At IBC 2008, Sound Devices (Booth 8.E84) will introduce the CL-8 Controller for the 788T Digital Recorder. The CL-8 is a mixing control surface companion to the company’s new 788T recorder which provides additional capabilities to the 788T without a significant increase in weight, making it adaptable to a variety of field productions.

The CL-8 features eight large, rotary faders to control the eight inputs of the 788T. It offers command over numerous input settings, including high-pass filter, limiter, polarity, and mute. When used with the CL-8, the original 788T input controls function as input trims, and the CL-8 controls offer fader control. To ensure accurate and clear marking of tracks, the CL-8 is able to manage the 788T’s built-in slate mic. For rapid setups in the field, the CL-8 allows users to quickly assign inputs to the main left and right record tracks. With a push of the input knob, users also have the ability to solo an input in headphones so they can concentrate on a specific track within their recording.

With the CL-8 users now have access to two additional recording tracks (Aux 1 and Aux 2) through the CL-8’s associated firmware, for a total of 10 record tracks. These new tracks can be used to provide auxiliary sends for more comprehensive setups. Inputs can be assigned to Aux tracks pre- or post-fader. LED’s indicate when signals are present. The CL-8 can be connected to a keyboard through the controller’s USB keyboard pass-through port.

“The CL-8 adds powerful mixer functionality to the 788T,” says Matt Anderson, director of engineering for Sound Devices. “With its small addition of weight and size, the CL-8 turns a 788T into a very flexible eight-channel recording and mixing environment for both portable ‘bag’ systems as well as cart-based productions.”