Mixpre-D - Bunch o' questions...

Arash Ayrom

Arash Ayrom

Cataclysmo
Hi all,

Thanks to zjrt02, I've picked up a Sennheiser 416 at a killer price from BSW ($1300 for mic + Pro Pack: blimp, windscreen + pistol grip). This, of course, means I MUST SPEND MOAR $$$!!

Well, not really. But it does have me wanting to make sure I can take advantage of this quality mic, and not fritter away its potential. With that in mind, got a bunch o' questions that I'm hoping you fine folks can help me answer:

1. I also own a Marantz 661 recorder (first gen, not the Mk II). Would running the 416 through a Mixpre-D before going to the Marantz yield significant audio benefits? I certainly see the Mixpre's ergonomic advantages, but I'm just wondering if the pre-amps on the Mixpre are that much better than the 661 (a step above cheaper recorders, but certainly not in the top tier either).

2. Is there any reason the 416 wouldn't pair well with the Mixpre-D? I doubt it, but wanted to be sure.

3. Can the Mixpre-D's USB output be fed to a portable recorder? The manual only talks about going into a computer, but that's not practical outside the studio. If not, what about the AES outputs from the Mixpre-D?

Thanks for any help / info you can provide! I'm not an audio pro, but trying to learn :)
 
1) Using a Sound Devices mixer to feed your Marantz recorder would likely have some perceptable benefit. There is no question that the SD preamps are among the best on the planet while the Marantz preamps are not of any particularly notable performance. HOWEVER, whether you need the extra low-noise gain of the SD preamp with your 416 mic is an experiment only YOU can do. I wouldn't automatically assume that the Marantz won't do the job.
2) I am sure there are probably 100s (or maybe 1000s) of people who are successfully using the Senn 416 with an SD MixPre-D. Both SD and Senn have excellent reputations and I can't imagine why one would suspect that they weren't "compaitble".
3) According to this posting in "Taperssection", a simple resistive pad is all that is required to interface the AES digital output from the MixPre-D to the RCA "Digital In" on the Marantz 661 .
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=146929.msg2057247#msg2057247
 
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Richard, thank you for the detailed answer and link! Greatly appreciated.

With #2, I had seen comments about gain issues with other mic / device combinations, so thought it prudent to ask :)

Again, thanks very much!
 
hoju said:
I had seen comments about gain issues with other mic / device combinations,
Click to expand...
Indeed, there are often complaints with low-output microphones (or perfectly good mics mis-used at excessive distance)
when used with recorders (or camcorders or mixers, etc.) with not particularly notable low-noise gain.
BUT I would never expect any of the Sound Devices products to be implicated in this kind of problem.
The SD mic preamps have a reputation of being absolutely top-drawer.
 
hoju said:
2. Is there any reason the 416 wouldn't pair well with the Mixpre-D?
Click to expand...

My MKH 416 works a treat with my MixPre-D. Kick-a.. combination. All the SD equipment works fine with all the Sennheiser mics. The Hollywood dialog soundies demand it.
 
The original non-digital MixPre had problems with some of the Sanken shotgun mics, but I haven't heard of any incompatibilities with the digital MixPre-D mixer.
 
Dingo, This is the first I have heard of this. Could you be more specific regarding your own experience, or give links to the source of this info.

As someone who has SD gear and has considered a CS3e, I'd sure like to know what the issues are.

To the best of my knowledge, the mixpre, mixpreD and 302 all share the same preamps.

TheDingo said:
The original non-digital MixPre had problems with some of the Sanken shotgun mics, but I haven't heard of any incompatibilities with the digital MixPre-D mixer.
Click to expand...
 
ggrantly said:
Dingo, This is the first I have heard of this. Could you be more specific regarding your own experience, or give links to the source of this info.
Click to expand...

It was posted on the SD website years ago, and it had something to do with the phantom power the original MixPre supplied to Sanken mics. I'll see if I can find a link. ( it may have been scrubbed from the SD website )
 
Thanks Dingo,

Of note, it didn't list the CS3e. Interestingly it did list the 4053b as a problem child. I have used the 4053b quite a bit with a AA powered 302 and have not experienced the issue. Thanks for bringing that up as I would have been flummoxed and clueless to have encountered that in the field. Per the article, apparently it is less problematic when external power is used on the mixer.
 
ggrantly said:
... Interestingly it did list the 4053b as a problem child. I have used the 4053b quite a bit with a AA powered 302 and have not experienced the issue.
Click to expand...

I've been running a 4053B for years with my MixPre-D also without any issues. It sounds great; the combination easily exceeded my expectations.
 
Well, this was talking about the MixPre, not the MixPre-D. But, I have used a 4053b quite a bit with my MixPre and have never heard this problem. I find the note a bit confusing though, as it mentions simply using phantom power as a solution. But the 4053b requires phantom, so I don't really understand. But just in case it does make me want to buy the inexpensive ($40) SD AC power unit for the old MixPre to have on hand.
 
Both the AT4053-A & B require full Phantom Power (48 volts) to output their (efficient and optimum performance) output of 20+ m/V.
 
Oktava mics were another one that could cause the problem. If I remember correctly it had to do with the amount of power some mic draw and the phantom power supply design. The "fix" though was quite simple, use 48V not 12V as the phantom setting. And/Or turn on the roll off. Since I do both 90% of the time anyway I haven't had a problem. I can create the problem by going to the lower voltage and disabling the roll off. It's not a guarantee, but if you do that you can almost always get the MixPre to "oscillate" it sounds a little like a slow helicopter blade rotating.

Since most mics have better specs with 48V you really shouldn't have a problem. It's also rare, unless it's on a stand, that I don't have the roll off at 80 for the Oktava's it really isn't a problem at all. I suspect though that SD redesigned the Phantom power supply on later devices so it wouldn't be a problem ever.
 
I experienced the 'motor-boating' issue with an AT4073 way back when with a HHB Portadat 1000. Applying a high-pass filter was the remedy in that case. I've never never that problem with a 302 / 744 with AT 4071 or 4053.
FWIW, I've read of this complaint with the Tascam DR-40, though the internal HPF would probably do little since it's after the preamp.
 
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