Hey thanks! Not buying a MixPre 6 II was MY only regret, too! So I went and bought a MixPre 6 II. It arrived yesterday. It’s what I should’ve bought to begin with. You’re absolutely right. I needed some more available simultaneous channels for some videos I have coming up so I bit the bullet. I’m not made of money. I financed it. I’m terrible. I have GAS. Thanks for watching!
Five year sound mixer here. I have the 10t and the six as a backup. 552 was my first pro mixer/ recorder. I was very intimidated by the 10T but after two years of working with it...wow. It froze on me once, because I was on a FL beach midday, and i think it got too hot. I just power cycled it and it worked fine after that. Get the wingman app. You can take notes, on each take. I just did a revent gig and compared my 416 straight into a fs7 vs. the 10t and the 416...and it was like night and day. In the edit, the fs7 audio was very noisy, even had an odd faint echo to it? Geez. With TC connected to your cam, it's like love at first sight. The audio just snaps to the video. Love it. I have even had very few, seasoned mixers hate on my 10t, a little, but once they heard my audio...well, they kinda shut up. And my sound bag weighs roughly 1/3 less, possibly less? than a 633, or a 688. It's awesome!
That’s wicked! Yep, Sound Devices really figured out the best recorder for the price, didn’t they?? It’s so awesome. Wait until you check out 32 bit on the MixPre 10 II. Have you tried that yet? Thanks for watching!
@@TheRecordist I haven't tried the 2 yet. I hear great things about it though. I don't do any sound effects or anything. I did a show called "Caffeine and Octane" once and I really needed it on that show! Most of my work is corporate, docs, reality, crime dramas, and occasional eng stuff, which I loathe. Recently, I went back to camera, and the six has been amazing. Clients are usually impressed with all the, lights, bells and whistles on the sound bag. Lol. Your images look great here on UA-cam! It's nice to meet a fellow mixer. I am based on North Florida. The ass end of nowhere...but recently been getting consistent work with corporate clients, marketing for UA-cam, TikTok. Nice work brother, love it!
@@nativevoices8962 hey thanks so much! I did corporate sound and picture for years. That’s where the money is. Not as flashy as other types but it sure pays the bills! I’ve never done ENG but I know I’d never want to. Haha. Have you tried some of the plugins yet? There’s a reporter plugin to simplify the whole recorder for ENG. I REALLY want to try noise assist but I can’t justify spending $300 USD to try it. So I just use the Cedar/UA plugin called C-Suite C-Vox on post work if I’m doing that too. Thanks for the compliments! Nice to meet you!
@@TheRecordist I am going to get the mix assist on both my recorders. The first gen 10t had very few bugs, and some mixers told me to just use the original build, because it was more solid? Maybe I am overthinking it, or this ideology is outdated by now, but I will need to update all my mixers to get the mix assist. You are so right about Mr. Judd, he's my hero, because his review is what got me to even consider the 10t. I was out looking for a 633, at the time. I might get the noise assist? Honestly, I never got a "bad" note back from a Producer or editor saying my audio was too noisy. So I am with you on that price point, $300! The 416 is basically the most amazing mic ever created. I used my oktava once, indoors and I noticed a tiny bit of self noise. Luckily I used this in my studio, and after a little post clean up, was sent out with no problem. In fact, the dir was impressed with the audio. ATM, I am doing more cam stuff, so I am getting ready to upgrade my cam package. I am hopeful that I can afford the F55. With the new Sony line up FX series, DPs are off loading Reds, c500s, and old Sony cams for dirt cheap these days. Good to hear from you 😀
@@nativevoices8962 fabulous! Love Sound Devices! The 416 is fabulous. It’s a workhorse mic! I love mine! The Oktava does have some noise but it’s easily mitigated in post, as you say. Oh and by the way, although I didn’t go into it in the video, I always use Wingman app. It’s a great tool. I recently picked up the Mixpre 6 II as well. So now I’ve got both the 3 and the 6. Next stop the 10! Cheers!
Lovely video. Very clear info and detailed explanation of each feature. I wanted to know how quiet the MixPre 3 II was and I finally got an answer! Thanks for making and sharing this video.
Great video, thanks. Apparently your wishes have come true. SoundDevices sells a 5 channel software plugin for the mixPre-3ii. Now you can track all 3 XLR and the minijack inputs together, and still record your mix on top of that.
It’s the chip shortage that’s responsible for the prices, or so I’ve heard. That device used to be $650.00. The mixpre-6 was the 900 dollar device. $950, I believe.
Oh, is that right? I bought my MixPre in 2020, so I had no idea. That's interesting. Yet, the price of guitars went up as well--no chips in them. Everything is just too much money these days!
@@TheRecordist I think a lot of companies have been taking advantage of the times right now and just raising prices on practically everything. But I kid you not. I have the original mixpre-6. Got it in August of 2017 for $899.00. I got the mixpre-6 II in april of 2020 for $885.00. So, a few bucks cheaper than the original. Now, depending on what website, it goes for anywhere from $1060 to about $1200.00. And before I got the second mixpre-6 in April of 2020, I got the mixpre-10 II in December of 2019 for $1399.00. Nowadays, it’s in the neighborhood of around $1700 - $1800 bucks. Same thing’s been going on with computer parts. The chip shortage has been the “official” story, but there’s some good ol’ fashioned price gouging going on.
@@ahfimiwonawun you know what? You’re absolutely right. I’m seeing it everywhere. It’s a shame that these units are getting priced right out of the hands of so many who simply can’t afford that price tag-no matter how good the device is.
@D R indeed. Does it have the same F-series preamps as the F6? That’s key. Those are good preamps. No 3.5mm? Hmm. That’s a weird thing for it not to have. And not many options? Still, a cumbersome menu is not always desirable. Sometimes you want to hit record and go. Very interesting. Thanks for letting me know!
Superb review and entertaining to boot. I own one. I agree about the learning curve 100%. But…..once I got the hang it was second nature. The thing about the on/off switch is……I agree it’s a little tricky to get to it…..but…..that also makes it tough to inadvertently turned the thing off by mistake. BTW………your audio and video production values are incredibly good.
Hey thanks, Tom! Nice to see you again! I definitely agree with you. There’s no way to inadvertently turn the unit off by mistake. That’s a very true statement. Thanks for stopping by again and watching my videos! I also appreciate the comment on my production value! It’s a lowly Canon M50 mirrorless camera but the audio has some money in there. Haha. Cheers!
Great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the MixPre 3 II! I'm a Zoom guy but have to admit that I find myself lusting over Sound Devices from time to time. Thanks again!
Hey thanks for watching! Yes, I too was a Zoom guy-that is until I heard the sweet preamps the MixPre has. I friggin’ love it. But the F6 or F8n are great recorders in their own right. Even the finest tuned ears probably wouldn’t be able to detect the difference. Cheers!
Really great reviews and information on this channel. Hope you will get way more subscribers and views in the future! You would absolutely deserve it for this kind of quality.
Can I use two separate Lav set ups with this - seeing as how there is only one 3.5 input? Is there an adapter that will allow the 3.5 to go into the xlr port? My set up needs to have two lav mics and one regular XLR mic (condenser). Thanks - great review btw@@TheRecordist
@@oliverleslie7382 yes. You can use a stereo 3.5mm splitter and it will replace two of your XLR ins. With the new firmware update from Sound Devices, and a $75 charge, you can now use the stereo 3.5mm in AS WELL as the three XLR ins simultaneously for a total of five simultaneous ins.
Hi, thanks for replying - and quickly! I was hoping not to have to use a splitter because I have really good copper based 3.5 aux cables to wholly reduce transfer noise, and not sure if the splitter will make that all null and void - moot. Is there an adapter so that one aux cable can go into the 3.5 port and the second can, with said adapter, go into the XLR port? @@TheRecordist
@@oliverleslie7382 I understand. First I’d need to know if they’re wireless lavs or if they’re wired. The reason is that a wired lav will need plug-in-power which is very different than phantom power. Also, does your Mixpre 3 model have XLR ins that also accept 1/4 inch?
I like your review! Very well made! I bought my MP3 II around Xmas 2021. Looking back, I wish I had bought the MP 6 II. Apart from that, it's the best recorder I've ever bought.
Ah man. Nagras! What a sound! The MixPre is it’s own class of awesome. The Kashmir preamps are fantastic. Soft, even. I think you love it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! My Tascam DR100-MKiii finally quit charging when the micro USB got whacked and it was time to upgrade. I was ready for a lower noise floor and something that not just an off the shelf throwaway. So thanks for explaining the features in a down to earth way. I'm about to start the course Chris Judd's offering while I wait for the FedEx guy.
@@TheRecordist I'm going to try not to face-plant on the learning curve. I build guitar amps and the 32 bit floating option is pretty exciting for shooting demo videos. It's always been tricky to talk about an amp and then crank it.
@@FreshOldSchool oh that’s going to be interesting! Talking and then amp recording. That’s the test of all tests! Don’t worry about the learning curve. You’ll get it pretty fast if that’s what you’re looking to do. It’s basically set it and forget it if you’re only doing one thing with it. Good luck on the amp building! And let me know if you ever need a review on one. Cheers!
Of all the references I have heard in your videos, the 1916 reference to Santo Poco and El Guapo dates you quite precisely. New subscriber here, enjoying your videos (and learning from them) a lot.
Getting dated quite precisely is EXACTLY my goal! Easter eggs are my business. I love it when a plan comes together! Haha. Thanks so much! I’m always so happy to see when a viewer gets the reference! Thanks for the sub! Cheers!
@@TheRecordist Right after watching this video I went to test my Sound DevicesMIXPRE 3 II with theTentacle SYNC II attached on the Sony FX3 and FX30 and MIXPRE 3 II. The audio was off sync with the video because I had Time Code set to DF (Dropped Frames) instead of NDF (No Dropped Frames) on the Sony FX3 and FX30 which caused misalignment with with the MIXPRE 3 II audio with its NDF setting. So, after making the changes to the FX3 and FX30 to NDF, Adobe Premiere Timeline was perfect Sequencing with Time Code. Just passing this forward in case someone else has this issue.
It's an amazeballs recorder.... LOL! Hooked me in less than 20 seconds. Excellent review sprinkled with the right amount of humor. This recorder will bring the best out of my 416 as well. Thanks a bunch and just subbed!
So glad these are back in stock - super bummer about the price though. I’ve been struggling with an F6 due to not being able to add live delay - the mixpre3 can do this (up to 200ms) - woohoo no more audio hijack and loopback.
Oh yes! They’re fantastic. That sucks about the price. But everything is far too costly these days. But I’m glad they’re back in stock! Thanks for watching!
As someone familiar with online retail platforms I know that the web host takes a not insignificant cut of the price and typically collects duties and payment processing fees on top even if the seller doesn't cross the $1M out of state sales threshold personally where they'd be required to remit out of state taxes. All that to say is that if you do a little bit of sleuthing you can determine who made a retail listing and contact them directly to see if they'll offer a direct sale discount. In a time when everything is more expensive, it is worth it to get creative. If it works don't brag about it online because it might be running afoul of some seller's contract or something but with anything you buy consider making a direct sale vs using an online retail platform. Some sellers have no love for these platforms that have crowded out the space and treat the guys doing all the hustling like garbage. Also some manufactures have strict minimum advertised pricing contracts with dealers so they literally CAN'T "advertise" anything but what the manufacturer has stipulated. But in some cases that doesn't affect what a guy could sell something for in a direct sale. This is true across a whole lot of retail. But remember, in the words of Jules Winnfield, "BE COOL, BITCH!"
