Sound Devices launches compact audio recorders MixPre 3 and MixPre 6
Sound Devices has announced new audio recorders with USB interface in the MixPre series. These are lightweight audio recorders which are targeted at the new generation of video makers who need high quality but lower priced and higher spec products.
The MixPre-3 features 3 full-sized balanced XLR mic/line audio inputs, while the MixPre-6 features 4 balanced XLR/TRS combo jacks to connect microphones or line-level devices. Both have a 3.5 mm auxiliary input that can be used for plug-in power mics, 2-channel line-in audio, camera return, or timecode.
MixPre-3 and MixPre-6
One can record the audio to an SD card and at the same time do audio-streaming via the USB port.
The MixPre-6 and MixPre-3 are Full-featured mixers as they are equipped with ergonomic gain control knobs for fast and accurate mixing. Other key features include pan and soloing plus easy-to-see ring LED metering per channel. There is a 3.5mm jack for headphone monitoring with user-programmable presets which are useful as there is a custom-designed and powerful wide-bandwidth headphone amplifier.
MixPre3MixPre6-Stacked-on top of each other
The MixPre Series feature Sound Devices’ innovative new Kashmir™ microphone preamps. According to Sound Devices the Kashmir™ microphone preamplifiers are high-performance, ultra-low-noise, discrete, Class-A mic preamps and are hand-crafted by Sound Devices. The mic preamps feature a -130dBV noise floor, analog limiters, and new 32-bit A-to-D converters to ensure high quality, stress-free, professional-grade audio recordings. So these are not low quality products.
Intuitive operation: The menu is user friendly and one can use either the basic or advance modes. The Basic mode allows users to record noise and distortion-free audio right out of the box – intended for stereo recording applications. The Advanced mode offers more experienced audio users access to multi-channel recording and advanced settings such as ISO metering, routing, timecode, mic pre gain, stereo and Mid/Side channel linking, headphone presets and more.
Responsive, capacitive touch screen: Sound Devices has included a capacitive touch screen for easy and intuitive operation. This colour LCD screen is bright and has IPS technology, and can be read in sunlight while operating outdoors.
HDMI Triggering: These MixPre-6 and MixPre-3 offer HDMI record triggering, so they are pretty useful for DSLRs. The retractable 1/4-inch-20-thread mounting screw makes it easy to fit at the bottom of a DSLR.
Ultracompact and durable: The MixPre-6/3 are made of die-cast aluminium chassis and are robust despite being lightweight. According to Sound Devices, they wanted to keep the form factor small and hence didn’t include XLRs in the audio out. So atleast in that area the previous generation SD 702 recorders will continue to have an edge.
One circuitous way of dealing with the no –XLR audio outs is that one can use a Wireless transmitter to the 3.5mm stereo output and then wireless receiver on the C300 camera. It would be another thing in the chain but surely it can be done. One can also plug the unbalanced 3.5mm stereo output to the DSLR. However, for that the MixPre 6 /3 has to be close to the DSLR camera.
Stacked MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 backs
Timecode: Since the MixPre-6 and MixPre-3 offer timecode, one can get the standard LTC timecode over the 3.5mm auxiliary input and the TC stamp would be on the wav file.
One can also use a Tentacle sync or ambient TC boxes with the MixPre-6 or MixPre-3 and jam it with the C300 or other such cameras and get the timecode.
Built-in Bluetooth Smart® technology: If you are using an iphone or iOS device then you can use Bluetooth to easily access and control the MixPre-3 or MixPre-6 wirelessly by using the Sound Devices free Wingman app.
Power: The MixPre-6 and MixPre-3 can be powered from AA batteries, Li-Ion batteries, laptop’s USB-C or USB-A connectors, or AC wall outlet. So if you want then you can also do a podcast by just plugging the MixPre6/3 to the laptop by USB so that no external power is required and then start streaming using your Wi-Fi or use a mobile phone to create a Wi-Fi hotspot and stream from any place, even your car. A lot of content creators, artists, youtubers, reporters etc would find this handy.
The MixPre Series is available to order from any Sound Devices authorized reseller, and is anticipated to ship by May 5, 2017.
Cost: The MixPre-6 is priced a $899 US dollars and the MixPre-3 is priced at $649 US dollars.
