Topic: New Sound Devices MixPre II-series coming?

[aaronji]

^ Personally, I think that's mostly marketing. Many mics don't have extended response, nor do many speakers or headphones.

At any rate, if ultrasonic content is interacting with stuff in the audible range, those changes can be recorded solely by recording that audible range. I have quoted this before, but as Dan Lavry puts it:

It has been well documented that acoustic musical instruments generate energy at frequencies far above audibility. In the performance space (before any recording takes place), if there is any mechanism that enable ultrasonic frequencies to impact what we hear, it would require energy transfer from ultrasonic frequencies to the audible range. Therefore, using microphones and gear that cover what we hear enables us to capture and keep ALL the energy we need. We can store it, convert it and at some point play back all that we need. There is no good reason for keeping what we don’t hear, because everything we heard in the original performance is already there.   

[voltronic]

^ Personally, I think that's mostly marketing. Many mics don't have extended response, nor do many speakers or headphones.

At any rate, if ultrasonic content is interacting with stuff in the audible range, those changes can be recorded solely by recording that audible range. I have quoted this before, but as Dan Lavry puts it:

It has been well documented that acoustic musical instruments generate energy at frequencies far above audibility. In the performance space (before any recording takes place), if there is any mechanism that enable ultrasonic frequencies to impact what we hear, it would require energy transfer from ultrasonic frequencies to the audible range. Therefore, using microphones and gear that cover what we hear enables us to capture and keep ALL the energy we need. We can store it, convert it and at some point play back all that we need. There is no good reason for keeping what we don’t hear, because everything we heard in the original performance is already there.   

Hmm.  That's so simple that it makes perfect sense! 

The only possible exception is infrasonic frequencies we feel, which are usually expensive to reproduce in playback anyway.

[aaronji]

^ Occam's Razor and whatnot! Personally, I have found Lavry's white papers to be very compelling (although not always easy).

I have seen a few articles about feeling ultrasonics; the most convincing evidence was for direct bone conduction. My Dynaudios definitely don't do that (thankfully)!

[Charlie Miller]

should I sell my 744 and get a MixPre 6 ii ??

Any thoughts?? Opinions ??

[Gordon]

should I sell my 744 and get a MixPre 6 ii ??

Any thoughts?? Opinions ??

I love mine!  as you know there's no digi out but I don't need that anyway.  small, light, great pre's, 32bit float, what's not to love?!

[datbrad]

Charlie, unless your 744T is acting up or you really need more than 4 channels, I think you should stick with it. One of these Mixpre models might be the right choice for replacing your 744T when it kicks the bucket, or if you are looking for it's direct decendent, consider the new pro model 833, it looks amazing on paper. Also you may still need the digital input on the 744T so you can transfer GD SBD DAT sources (if there are any left you haven't already archived,

[dallman]

should I sell my 744 and get a MixPre 6 ii ??

Any thoughts?? Opinions ??

If you worry about or ever have issues with your levels, then this is a deck to consider. The 744 is a great deck and will make great recordings. They both are outstanding. Does the 744 have any features (digi in comes to mind) that you use and need that the MixPre6II does not have?

[Charlie Miller]

should I sell my 744 and get a MixPre 6 ii ??

Any thoughts?? Opinions ??

If you worry about or ever have issues with your levels, then this is a deck to consider. The 744 is a great deck and will make great recordings. They both are outstanding. Does the 744 have any features (digi in comes to mind) that you use and need that the MixPre6II does not have?

I often use the different outputs on the 744 to send different feeds/mixes. It looks like the 833 is what I need since I can’t afford the Scorpio.

[dallman]

should I sell my 744 and get a MixPre 6 ii ??

Any thoughts?? Opinions ??

If you worry about or ever have issues with your levels, then this is a deck to consider. The 744 is a great deck and will make great recordings. They both are outstanding. Does the 744 have any features (digi in comes to mind) that you use and need that the MixPre6II does not have?

That could be a problem but I do not pay much attention top output routing. I would send a question to Sound Devices as I know there (or I think) there is multiple output functionality through USB. Will that work for your situation? They'd know best and for me they have been great on responses to questions.

I often use the different outputs on the 744 to send different feeds/mixes.

[shijan]

Played with MixPre-3 II few hours yesterday evening and here are some quick  personal critical impressions:

The biggest problem for me was get AA batteries out of sled. Not too user friendly design. The solution - place thin ribbon under the batteries. This usually helps in similar situations to get out batteries from holders.
AA batteries is a total shame. Instead of 4xAA they could design sled with SINGLE 18650 li-ion  battery and it will produced same Wh capacity.
Battery sled may looks thin, but subjectively seems it is not cheap ABS plastic. It feels like made of Polyamide or similar heavy duty heat resistant Nylon-like industrial material.