It should be said also that I'm mainly referring to the small businessman and not any big box store. The big boxes don't sell gear -they sell financing for gear. In those cases there's zero motivation to work with you on pricing as they'd rather put you in debt.
I totally hear you! That’s some great Intel. I hope some of my viewers read this. A buck saved is a buck saved. Thanks for writing this all out! Cheers!
MixPre live-streaming event this coming Monday - October 16th, 2023, at 11:00am CDT with MixPre Master Laura Sillanpää ''... and hear about some exciting MixPre news''. Dare to dream. Fingers crossed your firmware update wishes come true.
Ok, it’s sometimes tough to be an electrical engineer searching for what should be readily available info. Not if it concerns 32-bit Float, I have sadly learned. Best info I’ve been able to glean: Audacity supports both importing and exporting “32-bit float PCM” audio files, such as “32-bit float WAV” or “32-bit float AIFF”. (Some audio formats, such as FLAC, don't support 32-bit float, and many compressed formats, such as MP3, don't really have a defined bit-format.) I didn’t know WAV nor AIFF were PCM variants. Graduated in 1971, well before commercialization of these standards. Wasn’t in the audio field. Now I understand how hard you guys had to work to your considerable knowledge. You mentioned iOS supported 32-bit float files. I found reference that Windows 11 does too. But no other details. Technical Marketing writing is something I’ve done starting in 1973. Most of that stuff today is done by folks who actually don’t want to communicate technically. I’m never going to fix that. And, sadly, UA-camr creators are not much better at it, mostly. You would think that Zoom might tell us what file extensions they use, and what a full workflow would be out of the recorder and into DaVinci. You use something else? Too bad, but yes, they should advise you too. If they, or anybody else, can hear me begging for help, please do something to help audio humanity and publish info now. Ending Transmission!
Hahaha. Understood! If you google “32 Bit Recording Explained” or “32 Bit Float Explained”, you might get a partial answer. As for me. I usually interpret my 32 bit recordings in Izotope RX and then render them into 24 Bit for easy manipulation in any DAW. The point of 32 Bit recording is simply to remove any possibility of clipping (digital distortion). Digital clipping is not what we are used to. Haha. Us old school guys liked a bit of analog clipping with our teas. But once you render the 32 bit file to 24 you can see where you’ve clipped and reduce them by section. Out of a hundred times of me recording audio, I record in 32 Bit about 0.01 times. But let’s say I wanted to throw a drop-rig out in the forest and left it there to record sounds, I’d want 32 bit recording because I’m not going to be around to adjust for any loud transients or sounds. What do you think? Did I make it easier? Sometimes I only make it worse. Haha.
@@TheRecordist Thanks for your reply. Technically, I learned the math theory back in 1971 at the University of Waterloo. What I don’t like is the lack of clarity and , frankly, the disrespect of knowledgeable people such as myself and you. Look, much of this is mathematics, I did that, but much of today’s tech is operational and there is not excuse for lack of clarity. I will never understand, but at my advanced age, well I have reluctantly accepted that ignorance is winning over science.
@@TheRecordist ok, let me be perfectly clear. The only 32-bit device I own is a new pocket 3. I’m trying to figure out 32 bit stuff. Apparently, it’s some sort of mystery subject that nobody wants to explain to an electrical engineer. Pissed off.
@@EdwardKilner hi Edward. I’m sorry. I wasn’t notified of these messages. I was just looking at the new Zoom H1n Essential 32 bit recorder and it had a section on 32 bits and how it works. I didn’t read it all yet, but I copied the link and went to find you to give it to you. Let me know if this helps even just a little bit. My guess is no, but we shall see. zoomcorp.com/en/us/news/32-bit-float-everything-you-need-to-know/
Watched one of Judd’s videos, just before this one. Unlikely to watch another of his again. Unlike your video, he didn’t show all connectors. I’m not an audio engineer, but am an electrical engineer. We regularly use block diagrams to show all inputs and outputs, usually with typical connections to, say, mics and cameras. One diagram answers many questions. Neither he nor you make an explicit statement about plugging in a USB microphone. Hey, did you just faint? Sorry! See, I have one. For VO on UA-cam videos, when I learn how. Thronmax. Sounds ok. Never mind, I’m too cheap to by this recorder, although I can admit to lusting for it. Keep up the good work. Well measured words, so to speak.
Hahaha. Hi Edward! It’s too bad. Curtis Judd is a very knowledgeable dude, and a really nice guy. I thoroughly enjoy his high quality videos. Maybe you could give him another chance? I have never used the USB input on my MixPre recorders for a USB mic, though, they should absolutely work with a USB mic. You just set the routing in the menu. You may be able to find a MixPre used on the market somewhere. You can sometimes find them very cheap. But “cheap” is a relative term. Haha. Thanks for watching, Edward!
I like your review! Very well made! I bought my MP-3 II around Xmas 2021. Looking back, I wish I had bought the MP-6 II. Apart from that, it's the best recorder I've ever bought. My clients sometimes ask me why my hypnosis recordings sound so much better. Additional negatives: • only 1 SD card slot • additional MX-mounts not included and expensive. Is it worth the money? If you use this thing to make money... actually a no-brainer ;-)
Haha. Agreed! I do wish it had a second SD card slot, but few things are ever perfect. I bought the 3 and then I went and bought the 6 for the same reasons you just outlined. Thanks for chiming in!
This was a very helpful review, I've been thinking about getting this device for a while now, but I'm hesitant because Gen 2 of these devices have been out for all most 3 to 4 years now, so a gen 3 should be forthcoming. Not that you'd know, but you seem like you would?..... Thanks again for a great review. Cheers. P.S. Your heads not to big, the world just to small.
Haha. Hey thanks for the kind words! So here’s my take on the MixPre: I think the second gen is the last for a while. The reason I think that is because what else could they possibly add? The firmware updates for the Mixpre II series have given all kinds of great new functions. The only thing I could see them updating is perhaps the ability to take two simultaneous SD cards as opposed to just the one, for redundancy. Now, I could be completely wrong. I have absolutely no inside track here. I have no connection to Sound Devices at all. So, my words are based on nothing but a feeling. But honestly, no one on earth should feel bad about a Mixpre. They’re among the best in the business and even if they figured out how to make it even better, it won’t be by any significant amount. I’ve got a MixPre 3 II and a MixPre 6 II. No matter what they come out with next, I’m good with what I have. I can do anything with them. Hope this helps!
Bought the MixPre 3 II - amazing device however definitely not plug and play - the learning curve is steep NO kidding!! Now want the MixPre 6 II - no reason really just wish I'd got it with the extra XLR port.
Fully agreed! I actually bought the MixPre 6 II just after I did this video! The 6 not only has the extra XLR port, but it has the 3.5mm stereo input that can be used simultaneously with the 4 XLR for a total of 6 simultaneous ins. But yes. What a learning curve!
@@TheRecordist Wow - didn't know that thanks for the extra info - Indeed I will eventually weaken and get the 6 soon as well! Wickedly expensive but worth every penny. PS You have truly mastered the evil scientist laugh - revise as 'An extra 3.5 stereo input for a total of 6 simultaneous ins' MWHA! HA! HA! HA!' *lightning simulation* 😆 Very entertaining sir! 👍
My Thoughts on the Mix Pre 3-II which I’ve had for about 4 years now. (Where does the time go….). Battery sled can be useful as a bridge battery if you need to swap out a battery block, but with most battery blocks like the anker 22000 maH battery blocks, probably not necessary on a single shoot date. I’ve used full size wireless keyboards with a Logitech dongle plugged directly into the usb-a port for entering track info, etc but of course the wingman app means you dont need to carry a full size keyboard, but the full size keyboard is convenient if doing a bunch of voice over clips and naming the files on the fly. The MixPre3 is the perfect corporate video unit, works really well for small indie groups, but I felt the need to go to more than 3 inputs for some of the larger shoots so I eventually went to the MixPre10-II. if i was going to upgrade, then why stop at 6 when you can go to 10 (Nigel is in my ear right now saying his goes to 11)
Hahaha. I thought the same. I went for the MixPre 6 II shortly after. So now I have both. Why not? I do very much love these recorders. I’m building a cart rig and am about to purchase a Novation Launch Control XL and perhaps a keyboard to go along with it. Thanks for chiming in!
A blip in the time/space continuum? 23:30 shows the Nagra-III... (although in '52 it would have been the Nagra-I) Nice work in any case! I'm just renting the MixPre 3, and my H6 is starting to give off foul odours... ;-)
Hahahaha. I know what you mean! It’s no comparison when you start playing with the bigger toys! And I think you’re right about the Nagra III. A blip in the spacetime continuum indeed! Hahaha
Does the 3.5mm stereo input use one of the channels and does it use the same preamp , have gain control and plugin power? How does the MixPre compare to the FocusriteScarlett in terms of noise?
Hi there. In normal mode, the 3.5mm input uses up one or two of the channels (since it’s a stereo input) but when you purchase an expansion plugin, it becomes additive. So, instead of 3 simultaneous inputs, you then have 5 simultaneous inputs. The 3.5mm input uses its own preamp and A/D conversion. It does have its own gain control and it does provide plugin power. The MixPre blows the Scarlett out of the water. There’s not even any close comparison at all. Literally everything is far superior on the MixPre than the Scarlett. The Kashmir preamps in the MixPre are among the best and quietest on earth. The Scarlett is entry level and thus the preamps and converters are entry level. The MixPre is expensive for a reason. Hope this helps!
Well, aside from fewer XLR inputs, the MixPre II series are superior recorders. The preamps are better. The A/D conversion is better. The options are better. The build quality is better. The thing people sometimes have issues with is the battery life in the MixPre. But as I say in the video, it’s designed to use an external power source. I also have the MixPre 6 II. I liked it so much I got the larger version.
Would you recommend the mixpre 3ii or mixpre 6ii for a wedding videographer/documentary filmmaker? Do you think the mixpre6ii would be overkill for that? or is it worth it to spend the extra $200 for the mix pre6 ii?
Well. That’s a great question. I myself ended up buying the 6 as well, because the 3 wasn’t enough for what I needed. So, can you see yourself using more than 3 simultaneous phantom powered XLR tracks in the future? That’s what it comes down to. You have a maximum of 3 tracks with the 3 (you can now increase that to 5 using the stereo 3.5mm input if you pay an additional $75 but there are still only 3 phantom power spots). This unit will last the rest of your life. If you ever got into doing things that needed more tracks, then the 6 is much better. But if you never have more than 3 phantom power xlr needs, and don’t ever see yourself needing more, then the 3 is just fine. For example, if you got the 3 and suddenly needed a couple more inputs, and you are using wireless lavs, since the lav receivers output at line level, with a splitter, you could pay the $75 and use inputs 4/5 (3.5mm input) for the lavs, and still have 3 phantom power XLR’s available. However, if you decided you want to get into ambisonics, then no matter what, the 3 won’t be able to do that. I hope this wasn’t too confusing!
Really nice vocal recording here. Transparent and silky. I subscribed because I am interested in making really good live acoustic recordings in unusual spaces, experimental stuff and perhaps some multitracked drums...Has the stereo input firmware been updated to allow 5 simultaneous tracks yet? Thank you!
@@TheRecordist Thank you! Would I be correct in guessing that would be a "what you feed the stereo pair" input is what you get? Nice to have...I could see using it for a couple of overheads for some stuff. Other neat things too😇
@@christopherecatalano yes. Exactly. Some people use a small external preamp to feed a line level signal into the stereo 3.5mm input. But as long as it doesn’t require phantom power, you’re good!
