SD MixPre-D and Zoom H4n

[Boon]

Will the NEW MixPre-D plays along better with the Zoom H4N?
It's stated that there's a new TA3 jack that provides a Mic-Level signal that’s perfect for the mic input on DSLR cameras. Perhaps this will help to do away with attenuator pads that needed between the previous Mixpre and Zoom H4N.

I'm waiting to buy the Mixpre-D but not sure about keeping the Zoom H4N. The Mixpre-D will be my first field mixer. Sorry, I'm new at location audio.

 

[Alex H.]

That should help. It'll still need some adaptation to go from the unbalanced TA3 output to balanced XLR inputs on the H4n, or you could get a TA3>1/8" TRS and use the H4n's "external mic in" on the underside.

Either way, upgrading away from the H4n is a pretty good idea. Once you have the MixPre-D, you'll be able to interface with most any recorder.

 

[8string]

While the H4N is not the best out there, it's still dang good. If you are just starting out, and on a budget, by all means, get the mixer first. It will noticeably improve all your sound. Then you can decide what is a proper upgrade path given budget and use, for another recorder. While there are many of us on here that understand the downsides of the Zoom, it's still capable of producing excellent sound. The next levels up really sort of double your costs, at miminum, and give you somewhat better quality. Really depends on what you are shooting and what you are delivering. If it's just web videos, with narration or music videos of blasting rock etc, then you might not need to worry. If you are recording acoustic musicians, for example, you might easily hear a difference. I still can't imagine why I'd care about bringing in a mixer based feed to my 7D. I don't think it will be worth the hassle. Might as well just go to the recorder. I'm waiting for a super high quality recorder I can attach on my hot shoe, is the size of the smaller zoom or Olympus, and has preamps on par with the SD equipment. Probably impossible to build such a thing at this point.

 

[Alex H.]

The Zoom H4n will certainly get you going, and can get some pretty remarkable results. I do like the original H4 better as a line-level recorder, but the H4n can do well in the right hands. That said, planning an eventual upgrade after you get the MixPre-D is still a good idea.

I'm waiting for a super high quality recorder I can attach on my hot shoe, is the size of the smaller zoom or Olympus, and has preamps on par with the SD equipment. Probably impossible to build such a thing at this point.

Not impossible per se, but it likely wouldn't be shoe-mounted and it will be expensive on the retail market. To have XLR inputs dictates a certain limit on how small the device can be.

Fostex actually has something similar coming up for DSLR shooters (LINK). The only downside is that it does not have XLR outputs, only the 1/8" connect for the camera. (Also, it isn't available yet.)