The Mighty and Mini 633: Why Sound Devices Still Rules the Roost for Location Sound

When you're out in the field, every ounce matters, but so does reliability and pristine audio quality. For years, the Sound Devices 633 has been the sweet spot for many production sound mixers, offering a powerful combination of a 6-input mixer and a 10-track recorder in a lightweight, compact, and carbon-fiber chassis. If you're looking to upgrade your sound bag or need a reliable workhorse for small-to-midsize productions, the 633 deserves a closer look.

Key Features That Make the 633 a Production Staple

The 633 isn't just a recorder; it's a fully featured field production tool built for the rigors of location shooting. Here’s what sets it apart:

1. Versatile Inputs and Track Count The 633 offers serious flexibility for common shooting scenarios (e.g., three lavs and a boom).

2. 6 Analog Inputs: You get three high-quality microphone preamplifiers on full-size XLR connectors, complete with phantom power, high-pass filters, and input limiters. Plus, three additional line-level inputs are available on TA3 (mini-XLR) connectors.

3. 10-Track Recording: The recorder can capture all six inputs as isolated tracks (ISOs), plus the Left/Right mix and Aux 1/2 outputs, for a total of ten tracks. This is the cornerstone of professional production sound, ensuring you have individual tracks for post-production, even if your live mix runs into trouble.

Digital I/O: The first XLR can be used for AES digital input, and the main XLR outputs can be configured for AES output, expanding your digital connectivity.

1. Unmatched Reliability with PowerSafe™ One of Sound Devices' most legendary features is its power management. The 633 is a master of redundancy:

Quad Powering: It supports up to four simultaneous power sources: external DC (Hirose), two removable L-type Li-ion batteries, and six internal AA batteries.

PowerSafe™ Technology: If all power sources are disconnected, the unit features an internal 10-second power reserve to safely close all file operations and properly shut down, protecting your precious recordings from corruption. It also boasts a rapid two-second power-on-to-recording time.

1. Dual-Card Redundancy and Workflow Efficiency The 633 is designed to deliver files ready for post-production with ultimate security.

Dual-Card Recording: It records to both CompactFlash (CF) and SD cards simultaneously. You can set the cards to record identical material for a real-time backup, or record high-quality WAV files to one card and timecode-stamped MP3s to the other for dailies and transcription.

Timecode and Metadata: A high-accuracy, integrated Timecode generator ensures perfect sync with video. The unit also features a USB port for connecting a keyboard to easily enter extensive file metadata.

The Final Word

The Sound Devices 633 is often considered an "engineering masterpiece" for location sound. It strikes a nearly perfect balance between input count, track count, compact size, and professional-grade features. While newer recorders offer different technologies, the 633's reputation for rugged build quality, fantastic preamps, and iron-clad file reliability means it continues to be a top choice for documentaries, commercials, and narrative films where dependability is non-negotiable. It’s a workhorse that earns its place in the sound bag.

This video describes the different recording formats, like mono and poly WAV, that are possible with the Sound Devices 633's dual memory card slots.

Recording formats on the Sound Devices 688 / 633 / 664