Honestly I mostly watch these reviews for the jokes and creative skits/production value. Lots of interesting and hard to find info here too though like on some more obscure mics etc.
Hey thanks so much! I appreciate that! Some videos have more goodies than others only because I think of them. Sometimes I can’t think of anything! Haha. Cheers, man!
I have a question for anyone who has a MixPre 3 II device. I'm not an audio professional. I want to listen to extremely low level noises/sounds in real time and also record it. Obviously, this involves turning up the gain very high while I'm monitoring in real time. Is the limiter circuit on the device good enough to cut out any loud sounds so I won't lose my hearing? Let's say I'm listening to sounds deep in the noise floor and someone claps or drops something, is the limiter function working on the audio monitoring output? In the same topic, does anyone know which microphone works well in this condition where you're trying to listen in on very low volume sounds. I heard the EM272 or the AOM 5024L-HDR-R is another candidate. I don't have enough experience with different microphones, but willing to spend good money on a microphone setup. I will be using it mostly in the field, so prefer to not have a huge microphone tethered to a shock mount. Thanks for anyone's help.
Hi there. The MixPre is a great recorder for quiet sounds. As far as the onboard analog limiter, it works very well, but no limiter is 100%. It works on a kind of ratio 3:1, 12:1, 20:1, etc. For every decibel of sound over the threshold, it will reduce the volume by the larger number to the left. And how fast it is at doing that is the attack level. The MixPre has a great limiter, but nothing is ever 100%. But you’re in luck. The MixPre II series has 32 bit mode, which means no matter how loud a sound gets, it won’t digitally clip. So in post (when you’re reviewing your recordings on a computer), you’ll be able to manually turn down the loud noises as they happen, without any clipping. As for mics, the Clippys are great. And they’re cheap. The quietest mic in the world (lowest self noise) is the Røde NT1. But it’s a massive cardioid large diaphragm condenser mic and not one that is very portable. The Sennheiser MKH 20, is another great and very quiet Omni mic, but it’s very expensive. The Clippys might be your best bet. Good luck!
I use a few recorders, Tascam Dr40X H1n and MixPre 6 II, the first two I use for testing my SR3D mics in the workshop, and I use the MixPre for pesonal use when I've the time, not so much these days. You seem quie at ease in front of the camera and I'm surprised you dont have many more subscribers, so I've added an extra one to the sub list. And, if you would like to test out my Binaural DIY Kit with cheap non descript lav mics (not toooo bad) just drop me an email which can be found on my about page.🎤🎧
Hey thanks so much! I might just take you up on that! Which lav mics are we talking about? I prefer Clippys. How about you? And thanks for the extra sub! I did an experiment. 1 year with no advertising. This includes letting any of my own friends or even my social media pages know that I'm doing this. So the numbers are purely organic and from the algorithm or search. I wasn't even sure I was going to keep doing it. But it's gotten some great feedback so I think I'll stay for a while! Thanks again!
@@TheRecordist Great, just ping me your address and I'll pop a few in the post for you! The Lavs are some generic Chinese ones I think, but, one person said that they were quite low noise, though a side to side comparison lets you know the difference between the Primo EM272 and them... I use Primo EM272 which are the same as the clippy, I still use Mic Booster from time to time and have had a few email exchanges with one of the guys there. I do a lav just like theirs in the same enclosure but some have cheaper plugs so that they go through the ears on the DIY kit, and others have expensive plugs which are not part of the kit. My mics started out organic too, with a simple video of me demonstrating binaural audio, (I realised how to record binaural audio by myself before knowing about microphones with ears!) and the ASMR community found me right away, so I've been building mics for them ever since. I'm reaching out to the non ASMR community to see if I can bring an affordable means to them, so that binaural becomes known to the other communities, Ive been giving a few DIY kits out, and my Basic tube version out to see what interest becomes of it. Some have been offended by my understanding of binaural (Head related transfer function for me is ERTF - Ear related transfer function!), and I have been flamed and banned, and ridiculed in some forums! I have found some really interesting things about using binaural, as the ears are my own I can experiment whereas those that ridicule and flame have not had the enlightenment of using their own ears to realise any differences, simply because they are hearing binaural from someone else's ears, so, the experience is NOT the same. I love it! I also think your photography is top notch and your personality shines through. I'm sure you will become well known if you upload regular. Cheers for now.
@@sr3d-microphones hey thanks for the compliments! Yes. I’d be very interested in checking anything out. I love experimenting! I’ll even do a proper review with your kit if you’d like. If it’s cool, people should know about it. Please email me at the_tps@protonmail.com (that’s the_tps at protonmail dot com) and we can figure it all out. Cheers!
@@TheRecordist sure I’ll ping you an email later today (it’s only 3:22am here right now) I’m sure we’re going to get on with some interesting things to say 🙃
Honestly, both are extremely high end. Technically, the 633 will have ever so slightly better preamps, but you’d never tell the difference by listening. But the 633 has dual card recording-something the Mixpre doesn’t have. This is no big deal most of the time, but on a big budget movie, it’s nice to have a backup. The Mixpre is a great recorder, though. But you’ll be happy with either choice.
I have the Mix Pre 6 and the biggest negative is the power with the standard 4battery bay sucks, you will be changing batteries all the time. The power swich is very small and fiddley. Otherwise a gret piece of kit
Hey. Thanks for the comment! In the video I addressed this issue. It’s not really an issue because the AA batteries are there so you can seamlessly switch power supplies without stopping recording. I always use a power bank in my sound bag with mine. Thanks for watching!
It’s really close between the F8n and the MixPre series, but the MixPre series has better preamps. I have both the MixPre 3 II and the MixPre 6 II. They are identical in quality but the 6 has more channels.
I see that one of the features you get by stepping up to the MixPre 6 are XLR/combo inputs, which would be nice. From a practical usage standpoint, do you ever find yourself limited by not having 1/4" TRS inputs?
Hey. For my own personal and professional use, I didn’t miss those combo inputs at all. However, I did purchase a MixPre 6 a short while after doing this video. So I have both the 3 and the 6 now. Still, I’ve never used thr quarter inch inputs on the 6. Now, if I was, say, using the MixPre as an interface and I wanted to go direct with my guitar to use with an amp sim, this would be a problem with the 3. How about you? What would you use the 3 for?
@@TheRecordist Mostly field recording, and I suppose it's not likely that I would need to bring in a 1/4" TRS signal often. I just tend to try to maximize flexibility in the gear I buy. Speaking of flexibility, I'm really surprised to see that it doesn't appear that either the Mixpre line or the Zoom F line allow you to connect (via USB) to a broader array of storage devices. I'm using the new Sandisk Pro Blade Station. There is also a really nice, portable transport box that will hold one of the Blades (up to 4TB) for portability. I'd love to be able to connect to a field recorder with one of those.
@@Astronaut_FX I don’t know that one couldn’t use an SSD with it. Perhaps it has to do with the bus power. What about a powered hub and THEN plugging the Blade in?
Hey Tony… I’ve had the mix pre mk 2 for a while and haven’t really used it until today…. I’m wondering if you might be able to help… I’ve managed to connect two lav mics.. have armed and recorded audio with phantom power on… everything works fine… only trouble is I can only ever play back the last project recorded… if I try and access a recording prior to the one made I get nothing no sound through my headphones? I’ve scoured the net and can’t find anything… it can’t be a routing issue as I’m getting audio from the cans for the last track recorded? Hope you had a good Xmas. Cheers Matt
Hey man. Ok, are you in basic mode or advanced? This is the part that everyone - including me - has a problem with. It’s not very intuitive. This has to do with headphone presets. You can create a preset to listen back to your ISO tracks. What happens when you are playing back that silent project and you start hitting the track solo buttons? Can you hear it now? If so, it’s a headphone preset that you’ve got to make. Let me know. And I hope you had a great Xmas too!
@@TheRecordist I’ve a day off today so I’ll give it a whirl… I think I was working in advanced mode… long and short I want to be able to record with numerous mics…. Field recording etc… and then dirty record out from the mix pre out of its headphone socket into my akai mpc…
@@The_Sound_Technician hmm really? Go analog to digital, and then back to analog, then out to your MPC, which then get reconverted to digital? That’s an interesting way of doing it. Are you looking for that specific effect? If so, great! If not, you can remix right inside the MixPre. Either way, cool stuff!
Great review thanks. I'm trying to decide if the extra functions on the mixpre3/6 are worth the price over the F3 for me. Currently running the H5 and my mics have surpassed its preamp capabilities. One thing I struggle with field recording are with bags. The photographer bag looks great but do you have to do a full setup every time you want to use it?
Hey Armand! Thanks for the kind words! Indeed. A MixPre is on another level. Both for sound quality and for functionality. It really is mind-blowing. The F3 has good preamps but not as good as a MixPre. There’s something about the rounded sounds of the Kashmir preamps that really put it in a league of their own 🧢⚾️. But if money is an issue, and you don’t mind lot having a 3.5mm input, the F3 is faaaaaar better than the H5. As for bags, oh yes. There are many bags out there to choose from that are made for sound recording. I reviewed a very small Orca bag in this channel. ua-cam.com/video/XjvkL3DmiJ0/v-deo.html Also, I have a larger Orca bag review coming this Monday so stay tuned for that one. But there are other companies as well. Hope any of this helps! Good luck!
I still do not fully understand why you went for the mixpre-3 instead of the mixpre-6. The prices are nearly the same and there are some extra inputs on the 6. And the size is just a little bit bigger, but that won't be the dealbreaker for what it brings to the table I think. If you could still make that choice now for the same amount of money would you still go for the mixpre-3 ? And what surprises me is that only mixpre-6 are in stock and the mix-pre 3 are not. Am I missing something that these small gems are more desirable?
It was a mix of money and availability and time. I needed a MixPre quickly for a project I was working on. I could only afford a MixPre 3. And there were no MixPre 6s in stock anywhere at the time. So I snatched it. And that’s it for me. I’ll never be able to afford a 6. Haha.
Hey. Thanks so much! I just set up my Canon M50 camera in my living room to approximate the old Schneider’s Deli Meats commercial. I used a lav mic and a handy recorder (in this case the Clippy EM-172 lav and the Zoom H1n recorder). I then performed the bit. After that I ran the audio through the UAD V76 Unison preamp and also the UAD Studer tape machine and cranked it, thereby saturating the audio into distortion. As for the video, I actually just used an app on my iPhone called Analog Lab. That’s it! I love this stuff and can talk about it all day long. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@TheRecordist Thanks for the very quick reply. I've been trying to recreate vintage-style audio for quite some time in Reaper, with varying degrees of success.You earned another sub
@@nuk3man hey thanks! Much appreciated! Generally, you need to find a saturation plugin that emulates old tubes or tape. Slate as some, as do Plugin Alliance, or Softube. Good luck!
Hey thanks so much! Yes, I’ve reached out to Zoom about getting an F3 to review but haven’t heard anything back yet. I’ll try and message them again. Thanks for watching!
@@TheRecordist Cool, that is something I really want to see and hear. The F3 seems very good on the specs, but beeing that small it is hard to believe that is can really be a good XLR mic preamp. Actually I have a hard time understanding the F3. The is no setting for gain, so how much gain does it have? Will it work in the field with something like Line Audio OM1/CM4? I am planning to get something to record bassing sounds in nature like rolling boulders and logs? Is it the F3 I am looking for or MixPre? It seems like the H5 is not it even when I like the old skool interface of the H5 better than the F3... So many questions.
