Personal View site logo
Make sure to join PV on Telegram or Facebook! Perfect to keep up with community on your smartphone.
Please, support PV!
It allows to keep PV going, with more focus towards AI, but keeping be one of the few truly independent places.
Sound Devices MixPre-3 and MixPre-6
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    image

    Sound Devices, LLC, the audio manufacturer whose products are trusted for award-winning productions including La La Land, Mad Max: Fury Road and Game of Thrones, announces the launch of its new groundbreaking product line, the MixPre Series of audio recorders with integrated USB audio interface. The lightweight, robust, ultra-portable MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 are the perfect audio companions for musicians, sound designers, podcasters and videographers. Available now for $649 and $899 respectively, Sound Devices’ MixPre Series marks the first time the industry pioneer is bringing its high-end, professional audio innovations to the wider consumer market.

    The 3-input/5-track MixPre-3 and the 6-input/8-track MixPre-6 feature Sound Devices’ groundbreaking new Kashmir™ microphone preamps. These high-performance, ultra-low-noise, discrete, Class-A microphone preamps with analog limiters are custom-engineered by Sound Devices. This sophisticated design ensures high quality, professional-grade audio recordings.

    “Our new Sound Devices MixPre Series is the culmination of decades of experience designing products for the best-of-the-best in the professional audio industry,” says Matt Anderson, CEO of Sound Devices, LLC. “Our mic preamps simply have to be heard to be believed, whether mic’ing drums, birds, or dialog, using condenser, dynamic, or ribbon mics. The MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 merge the latest advances in audio technology with an unintimidating, compact and rugged design. Not to mention they’re both very affordable. These products are a must-have piece of equipment for anyone ranging from production engineers and musicians to YouTubers.”

    Some of the unique features of the MixPre Series include:

    • Superior professional-grade audio – state-of-the-art, custom-engineered Kashmir mic preamps with analog limiters and new 32-bit A-to-D converters.
    • USB audio interface – record while streaming USB audio at the same time; ideal for mixing or recording podcasts, Skype interviews and video blogs. Also serves as a useful backup by recording to an SD card.
    • Compact and durable – the pocket-sized MixPre-3 is one of the smallest products in its class. Both the MixPre-3 and the slightly larger MixPre-6 are the perfect size for jobs on the run. They are also constructed with a die-cast aluminum chassis making them robust, yet extremely lightweight.
    • Touchscreen – sunlight-readable, color LCD using IPS touch-screen technology for the ultimate in convenient navigation.
    • Full-featured mixer – equipped with ergonomic gain controls for fast and accurate mixing, and a custom-designed, wide-bandwidth headphone amp for monitoring. Also includes pan and soloing plus circular LED metering.
    • Mobile app – built-in Bluetooth Smart(R) Technology enables control from the Sound Devices free Wingman app. Users can start/stop recording, enter/edit metadata, as well as arm, disarm and rename tracks on the MixPre recorder from a mobile device. The Wingman app is available for iOS from the App Store.
    • Camera mounting – as an added benefit to DSLR users, the MixPre Series also have retractable 1Ž4″-20 mounting capacity making them a perfect pairing for a wide variety of cameras.

    The MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 offer many similarities in terms of functionality but differ in size and I/O capabilities. The MixPre-3 offers up to a 5-in/2-out USB audio interface with 3 discrete mic preamps, and the ability to stream up to 3 analog inputs (including 3 high-quality mic inputs) + 2-channel mix over USB. The MixPre-6 offers up to an 8-in/4-out USB audio interface with 4 mic preamps and streams up to 6 analog inputs (including 4 high-quality mic inputs) + 2-channel mix over USB to a Mac or Windows computer. In addition, the MixPre-6 features XLR / 1Ž4” combo inputs allowing 1Ž4” line-input sources to be connected directly. Both models record to a removable SD, SDHC or SDXC media card.

    Both MixPre recorders come with Basic and Advanced modes. Designed to allow a user to start recording right out of the box, the Basic mode takes the guesswork out of audio recording and is intended for simple 2-channel mix applications, such as interviews, video blogs, music or podcasts. The Advanced mode offers more experienced audio enthusiasts access to multi-channel recording and advanced settings, such as metering, routing, timecode, trim gain, stereo channel linking, headphone presets and more. The MixPre Series also has several convenient powering options from AA batteries sleds to hot-swappable L-Mount battery power. It can also be powered via USB to a computer or optional wall-mount accessory.

  • 71 Replies sorted by
  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Sound Devices MixPre-6 6-Channel / 8-Track Multi-Track Field Recorder, $649

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1333779-REG/sound_devices_mixpre_6_mixpre_6_mic_preamps.html

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Nice workshop video

  • MikeLinnMikeLinn

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    Just a small update with my MixPre6. I have worked out a simple USB-C battery pack solution to power the device. As stated a few times already:

    • The MixPre6 is very selective with its USB-C power requirements.
    • MixPre6 needs a native USB-C power supply chain. Ie: not USB-A -> USB-C
    • I also believe that a USB-C cord rated to 7W is needed (which should be most newer cables)
    • Without a good power supply the MixPre6 will only operate 2 inputs with phantom power- and will display a yellow power icon on the top menu - as opposed to green.

    This in itself isn't that exciting, however if you are able to find a USB-C battery pack that has USB-C PD (power delivery) the time to charge large battery packs will reduce to only a few hours, (as opposed to 7+).

    Currently I have had great success with the Cygnett Type-C 20,000MAH battery pack, and when combined with a PD USB-C charger, works flawlessly.

