Sound Devices MM-1

[dwnsthballer]

Hey everyone,

I'm really getting into learning and acquiring better audio for my shorts, and looking into purchasing a pre-amp for my Oktava, and I've heard a lot about the quality of Sound Devices products, so I was wondering what you guys take on the Sound Devices MM-1 pre-amp was?

I did a search and found a little info on it (all good), but I figured I would make a dedicated thread for it to hear from you guys. At first I was thinking of buying a SD Mixpre, but I'm only in need of a pre-amp really (don't need the extra inputs, plus money is low). My main questions are:

1) Overall quality of the MM-1.
2) Good idea or bad idea? Going from mic to pre-amp to camera, or is a mixer absolutely needed in the chain (if I'm only using one mic)?
3) A constant problem I have is overmodulating and clipping (probably from a lack of a sound guy). Does the MM-1 have a way to set a limit output to my DVX (I know with the 302, you can set the output to your camera with a test tone and such. Is that the same for the MM-1)?

I'm doing research on it myself, but it always helps to have real users break it down for me.

Any comments is gladly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[HansonD]

I used an mm-1 to run sound to a pd-100 (i think, i don't know cameras verywell) dv cam for a short test shoot I was working on a few weeks ago. It worked fine. The mm-1 sounds nice and is able to output a line level to camera for a stronger signal. As you know it has 48v and a limiter to safegaurd (to a degree) your cameras inputs. Yes, one of it's disadvantages is that it has no tone generator or slate mic. (Though you only really need a slate mic for film) I think the mm-1 was designed more as a really snazzy headphone line amp than a mixer, although it does the job nicely in a pinch. If you get it I highly recomed you monitor the sound off the camera rather than at the mm-1 so you know what kind of signal is going to tape, or at very least listen to playbacks periodically. The boom op I usually work with loves the thing, especially compared to the fp-22 he used to use for headphone tap. Although honestly, for your application, I think a little more cash spent on the mixpre would pay off in the long run, more features that you can grow with. Look at other company's comparable products, sd isn't the only fish in the pond, though it is one of the more expensive ones. oh in answer to question 1: it's built very well, you could use it as a blunt weapon if needed.

 

[saneproductions]

the input volume level on the mm1 only has steps or clicks. You can't trun the volume up or down smoothly. You can't monitor prefade listen on anything and it can't match levels to the camera. Read the manuals at soundevices.com for the mm1 the mixpre and the 302. If you read the manual before you buy, you won't be sorry later. I read all three and charged the 302.