@@Average-Al haha. Yep. I get it. Well, 32 bit means there isn’t any peaking. You’ll never get too loud. As far as gain goes, I have no idea how it works on an F3 but I hear great things from people I trust. I would expect that is has the F-series preamps and thus around -127dB of noise. So… insanely quiet. You could crank even very quiet sounds and it shouldn’t theoretically be much of a problem. But I have yet to test it myself. The Mixpre is an amazing recorder. I loved it so much I bought a second one. I have a 3 and a 6 now. It has all the functionality you’d ever need. It also has a name and the best preamps. It’s really up to what you’ll need in the future. Good luck!
I am new to field recording, but generally speaking I am looking for something that is sturdy and easy to operate and I will prefer a preamp with 1 superclean pre compared to something with good preamps and more channels. I tend to record my samples in mono and edit and mix them in stereo och Dolby Atmos later. I don’t know what I will do in the future, but my plans for the moment is to record heavy bass sounds like felling trees, metalworks, industry and such in mono or perhaps stereo.
@@Average-Al oh that’s wicked! Might I recommend a mic? If you can get your hands on one: LOM Geofón for the felled trees. When they hit the ground, that will pick up the massive low-end seismic events. store.lom.audio/collections/contact-microphones/products/geofon They’re so popular that they run out of stock incredibly quickly so get on a list and prepare to jump on the site on the recommended day and time and snag one. Really cool mic. As far as a field recorder to use, the Zoom F-series are are great choice (not the F2). The Sound Devices MixPre 3 II is even better (but more money). The thing is, field recording is something that seems like a cheap interest to get involved in, and $3000 later you ask yourself what happened. Haha. You can start with small and cheap stuff but you will 100% upgrade later if you like doing it. For recording what you just mentioned and I had my choice of gear, here is what I would buy: -Sennheiser 416 -Line Audio CM4 (two of them) -Clippy EM-272 (two of them) -LOM Geofón -JRF C-Series Contact mics (two of them) -Sound Devices MixPre 3 II -A blimp (Røde is fine)-it comes with a pistol grip shockmount -Wind protection (ball gags and furries) The accessories can go on and on and on. Tripods (Manfrotto NanoPole), battery packs (Anker PowerCore+) and all kinds of mounts. But if you’re going mono and want that low end and want to pay very little: -Zoom F3 -LOM Geofón -Line Audio CM4 -Wind protection (blimp style) Hope this helps!
I'm obsessing over choosing F8n pro or Mixpre 6 or 10 mk2 (not sure yet, still thinking what size is worth it for now). Any thoughts? I got a hold of a comparison F8 vs mixpre 6 mk1 from Curtis Judd . In that test, listening with MDR 7509HD headphones, the mixpre sounds cleaner to me (and then 633 is even better) - not sure how this applies to F8n pro preamps vs mixpre mk2 preamps (trying to find if the gap in quality is smaller with the pro zoom being out). I will use this as a 1 man band film-maker to a 2-4 crew members for commercials, indie shorts etc, and hopefully later on as my budget and crew grows (but I have a feeling I'll have money for an 833 if and when at that point). I'm a cameraman/photog originally, will use this with RED komodo and tentacles as a team to get picture/sound. PS: seeing that XLR dongle I realize you collabed with Curtis and you know him.
Hey, ElRei! I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to Curtis Judd before, but I sure do respect the heck out of that guy! He makes the best audio videos on UA-cam, if you ask me. He does all the technical stuff like no one else. I could only hope to ever be a quarter as good as he is. I don’t think I’d ever be. But that’s ok. That’s why we have him! I make my own XLR dummy load testers, if that’s what you’re referring to when you said dongle. As for the F8n Pro vs MixPre 6 or 10 II. The preamps in the Mixpre units are better, but only marginally. I think it was -127db of noise on the F8n and -128 on the Mixpre, or something similar. But also the Mixpre Kashmir preamps are buttery smooth. So smooth that I sometimes think Sound Devices made a mistake making them that good for that low of a price (when compared to the 633 and Scorpio series etc). However, I think you’d be hard pressed to tell the Zoom from the Mixpre in a listening test. It all comes down to the eco system, the plugins, the customer support, the brand recognition, and the amount of SD card slots for redundancies. The MixPres only have one SD slot. So no redundancies. They do have a USB backup but that’s not close to being the same. The F8n Pro has two slots to record on both cards simultaneously, so if there ever was a card error, you’d have a backup. The ecosystem of sound devices is awesome and one that I enjoy being in. Zoom is less so. Sound devices has brand recognition, which can make or break some sound jobs when you tell them you record on a Zoom-even when it’s a pro Zoom. The name is not as great due to their serving the low end of the market and the high end at the same time. Sound devices is high end only. And well known and respected. Zoom has had some customer support issues in the past. Sound devices has an excellent record from what I hear. I own the Mixpre 3 II and the 6 II and I’ve never had to call them. The plugins you can get on the Mixpre are pretty great too. That’s a whole other spending hole. Haha. In the end, the F8n Pro has a lot of channels and great reviews, and is a pro setup. The Mixpre 10 II is well respected and has slightly better preamps. I guess it depends on what you value more. But you’ll never go wrong with a 633 or any other sound devices anything. At the end of the day, I feel proud to use a sound devices product because I feel confident when I use them and confident that others know I mean business. I don’t know what all that is worth, but I hope something. Haha. Good luck and do let me know what you end up going with! And if you have any other questions, I’d me more than happy to answer any of them for you! Cheers!
@@TheRecordist the usb backup on mixpre ii, if the SD corrupts it affects the usb as well? I could swear I read a zoom review where card 1 corrupted and it affected card 2 as well. Also I hear the headphones amp on mixpre is better. I suppose that could be an advantage, especially if I wanna do sfx/folly for my projects as it ensures sound accuracy? Some zoom folks describe the mic amp as noisy and something they have to put up with- it takes testing to learn what the headphones sound like vs what the recording will be. I don't wanna record something and secondguess if I have noise or not - but that's just my noob insecurity. This is for my business as a film-maker, I doubt that I'll make a career as a recordist. But I do value quality and I plan to learn sound to the level of a pro so I can direct a sound dept and understand what they do.
I would have thought the same thing, yet a couple of years ago, Sound Devices did a poll on Facebook asking if we would like that feature in a new firmware update. I'm not sure how they would do it, but clearly it must be possible.
@@TheRecordist They did it! In the event that no one else has already commented on this, I'll do so now. I just discovered this evening that the Sound Devices Store has a plug-in called +2 for the MixPre-3. Their website reads: "Expand the channel count of your MixPre-3 I or MixPre-3 II mixer-recorder with the +2 Plugin. It adds 2 channels/record tracks, giving you additional mixing, recording, and routing flexibility. It increases the MixPre-3 I or MixPre-3 II from a 3-channel/5-track recorder to a 5-channel/7-track recorder. The extra two channels, 4 and 5, can be fed from the Aux 1, Aux 2, USB 1, or USB 2 inputs and recorded as ISOs and mixed along with channels 1-3 to the main mix. Both channels have solo, mute, arm, gain, fader, pan, and low-cut controls, and, if the applicable plugins are installed, can be enabled for MixAssist and NoiseAssist processing. ISO tracks 4 and 5 can also be remixed using the Remix feature. The extra channels are accessible in the Wingman app and can be controlled by supported third-party USB controllers."
@@musar03580 ah yes! You found this old post. This was way before they announced the new update with the 5 track capability. They had done a poll asking users if they would like that feature. So obviously they knew they could do it. But I didn’t expect them to charge $80 for it. Still, a useful feature for many.
@@TheRecordist I remembered this old post and came back to it when I learned about the +2 plug-in. Actually, I think this was the first post of yours that I ever watched (and which got me interested in your channel) back when I was looking around for information on the MixPre line. A Gearspace discussion I found yesterday indicates that +2 capability was first announced by Sound Devices last October (2023). I don't know how soon after the initial announcement the plug-in was available for download, but it's possible this has been available to MixPre-3 owners now for 4 months or so. You probably already knew about it. Happy time traveling to you.
"Wicked expensive" 😂 UA-camrs would 💩 themselves if they knew what us professional location sound mixers spend on gear sufficient for professional tv and film work. A zoom F8N is roughly the same price as the mixpre 6 ii, but the zoom can't hold a candle in sound quality. Features, yes, but audio quality, no. I have the mixpre as a backup to my main rig, and the mixpre replaced the zoom F8N as my emergency backup kit. The value you're getting for the price from the Sound Devices is honestly unheard of. You could run this for tv production and no one who didn't see it would know you weren't running a $6,000 mixer.
Oh easily! I fully agree! You totally nailed it! For a lot of people just starting out, $1000 for a MixPre 6ii is an insane price tag, but try $10,000 for an 888 or even $6000 for a 633. Not to mention $6000 for a pro floating fader control surface mixer. And then there are the plugins, and mics, and wireless systems, and fins, and carts and and and… But the sound of the MixPre is a steal. I liked the MixPre 3 ii so much, I immediately went out and bought a 6. Almost 100% of my videos in the last year are recorded on a MixPre 6 ii. I think this a big reason people like the sound of my channel. Thanks for the pro comment! Cheers!
You're another one of the many folks on the tube who think they're funny, with their hokey-pokey-jokey presentations. The problem is you're not. It's just mildly irritating - especially when you're trying to get specific information before making a final purchase decision. I don't need to be "entertained" during a technical review. Thanks. I will definitely take your advice and go to Curtis Judd's detailed review.
Comedy is subjective, I love his comedy, makes me laugh.. by the fact that you have to throw shade on the hard work that he put into his videos.. maybe stop shopping for a field recording device, and start shopping for a kazoo and propeller hat.. cuz your a joke..
Curtis Judd does a great job however I like your channel just as much as your sense of humor is priceless!
Haha. Hey thanks, Richard! I appreciate the awesome comment! Cheers!
Great video! Just the right amount of humor with the info. Thanks! Great explanation as to why the double AAs are there for power switching.
Thank you very much! Cheers!
Fun "review" - enjoyed it. I own a Sound Devices MixPre3 II. My only regret was not buying the MixPre6 II.
Hey thanks! Not buying a MixPre 6 II was MY only regret, too! So I went and bought a MixPre 6 II. It arrived yesterday. It’s what I should’ve bought to begin with. You’re absolutely right.
I needed some more available simultaneous channels for some videos I have coming up so I bit the bullet. I’m not made of money. I financed it. I’m terrible. I have GAS.
Thanks for watching!
Five year sound mixer here. I have the 10t and the six as a backup. 552 was my first pro mixer/ recorder. I was very intimidated by the 10T but after two years of working with it...wow. It froze on me once, because I was on a FL beach midday, and i think it got too hot. I just power cycled it and it worked fine after that. Get the wingman app. You can take notes, on each take. I just did a revent gig and compared my 416 straight into a fs7 vs. the 10t and the 416...and it was like night and day. In the edit, the fs7 audio was very noisy, even had an odd faint echo to it? Geez. With TC connected to your cam, it's like love at first sight. The audio just snaps to the video. Love it.
I have even had very few, seasoned mixers hate on my 10t, a little, but once they heard my audio...well, they kinda shut up. And my sound bag weighs roughly 1/3 less, possibly less? than a 633, or a 688. It's awesome!
That’s wicked! Yep, Sound Devices really figured out the best recorder for the price, didn’t they?? It’s so awesome. Wait until you check out 32 bit on the MixPre 10 II. Have you tried that yet?