XLR lock handles are very tiny and with sharp edges. Not too comfortable to press. Sort of idiotic design way to fit everything inside slim size to provide 5mm less body thickness.

As expected, preamps sounds slightly different between MixPre and MixPre-3 II because transformers technology is very different between them.
As expected, when you plug MixPre out to MixPre-3 II Aux line in, and record with 32 bit mode, you can not recover similar ultra wide dynamic range clipped data as from native MixPre-3 II peamps recording. But it is still better than 24 bit recording because MixPre still allow to recover very tiny amount of clipped data. MixPre was calibrated with 20db tone signal and tested with limiters turned OFF.

Until you create Presets for different connections it is impossible to switch things and setups as fast and intuitive as with MixPre physical buttons.

For some reason "switch to USB files transfer mode" hidden too deep. You need too many clicks inside menu every time when you connect it to computer and want to transfer files.

Faders knobs rotate very smooth and well damped. Input gain faders are fully digital, so they can not change input gain in real time with same smoothness as analogue MixPre faders. When switched to final mix volume control mode, they probably provide more smoothness but i don't tested it yet.

Вespite all this MixPre-3/6 II is a great tool and no any real alternative to it.

[justink]

Looking to get the 10 II and trying to price out selling some gear and acquiring new.  I'm assuming 9v dvd batteries won't do the trick.  What's the best way to power this bad boy?  Rechargeable AA's or outside power?  It comes with a AA sled, right?  I'm only looking to run it for about 6 hours with 6 mics.

[Ronmac]

The MixPre10 is a very power hungry device. The linked video and SD PDF are worth exploring for options.

https://cdn.sounddevices.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/MixPreII9.12.19.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a_AP9JbgJg

[noahbickart]

Looking to get the 10 II and trying to price out selling some gear and acquiring new.  I'm assuming 9v dvd batteries won't do the trick.  What's the best way to power this bad boy?  Rechargeable AA's or outside power?  It comes with a AA sled, right?  I'm only looking to run it for about 6 hours with 6 mics.

Best way to power it is with an inexpensive usb-c battery.
Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Portable-Qualcomm-20100mAh-Nintendo/dp/B019IFIJW8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=32SLYFUBQIND9&keywords=usb-c+battery+pack&qid=1572880737&sprefix=usb-c+batt%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-3

[Brian G]

Looking to get the 10 II and trying to price out selling some gear and acquiring new.  I'm assuming 9v dvd batteries won't do the trick.  What's the best way to power this bad boy?  Rechargeable AA's or outside power?  It comes with a AA sled, right?  I'm only looking to run it for about 6 hours with 6 mics.

Best way to power it is with an inexpensive usb-c battery.
Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Portable-Qualcomm-20100mAh-Nintendo/dp/B019IFIJW8/ref=sr_1_3?crid=32SLYFUBQIND9&keywords=usb-c+battery+pack&qid=1572880737&sprefix=usb-c+batt%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-3

That wont work for the 10II... You need something like the Talentcell.

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Rechargeable-11000mAh-20000mAh-Portable/dp/B01337QXMA/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=370TTC7IH5TBV&keywords=talentcell+rechargeable+12v&qid=1572882374&sprefix=talent%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyS05RNEhHMzVINU4wJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjE2NzM0RjA4WktLQjhKUkNJJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0ODQ2MjUyOUtaV1JOQlVYREQ0JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[Ronmac]

MIXPRE-3 II AND MIXPRE-6 II POWER OPTIONS
1. Included MX-PSU AC wall adapter to USB-C power supply.
2. Four AA batteries installed in the included MX-4AA Battery Sled.
3. Eight AA batteries installed in the optional MX-8AA Battery Sled
accessory.
4. One or two Sony-type L-Mount batteries installed in the optional
MX-LMount battery sled accessory.
5. USB-C to USB-C cable (included) connected to a USB-C host
computer or AC wall adapter.
6. USB-A to USB-C cable connected to a USB-A host computer or
AC wall adapter. The unit will enter a low power state and some
functionality will be limited with this power option.
7. MX-USBY Dual USB-A to USB-C optional accessory
cable connected to a USB-A host computer. Use this
cable option if your computer is unable to provide
adequate power with only one USB-A port.


MIXPRE-10 II POWER OPTIONS
1. Included XL-WPH3 AC to DC 12 V Power supply with 4-pin Hirose.
2. Eight AA batteries installed in the included MX-8AA Battery Sled.
3. One or two Sony-type L-Mount batteries installed in the optional
MX-LMount battery sled accessory


OR

Watch the previously linked video for other Hirose connection options.