Sound Devices MixPre-3 and 6, Part 8

[commongrounder]

^ Interesting!

How is physical sync between Korg faders and MP faders accomplished? No motors in the mp, so ?

Asking primarily b/c SD engineers cite this issue as the reason that wingman doesn't deal w faders/levels.

Thanks

The MP faders are encoders not potentiometers, so the position does not dictate any "value".

I also have a NanoKontrol2. When the MixPre detects the presence of the controller, it disables the knobs on the recorder, as well as menu pan and solo control. Arming is still possible from both the menu and the control surface. It's a pretty handy little device, as goodcooker has said.
The MixPre gain knobs, BTW, while technically encoders, have stops on them so function as potentiometers.  The side headphone/select knob is, however, a true encoder.
The Wingman issue is interesting, because if it assumed control of the gain pots, and was at a distance from the MixPre, there would be no local control if someone needed to make changes at the machine in a hurry. Sound Devices probably felt that wasn't acceptable. The control surfaces are at least tethered to the MixPre by the USB cable, keeping them relatively close.

[Gutbucket]

^ Not sure about this one specifically, but in many implementations where an alternate set of non-motorized encoder is able to be used in parallel with the primary encoder to  control the same variable function, control of the function is 'handed off' back and forth from one to the other in the following way-  The encoder which has a physical position that doesn't match up with the current value of the function doesn't immediately become active as it is moved, but 'takes over' as soon as it passes the 'sync-up point' with the other encoder.  That encoder then remains active until the other one is moved past the new 'sync-up point'.  In this way control over the function remains smooth, rather than suddenly jumping to a new value each time the 'other' encoder is moved.

[goodcooker]

^ Not sure about this one specifically, but in many implementations where an alternate set of non-motorized encoder is able to be used in parallel with the primary encoder to  control the same variable function, control of the function is 'handed off' back and forth from one to the other in the following way-  The encoder which has a physical position that doesn't match up with the current value of the function doesn't immediately become active as it is moved, but 'takes over' as soon as it passes the 'sync-up point' with the other encoder.  That encoder then remains active until the other one is moved past the new 'sync-up point'.  In this way control over the function remains smooth, rather than suddenly jumping to a new value each time the 'other' encoder is moved.

I still have more testing to do but with the control surface connected it disables the knobs. Turning the knobs does nothing. When the control surface is disconnected it behaves very much like what you are saying with the physical location of the knob matching up with the setting it was left with by the encoder before any values change. That way it doesn't jump to a weird value - like when physical gain knobs that control digital gain are moved when a recorder is on hold then all of a sudden when the hold is released it jumps way off. My Tascam DR701d was like that - a knob got moved while it was on hold and when I took the hold off one channel was brickwalling like crazy.

[commongrounder]

I confirm, as goodcooker has stated, that the front control knobs are completely deactivated while the control surface is plugged in. I checked this to be true on both my MixPre-6 original and MixPre-6mkii recorders. Unplugging the control surface "hot" immediately jumps the gain to level normally set by the knob, wherever it may be. Hot plugging the control surface IN has a different behavior. The gain drops to zero/off no matter where the surface faders are set, but jump to their level setting as soon as they are moved. I'm not in the habit of pushing in or pulling out connections while the recorder is powered up, but it's interesting to see that it can be done without crashing the recorder.

[morst]

Was just poking around on the SD site to see if there was more recent firmware than 9.01 for my mixpre 6 original recipe... (nope, not yet)
I typed in my serial number and found that I have a license for the Ambisonic plugin, from 2018!


Check the link with your machine's serial # to see if you got a freebie!?
https://store.sounddevices.com/device-features/


I don't recall purchasing it, but the deck recognizes it.
It works too, but DO NOT SWITCH IT ON WHILE MONITORING LOUDLY, oops that was ugly.


Was also reminding myself about the approved media list.
https://www.sounddevices.com/mixpre-series-approved-media-list/



Newegg has the Sandisk 256's for $38 apiece, spamazon same price but low stock alert.
https://www.newegg.com/p/1B4-00G6-000A2

[ol' dirty taper]

Does anyone else have the Cable Techniques MX-Powersled and a MixPre 6II that is having trouble getting the sled to click in place? It goes in the slot, but will not snap in place and can easily be pulled out of place.