Thanks for watching!
@@TheRecordist I haven't tried the 2 yet. I hear great things about it though. I don't do any sound effects or anything. I did a show called "Caffeine and Octane" once and I really needed it on that show!
Most of my work is corporate, docs, reality, crime dramas, and occasional eng stuff, which I loathe.
Recently, I went back to camera, and the six has been amazing. Clients are usually impressed with all the, lights, bells and whistles on the sound bag. Lol.
Your images look great here on UA-cam! It's nice to meet a fellow mixer. I am based on North Florida. The ass end of nowhere...but recently been getting consistent work with corporate clients, marketing for UA-cam, TikTok.
Nice work brother, love it!
@@nativevoices8962 hey thanks so much! I did corporate sound and picture for years. That’s where the money is. Not as flashy as other types but it sure pays the bills! I’ve never done ENG but I know I’d never want to. Haha. Have you tried some of the plugins yet? There’s a reporter plugin to simplify the whole recorder for ENG. I REALLY want to try noise assist but I can’t justify spending $300 USD to try it. So I just use the Cedar/UA plugin called C-Suite C-Vox on post work if I’m doing that too.
Thanks for the compliments! Nice to meet you!
@@TheRecordist I am going to get the mix assist on both my recorders. The first gen 10t had very few bugs, and some mixers told me to just use the original build, because it was more solid? Maybe I am overthinking it, or this ideology is outdated by now, but I will need to update all my mixers to get the mix assist.
You are so right about Mr. Judd, he's my hero, because his review is what got me to even consider the 10t. I was out looking for a 633, at the time.
I might get the noise assist? Honestly, I never got a "bad" note back from a Producer or editor saying my audio was too noisy. So I am with you on that price point, $300!
The 416 is basically the most amazing mic ever created. I used my oktava once, indoors and I noticed a tiny bit of self noise. Luckily I used this in my studio, and after a little post clean up, was sent out with no problem. In fact, the dir was impressed with the audio.
ATM, I am doing more cam stuff, so I am getting ready to upgrade my cam package. I am hopeful that I can afford the F55. With the new Sony line up FX series, DPs are off loading Reds, c500s, and old Sony cams for dirt cheap these days.
Good to hear from you 😀
@@nativevoices8962 fabulous! Love Sound Devices!
The 416 is fabulous. It’s a workhorse mic! I love mine! The Oktava does have some noise but it’s easily mitigated in post, as you say.
Oh and by the way, although I didn’t go into it in the video, I always use Wingman app. It’s a great tool.
I recently picked up the Mixpre 6 II as well. So now I’ve got both the 3 and the 6. Next stop the 10!
Cheers!
Lovely video. Very clear info and detailed explanation of each feature. I wanted to know how quiet the MixPre 3 II was and I finally got an answer! Thanks for making and sharing this video.
Hey Andy! You’re very welcome! Thanks for watching! Cheers!
Great video, thanks. Apparently your wishes have come true. SoundDevices sells a 5 channel software plugin for the mixPre-3ii. Now you can track all 3 XLR and the minijack inputs together, and still record your mix on top of that.
Oh yes. I watched as they announced that live! Pretty awesome!
It’s the chip shortage that’s responsible for the prices, or so I’ve heard. That device used to be $650.00. The mixpre-6 was the 900 dollar device. $950, I believe.
Oh, is that right? I bought my MixPre in 2020, so I had no idea. That's interesting. Yet, the price of guitars went up as well--no chips in them. Everything is just too much money these days!
@@TheRecordist I think a lot of companies have been taking advantage of the times right now and just raising prices on practically everything. But I kid you not. I have the original mixpre-6. Got it in August of 2017 for $899.00. I got the mixpre-6 II in april of 2020 for $885.00. So, a few bucks cheaper than the original. Now, depending on what website, it goes for anywhere from $1060 to about $1200.00. And before I got the second mixpre-6 in April of 2020, I got the mixpre-10 II in December of 2019 for $1399.00. Nowadays, it’s in the neighborhood of around $1700 - $1800 bucks. Same thing’s been going on with computer parts. The chip shortage has been the “official” story, but there’s some good ol’ fashioned price gouging going on.
@@ahfimiwonawun you know what? You’re absolutely right. I’m seeing it everywhere. It’s a shame that these units are getting priced right out of the hands of so many who simply can’t afford that price tag-no matter how good the device is.
@D R yes. That Zoom F3 is doing well. I’m seeing it everywhere. I’d like to try it out. The MixPre is very expensive. You’re right.
@D R indeed. Does it have the same F-series preamps as the F6? That’s key. Those are good preamps. No 3.5mm? Hmm. That’s a weird thing for it not to have. And not many options? Still, a cumbersome menu is not always desirable. Sometimes you want to hit record and go. Very interesting. Thanks for letting me know!
Answered all the questions I had and then some. Also +100 for the "So I Married an Axe Murderer" reference!
Well thank you sir! And yes indeed! A fantastic film-and one I quote often! 😉
I've been reviewing many devices , finally, I already place the order today after watching your great video ... Thank you very much
Oh I’m glad you found a good one! Thanks for watching!
Superb review and entertaining to boot. I own one. I agree about the learning curve 100%. But…..once I got the hang it was second nature. The thing about the on/off switch is……I agree it’s a little tricky to get to it…..but…..that also makes it tough to inadvertently turned the thing off by mistake. BTW………your audio and video production values are incredibly good.
Hey thanks, Tom! Nice to see you again!
I definitely agree with you. There’s no way to inadvertently turn the unit off by mistake. That’s a very true statement.
Thanks for stopping by again and watching my videos! I also appreciate the comment on my production value! It’s a lowly Canon M50 mirrorless camera but the audio has some money in there. Haha. Cheers!
Great video and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the MixPre 3 II! I'm a Zoom guy but have to admit that I find myself lusting over Sound Devices from time to time. Thanks again!
Hey thanks for watching! Yes, I too was a Zoom guy-that is until I heard the sweet preamps the MixPre has. I friggin’ love it. But the F6 or F8n are great recorders in their own right. Even the finest tuned ears probably wouldn’t be able to detect the difference. Cheers!
Really great reviews and information on this channel. Hope you will get way more subscribers and views in the future! You would absolutely deserve it for this kind of quality.
Hey thanks, Lukas! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave that comment! Cheers!
Can I use two separate Lav set ups with this - seeing as how there is only one 3.5 input? Is there an adapter that will allow the 3.5 to go into the xlr port? My set up needs to have two lav mics and one regular XLR mic (condenser). Thanks - great review btw@@TheRecordist
@@oliverleslie7382 yes. You can use a stereo 3.5mm splitter and it will replace two of your XLR ins. With the new firmware update from Sound Devices, and a $75 charge, you can now use the stereo 3.5mm in AS WELL as the three XLR ins simultaneously for a total of five simultaneous ins.
Hi, thanks for replying - and quickly! I was hoping not to have to use a splitter because I have really good copper based 3.5 aux cables to wholly reduce transfer noise, and not sure if the splitter will make that all null and void - moot. Is there an adapter so that one aux cable can go into the 3.5 port and the second can, with said adapter, go into the XLR port? @@TheRecordist
@@oliverleslie7382 I understand. First I’d need to know if they’re wireless lavs or if they’re wired. The reason is that a wired lav will need plug-in-power which is very different than phantom power.
Also, does your Mixpre 3 model have XLR ins that also accept 1/4 inch?
I like your review! Very well made!
I bought my MP3 II around Xmas 2021. Looking back, I wish I had bought the MP 6 II. Apart from that, it's the best recorder I've ever bought.
Hey. You sound like the hypnosis guy! Haha. It sure is!
I used Nagra for years! It was the coolest! And the best sound recording device I have ever used. I am looking forward to getting the MixPre 3 II.
Ah man. Nagras! What a sound!
The MixPre is it’s own class of awesome. The Kashmir preamps are fantastic. Soft, even. I think you love it. Thanks for watching!
I wanted to hit the like button 5 times. Thank you. Love the video setup, knowledge and levity.
Hey thanks, Bill! I appreciate that!
"Only half of us need to be worried." LOL ...edit... Seriously the low key humor was awesome! Instant Sub!
Hahaha. I love it when someone discovers one of my Easter eggs! Cheers!
Thanks! My Tascam DR100-MKiii finally quit charging when the micro USB got whacked and it was time to upgrade. I was ready for a lower noise floor and something that not just an off the shelf throwaway. So thanks for explaining the features in a down to earth way. I'm about to start the course Chris Judd's offering while I wait for the FedEx guy.
So exciting! You’ll love it but beware the learning curve! I’m so glad you’re going to take his course. It’ll really help you out!
@@TheRecordist I'm going to try not to face-plant on the learning curve. I build guitar amps and the 32 bit floating option is pretty exciting for shooting demo videos. It's always been tricky to talk about an amp and then crank it.
@@FreshOldSchool oh that’s going to be interesting! Talking and then amp recording. That’s the test of all tests!
Don’t worry about the learning curve. You’ll get it pretty fast if that’s what you’re looking to do. It’s basically set it and forget it if you’re only doing one thing with it.
Good luck on the amp building! And let me know if you ever need a review on one. Cheers!
Of all the references I have heard in your videos, the 1916 reference to Santo Poco and El Guapo dates you quite precisely. New subscriber here, enjoying your videos (and learning from them) a lot.
Getting dated quite precisely is EXACTLY my goal! Easter eggs are my business. I love it when a plan comes together!
Haha. Thanks so much! I’m always so happy to see when a viewer gets the reference! Thanks for the sub! Cheers!
Really enjoyed this video; witty and funny. Great job on the time travel images. Happy Holidays.
Haha. Thanks so much! Happy holidays!
@@TheRecordist Right after watching this video I went to test my Sound DevicesMIXPRE 3 II with theTentacle SYNC II attached on the Sony FX3 and FX30 and MIXPRE 3 II. The audio was off sync with the video because I had Time Code set to DF (Dropped Frames) instead of NDF (No Dropped Frames) on the Sony FX3 and FX30 which caused misalignment with with the MIXPRE 3 II audio with its NDF setting. So, after making the changes to the FX3 and FX30 to NDF, Adobe Premiere Timeline was perfect Sequencing with Time Code. Just passing this forward in case someone else has this issue.
@@WaltervanDusen hey that’s great advice! Thanks so much for doing the tests and posting this! Cheers!
It's an amazeballs recorder.... LOL! Hooked me in less than 20 seconds. Excellent review sprinkled with the right amount of humor. This recorder will bring the best out of my 416 as well. Thanks a bunch and just subbed!
Hahaha. Thanks! Cheers!
Just scored one with batteries for $550. So excited.
Woo hoo! Congrats!
So glad these are back in stock - super bummer about the price though. I’ve been struggling with an F6 due to not being able to add live delay - the mixpre3 can do this (up to 200ms) - woohoo no more audio hijack and loopback.
Oh yes! They’re fantastic. That sucks about the price. But everything is far too costly these days. But I’m glad they’re back in stock! Thanks for watching!
Wow that was so worth watching.. Thanks for the info and the laughs.
Wonderful! You’re very welcome! Cheers!
I'd be curious to see you review the Zoom F3...
Yes. Me too. I just reached out to Zoom to ask if they’ll send me one to review. Thanks for your suggestion!
Great Video, thank you,
You’re very welcome! Cheers!
