Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
Yeah, I can't say enough good things about Sweetwater. Good folks there.
Sound Devices MixPre-D!
- Thread starter USLatin
- Start date
legrevedotcom
Veteran
Hey Chad, I have a noob question. Since the recorder is build-in, do you reckon that this would still be fine as pro-sumer ware for use with dslr?
I mean, in the case where one would have fx a mixpre-d and a fostex fr-2le, wouldn't the dc-r302 basicly be enough to match that setup? Isn't the recorder the last stop?
It would be nice to only have to worry about one device when shooting dslr.
Thanks
T
legrevedotcom
Veteran
Super... would love to see that test. Too bad fall is so far away at the moment, I guess fall could easily turn into winter when it comes to new products :S
Hey Nic, just want to say I that I am glad to see you posting here. You should join Reduser.net as well. a few people were asking about the MixPre and many were asking about the Pix while playback isn't yet enabled on Epics.
Same here.
I'd buy a MixPre-DR
Same here.
Here is one of the MixPre-D threads that popped up over there:
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?59832-Sound-Devices-MixPre-D
http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?59832-Sound-Devices-MixPre-D
Absolutely!
- Selectable Mic/Line outs on the XLRs, plus AES digital out over XLR.
- TA3 direct out (mic-level) designed specifically for DSLR input.
- Higher-rez meters, like the ones found on the 302.
I have no regrets that I sold my MixPre and bought a MixPre-D.
JAWflyer3
Well-known member
I will be using it as a pre-amp with either a DR-40 or Roland R-26 using their respective line in, with a shotgun -> L mic in on mix pre -> L line out -> recorder and either a hypercardoid or lav on the right channel. So if I was to use mic out, it would defeat the purpose of using it as a pre-amp and I'd still have to use the pre-amps of the recorders themselves. The TA3 direct out and the higher resolution meters do sound awesome though...
If you have a recorder that takes proper line in then, of course, use the MixPre-D's line-level outs. Having the choice for mic-level out is an added bonus... one that you probably won't use much, but an added bonus nonetheless.
JAWflyer3
Well-known member
Hmm, I guess it could be pretty useful! I'll try to find one for a good price that can be somewhat justified against the original MixPre then
Is there any other digital recording options besides the Ipad for the MixPre-D yet? I want to record to my Gh2 but also to another recorder. The mixPre-d to h4n looks like a bit of a kluge. Is there something out there that records the digital out of the MixPre that is portable?
Will a m audio microtrack work? i have one of those kicking around. the 680 is a bit much for what i want to do. I want to feed the mixpre in to my gh2 then out to another recorder. basically for front of house band recording. Need something i can monitor levels better than the h4n as well as have a little better sound.
Chadfish
Veteran
Read the specs on the M-audio. Does it have AES or s/pdif input? Or why not run the "Tape Out" to the Gh2, and the XLRs to your H4N? All you need is an angled adapter for the GH2: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/488047-REG/Hosa_Technology_GMP_467_GMP_467_Right_Angle.html
Though the Gh2 has AGC on all the time, even at the "1" setting which is the lowest amount of AGC. Your camera audio will most likely be only for lining up clips.
Though the Gh2 has AGC on all the time, even at the "1" setting which is the lowest amount of AGC. Your camera audio will most likely be only for lining up clips.
Yeah totally. I was thinking there would be a benefit from recording the digital out of the MixPre-D to something that could record it digitally. Versus try to send it into the h4n.
Larry Andrews
New member
MixPre-D with Netbook
MixPre-D with Netbook
This afternoon, I plugged the MixPre-D into the USB port on a Dell Netbook running Windows 7. The instructions in the MixPre-D manual explained how to enable Windows to use it as an audio device. A Rode NT3 was connected into one channel of the MixPre-D with the switch set to route the signal to both channels. Once the level was set properly, I hit record on Windows Sound Recorder.
