Anyone know what the actual difference is between the MDR and SDR models of HD recorders? The SDR isn't even on the Mackie website yet, but some stores are apparently selling it at the same price as the MDR (approx. $2000).
The SDR is still vaporware at this point (though I understand there was a working prototype at NAMM). From what I've been able to glean, it is built around a different hardware platform than the HDR/MDR series. It has USB instead of ethernet (slower, but presumably easier to deal with) for back-ups. There's no floppy drive (I guess USB will handle OS upgrades) and no I/O expansion slots, so you can use the analog or ADAT I/O only (no AES/EBU or TDIF). There's a Sony 9 pin port as well as MIDI and SMPTE for sync. I don't recall seeing anything about wordclock, but I could be wrong. By the time it is actually in production & shipping, there could be changes - the PDF they were distributing at NAMM time didn't even mention USB, evidently a late add-on.
The MDR, being an actual shipping product, is a known quantity. You can get all the info from Mackie's website, as well as users' perspectives on their Hard Disk Recorder forum.
The SDR is still vaporware at this point (though I understand th
The SDR is still vaporware at this point (though I understand there was a working prototype at NAMM). From what I've been able to glean, it is built around a different hardware platform than the HDR/MDR series. It has USB instead of ethernet (slower, but presumably easier to deal with) for back-ups. There's no floppy drive (I guess USB will handle OS upgrades) and no I/O expansion slots, so you can use the analog or ADAT I/O only (no AES/EBU or TDIF). There's a Sony 9 pin port as well as MIDI and SMPTE for sync. I don't recall seeing anything about wordclock, but I could be wrong. By the time it is actually in production & shipping, there could be changes - the PDF they were distributing at NAMM time didn't even mention USB, evidently a late add-on.
The MDR, being an actual shipping product, is a known quantity. You can get all the info from Mackie's website, as well as users' perspectives on their Hard Disk Recorder forum.
Scott