As someone familiar with online retail platforms I know that the web host takes a not insignificant cut of the price and typically collects duties and payment processing fees on top even if the seller doesn't cross the $1M out of state sales threshold personally where they'd be required to remit out of state taxes. All that to say is that if you do a little bit of sleuthing you can determine who made a retail listing and contact them directly to see if they'll offer a direct sale discount. In a time when everything is more expensive, it is worth it to get creative. If it works don't brag about it online because it might be running afoul of some seller's contract or something but with anything you buy consider making a direct sale vs using an online retail platform. Some sellers have no love for these platforms that have crowded out the space and treat the guys doing all the hustling like garbage. Also some manufactures have strict minimum advertised pricing contracts with dealers so they literally CAN'T "advertise" anything but what the manufacturer has stipulated. But in some cases that doesn't affect what a guy could sell something for in a direct sale. This is true across a whole lot of retail. But remember, in the words of Jules Winnfield, "BE COOL, BITCH!"
It should be said also that I'm mainly referring to the small businessman and not any big box store. The big boxes don't sell gear -they sell financing for gear. In those cases there's zero motivation to work with you on pricing as they'd rather put you in debt.
I totally hear you! That’s some great Intel. I hope some of my viewers read this. A buck saved is a buck saved. Thanks for writing this all out! Cheers!
MixPre live-streaming event this coming Monday - October 16th, 2023, at 11:00am CDT with MixPre Master Laura Sillanpää ''... and hear about some exciting MixPre news''. Dare to dream.
Fingers crossed your firmware update wishes come true.
Yes! I put a notification for everyone in my community tab! I’m hoping for some neat stuff!
Ok, it’s sometimes tough to be an electrical engineer searching for what should be readily available info. Not if it concerns 32-bit Float, I have sadly learned.
Best info I’ve been able to glean:
Audacity supports both importing and exporting “32-bit float PCM” audio files, such as “32-bit float WAV” or “32-bit float AIFF”. (Some audio formats, such as FLAC, don't support 32-bit float, and many compressed formats, such as MP3, don't really have a defined bit-format.)
I didn’t know WAV nor AIFF were PCM variants. Graduated in 1971, well before commercialization of these standards. Wasn’t in the audio field. Now I understand how hard you guys had to work to your considerable knowledge.
You mentioned iOS supported 32-bit float files. I found reference that Windows 11 does too. But no other details.
Technical Marketing writing is something I’ve done starting in 1973. Most of that stuff today is done by folks who actually don’t want to communicate technically. I’m never going to fix that. And, sadly, UA-camr creators are not much better at it, mostly.
You would think that Zoom might tell us what file extensions they use, and what a full workflow would be out of the recorder and into DaVinci. You use something else? Too bad, but yes, they should advise you too. If they, or anybody else, can hear me begging for help, please do something to help audio humanity and publish info now.
Ending Transmission!
Hahaha. Understood!
If you google “32 Bit Recording Explained” or “32 Bit Float Explained”, you might get a partial answer. As for me. I usually interpret my 32 bit recordings in Izotope RX and then render them into 24 Bit for easy manipulation in any DAW.
The point of 32 Bit recording is simply to remove any possibility of clipping (digital distortion). Digital clipping is not what we are used to. Haha. Us old school guys liked a bit of analog clipping with our teas.
But once you render the 32 bit file to 24 you can see where you’ve clipped and reduce them by section.
Out of a hundred times of me recording audio, I record in 32 Bit about 0.01 times.
But let’s say I wanted to throw a drop-rig out in the forest and left it there to record sounds, I’d want 32 bit recording because I’m not going to be around to adjust for any loud transients or sounds.
What do you think? Did I make it easier? Sometimes I only make it worse. Haha.
@@TheRecordist Thanks for your reply. Technically, I learned the math theory back in 1971 at the University of Waterloo. What I don’t like is the lack of clarity and , frankly, the disrespect of knowledgeable people such as myself and you. Look, much of this is mathematics, I did that, but much of today’s tech is operational and there is not excuse for lack of clarity. I will never understand, but at my advanced age, well I have reluctantly accepted that ignorance is winning over science.
@@TheRecordist ok, let me be perfectly clear. The only 32-bit device I own is a new pocket 3. I’m trying to figure out 32 bit stuff. Apparently, it’s some sort of mystery subject that nobody wants to explain to an electrical engineer. Pissed off.
@@TheRecordist No, not worse. Still looking for file type details and file type usage, especially in DaVinci.
@@EdwardKilner hi Edward. I’m sorry. I wasn’t notified of these messages. I was just looking at the new Zoom H1n Essential 32 bit recorder and it had a section on 32 bits and how it works. I didn’t read it all yet, but I copied the link and went to find you to give it to you.
Let me know if this helps even just a little bit. My guess is no, but we shall see. zoomcorp.com/en/us/news/32-bit-float-everything-you-need-to-know/
Outstanding video, thank you so much... and I love your humour!!
Oh thanks! I’m glad you liked it! Cheers!
Watched one of Judd’s videos, just before this one. Unlikely to watch another of his again. Unlike your video, he didn’t show all connectors.
I’m not an audio engineer, but am an electrical engineer. We regularly use block diagrams to show all inputs and outputs, usually with typical connections to, say, mics and cameras. One diagram answers many questions.
Neither he nor you make an explicit statement about plugging in a USB microphone. Hey, did you just faint? Sorry! See, I have one. For VO on UA-cam videos, when I learn how. Thronmax. Sounds ok. Never mind, I’m too cheap to by this recorder, although I can admit to lusting for it.
Keep up the good work. Well measured words, so to speak.
Hahaha. Hi Edward! It’s too bad. Curtis Judd is a very knowledgeable dude, and a really nice guy. I thoroughly enjoy his high quality videos. Maybe you could give him another chance?
I have never used the USB input on my MixPre recorders for a USB mic, though, they should absolutely work with a USB mic. You just set the routing in the menu.
You may be able to find a MixPre used on the market somewhere. You can sometimes find them very cheap. But “cheap” is a relative term. Haha.
Thanks for watching, Edward!
I like your review! Very well made!
I bought my MP-3 II around Xmas 2021. Looking back, I wish I had bought the MP-6 II. Apart from that, it's the best recorder I've ever bought.
My clients sometimes ask me why my hypnosis recordings sound so much better.
Additional negatives:
• only 1 SD card slot
• additional MX-mounts not included and expensive.
Is it worth the money?
If you use this thing to make money... actually a no-brainer ;-)
Haha. Agreed! I do wish it had a second SD card slot, but few things are ever perfect. I bought the 3 and then I went and bought the 6 for the same reasons you just outlined. Thanks for chiming in!
Great Review!!!
Hey thanks so much!
Brilliant
Thanks! Cheers!
This man is my spirit animal's Spirit Animal.
Hahaha thanks so much!
Hello Sir, I like very very much this video !
That’s great! Thanks for watching!
This was a very helpful review, I've been thinking about getting this device for a while now, but I'm hesitant because Gen 2 of these devices have been out for all most 3 to 4 years now, so a gen 3 should be forthcoming. Not that you'd know, but you seem like you would?..... Thanks again for a great review. Cheers. P.S. Your heads not to big, the world just to small.
Haha. Hey thanks for the kind words!
So here’s my take on the MixPre: I think the second gen is the last for a while. The reason I think that is because what else could they possibly add? The firmware updates for the Mixpre II series have given all kinds of great new functions. The only thing I could see them updating is perhaps the ability to take two simultaneous SD cards as opposed to just the one, for redundancy.
Now, I could be completely wrong. I have absolutely no inside track here. I have no connection to Sound Devices at all. So, my words are based on nothing but a feeling.
But honestly, no one on earth should feel bad about a Mixpre. They’re among the best in the business and even if they figured out how to make it even better, it won’t be by any significant amount.
I’ve got a MixPre 3 II and a MixPre 6 II. No matter what they come out with next, I’m good with what I have. I can do anything with them.
Hope this helps!
Oh my... you're so funny.
Thank you very much for reviewing this little marvel of a recorder ! :)
Haha. Thanks so much! It is so awesome that I bought the MixPre 6 II as well in the time since I did that video! Thanks for watching!
Bought the MixPre 3 II - amazing device however definitely not plug and play - the learning curve is steep NO kidding!! Now want the MixPre 6 II - no reason really just wish I'd got it with the extra XLR port.
Fully agreed! I actually bought the MixPre 6 II just after I did this video! The 6 not only has the extra XLR port, but it has the 3.5mm stereo input that can be used simultaneously with the 4 XLR for a total of 6 simultaneous ins.
But yes. What a learning curve!
@@TheRecordist Wow - didn't know that thanks for the extra info - Indeed I will eventually weaken and get the 6 soon as well! Wickedly expensive but worth every penny. PS You have truly mastered the evil scientist laugh - revise as 'An extra 3.5 stereo input for a total of 6 simultaneous ins' MWHA! HA! HA! HA!' *lightning simulation* 😆 Very entertaining sir! 👍
@@BanTheBBCHD hahahahaaha! Thanks so much! I just like to have fun. Hahaha.
My Thoughts on the Mix Pre 3-II which I’ve had for about 4 years now. (Where does the time go….). Battery sled can be useful as a bridge battery if you need to swap out a battery block, but with most battery blocks like the anker 22000 maH battery blocks, probably not necessary on a single shoot date. I’ve used full size wireless keyboards with a Logitech dongle plugged directly into the usb-a port for entering track info, etc but of course the wingman app means you dont need to carry a full size keyboard, but the full size keyboard is convenient if doing a bunch of voice over clips and naming the files on the fly. The MixPre3 is the perfect corporate video unit, works really well for small indie groups, but I felt the need to go to more than 3 inputs for some of the larger shoots so I eventually went to the MixPre10-II. if i was going to upgrade, then why stop at 6 when you can go to 10 (Nigel is in my ear right now saying his goes to 11)
Hahaha. I thought the same. I went for the MixPre 6 II shortly after. So now I have both. Why not?
I do very much love these recorders. I’m building a cart rig and am about to purchase a Novation Launch Control XL and perhaps a keyboard to go along with it.
Thanks for chiming in!
A blip in the time/space continuum? 23:30 shows the Nagra-III...
(although in '52 it would have been the Nagra-I) Nice work in any case!
I'm just renting the MixPre 3, and my H6 is starting to give off foul odours... ;-)
Hahahaha. I know what you mean! It’s no comparison when you start playing with the bigger toys!
And I think you’re right about the Nagra III. A blip in the spacetime continuum indeed! Hahaha
Made me feel good for swapping from a Zoom F6 to a MixPre 6 Mk2.
Woo hoo! I think that’s a great decision!
Does the 3.5mm stereo input use one of the channels and does it use the same preamp , have gain control and plugin power?
How does the MixPre compare to the FocusriteScarlett in terms of noise?
Hi there. In normal mode, the 3.5mm input uses up one or two of the channels (since it’s a stereo input) but when you purchase an expansion plugin, it becomes additive. So, instead of 3 simultaneous inputs, you then have 5 simultaneous inputs.
The 3.5mm input uses its own preamp and A/D conversion. It does have its own gain control and it does provide plugin power.
The MixPre blows the Scarlett out of the water. There’s not even any close comparison at all. Literally everything is far superior on the MixPre than the Scarlett. The Kashmir preamps in the MixPre are among the best and quietest on earth. The Scarlett is entry level and thus the preamps and converters are entry level. The MixPre is expensive for a reason.
Hope this helps!
Sub’d instantly at 12:47 😂🤣 great review!
Hahaha. Thanks! I’m happy when someone gets my humor! Cheers!
very well, very well
Thank you very much!
Man, you are awesome!
