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Author Topic: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4  (Read 97810 times)

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Offline dogmusic

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #90 on: October 13, 2017, 10:12:10 PM »
Neither file has digital harshness that seems to affect some piano recordings.  Of the two, I like A better because it seems to have a fuller presence.

The Beyerdynamic MC930 (which I first heard about on this forum) is a great mic for piano. It's a bit "dark" or mellow and works well with close-miking.
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Online voltronic

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #91 on: October 14, 2017, 08:53:48 AM »
Here's a comp between the MP6 and the USBPre2, a short recording of acoustic piano.

COMP 1-A https://app.box.com/s/lj7a1k7ifelh3y271p7k944ngggkef5x

COMP 1-B https://app.box.com/s/6dcyz792iqb8ojiqe6dzg64a8r46h820

Beyerdynamic MC930's > ART Phantom Pro II > Y-cable split   > 1. to USBPre2 mic in > TASCAM DR100MK3 digital in;   &  > 2. to MixPre-6 mic in
 
Both recorded at 24/48.

One file is a bit louder than the other.

A river flows past my house. Not sure if it's audible on the tracks.

Both sound very good, but surprisingly different given that there's only a 0.5 dB difference in level.  It almost sounds like two takes where the mics were moved slightly.

Never having heard either preamp, I can't tell which is which.  I'll only comment that File A has a fatter/thicker tone but I suspect B may be closer to reality.

Nice playing and nice piano also.  Yamaha?

Thanks very much for your comments. It is only a single take but they do sound quite different as you say.

The piano does have that Yamaha crispness but it's an English manufacturer, Danemann, who used to make a lot of instruments for the Tropics and ocean liners. Mine, a 6'7" grand made in the 50's, has the soundboard screwed down in many spots, perhaps to keep it from warping in severe humidity. It has a terrific action, very chunky and responsive.

It probably doesn't matter whether this is a blind test or not. So I'll say your description of File A is very apt for the smooth nature of the MixPre-6. Some have said that the USBPre2 is similar to the 788T preamps. Do owners of that recorder find it to be more clinical and, as you say, "closer to reality"?

Hmm, never heard of that maker.  Soundboard screwed down, you say?  That's certainly unusual but clearly it works.  I was thinking that the sustain of the bass reminds me of my Yamaha U1 upright.

Perhaps I should explain my "closer to reality" statement.  The "fat" sound of A is the one I preferred, but piano recordings in home studios tend to sound a bit thin at times, and not knowing your instrument I thought B was the "un-hyped" version. 

I'm still surprised how different these two files sound.  It almost sounds like two different mic positions.

Lol. They sound the same to me (iPhone > usb CarPlay > crappy car speakers).

Both sound great but I can’t discern a difference.

 :shrug:

Try it at home on a good setup.  I'm listening on my KRK monitors, and the difference is not small.
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Offline adrianb

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #92 on: October 14, 2017, 09:08:30 AM »
Both recordings sound equally good to me. They are definitely different, but both are excellent.
Mics: Sennheiser MKH 8040, Sennheiser MKH 8020, AT BP4025, AT 853 cards, CA CAFS, CA 14 Omnis, CA 11 (Cards + Omnis), Soundman OKM II Classic
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #93 on: October 14, 2017, 09:53:33 AM »

Got my mp6 today!  quick question regarding linking channels.  Do you make sure they are matched and then enable linking or simply link ahead of time and use channel 2 or 4 to balance if they are off a little?

Further, I was wondering if knobs 2 and 4 were creating the disparity, as they were at the positions they had been in for gain on channels 2 and 4 before I linked the channels, I did not wind them down or center them.

That was it and that pretty much answers my question!  2 and 4 need to be at 12 o'clock for the balance to be centered.  so depending where you had the gain knobs it either unbalanced right or left right away.  so it does sound like we need to link beforehand or we'll see what you saw.

