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

[thumper88]

I asked Sound Devices twice if it was possible to use the USB-A port for audio interface connection to a computer and got a resounding "no" both times. But you're saying it's working?

Edit: It is NOT working for me. Have my MP6 powered by AA batteries and USB A connection to my MacBook Air USB A port and nothing shows up on the computer.
[/quote]

Unless I was having a flashback, yes, I am saying it worked. The connections were exactly as I described. I was running USB-a to the Mac into adobe audition, and the signal was from an XLR mic run into the mixPre...I was just doing test tracks to get a sense of the faders, but it sounded good.
I will set it up again maybe tomorrow and double-check. I was pretty excited to see the USBc from the Mac charger power the mixpre so I wouldn't have to buy a charger and posted that immediately...... then came the question back, about  whether I actually use it as an interface at the desk given the USBc was occupied... the only way I can think of that I could have been mistaken was if I had the usb/c to usb/c cable running from mixpre to Mac as well as the usb-a to usb/c run between them. but thats not the way I had it set up... I had the usb c port on mixpre run to anker.

[waltmon]

Linking channels...can channels 3 & 4 be linked like you can with channels 1 & 2 where 1 is volume and 2 is balance?

[acidjack]

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.

I'm running the latest version of Audition on Mac. I assume it can handle it correctly, though I'm not sure what settings to use. Anyone have experience with that particular program?

[F.O.Bean]

With all of this speaking about the Mixpre6 1/8" mini input and overloading it at 0db gain, can't you just run the 1/8" 5/6 input at something like -20db in the settings, and then the Mixpre6 settings would act as a -20db attenuator, right?

So what I'm asking is, if I run my 1/8" 5/6 input from a SBD Patch, can't I turn the Mixpre6 5/6 settings to -20db and have it act as a -20db attenuator? So if people kept running their Mixpre6 @-20db gain on the 5/6 input vs @0db gain, wouldn't that save the end file from clipping the +10db prosumer input?

[edtyre]

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.

I'm running the latest version of Audition on Mac. I assume it can handle it correctly, though I'm not sure what settings to use. Anyone have experience with that particular program?

Audition can open polywave files, from the Edit Menu > Enable Channels  Just disable the channels you don't want to save. You can then either copy and paste
into a new audio file, or export as a new file. You can export single channels as mono tracks or stereo pairs,
then import them into the multitrack editor. This is fantastic and allows you a lot of different ways to work on the files.

[nolamule]

Gain can't be linked. Only the faders while in advanced mode.

Linking channels...can channels 3 & 4 be linked like you can with channels 1 & 2 where 1 is volume and 2 is balance?

[Paul Isaacs]

Linking channels...can channels 3 & 4 be linked like you can with channels 1 & 2 where 1 is volume and 2 is balance?

Yes - they can.

[waltmon]

I used the mixpre vid on You tube to figure it out...so I have it set for 4 channels phantom power with 1&2 linked and 3&4 linked - I run my 744T with 1&2 linked...I like it.

[nolamule]

Your talking linking the faders not the gain correct? Or did I miss something?

I used the mixpre vid on You tube to figure it out...so I have it set for 4 channels phantom power with 1&2 linked and 3&4 linked - I run my 744T with 1&2 linked...I like it.

[hipporu]

With all of this speaking about the Mixpre6 1/8" mini input and overloading it at 0db gain, can't you just run the 1/8" 5/6 input at something like -20db in the settings, and then the Mixpre6 settings would act as a -20db attenuator, right?

So what I'm asking is, if I run my 1/8" 5/6 input from a SBD Patch, can't I turn the Mixpre6 5/6 settings to -20db and have it act as a -20db attenuator? So if people kept running their Mixpre6 @-20db gain on the 5/6 input vs @0db gain, wouldn't that save the end file from clipping the +10db prosumer input?

No.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=182573.msg2231794#msg2231794

[tom the taper]

Your talking linking the faders not the gain correct? Or did I miss something?

I used the mixpre vid on You tube to figure it out...so I have it set for 4 channels phantom power with 1&2 linked and 3&4 linked - I run my 744T with 1&2 linked...I like it.

You did not miss something nolamule - you are correct that you can link the faders, but not the gain (gain meaning the front channel knobs adjust the Gain on each isolated track).
To setup the front channel knobs for gain, Record has to be set to Advanced under Custom Setup (which is under the System menu)
That said, as of now you cannot link channels 1-2 or 3-4 and still use channel knobs as gain for the ISO tracks.

THIS IS MY MAIN feature WISH FOR A FIRMWARE UPDATE.   

[nolamule]

I agree 100%! Everyone needs to send a feature request to makes this happen.

https://www.sounddevices.com/support/inquiry

That said, as of now you cannot link channels 1-2 or 3-4 and still use channel knobs as gain for the ISO tracks.

THIS IS MY MAIN feature WISH FOR A FIRMWARE UPDATE.

[F.O.Bean]

With all of this speaking about the Mixpre6 1/8" mini input and overloading it at 0db gain, can't you just run the 1/8" 5/6 input at something like -20db in the settings, and then the Mixpre6 settings would act as a -20db attenuator, right?

So what I'm asking is, if I run my 1/8" 5/6 input from a SBD Patch, can't I turn the Mixpre6 5/6 settings to -20db and have it act as a -20db attenuator? So if people kept running their Mixpre6 @-20db gain on the 5/6 input vs @0db gain, wouldn't that save the end file from clipping the +10db prosumer input?

No.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=182573.msg2231794#msg2231794

+T Thanks for the info buddy

[noahbickart]

With all of this speaking about the Mixpre6 1/8" mini input and overloading it at 0db gain, can't you just run the 1/8" 5/6 input at something like -20db in the settings, and then the Mixpre6 settings would act as a -20db attenuator, right?

So what I'm asking is, if I run my 1/8" 5/6 input from a SBD Patch, can't I turn the Mixpre6 5/6 settings to -20db and have it act as a -20db attenuator? So if people kept running their Mixpre6 @-20db gain on the 5/6 input vs @0db gain, wouldn't that save the end file from clipping the +10db prosumer input?

No.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=182573.msg2231794#msg2231794

+T Thanks for the info buddy

I had no trouble running line in from the mk4v pair> naiant littlebox into 5/6 last night. I even had the mixpre6 at +20db gain, with just a touch from the naiant. It was perfect: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=594263

[acidjack]

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.

I'm running the latest version of Audition on Mac. I assume it can handle it correctly, though I'm not sure what settings to use. Anyone have experience with that particular program?

Audition can open polywave files, from the Edit Menu > Enable Channels  Just disable the channels you don't want to save. You can then either copy and paste
into a new audio file, or export as a new file. You can export single channels as mono tracks or stereo pairs,
then import them into the multitrack editor. This is fantastic and allows you a lot of different ways to work on the files.

Thanks, that is super helpful.

Obvious dumb question -- I assume if a polywave file is 4-6 tracks, you still get the 2GB limit? Or in other words, if it's recording a 4ch polywave at 24/48, it doesn't make it cut a new track every 1hr, does it?