Haha. Thank you!
How would you compare this to the xoom f6?
Well, aside from fewer XLR inputs, the MixPre II series are superior recorders. The preamps are better. The A/D conversion is better. The options are better. The build quality is better. The thing people sometimes have issues with is the battery life in the MixPre. But as I say in the video, it’s designed to use an external power source.
I also have the MixPre 6 II. I liked it so much I got the larger version.
Would you recommend the mixpre 3ii or mixpre 6ii for a wedding videographer/documentary filmmaker? Do you think the mixpre6ii would be overkill for that? or is it worth it to spend the extra $200 for the mix pre6 ii?
Well. That’s a great question. I myself ended up buying the 6 as well, because the 3 wasn’t enough for what I needed.
So, can you see yourself using more than 3 simultaneous phantom powered XLR tracks in the future? That’s what it comes down to.
You have a maximum of 3 tracks with the 3 (you can now increase that to 5 using the stereo 3.5mm input if you pay an additional $75 but there are still only 3 phantom power spots).
This unit will last the rest of your life. If you ever got into doing things that needed more tracks, then the 6 is much better.
But if you never have more than 3 phantom power xlr needs, and don’t ever see yourself needing more, then the 3 is just fine.
For example, if you got the 3 and suddenly needed a couple more inputs, and you are using wireless lavs, since the lav receivers output at line level, with a splitter, you could pay the $75 and use inputs 4/5 (3.5mm input) for the lavs, and still have 3 phantom power XLR’s available.
However, if you decided you want to get into ambisonics, then no matter what, the 3 won’t be able to do that.
I hope this wasn’t too confusing!
Yes, thank you, I think I will go with the 6!
@@KarsonsChannel a fine choice! Happy recording!
Really nice vocal recording here. Transparent and silky. I subscribed because I am interested in making really good live acoustic recordings in unusual spaces, experimental stuff and perhaps some multitracked drums...Has the stereo input firmware been updated to allow 5 simultaneous tracks yet? Thank you!
Hey thanks! Yes it has! You can now pay around $70 to open up 5 simultaneous tracks with the new firmware. You’ll love it. Cheers!
@@TheRecordist Thank you! Would I be correct in guessing that would be a "what you feed the stereo pair" input is what you get? Nice to have...I could see using it for a couple of overheads for some stuff. Other neat things too😇
@@christopherecatalano yes. Exactly. Some people use a small external preamp to feed a line level signal into the stereo 3.5mm input. But as long as it doesn’t require phantom power, you’re good!
@@TheRecordist great, it seems like the ultimate portable audio capture device. Time to say so long to some guitar pedals😵💫😃
@@christopherecatalano woo hoo!
Honestly I mostly watch these reviews for the jokes and creative skits/production value. Lots of interesting and hard to find info here too though like on some more obscure mics etc.
Hey thanks so much! I appreciate that! Some videos have more goodies than others only because I think of them. Sometimes I can’t think of anything! Haha. Cheers, man!
I have a question for anyone who has a MixPre 3 II device. I'm not an audio professional. I want to listen to extremely low level noises/sounds in real time and also record it. Obviously, this involves turning up the gain very high while I'm monitoring in real time. Is the limiter circuit on the device good enough to cut out any loud sounds so I won't lose my hearing? Let's say I'm listening to sounds deep in the noise floor and someone claps or drops something, is the limiter function working on the audio monitoring output? In the same topic, does anyone know which microphone works well in this condition where you're trying to listen in on very low volume sounds. I heard the EM272 or the AOM 5024L-HDR-R is another candidate. I don't have enough experience with different microphones, but willing to spend good money on a microphone setup. I will be using it mostly in the field, so prefer to not have a huge microphone tethered to a shock mount. Thanks for anyone's help.
Hi there. The MixPre is a great recorder for quiet sounds. As far as the onboard analog limiter, it works very well, but no limiter is 100%. It works on a kind of ratio 3:1, 12:1, 20:1, etc. For every decibel of sound over the threshold, it will reduce the volume by the larger number to the left. And how fast it is at doing that is the attack level.
The MixPre has a great limiter, but nothing is ever 100%. But you’re in luck. The MixPre II series has 32 bit mode, which means no matter how loud a sound gets, it won’t digitally clip. So in post (when you’re reviewing your recordings on a computer), you’ll be able to manually turn down the loud noises as they happen, without any clipping.
As for mics, the Clippys are great. And they’re cheap.
The quietest mic in the world (lowest self noise) is the Røde NT1. But it’s a massive cardioid large diaphragm condenser mic and not one that is very portable.
The Sennheiser MKH 20, is another great and very quiet Omni mic, but it’s very expensive.
The Clippys might be your best bet.
Good luck!
I use a few recorders, Tascam Dr40X H1n and MixPre 6 II, the first two I use for testing my SR3D mics in the workshop, and I use the MixPre for pesonal use when I've the time, not so much these days.
You seem quie at ease in front of the camera and I'm surprised you dont have many more subscribers, so I've added an extra one to the sub list.
And, if you would like to test out my Binaural DIY Kit with cheap non descript lav mics (not toooo bad) just drop me an email which can be found on my about page.🎤🎧
Hey thanks so much! I might just take you up on that! Which lav mics are we talking about? I prefer Clippys. How about you? And thanks for the extra sub! I did an experiment. 1 year with no advertising. This includes letting any of my own friends or even my social media pages know that I'm doing this. So the numbers are purely organic and from the algorithm or search. I wasn't even sure I was going to keep doing it. But it's gotten some great feedback so I think I'll stay for a while! Thanks again!
@@TheRecordist
Great, just ping me your address and I'll pop a few in the post for you!
The Lavs are some generic Chinese ones I think, but, one person said that they were quite low noise, though a side to side comparison lets you know the difference between the Primo EM272 and them... I use Primo EM272 which are the same as the clippy, I still use Mic Booster from time to time and have had a few email exchanges with one of the guys there. I do a lav just like theirs in the same enclosure but some have cheaper plugs so that they go through the ears on the DIY kit, and others have expensive plugs which are not part of the kit.
My mics started out organic too, with a simple video of me demonstrating binaural audio, (I realised how to record binaural audio by myself before knowing about microphones with ears!) and the ASMR community found me right away, so I've been building mics for them ever since.
I'm reaching out to the non ASMR community to see if I can bring an affordable means to them, so that binaural becomes known to the other communities, Ive been giving a few DIY kits out, and my Basic tube version out to see what interest becomes of it.
Some have been offended by my understanding of binaural (Head related transfer function for me is ERTF - Ear related transfer function!), and I have been flamed and banned, and ridiculed in some forums! I have found some really interesting things about using binaural, as the ears are my own I can experiment whereas those that ridicule and flame have not had the enlightenment of using their own ears to realise any differences, simply because they are hearing binaural from someone else's ears, so, the experience is NOT the same.
I love it!
I also think your photography is top notch and your personality shines through. I'm sure you will become well known if you upload regular.
Cheers for now.
@@sr3d-microphones hey thanks for the compliments!
Yes. I’d be very interested in checking anything out. I love experimenting!
I’ll even do a proper review with your kit if you’d like. If it’s cool, people should know about it.
Please email me at the_tps@protonmail.com (that’s the_tps at protonmail dot com) and we can figure it all out. Cheers!
@@TheRecordist sure I’ll ping you an email later today (it’s only 3:22am here right now)
I’m sure we’re going to get on with some interesting things to say 🙃
@@sr3d-microphones haha. Sounds good!
you might just have become my favorite yotuber hahaha
Hahaha. Thanks so much! Cheers!
between the series sound devices mixpre and sounddevice 633 which has a very good preamp!? for a choice of professional sound engineer
Honestly, both are extremely high end.
Technically, the 633 will have ever so slightly better preamps, but you’d never tell the difference by listening. But the 633 has dual card recording-something the Mixpre doesn’t have. This is no big deal most of the time, but on a big budget movie, it’s nice to have a backup.
The Mixpre is a great recorder, though. But you’ll be happy with either choice.
I have the Mix Pre 6 and the biggest negative is the power with the standard 4battery bay sucks, you will be changing batteries all the time.
The power swich is very small and fiddley.
Otherwise a gret piece of kit
Hey. Thanks for the comment! In the video I addressed this issue. It’s not really an issue because the AA batteries are there so you can seamlessly switch power supplies without stopping recording. I always use a power bank in my sound bag with mine. Thanks for watching!
How does sound qualify compare to zoom f8n pro and mixpre 6 ii?
It’s really close between the F8n and the MixPre series, but the MixPre series has better preamps.
I have both the MixPre 3 II and the MixPre 6 II. They are identical in quality but the 6 has more channels.
I see that one of the features you get by stepping up to the MixPre 6 are XLR/combo inputs, which would be nice. From a practical usage standpoint, do you ever find yourself limited by not having 1/4" TRS inputs?
Hey. For my own personal and professional use, I didn’t miss those combo inputs at all. However, I did purchase a MixPre 6 a short while after doing this video. So I have both the 3 and the 6 now. Still, I’ve never used thr quarter inch inputs on the 6.
Now, if I was, say, using the MixPre as an interface and I wanted to go direct with my guitar to use with an amp sim, this would be a problem with the 3.
How about you? What would you use the 3 for?
@@TheRecordist Mostly field recording, and I suppose it's not likely that I would need to bring in a 1/4" TRS signal often. I just tend to try to maximize flexibility in the gear I buy.
Speaking of flexibility, I'm really surprised to see that it doesn't appear that either the Mixpre line or the Zoom F line allow you to connect (via USB) to a broader array of storage devices. I'm using the new Sandisk Pro Blade Station. There is also a really nice, portable transport box that will hold one of the Blades (up to 4TB) for portability. I'd love to be able to connect to a field recorder with one of those.
@@Astronaut_FX I don’t know that one couldn’t use an SSD with it. Perhaps it has to do with the bus power. What about a powered hub and THEN plugging the Blade in?
I have had a MixPre 3 V1 for many years. I love it but mine died. The card reader quit. I’m shopping for a new recorder.
Oh that’s strange. The MixPres usually last forever. The MixPre 2 series are fantastic. Almost unbeatable. I fully recommend them.
Hey Tony… I’ve had the mix pre mk 2 for a while and haven’t really used it until today…. I’m wondering if you might be able to help… I’ve managed to connect two lav mics.. have armed and recorded audio with phantom power on… everything works fine… only trouble is I can only ever play back the last project recorded… if I try and access a recording prior to the one made I get nothing no sound through my headphones? I’ve scoured the net and can’t find anything… it can’t be a routing issue as I’m getting audio from the cans for the last track recorded? Hope you had a good Xmas. Cheers Matt
Hey man. Ok, are you in basic mode or advanced?
This is the part that everyone - including me - has a problem with. It’s not very intuitive. This has to do with headphone presets. You can create a preset to listen back to your ISO tracks. What happens when you are playing back that silent project and you start hitting the track solo buttons? Can you hear it now? If so, it’s a headphone preset that you’ve got to make.
Let me know. And I hope you had a great Xmas too!
@@TheRecordist I’ve a day off today so I’ll give it a whirl… I think I was working in advanced mode… long and short I want to be able to record with numerous mics…. Field recording etc… and then dirty record out from the mix pre out of its headphone socket into my akai mpc…
@@The_Sound_Technician hmm really? Go analog to digital, and then back to analog, then out to your MPC, which then get reconverted to digital? That’s an interesting way of doing it. Are you looking for that specific effect? If so, great!
If not, you can remix right inside the MixPre.
Either way, cool stuff!