    Although the Cygnett battery is a bit more expensive than the usual battery packs, the inclusion of PD charging (and also powering a laptop over PD) is super useful. Thankfully USB-C PD chargers are easy to find and inexpensive.

    Obviously many battery packs also now have QC3 (Quick Charge 3). However I have not found any power banks that allow 20v charging using QC3 at this time.

    For example: I also purchased this device:

    • Vinsic QC 3.0 Quick Charger USB-C Power Bank

    However that is only able to charge with 5v, 2Amps.

    And as many readers of this thread would probably know, USB-C is super snug fitting, much better than Micro-USB etc.

  • MikeLinnMikeLinn

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    Used like new for $567 at

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01KZHQWY0/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

  • MikeLinnMikeLinn

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    @DrDave it's not only about the sound, it's also about features that allow good sound in compromised situations. There is little point in saving cash on a recorder, only to have talent suddenly yell into microphone, and have a ruined take.

    Currently the tech just isn't there for digital only systems to be better than high quality analog systems. Obviously one day soon they will be- just not today.

    That said- gain is digital in the SD device- so that is a start. And they have amazing technical support!!! :-)

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    The funny thing is, once the price is lower ppl will think the older, more expensive ones are better, and also realize that some of the other cheap brands sound the same.

    This is the catch and how many legendary brands die :-)

  • DrDaveDrDave

    The funny thing is, once the price is lower ppl will think the older, more expensive ones are better, and also realize that some of the other cheap brands sound the same.

  • DrDaveDrDave

    Smart move by SD as there is real competition in the sub $800 market.

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    2 weeks delivery here. :-(

  • tonalttonalt

    Availability seems to be very low now. Hopefully I manage to get mine soon.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    I've order one of the MixPre6's so in a few weeks will post a review. Hopefully new firmware will be available by then. :-)

  • MikeLinnMikeLinn

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    I don't think Tascam or Zoom currently use 32bit ADC, as if they did we would be sure to see it in the marketing and specs?

    I think they do not.

    In reality 100% of top recorders must use 4 parallel 32bit ADCs per channel, with each being 12-20db apart (0, -12db, -24db, -36db).

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    I don't think Tascam or Zoom currently use 32bit ADC, as if they did we would be sure to see it in the marketing and specs?

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    The utility may need to be a bit more complex. With simple replace louder data (without clipping) then it will be limiter effect. Cool thing about dual recording is that it would be possible to have very high quality dynamic range without limiting effect (pumping of high levels).

    No, it won't be limiter as it'll have preliminary scaling. And of course it'll scan all data first. 100% of mike sources can be fir within 24bit without loosing any info.

    Issue with ADC is many companies like to use outdate designs and chips. Modern ones are multi channel 32bit ADC and cheap (like used in Sound Devices), they are offered by most manufacturers now.

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    The utility may need to be a bit more complex. With simple replace louder data (without clipping) then it will be limiter effect. Cool thing about dual recording is that it would be possible to have very high quality dynamic range without limiting effect (pumping of high levels).

    Possibly it could do it in passes. First pass repair clipping, and normalise to new level. Second pass extend noise floor downward (downward clipping repair?)

    Obviously these are just ideas, I'm no software engineer! :-)

    The only issue I have with AD clipping is that many AD chips exhibit distortion even before clipping. At about -3 Dbfs there is distortion present. I try to keep my hot levels -12 dbfs so to give headroom.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    So with a zoom f8 you get a bit of the clips less audio recorder tech (dual ADC) then we simply need software to make a HDR file out of two audio files. (Like in photography)

    Yep. Btw no need for HDR here. For most tasks even 24bit resulting file will work perfect and it is supported by much more software.

    Can be small automated utility that check source file and use info from double track only then and where necessary. May be I'll even write one.

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    So with a zoom f8 you get a bit of the clips less audio recorder tech (dual ADC) then we simply need software to make a HDR file out of two audio files. (Like in photography)

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    @alcomposer

    Do Zaxcom have exclusive 32bit WAV license? (I never thought I would one day need 32bit, but here we are) :-$

    I believe they have patent on so called clipless audio recorder, this means multiple ADC and algorithm to mix them to produce single file.

    As for 32bit WAV, it must long be standard for recorders and intermediate editing format. With 16 and 24bit as delivery formats.

  • alcomposeralcomposer

    Do Zaxcom have exclusive 32bit WAV license? (I never thought I would one day need 32bit, but here we are) :-$

    24 bit should allow 144db dynamic range. ( 24 bit * 6 db) Limiting factor is analog side. However with "safe track" if the zoom f8 actually does use a seperate analog stage for recording, should give better result than 32 bit, as that one 32 bit AD will still be sampling the same analog gain stage.

    (Obviously if equipment becomes 32 but it may actually have more DR anyway due to having better analog side)

    Problem is just like camera sensors. 120db is from clipping to noise floor. Just because we have 120db doesn't mean we can use all that range.

    Now, MixPre does have 32 bit AD, but dithers to 24. Considering many 24 bit AD's are not even real 24bit- (more like 20 bit) that could be interesting itself.

  • Vitaliy_KiselevVitaliy_Kiselev

    I believe that the Zoom F8 allows setting independent gain for safe tracks. So user can set level much lower than -12. Or in another situation one could use safe dual gain to "cheat" and record soft material at same time as loud material. (As long as they are not happening at same time obviously) for example if an actor had dialogue that went from whispering to yelling.

    Btw whole thing with safe tracks, instead of 32bit WAVs comes from Zaxcom guys, as I believe. Plus it is more easy for software guys to do :-)

Add a Comment