Sound Devices Rumors???

Run&Gun

Run&Gun

Veteran
Has anyone heard any rumors about Sound Devices introducing new mixer/recorders? I looked on their website and did a quick Google search and came up empty handed. The reason I ask, is because I received a call today and was asked if I had seen the new mixer(s). From the sound of it, it(they?) is(are) three or six channels, with timecode in, but not the ability to generate on its own. They made it sound like SD is possibly aiming it at the "Zoom" market.

Since I'm not seeing anything on the internet yet, I wonder if they saw something not intended for public release yet and didn't realize it until I told them that I hadn't seen anything, yet. But there was never an, "oops, keep that under your hat" convo afterwards.
 
Zoom is taking away a lot from the lower end. So it makes sense for Sound Devices to launch new products. However, the SD products are very robust and can take some bumps during travel. If you are shooting in the street, and a mad bull attacks you, then you can hit it on the head with a SD product and stun the fellow. Won't have any such luck with Zoom products though.
 
Zoom sure seems to be selling a lot of F4 and F8 recorders, but I wonder how many of those sales would have gone to Sound Devices anyway. Some, but many? Who knows...well, SD probably knows by looking at their sales numbers and talking to a bunch of dealers. But it seems like SD is still selling a lot of 6-series and other recorders.... I know those guys pretty well, but am not currently under any sort of NDA with them so I don't know their specific NAB plans.

I'd think their name recognition is broad enough to appeal to the higher-end of Zoom's film/video customers...i.e., the F4 and F8 buyers. But that's a market with (typically) thin margins and high marketing and tech support demands. I can think of a couple companies that dipped into the prosumer market, sold a lot of stuff, and lost a lot of money....Granted, those were hard drive and music-industry companies...but still...

Maybe a $1500 recorder from SD could sell well. Though I'd think (well, hope) it'd have a good TC generator. My hazy understanding is that SD's license with Ambient lets them add TC generation to all their products for a reasonable cost to them.... And since even Zoom's have fairly OK TC generators, it's becoming (finally) recognized as a totally useful feature...

Guess we'll know next week....
 
I'm not sure how sound devices can compete at Zoom and Tascam's price point without hurting themselves. They make mixers that sell for less than $1000, but those are one or two channel without recorders. They could considerably cheapen their designs and attempt to expand their markets beyond field recording and sound for film, but I don't see how it would help them maintain the profitability of their upscale models as they slide downscale. Or maybe the market for sound has changed significantly. At this point, my 688 with SL6 and Lectros is a more expensive package than my normal camera package, but I would never give it up for cost reasons. On set, I find that sound is the area I have the least amount of time to compensate for less than ideal equipment.

Edit: So I was wrong. I might pick up the three channel if it isn't seriously lacking features that would make it too much of compromise.
 
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Wow! Take that Zoom!

I was literally just days away from ordering an F4 and decided to wait for NAB. This looks really great.

All other factors aside, the real deal sealer for me is getting a recorder with analog limiters at this price point. I mean, their mixers cost more than this, so if the corners cut are not too severe, then this is a no brainer. I'm ok if the build quality is not quite up to regular SD standards as long as its decent while maintaining the preamp quality and analog limiter quality.

Exciting times!
 
If I remember correctly; this is exactly what we were asking for about 6 or 7 years ago. Depending on price I will seriously consider selling my Mix Pre-D and Fostex FR2-LE and getting this instead.

Otto
 
Dang, I just saw the price, the 3 model listed at $649.-. I guess the used market for my Mix Pre-D just took a dump on me :(
 
Networker said:
If I remember correctly; this is exactly what we were asking for about 6 or 7 years ago. Depending on price I will seriously consider selling my Mix Pre-D and Fostex FR2-LE and getting this instead.

Otto
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Yeah, this would replace my mixpre d and Marantz 661 if I went for it. The mixpre d is a legitimate two channel preamp/mixer though and it doesn't look like the new mixpre's have much in the way of an output stage. They don't even mention the 1/8th stereo output in the promo literature as far as I can tell.
 
I had a shoot this morning and afterwards while me and my audio guy were eating lunch I started telling him the story about the call from one of my sales reps that started this thread and at the same time we both got an email about them.
 
One of the links in post 5 or 6 had the prices listed. $649.- and $899.-. I guess we'll need to wait for the real product and a full spec list to show up before we know for sure. From the pictures, it doesn't look like it is built as solidly as the MixPre-D, but I could be wrong.
 
Other than a 4th XLR input, what does the MixPre-6 offer over the 3?

It seems like they're pretty much the same, they even both have the HDMI TC input, I just can't figure out if the 4th input is really worth an extra $250.
 
Networker said:
One of the links in post 5 or 6 had the prices listed. $649.- and $899.-. I guess we'll need to wait for the real product and a full spec list to show up before we know for sure.
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Sound Devices posted those prices on their Instagram as well so I guess it's pretty confirmed...
 
zijital said:
Other than a 4th XLR input, what does the MixPre-6 offer over the 3?

It seems like they're pretty much the same, they even both have the HDMI TC input, I just can't figure out if the 4th input is really worth an extra $250.
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Depending on the usage, it can be very nice to have TRS combo inputs. Most video-centric folks probably won't care about that though.

For taking sound off of a board, it would be nice to have both types of inputs just to be ready for a greater variety of scenarios without needing adaptors and such.
 
Where's the one that competes with the Zoom F8? Four micpres isn't enough for a lot of things, eight would be much more interesting to me. When is SD going to finally replace the 788T anyway?
 
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