I liked the metal housing but if this doesnt work, will be getting the plastic SD version.

[willndmb]

slightly looking to get a mp6ii

what are peoples using for power?
I see USB C and a camcorder style. Does anyone prefer one over the other for whatever reason(s)?

[checht]

slightly looking to get a mp6ii

what are peoples using for power?
I see USB C and a camcorder style. Does anyone prefer one over the other for whatever reason(s)?

I've always used USBC with mixpres, to great results. The Anker 10,000 ma battery runs 4 x Schoeps active caps for 5-6 hours.

[breakonthru]

slightly looking to get a mp6ii

what are peoples using for power?
I see USB C and a camcorder style. Does anyone prefer one over the other for whatever reason(s)?

I've always used USBC with mixpres, to great results. The Anker 10,000 ma battery runs 4 x Schoeps active caps for 5-6 hours.

the l-batt sled is awkward as the batteries mount sideways, changing the profile of the unit.  there are two hot-swappable slots though

[goodcooker]

slightly looking to get a mp6ii

what are peoples using for power?
I see USB C and a camcorder style. Does anyone prefer one over the other for whatever reason(s)?

I use this one for one show evenings gets me 4-5 hours with 4 channels recording at least two of those on P48 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096TP4B1T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use the Anker 20500 for long days and festies. It lasts all day and night.

I like not having a battery attached to the unit and having AAs in as backup. Never had my USB C cable come loose during a show for any reason which concerned me at first but it's been solid and I like having the battery in a separate compartment in my bag so I can check it's status/hot swap if I'm all zipped up.

[aaronji]

^ I do the same. Eight Eneloop Pros in the battery sled and an Anker PowerCore 10000 PD attached via USB-C. The Eneloop Pros are good for (at least) a full two-set Gov't Mule show with one pair on P48 (never actually tested how long they would go). The Anker never loses more than one light. It is nice to have the redundancy...

[aaronji]

the l-batt sled is awkward as the batteries mount sideways, changing the profile of the unit.  there are two hot-swappable slots though

There is also the single battery sled (MX-LM1), which is more streamlined (but only one slot).

[Top Hat]

slightly looking to get a mp6ii

what are peoples using for power?
I see USB C and a camcorder style. Does anyone prefer one over the other for whatever reason(s)?

I use this one for one show evenings gets me 4-5 hours with 4 channels recording at least two of those on P48 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096TP4B1T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use the Anker 20500 for long days and festies. It lasts all day and night.

I like not having a battery attached to the unit and having AAs in as backup. Never had my USB C cable come loose during a show for any reason which concerned me at first but it's been solid and I like having the battery in a separate compartment in my bag so I can check it's status/hot swap if I'm all zipped up.

I use the same one, It allows me to charge the phone & run the deck simultaneously without issues. Been using it for a couple years now. It has lasted 2 shows easily and may last an entire run of 3 but I have never wanted to chance it.

[morst]

Was just on the phone with a Sound Devices service rep inquiring about warranty on one of their branded SD cards whose plastic write-enable tab is missing, and got some info to share with owners of original Mixpre 3,6,10.
(the card? My vendor, Location Sound said to send it to them [LS]for replacement!)


If you are planning on getting maintenance on your original MixPre, it's the best deal now.
They are entering the phase of legacy products where it will be harder and more costly to get parts and find someone who knows how to fix them.
The best way to go about getting service is to contact them before shipping the product to them, and pre-authorize a certain amount of parts cost so they can just open it up once and fix it.
Prices start around $200, you'll probably want to authorize up to $150 in parts to save them having to contact you with the exact estimate.

[morst]

Hey does anyone know anything specific to do when they can't really get their mixPre SD card to transfer files without crashing and then it just says it's unreadable?


try a PC?


Guess I should definitely stop using these Sound Devices branded SD cards.
0 for 3. ugh.