3rd outing:
The F3 is continuing to be a winner. The gaff tape, while not ideal, is proving to be effective in avoiding erroneous stops. Battery life continues to be great with the Eneloop Pros - I am never below 50% by the end of a ~ 1.5 hour set @ 32/48 w/ 48v phantom on. Bag checks don't even see the Hermitshell case I have the F3 in opened up - it is small enough that it is entirely disregarded by security so far - obviously that will vary by venue. I'm going to do a Herbie show soonish - he tends to have much tighter screening from experience, so it will likely get its real test then.
In terms of ease of stealth operation, it really doesn't get any simpler. I am eyeballing levels based on house music before hitting record and dumping it till the end of show - not checking anything but an occasional glance at the red recording light (out of paranoia from the past lost recording on the first outing). Results have been great so far and the 32-bit would make even significantly botched levels a non-issue.
This time there was far too much bass so I've done some minor post to the samples as it was not listenable as it was. Still too much cymbal/hh "crashiness" going on for my taste so I did minor subtractive EQ on that as well.
All things considered, after 3 outings with different types of venues / different mic setups / etc I am giving this one a big thumbs up. As mentioned previously I am inclined to use the MixPre3-ii whenever there is no concern for security rummaging through the bag, based on my subjective assessment that it just sounds "better" raw from device, but when stealth is a factor I no longer feel like I am sacrificing as much as I did with the stealth oriented Sony A10, D50, D1, M10 / Sony XLR-1 / Battery Box setups I was using previously.
Recorded directly behind soundboard using a slightly narrow (practical stealth issues) NOS on stealth "object" peeking over the rail ~ 6ft high (very low "balcony") @ DFC, FOB with Line Audio CM4 > F3.
Artist: Keiko Matsui
Venue: Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club, Bethesda, MD.
Sample 1:
https://we.tl/t-Nc0HP9SPXlSample 2:
https://we.tl/t-kxPahRPcVZ