The audio sounds very good. Let me admit up front that my hearing is damaged and I have bilateral hearing aids. My wife has not listened for me yet, but I believe it will turn out to be quite good. Using the USB I/O bypasses the "sound card" interface on the netbook. The audio is converted to digitial before it is shipped through the USB cable, so there should be no reason that a cheap netbook could not function as a good quality recording device. I expect that it will be cleaner than the MixPre-D / Zoom H4n combination. I have an H4N, but have not connected it with the MixPre-d at this point. The MixPre-D manual states that the tape out port is at a -10 dB level, so I expect it to work without overload. Others have tried it, I beleive.
If I had purchased the MixPre-D before the Zoom, I would not have purchased the Zoom. Rather, I would have held out for a better recorder. I bought the Zoom before reading about the preamps, etc. It works well for the cost, I suppose.
MixPre-D with Netbook
This afternoon, I plugged the MixPre-D into the USB port on a Dell Netbook running Windows 7. The instructions in the MixPre-D manual explained how to enable Windows to use it as an audio device. A Rode NT3 was connected into one channel of the MixPre-D with the switch set to route the signal to both channels. Once the level was set properly, I hit record on Windows Sound Recorder.
The audio sounds very good. Let me admit up front that my hearing is damaged and I have bilateral hearing aids. My wife has not listened for me yet, but I believe it will turn out to be quite good. Using the USB I/O bypasses the "sound card" interface on the netbook. The audio is converted to digitial before it is shipped through the USB cable, so there should be no reason that a cheap netbook could not function as a good quality recording device. I expect that it will be cleaner than the MixPre-D / Zoom H4n combination. I have an H4N, but have not connected it with the MixPre-d at this point. The MixPre-D manual states that the tape out port is at a -10 dB level, so I expect it to work without overload. Others have tried it, I beleive.
If I had purchased the MixPre-D before the Zoom, I would not have purchased the Zoom. Rather, I would have held out for a better recorder. I bought the Zoom before reading about the preamps, etc. It works well for the cost, I suppose.
Chadfish
Veteran
The thing is Larry, that with the MixPre-D, the pres of the H4N are no longer an issue. The issue is when you plug a mic straight into the H4N, and it's pres are doing all the heavy lifting. With the MixPre-D you are sending a good strong signal, and can throttle back the input on the H4N to 25% or so. The noise is introduced on the H4N for the most part beyond 50% recording level, so I suspect you'll get a very clean recording without having to carry around your computer!
Cheers!
Cheers!
Larry Andrews
New member
Chad,
No doubt, you are correct. I expect the recording quality will be quite good. I haven't got around to connecting the H4N to the MixPre-D yet. The -10 dB output solves the level problem. I was curious about the USB capability and it does seem to meet the need of someone who wants a recording option, but does not yet have a Zoom or other recorder. Someone did ask for other options.
I suspect that I will have at least a couple of computers running for most video shoots. Most of our material is scripted and we have a prompter, etc indoor controlled lighing, no run and gun. The new PIX240 looks interesting for most of the perceived defeciencies of the HMC150. Running the MixPre-D into that guy looks like a real easy way to monitor audio levels (MixPre-D LEDs), video levels HMC LCD, have a decent monitor, get 4:2:2 for Chroma and have redundant recording - all at the same time. No sync issues with quality audio, either.
No doubt, you are correct. I expect the recording quality will be quite good. I haven't got around to connecting the H4N to the MixPre-D yet. The -10 dB output solves the level problem. I was curious about the USB capability and it does seem to meet the need of someone who wants a recording option, but does not yet have a Zoom or other recorder. Someone did ask for other options.
I suspect that I will have at least a couple of computers running for most video shoots. Most of our material is scripted and we have a prompter, etc indoor controlled lighing, no run and gun. The new PIX240 looks interesting for most of the perceived defeciencies of the HMC150. Running the MixPre-D into that guy looks like a real easy way to monitor audio levels (MixPre-D LEDs), video levels HMC LCD, have a decent monitor, get 4:2:2 for Chroma and have redundant recording - all at the same time. No sync issues with quality audio, either.
Chadfish
Veteran
Well if you have the PIX240 you won't need the MixPre-D, however the MixPre-D has metter metering etc. The HMC-150 has decent audio too. You could put the MicPre-D right into that and as with the H4N you can turn the recording level down to reduce any noise caused by the 150s pres.