So how were you able to unlink while recording?  When I'm recording the link option is grayed out.  Can't turn it on or off unless it's not recording.
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Offline waltmon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #94 on: October 14, 2017, 02:19:14 PM »
That's my experience...you stay link til recording is in active
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #95 on: October 14, 2017, 02:28:54 PM »
Any issues using linked? Seems like the way to go.
Microtech Gefell M20 or M21 > Nbob actives > Naiant PFA > Sound Devices MixPre-6 II @ 32/48

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Offline waltmon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #96 on: October 14, 2017, 03:06:32 PM »
Not that I've encountered...I did disable the on the fly mix because it makes this huge file and chops my mono files early because of the 2 gb file size thing
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #97 on: October 14, 2017, 03:07:17 PM »
Yea I disabled that for sure.
Microtech Gefell M20 or M21 > Nbob actives > Naiant PFA > Sound Devices MixPre-6 II @ 32/48

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Offline rigpimp

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #98 on: October 14, 2017, 04:09:24 PM »
Any issues using linked? Seems like the way to go.

I link my cardiod pair but leave my MS pair unlinked because the mid and side always vary so much.

Mics: Schoeps MK 5 MP, Schoeps MK 8 MP, Schoeps MK 41 MP, KCY 250/5 > PFA
Pre/A>D/P48: Sonosax SX/M2, Sonosax SX/M2-LS, E.A.A. PSP-2, Baby Nbox, Neumann BS48i-2 (for sale)
Recorders: Sound Devices Mixpre-6ii, Sony PCM-A10
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Offline dallman

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #99 on: October 14, 2017, 07:11:54 PM »

Got my mp6 today!  quick question regarding linking channels.  Do you make sure they are matched and then enable linking or simply link ahead of time and use channel 2 or 4 to balance if they are off a little?

Further, I was wondering if knobs 2 and 4 were creating the disparity, as they were at the positions they had been in for gain on channels 2 and 4 before I linked the channels, I did not wind them down or center them.

That was it and that pretty much answers my question!  2 and 4 need to be at 12 o'clock for the balance to be centered.  so depending where you had the gain knobs it either unbalanced right or left right away.  so it does sound like we need to link beforehand or we'll see what you saw.

So how were you able to unlink while recording?  When I'm recording the link option is grayed out.  Can't turn it on or off unless it's not recording.
I unlinked prior to the band coming out. I just decided that was not the time to start turning knobs and seeing what was happening. I do agree with your assessment though as to what was happening, but because my presets had certain (matched) gain amounts dialed in, I just decided unlinking was my safest bet.
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Offline sos

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #100 on: October 15, 2017, 08:36:02 PM »
For those that may not have come across this yet, a "feature comparison" sheet of the 3 new MixPre recorders (-3, -6, & -10T)...

http://cdn.sounddevices.com/download/lit/MixPre-10T-Web-SellSheet.pdf
« Last Edit: October 21, 2017, 06:29:49 PM by sos »
Mics
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Offline noahbickart

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #101 on: October 15, 2017, 10:03:22 PM »
Any issues using linked? Seems like the way to go.

I used it at TTB on both a mk22 stereo pair and a mk8/mk4v MS pair. I encountered no problems. The L channel was a little hotter on both pairs, as we were somewhat LOC, and closer to that stack. It was simple to fix in post.

In the old days I might have tried to compensate at the show, but it's much easier to measure and fix in post.
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Preamps:    Schoeps VMS 02iub, Naiant IPA, Sound Devices Mixpre6 I
Recorders: Sound Devices Mixpre6 I, Sony PCM m10

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Offline willndmb

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #102 on: October 15, 2017, 10:25:24 PM »
Are people having issues mixing sources at home since there is no time code or word clock on the mp6?
Mics - AKG ck61/ck63 (c480b & Naiant actives), SP-BMC-2
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #103 on: October 16, 2017, 08:38:48 AM »
edit:  never mind.....
« Last Edit: October 16, 2017, 05:12:22 PM by Gordon »
Microtech Gefell M20 or M21 > Nbob actives > Naiant PFA > Sound Devices MixPre-6 II @ 32/48

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Offline 2manyrocks

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Re: Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 4
« Reply #104 on: October 16, 2017, 12:55:29 PM »
^What devices were you using and how long was the recording, please? 

 

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