The difference between the MixPre-3 and MixPre 6
| Features | MixPre-6 | MixPre-3 |
| Description | 6 input, 8-track audio recorder, mixer and USB audio interface | 3 input, 5-track audio recorder, mixer and USB audio interface |
| \Recording Media | SD, SDHC, SDXC | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
| Tracks | 8 (6 channel + mix) | 5 (3 channel + mix) |
| Max Sampling Rate | 192kHz | 96kHz |
| Max Bit Depth | 24 | 24 |
| Audio File Format | Wav Poly | Wav Poly |
| Metadata Editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Playback Audio Scrub | 1/8x to 16x (FFWD and REW) | 1/8x to 16x (FFWD and REW) |
| USB Ports | 2 (1 USB-A, 1 USB-C) | 2 (1 USB-A, 1 USB-C) |
| USB Audio Streaming | 8 in / 4 out to Mac &/or Windows with ASIO driver 2 in / 2 out to Windows w/o ASIO driver | 5 in / 2 out to Mac &/or Windows with ASIO driver 2 in / 2 out to Windows w/o ASIO driver |
| Simultaneous Recording, Mixing, USB audio streaming | ✓ | ✓ |
| Balanced Mic/Line Inputs | 4 XLR/TRS combo | 3 XLR |
| Aux/Mic In (3.5 mm) 4 uses: Camera Return, Plug-in-Power Mic, 2 ch Line In & Timecode |
✓ | ✓ |
| 48V Phantom | ✓ | ✓ |
| Low Cut filters | 40 – 240 Hz, 18dB/Oct | 40 – 240 Hz, 18dB/Oct |
| Input Limiters | Analog | Analog |
| Output Limiters | Digital | Digital |
| Input Pair Linking (Stereo and M/S) | Pairs 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 | Pair 1-2 |
| Input Delay | ✓ | — |
| Input Polarity Reverse | ✓ | — |
| Input Gain, Pan, and Fader Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| Input SOLOs (Individual or Multiple) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unbalanced Stereo Output (3.5 mm) w/routing matrix | ✓ | ✓ |
| Headphone Output (3.5 mm; wide bandwidth, high gain) | ✓ | ✓ |
| User-Programmable Headphone Presets | ✓ | ✓ |
| LCD Metering | 3 meter views | 3 meter views |
| Multi-Color Ring LED Metering Surrounding Fader Knobs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tone Generator | ✓ | ✓ |
| Touchscreen, Sunlight-Readable | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ergonomic Channel Knobs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backlit Tranport Buttons | ✓ | ✓ |
| Operation Modes: Basic, Advanced, Custom | ✓ | ✓ |
| Load/Save User Setup | 4 internal, unlimited to SD card | 4 internal, unlimited to SD card |
| Multi-function Star Button | ✓ | — |
| Reader | Time of Day, HDMI or LTC via Aux In | Time of Day, HDMI or LTC via Aux In |
| Power Source | 4x AA or 8x AA, L-mount, USB-C | 4x AA or 8x AA, L-mount, USB-C |
| iPhone/iPad USB-A Charging Port | ✓ (when powered by L-mount batteries) | ✓ (when powered by L-mount batteries) |
| Wingman iOS app | ✓ (via integrated Bluetooth Smart) | ✓ (via integrated Bluetooth Smart) |
| Record Start/Stop Trigger | ✓ (HDMI Flag or Timecode) | ✓ (HDMI Flag or Timecode) |
| Die Cast Aluminium Chassis | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1/4″ 20 mounting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Size | 6.53” x 4.65” x 1.40” (166mm x 118mm x 36mm) | 5.68” x 4.35” x 1.40” (144mm x 110mm x 36mm) |
| Weight | 19.9 oz (.56 kg) | 16.8 oz (.48 kg) |
| MX-4AA Battery Sled | ✓ | ✓ |
| Y-Cable (1 USB-C to 2 USB-A) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MX-8AA Battery Sled | ✓ | ✓ |
| MX-Lmount Battery Sled (Li-Ion) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MX-Charge (Wall PSU w/USB-C) | ✓ | ✓ |
B&H Link:
Sound Devices MixPre-3 and MixPre-6
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