PIX-E5 + PIX-LR - The perfect audio solution?

[E6Loers]

Hello,
i am searching for a better audio solution to replace my h4n. The PIX-E5 + PIX-LR looks for me as the perfect solution. I can buy both for 1500€. The two selling points for me are the Sound Devices PreAmps and Audio + Video Sync, no more syncing with FCPX. What do you guys think?

 

[Alex H.]

Just out of curiosity, which camera are you using? If it cannot output a clean signal (and of usable resolution) to the Pix-E5, this is kind of a moot point.

The other question is production workflow. Having audio strapped to the camera is pretty typical for ENG/EFP, but not for narrative work. If you're working in the latter environment, it may be more beneficial in production to have the audio system running completely independently of the camera. If, however, you're one-man-banding it, having the mixer tied to the camera may make more sense.

 

[E6Loers]

Hallo,
thanks dir your answer. I have not decided the camera. I will chose between a NX1 or G7 + Speedbooster. I need this setup primary for interviews and corporate videos with b-roll.

 

[Alex H.]

Okay, so both the Panasonic G7 and the Samsung NX1 have 8-bit, 4:2:2 clean output through HDMI.

Are you planning to have any other audio gear between the mic and the camera? In other words, do you have a mixer (or plans to buy one)? Or are you planning just to go straight into the Pix-LR with your microphone(s)?

 

[Rick R]

If you had a 'real' video camera , an SD mixer (302) or the MixPre would be another option and you would need the Pix L-R or other mic preamps.

 

[E6Loers]

I don't use any other audio gear. I use only one shotgun microphone and I am happy with this. My budget for the audio gear + camera is 2500€. I need for the camera 1000€ so that I have 1500€ left for the audio. I have Nikon lenses so that I don't need any other gear.

 

[Bruce Watson]

I don't use any other audio gear. I use only one shotgun microphone and I am happy with this. My budget for the audio gear + camera is 2500€. I need for the camera 1000€ so that I have 1500€ left for the audio. I have Nikon lenses so that I don't need any other gear.

From your descriptions of what you're after, it sounds like the VD PIX-E5 + PIX-LR will do what you want. The PIX-LR 's electronics should certainly outperform the Zoom H4n, no question of that. You might find that this combination is overkill when used with the cameras you've specified. But that doesn't mean much -- you can always move up with cameras and the VD equipment will still be fine.

I don't know which shotgun you have, but this equipment will let you hear what it does. It's good enough that you'll be able to hear the difference between an AT875 and a Sennheiser 8060 clearly for example. The equipment will also let you hear the results of mic placement clearly as well. I'm just sayin' that it will reward you for good mics and good technique. The flip side of that is that it will let you hear the results of lesser mics and lesser technique also. IOW, it may push you some to develop and maintain a good workflow. This is a good thing IMHO.

 

[Grug]

Hello,
i am searching for a better audio solution to replace my h4n. The PIX-E5 + PIX-LR looks for me as the perfect solution. I can buy both for 1500€. The two selling points for me are the Sound Devices PreAmps and Audio + Video Sync, no more syncing with FCPX. What do you guys think?

Can I ask where you found them at that price? I'm looking into getting this combo too.

 

[Garten Moorriem]

It is a great solution! Audio is high quality and very easy. You have not only the sound devices pre amps but also delay function and gain for your mics individually adjustable. You have perfect limiters, phantom power and really bright gain control led's. And the big control buttons for video recording are great. Audio recording is excellent and easy with this.

 

[E6Loers]

Can I ask where you found them at that price? I'm looking into getting this combo too.

At a local dealer in Germany. Its the PIX-E5 + PIX-LR + 250GB MSATA for 1550€ excluding Tax.

From your descriptions of what you're after, it sounds like the VD PIX-E5 + PIX-LR will do what you want. The PIX-LR 's electronics should certainly outperform the Zoom H4n, no question of that. You might find that this combination is overkill when used with the cameras you've specified. But that doesn't mean much -- you can always move up with cameras and the VD equipment will still be fine.

I don't know which shotgun you have, but this equipment will let you hear what it does. It's good enough that you'll be able to hear the difference between an AT875 and a Sennheiser 8060 clearly for example. The equipment will also let you hear the results of mic placement clearly as well. I'm just sayin' that it will reward you for good mics and good technique. The flip side of that is that it will let you hear the results of lesser mics and lesser technique also. IOW, it may push you some to develop and maintain a good workflow. This is a good thing IMHO.

I have a Sennheiser ME66 + K6. I am happy with this mic for the moment. My plan for the future is to buy an Sennheiser MKH 416 (used ~ 450€). I using this setup 95% indoor.

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It is a great solution! Audio is high quality and very easy. You have not only the sound devices pre amps but also delay function and gain for your mics individually adjustable. You have perfect limiters, phantom power and really bright gain control led's. And the big control buttons for video recording are great. Audio recording is excellent and easy with this.

Nice setup. What do you think about the audio quality? Do you have any compares with for example an Tascam or Zoom device?

My main concern is: Do i spend my money wisely with this setup or should i buy a Tascam DR-70D and save the money? Is the SD Audio so much better? How future proof is this setup?

Big thanks to everybody for the help.

 

[Bassman2003]

Just an outside opinion but it is never a bad investment to get "great" audio. This looks like a really good way to go. I have a Marantz 661 and it has been fine for $650 with the Oade mod. I think it depends on if you need the PIX recorder and monitor. If you do need an external video recorder then this is the best you can do right now.

 

[dmitrizigany]

Just an outside opinion but it is never a bad investment to get "great" audio. This looks like a really good way to go.

Can the PIX-LR be used without the PIX-E5? In some ways I think that the monitor/recorder will be obsolete before the audio part... And it seems a bit clunky as an audio only solution. But if you need the monitor/recorder it's a really neat set-up!

 

[Bassman2003]

I was wondering this myself.

 

[Alex H.]

Can the PIX-LR be used without the PIX-E5?

My guess is no. It has no internal power capability, and the only external power it accepts is through the specialized, multi-pin mount through which it interfaces with the monitor.

It's only an i/o interface so it has no internal recording, though it does have XLR outputs. It has no headphone monitoring of its own, so that's another pretty big handicap.

 

[Garten Moorriem]

No, it is not a recorder on its own. But worse, it won't start recording without an video signal coming in the pix-e. So you need the camera too. I would be happy if video devices could offer a way to record just audio with the pix-lr and pix-e.

 

[ozmorphasis]

No, it is not a recorder on its own. But worse, it won't start recording without an video signal coming in the pix-e. So you need the camera too. I would be happy if video devices could offer a way to record just audio with the pix-lr and pix-e.

That's a strange handicap, and I can't think of any hardware related reason why it needs to be that way, so it could very likely be fixed with firmware.

 

[Alex H.]

I would be happy if video devices could offer a way to record just audio with the pix-lr and pix-e.

I'm curious as to why. If what you want is sound-only recording, for that kind of money you'd be better off purchasing a MixPre-D and a decent, 2-channel sound recorder.