Rick R
Veteran
These seem designed for the OMB folks. Looks nice though. I'll be interested to hear the new "Kashmir™ Mic Preamps".
https://www.sounddevices.com
https://www.sounddevices.com
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Intro'd for NAB: The MixPre-3 and MixPre-6
- Thread starter Rick R
- Start date
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Interesting designs. So it appears that there is no internal TC?
I looked at the photos on the SD website, there is no XLR out. WTF over? When they said USB computer interface, they weren't kidding. But really, just a mini-stereo plug for the output. What were they thinking? Am I missing something, I hope.
Don't think I'll be upgrading from my 302.
Grant
They were thinking they wanted to make a unit specifically for the DSLR market, which wants a 3.5mm stereo output. These units are really small. They fit under a DSLR. Take a look at the pictures in this link. https://www.sounddevices.com/products/recorders/mixpre-6
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You understand.
dmitrizigany
Veteran
Oh! I really want the MixPre-3!!! Nice!
Damn, taken by surprise that Sound Devices would release something for this end of the market with so much on offer!
Any buyer in the roughly US$1K and under budget range now has a tough *tough* choice between: Zoom F4 / F8 / Sound Devices MixPre 3 / 6 / Tascam DR70D (plus whatever new products Tascam might bring out.... as many of theirs are long due for an update, or what brand new players might arrive and release something.... Aputure? Saramonic?).
Personally I find the MixPre 6 to be very *very* tempting! But I won't buy it (or at least, I'll *try* to **not** buy it! ha), instead sticking with my Zoom F4. As to get the MixPre 6 wouldn't be a clean cut overall big step forward over my Zoom F4 (in fact it would even be in some areas a step back), thus it is best I stay focused on the savings goal of a Sound Devices 633 which *would* represent a significant and worthwhile improvement over the Zoom F4.
Any buyer in the roughly US$1K and under budget range now has a tough *tough* choice between: Zoom F4 / F8 / Sound Devices MixPre 3 / 6 / Tascam DR70D (plus whatever new products Tascam might bring out.... as many of theirs are long due for an update, or what brand new players might arrive and release something.... Aputure? Saramonic?).
Personally I find the MixPre 6 to be very *very* tempting! But I won't buy it (or at least, I'll *try* to **not** buy it! ha), instead sticking with my Zoom F4. As to get the MixPre 6 wouldn't be a clean cut overall big step forward over my Zoom F4 (in fact it would even be in some areas a step back), thus it is best I stay focused on the savings goal of a Sound Devices 633 which *would* represent a significant and worthwhile improvement over the Zoom F4.
So I know this is a little premature as the device hasn't been tested or anything, but do you guys think it would be a noticeable upgrade to go from a tascam dr-60d ii to a mix-pre 3? I do mostly narrative work, and less noise would be much appreciated. Just not sure if it's worth the price jump when I need other things like lights and stabilizers and all that crap.
I can understand why someone would pass on it but it's recording to a SD card. One would use this on an independent production and sync the audio in post. It's not meant to use a Smart slate with. Use a dumb slate and sync with PuralEyes or Premiere.
If these Pres are like the rest of the Sound Devices line, it will be worth the jump. Tascam's pres don't hold a candle to Sound Devices.
Here's a video of someone using the MixPre-3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9hu-Avj2oE
Jim Feeley
Veteran
Makes sense. I own and depend on a bunch of Sound Devices equipment and am partial to the brand. But the Zoom F4 seems pretty decent...
I think the MixPre-3 would probably have less noise and mainly would be easier to work with; looks like it offers some real advantages. But are you happy with the tracks you're getting from the DR-60 (a not-so-bad little recorder)? If so, why not stick with that for now? And if not and you're focused on narratives, I think the Zoom F4 and F8 with their fairly-inexpensive control surface. Details (and a mix of sensible and WTF? photos) here:
https://www.zoom-na.com/products/fi...ld-recording/frc-8-f-series-remote-controller
So maybe think if you want to focus more on sound or on picture. At least for now. If you're doing everything yourself, wait until you're really unsatisfied with the DR-60...and determining what's frustrating you will hopefully inform what bit of kit will serve you best next....
...I wonder if these units will have the famous SD two-stage limiters ?
Andrew Stone
Veteran
Checked manuals for the 633 and the MixPre-6 and it is unclear. Someone would have to ask at NAB. I suspect they would be functionally close in quality. One thing I did note is timecode has to be added and the units are much smaller which makes them good for being attached to a DSLR but for standard operation they may be a challenge to people with sausage fingers. The battery pack on the back is best suited to AA batts. They Sony L-Series battery adapter will make the unit ungainly and may prevent it from being attached to a DSLR. Best thing about it is the Mic Pre-amps with 130 dB noise floor. That is insanely low. In all an incredible deal for someone who wants to get into the Sound Devices ecosystem but couldn't afford the cost of entry until now.
https://www.sounddevices.com/products/recorders/mixpre-6
dmitrizigany
Veteran
At least they have analog limiters which is perhaps their biggest advantage compared to the Zoom F4, for example...
Noiz2
Sound Ninja
I don't see that at all. These are aimed at a very select group that doesn't include most "professionals" sound people. I put that in quotes because it certainly does include a lot of people who make a living doing things that include recording sound. So for instance I think event videographers who are using DSLR's will love this. But folks who just do sound won't be in the market much. An exception might be nature recordists who would be very tempted by the low noise. For most people with decent gear though the low noise is a plus but not a huge one since we are recording hot enough that it doesn't matter much, and if you are in the field the "noise" you are most worried about is the "noise" generated by other things (like cars and planes etc.).
With such limited output options it really doesn't fit most professional workflows.
What makes you think they are analog limiters, or in fact that it even has limiters? I haven't found anything that mentions limiters.
Probably it does have limiters just because but if you have some actual info on the limiters please share.
Also as someone linked in a F8 (4) thread the F series limiters are essentially analog limiters they are built into the mic pre/ A/D converter chip and not an external component. Which is why they work so well. SD limiters are fantastic but the F series limiters are pretty good and miles ahead of any of the consumer priced products "limiters" I have seen which generally work more like AGC's than limiters.
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Throwback
Well-known member
Hi Scott,
There are indeed several references to analogue limiters on the SD website, not least in the feature comparison table, which adds detail that the input limiters are analogue and the output limiters are digital: the manuals say the same.
Cheers,
Roland
Jim Feeley
Veteran
Speaking of the new MixPres' lack of TC generators... There are several new inexpensive TC boxes getting announced today and next week. One from Ambient... And they have this little video of using their NanoLockit with the MixPre-3. Presumably, connecting other little TC boxes (such as those from Mozegear, Denecke, and Tentacle) will be basically the same. Interesting times...
More info:
http://ambient.de/product/nanolockit/
More info:
http://ambient.de/product/nanolockit/