722 User Guide and Technical Information
46
v. 2.67
Features and specifications are subject to change. Visit www.sounddevices.com for the latest documentation.
Drive Replacement
The internal hard drive can be removed and replaced if the drive fails or if a different capacity drive
is needed. The internal hard drive is not a swappable medium. Its multi-pin connector is not rated
for repeated insertion and removal cycles and may be prone to breakage with repeated cycling.
In typical service conditions Sound Devices recommends hard drive replacement every three years.
The hard drive is mounted to the bottom-side of the recorder’s chassis and is screwdriver acces-
sible. The drive is “suspended” in the unit with a shock isolating membrane and is attached to the
main circuit board via a “flex board”. Since the unit’s high-density circuitry and tight construction
require specific electronics knowledge, Sound Devices strongly recommends drive replacement be
performed by a qualified technician using proper ESD precautions. Drive replacement done by a
qualified technician has no warranty implications.
722 with bottom panel
removed showing hard drive
mounting location
The internal hard drive is not intended as a swappable exchange medium. Only qualified service techni-
cian using proper ESD precautions should perform drive replacement.
Drive Failure
Hard disk drives are mechanical devices and are susceptible to damage from physical shock. One
type of physical shock, called
operating shock
, occurs when the disk is in operation. During opera-
tion, the drive head is typically over the drive platters reading or writing data. When a physical
shock to the drive occurs during operation, the head and the platters can come into contact causing
both components to be damaged. The second type of shock, called
non-operating shock
, occurs
when the head is in the unloaded position, or not positioned over the platters. When a physical
shock occurs in the non-operating state, the head can contact the ramp it is positioned over and dam-
age the ability of the head to read and write data to the hard disk drive. All devices with hard drives
are subject to damage from operating and non-operating shock.
The mechanical construction of the 722 is designed to minimize the transmission of shock to the
hard drive. The drive is isolated from the chassis using special shock-reducing closed-cell foam. This
material increases the amount of shock the hard drive can withstand. Additional protection can be
achieved by operating the unit in a carry case.