Beginner Production Sound Kit - Yeas or Nays?

[Alex H.]

No. Mixers (like the MixPre and the Shure FP33) that have only one input level control are essentially controlling only input gain, and have a default "unity" pass-through to the main output. Mixers that have input trim and level control are splitting the function, offering control both of the pre-amp's input gain and the input's level to the master output.

And you wouldn't necessarily need a mixer for the 788t. You'd be recording up to 8 individual sources and could mix them down in post.

 

[Max H.]

So on the 302 wouldn't I be using the smaller gain knob fairly often, even more so than the volume fader?
And what do you think battery life would be powering an NTG-3?

 

[Rick R]

So on the 302 wouldn't I be using the smaller gain knob fairly often, even more so than the volume fader?

No, once set for a particular scene, the preamp adj. is not touched very often.
In regards to the Shure FP series mixers, they have a variable pre-amp gain structure that works in conjunction with the channel fader. It is not fixed and I would assume the same principle applies to the MixPre. The Shure mixers are very rugged and were once the 'standard' in ENG mixer. I used an FP32 for quite a few years and in some extreme climatic conditions without problems. I liked the sound of the original FP32 pre-amps but they were noticeably noisy for interviews in quiet locales. The FP33 is much quieter. That said, I now use a Sound Devices.

 

[Noiz2]

The reason for not getting wireless is that depending on what you are doing you may never or rarely use it. They are expensive and that money could go to more crucial items. And they are more complicated than a wired mic. There are a lot more things that can go wrong and on a set most things that can will.

But it all depends on what you will be doing. I wouldn't consider a wireless as part of a starter kit. So unless you know you are going to use it I would at least take the money and save it till you actually need a wireless. That gets you two things. One you will have a slush fund for what you need that you overlooked and second the longer you hold off on things that involve electronics the farther your $ are going to go. As an example I have a friend who does a lot of radio and she had borrowed wireless a few times and decided when some cash came in to get a pair of G3's. Well she used them twice I think in the last three years and one is now in the orphaned band so it's pretty much worthless on the used market and illegal to use in the US.

So if you know you are going to use it go for it. There are a few times I wish I still had mine, but very few. On the flip side Phil who comes around now and again has a boatload of wireless. He does a lot of industrials and such and uses them all the time.

If you don't have a gig lined up that needs a wireless your better off having the slush fund to get what you need for the gig you do get. And that might be a wireless.

The exception is a great deal. If a good system popped up at a ridiculous price I would buy it. Every now and again some one will dump their gear, or an estate sale etc and you can get some amazing bargains.