Topic: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 3

[dallman]

So, I record almost entirely in mono on my current rigs, Marantz 620 and 661 mk2.
I was running a mixpre-D for certain uses in which I wanted to push audio straight into my Mac,  and loved it, now have a mixpre-3 on the way, and it looks like basically even with a single mic going its going to record in stereo, essentially two channels of exactly the same sound that I will then have to combine in software (Audition) into mono. That's not a big deal I guess but it is a useless additional step, seems like it may on rare occasions cause a hiccup or two and.... take up twice as much space on the memory chip.
Have I misunderstood how the machine works?
And is there any reason this isn't solvable with a firmware update if SD decides to change it and make true mono possible?

You can record one channel ISO only =  mono track.
No need firmware update.

If it is like the mixpre 6, you can record one channel by only arming the one channel you want to use, but you need to go into the menus and turn off the L,R Mix track. The L,R mix will still show, but it will not record.

[acidjack]

Apologies in advance as this is no doubt covered in the thread somewhere. Running now so trying not to have to look at phone all show. I'm currently in Custom mode w/ everything but gain as "advanced"

I want the deck to record 2 pairs of tracks as 1/2 and 3/4 to the SD card, gain linked. I have REC L/R linked so I think that does that.

I'd like the 1/2 and 3/4 gains to link in "Basic" mode -- that is so the gain will be controlled by the knobs but I can also control L/R simultaneously. I for some reason can't find that.

Related, is there a way in "Advanced" to make the knobs control what is recorded to the card? As far as I can tell, the knob only controls the L/R Mix that is output. As everyone has said, doing gain by tapping the screen is not optimal.

Also, does Wingman let you do anything but rec//stop? All I can get it to do is that.

Thanks.

[johnw]

Apologies in advance as this is no doubt covered in the thread somewhere. Running now so trying not to have to look at phone all show. I'm currently in Custom mode w/ everything but gain as "advanced"

I want the deck to record 2 pairs of tracks as 1/2 and 3/4 to the SD card, gain linked. I have REC L/R linked so I think that does that.

I'd like the 1/2 and 3/4 gains to link in "Basic" mode -- that is so the gain will be controlled by the knobs but I can also control L/R simultaneously. I for some reason can't find that.

Related, is there a way in "Advanced" to make the knobs control what is recorded to the card? As far as I can tell, the knob only controls the L/R Mix that is output. As everyone has said, doing gain by tapping the screen is not optimal.

Also, does Wingman let you do anything but rec//stop? All I can get it to do is that.

Thanks.

I believe you have hit on all major complaints. The answers are no,no and no. There is no way to do link gain in custom mode. In advanced mode, gain is controlled with the knob on the side and channels must be selected individually from the screen. All the wingman app does it lets you monitor the channels and start/stop recording.

[acidjack]

Apologies in advance as this is no doubt covered in the thread somewhere. Running now so trying not to have to look at phone all show. I'm currently in Custom mode w/ everything but gain as "advanced"

I want the deck to record 2 pairs of tracks as 1/2 and 3/4 to the SD card, gain linked. I have REC L/R linked so I think that does that.

I'd like the 1/2 and 3/4 gains to link in "Basic" mode -- that is so the gain will be controlled by the knobs but I can also control L/R simultaneously. I for some reason can't find that.

Related, is there a way in "Advanced" to make the knobs control what is recorded to the card? As far as I can tell, the knob only controls the L/R Mix that is output. As everyone has said, doing gain by tapping the screen is not optimal.

Also, does Wingman let you do anything but rec//stop? All I can get it to do is that.

Thanks.

I believe you have hit on all major complaints. The answers are no,no and no. There is no way to do link gain in custom mode. In advanced mode, gain is controlled with the knob on the side and channels must be selected individually from the screen. All the wingman app does it lets you monitor the channels and start/stop recording.

Wow... OK, that's weird. So the only option for file output is also it outputs a 4ch WAV file? That's what it gave me when I recorded it with "OFF, LINKED."

Honestly the features of the thing are a bit bizarre. Ganging the channels isn't such a big deal but why not have 2 discrete WAVs for 1/2, 3/4 like the SD7xx series...? Weird.

[dallman]

Wow... OK, that's weird. So the only option for file output is also it outputs a 4ch WAV file? That's what it gave me when I recorded it with "OFF, LINKED."

This is not actually correct. What you actually have is a polywave file. The deck records polywave files, which I quickly learned makes life much easier. But the files need to be opened in an appropriate app like soundforge or reaper. I am sure there are many others. I use soundforge and opening the file gave me six channels, each stereo pair being a different color. So I could then easily separate them, but the beauty is, I could track each set identically and at the exact same time before splitting them up. It is effortless and beneficial to have the files set up this way. Yes if you just open the file like a regular .wav file, it will play all the tracks together, but the deck was designed it appears for the beginner (Basic Mode, 2 channels only, no polywave files) or Custom and Advanced, where most professionals are going to open their files to do some post work. And even if not it is effortless to then save each stereo pair separately.

[jbell]

Sound devices Wave agent will help out with polywave files if you use wavelab!

https://www.sounddevices.com/products/accessories/software/wave-agent

[noahbickart]

The stop button on my mixpre6 has stopped working. Looks like the play button too. I can stop the recording from the wingman app but not from the button!!! Wtf?

Any ideas?

[johnw]

That sucks. I'd send an email to SD. They tend to respond pretty quickly. If you don't hear back maybe pull the battery and reset to factory default. If that doesn't do it, try and return it for a replacement

[rippleish20]

I agree with the idea of trying a factory reset

[noahbickart]

I agree with the idea of trying a factory reset

How do you do this?

I only see the "factory default" under "load preset" but that doesn't solve the problem.

Is there a button on the back near the ad card or something?

[rippleish20]

Thats the only factory default as far as I know.

Have you tried turning off bluetooth - the idea is to make sure the app is not controlling anything (factory reset may do this I cant remember). How about reloading the newest firmware? How are you powering the device?

[noahbickart]

Thats the only factory default as far as I know.

Have you tried turning off bluetooth - the idea is to make sure the app is not controlling anything (factory reset may do this I cant remember). How about reloading the newest firmware? How are you powering the device?

Yup. Tried turning off Bluetooth. I had to turn it off to get it to stop recording.

I'm powering using an anker powercore+ USB c battery.

[rippleish20]

Can you switch to the battery sled?

[noahbickart]

Can you switch to the battery sled?

Yup. Same problem. Record works. But not stop or play.

[rippleish20]

Bummer.