF or LINE.
    • Press the dial in to select. 
      • trim first - for levels microphone signal
      • fader decides  level that is set with trim knob  - isolated channel effects 

Mixing

Adjusting the Trim

• Trim adjusts the sound's levels coming directly from the microphone. 
• Adjust first to a level that does not peak and is not too quiet. Monitor using the levels on the LCD screen to reach between -6 db and -12db.
• Turn the Trim control knob clockwise to increase the level.
• Turn the Trim control knob counter clockwise to decrease the level.
                                                         

Adjusting the Fader

• The Fader decides what level is recorded and sent to your headphones.
• Start at it at 0
• Adjust if you want a quieter sound or louder sound recorded. 
• Adjusting the fader to a louder sound may cause distortion.

Monitoring

• Main Metering Screen
  • Use this screen to track the levels for each input/channel

Recording & Playback

• Use the Transport Control circled below with the following functions to Record & Playback. 
                                               
  

Back to Quick Start Guide

Back to Top

Troubleshooting

Q: I am not getting any levels.

A: Adjust your trim & fader. If the microphone needs phantom power, turn it on in settings.

Q: The levels are high but I can't hear through the headphones.

A: Adjust the headphone volume by using the 🎧 dial - located below to the menu button.

OR
Change your Headphone Source to LR ST.

OR
Your headphone cable might not work. Contact the EDC for further assistance.

Back to Top

Compatible EDC Accessories

Access is dependent on class equipment allocations & availability 

•  Microphones
  • Sennheiser MKE-600
  • Sennheiser MKH-416
  • Sennheiser MKH 50
  • All Sanken Microphones
• Lavaliers
  • Sony Wired & Wireless Lavaliers
  • Sennheiser AVX Wireless Lavaliers
  • Sennheiser G3 Wireless Lavaliers
• Hand Microphones
  • EV RE50B Omnidirectional Handheld Microphone
  • Shure VP64A Omnidirectional Handheld Microphone
  • SM58-LC (Switchless) Handheld Microphone
  • SM58-S (On/Off Switch) Handheld Microphone
• Speciality / Other
  • Hydrophone
  • Comtek Wireless Audio Monitoring Kit

Back to Top

Tips & Tricks

• Always format your SD card to ensure the files are saved correctly.
• Always pay attention the the audio levels on the screen instead of using the headphones as a basis for monitoring audio.
• Be gentle when plugging in and releasing XLR connections. If you force it, it can break the jack and become stuck.
• Before you return the recorder, be sure to collect your SD card and batteries!

Back to Top