His voice just just like George r r Martin
Not just my voice. Muahahahaha!
Great review thanks. I'm trying to decide if the extra functions on the mixpre3/6 are worth the price over the F3 for me. Currently running the H5 and my mics have surpassed its preamp capabilities.
One thing I struggle with field recording are with bags. The photographer bag looks great but do you have to do a full setup every time you want to use it?
Hey Armand! Thanks for the kind words!
Indeed. A MixPre is on another level. Both for sound quality and for functionality. It really is mind-blowing. The F3 has good preamps but not as good as a MixPre. There’s something about the rounded sounds of the Kashmir preamps that really put it in a league of their own 🧢⚾️.
But if money is an issue, and you don’t mind lot having a 3.5mm input, the F3 is faaaaaar better than the H5.
As for bags, oh yes. There are many bags out there to choose from that are made for sound recording. I reviewed a very small Orca bag in this channel. ua-cam.com/video/XjvkL3DmiJ0/v-deo.html
Also, I have a larger Orca bag review coming this Monday so stay tuned for that one. But there are other companies as well. Hope any of this helps! Good luck!
Sorry. That was meant to say “not” having a 3.5mm plug-in-power input.
I still do not fully understand why you went for the mixpre-3 instead of the mixpre-6. The prices are nearly the same and there are some extra inputs on the 6. And the size is just a little bit bigger, but that won't be the dealbreaker for what it brings to the table I think. If you could still make that choice now for the same amount of money would you still go for the mixpre-3 ? And what surprises me is that only mixpre-6 are in stock and the mix-pre 3 are not. Am I missing something that these small gems are more desirable?
It was a mix of money and availability and time. I needed a MixPre quickly for a project I was working on. I could only afford a MixPre 3. And there were no MixPre 6s in stock anywhere at the time. So I snatched it. And that’s it for me. I’ll never be able to afford a 6. Haha.
Nice review. How did you make the vintage style audio in the bit around the dummy xlr?
Hey. Thanks so much!
I just set up my Canon M50 camera in my living room to approximate the old Schneider’s Deli Meats commercial. I used a lav mic and a handy recorder (in this case the Clippy EM-172 lav and the Zoom H1n recorder). I then performed the bit. After that I ran the audio through the UAD V76 Unison preamp and also the UAD Studer tape machine and cranked it, thereby saturating the audio into distortion.
As for the video, I actually just used an app on my iPhone called Analog Lab.
That’s it! I love this stuff and can talk about it all day long. Thanks for watching. Cheers!
@@TheRecordist Thanks for the very quick reply. I've been trying to recreate vintage-style audio for quite some time in Reaper, with varying degrees of success.You earned another sub
@@nuk3man hey thanks! Much appreciated!
Generally, you need to find a saturation plugin that emulates old tubes or tape. Slate as some, as do Plugin Alliance, or Softube.
Good luck!
Do the 833 and the mixpre 3 share the same ADC's?
That’s a great question! Allow me to do some digging and get back to you.
@@TheRecordist i believe the mixpre 3 has ak5578 adc chip. Not sure about the 833.
@@380stroker the 5578 is a nice chip. I’ve messaged Sound Devices and I’m going to find out.
@@TheRecordist oh cool. Thanks for that.
Funny and educational 😆😆
Thank you so much, Joshua!
Thanks for this thorough and entertaining review!
Any chances of you getting Zoom F3 for trial and comparing it to your MixPre 3 II?
Hey thanks so much! Yes, I’ve reached out to Zoom about getting an F3 to review but haven’t heard anything back yet. I’ll try and message them again. Thanks for watching!
@@TheRecordist Cool, that is something I really want to see and hear. The F3 seems very good on the specs, but beeing that small it is hard to believe that is can really be a good XLR mic preamp. Actually I have a hard time understanding the F3. The is no setting for gain, so how much gain does it have? Will it work in the field with something like Line Audio OM1/CM4? I am planning to get something to record bassing sounds in nature like rolling boulders and logs? Is it the F3 I am looking for or MixPre? It seems like the H5 is not it even when I like the old skool interface of the H5 better than the F3... So many questions.
@@Average-Al haha. Yep. I get it. Well, 32 bit means there isn’t any peaking. You’ll never get too loud.
As far as gain goes, I have no idea how it works on an F3 but I hear great things from people I trust. I would expect that is has the F-series preamps and thus around -127dB of noise. So… insanely quiet. You could crank even very quiet sounds and it shouldn’t theoretically be much of a problem. But I have yet to test it myself.
The Mixpre is an amazing recorder. I loved it so much I bought a second one. I have a 3 and a 6 now. It has all the functionality you’d ever need. It also has a name and the best preamps.
It’s really up to what you’ll need in the future. Good luck!
I am new to field recording, but generally speaking I am looking for something that is sturdy and easy to operate and I will prefer a preamp with 1 superclean pre compared to something with good preamps and more channels. I tend to record my samples in mono and edit and mix them in stereo och Dolby Atmos later. I don’t know what I will do in the future, but my plans for the moment is to record heavy bass sounds like felling trees, metalworks, industry and such in mono or perhaps stereo.
@@Average-Al oh that’s wicked!
Might I recommend a mic? If you can get your hands on one: LOM Geofón for the felled trees. When they hit the ground, that will pick up the massive low-end seismic events. store.lom.audio/collections/contact-microphones/products/geofon
They’re so popular that they run out of stock incredibly quickly so get on a list and prepare to jump on the site on the recommended day and time and snag one. Really cool mic.
As far as a field recorder to use, the Zoom F-series are are great choice (not the F2). The Sound Devices MixPre 3 II is even better (but more money).
The thing is, field recording is something that seems like a cheap interest to get involved in, and $3000 later you ask yourself what happened. Haha. You can start with small and cheap stuff but you will 100% upgrade later if you like doing it.
For recording what you just mentioned and I had my choice of gear, here is what I would buy:
-Sennheiser 416
-Line Audio CM4 (two of them)
-Clippy EM-272 (two of them)
-LOM Geofón
-JRF C-Series Contact mics (two of them)
-Sound Devices MixPre 3 II
-A blimp (Røde is fine)-it comes with a pistol grip shockmount
-Wind protection (ball gags and furries)
The accessories can go on and on and on. Tripods (Manfrotto NanoPole), battery packs (Anker PowerCore+) and all kinds of mounts.
But if you’re going mono and want that low end and want to pay very little:
-Zoom F3
-LOM Geofón
-Line Audio CM4
-Wind protection (blimp style)
Hope this helps!
I'm obsessing over choosing F8n pro or Mixpre 6 or 10 mk2 (not sure yet, still thinking what size is worth it for now). Any thoughts? I got a hold of a comparison F8 vs mixpre 6 mk1 from Curtis Judd . In that test, listening with MDR 7509HD headphones, the mixpre sounds cleaner to me (and then 633 is even better) - not sure how this applies to F8n pro preamps vs mixpre mk2 preamps (trying to find if the gap in quality is smaller with the pro zoom being out). I will use this as a 1 man band film-maker to a 2-4 crew members for commercials, indie shorts etc, and hopefully later on as my budget and crew grows (but I have a feeling I'll have money for an 833 if and when at that point). I'm a cameraman/photog originally, will use this with RED komodo and tentacles as a team to get picture/sound.
PS: seeing that XLR dongle I realize you collabed with Curtis and you know him.
Hey, ElRei! I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to Curtis Judd before, but I sure do respect the heck out of that guy! He makes the best audio videos on UA-cam, if you ask me. He does all the technical stuff like no one else. I could only hope to ever be a quarter as good as he is. I don’t think I’d ever be. But that’s ok. That’s why we have him!
I make my own XLR dummy load testers, if that’s what you’re referring to when you said dongle.
As for the F8n Pro vs MixPre 6 or 10 II. The preamps in the Mixpre units are better, but only marginally. I think it was -127db of noise on the F8n and -128 on the Mixpre, or something similar. But also the Mixpre Kashmir preamps are buttery smooth. So smooth that I sometimes think Sound Devices made a mistake making them that good for that low of a price (when compared to the 633 and Scorpio series etc). However, I think you’d be hard pressed to tell the Zoom from the Mixpre in a listening test. It all comes down to the eco system, the plugins, the customer support, the brand recognition, and the amount of SD card slots for redundancies.
The MixPres only have one SD slot. So no redundancies. They do have a USB backup but that’s not close to being the same. The F8n Pro has two slots to record on both cards simultaneously, so if there ever was a card error, you’d have a backup.
The ecosystem of sound devices is awesome and one that I enjoy being in. Zoom is less so.
Sound devices has brand recognition, which can make or break some sound jobs when you tell them you record on a Zoom-even when it’s a pro Zoom. The name is not as great due to their serving the low end of the market and the high end at the same time. Sound devices is high end only. And well known and respected.
Zoom has had some customer support issues in the past. Sound devices has an excellent record from what I hear. I own the Mixpre 3 II and the 6 II and I’ve never had to call them.
The plugins you can get on the Mixpre are pretty great too. That’s a whole other spending hole. Haha.
In the end, the F8n Pro has a lot of channels and great reviews, and is a pro setup. The Mixpre 10 II is well respected and has slightly better preamps.
I guess it depends on what you value more.
But you’ll never go wrong with a 633 or any other sound devices anything.
At the end of the day, I feel proud to use a sound devices product because I feel confident when I use them and confident that others know I mean business. I don’t know what all that is worth, but I hope something. Haha.
Good luck and do let me know what you end up going with! And if you have any other questions, I’d me more than happy to answer any of them for you! Cheers!
@@TheRecordist the usb backup on mixpre ii, if the SD corrupts it affects the usb as well? I could swear I read a zoom review where card 1 corrupted and it affected card 2 as well.
Also I hear the headphones amp on mixpre is better. I suppose that could be an advantage, especially if I wanna do sfx/folly for my projects as it ensures sound accuracy? Some zoom folks describe the mic amp as noisy and something they have to put up with- it takes testing to learn what the headphones sound like vs what the recording will be. I don't wanna record something and secondguess if I have noise or not - but that's just my noob insecurity.
This is for my business as a film-maker, I doubt that I'll make a career as a recordist. But I do value quality and I plan to learn sound to the level of a pro so I can direct a sound dept and understand what they do.
3 track recorder to 5 track recorder can't happen via a firmware update. It requires a hardware update first.
I would have thought the same thing, yet a couple of years ago, Sound Devices did a poll on Facebook asking if we would like that feature in a new firmware update. I'm not sure how they would do it, but clearly it must be possible.
@@TheRecordist They did it! In the event that no one else has already commented on this, I'll do so now. I just discovered this evening that the Sound Devices Store has a plug-in called +2 for the MixPre-3. Their website reads:
"Expand the channel count of your MixPre-3 I or MixPre-3 II mixer-recorder with the +2 Plugin. It adds 2 channels/record tracks, giving you additional mixing, recording, and routing flexibility. It increases the MixPre-3 I or MixPre-3 II from a 3-channel/5-track recorder to a 5-channel/7-track recorder.
The extra two channels, 4 and 5, can be fed from the Aux 1, Aux 2, USB 1, or USB 2 inputs and recorded as ISOs and mixed along with channels 1-3 to the main mix. Both channels have solo, mute, arm, gain, fader, pan, and low-cut controls, and, if the applicable plugins are installed, can be enabled for MixAssist and NoiseAssist processing. ISO tracks 4 and 5 can also be remixed using the Remix feature. The extra channels are accessible in the Wingman app and can be controlled by supported third-party USB controllers."
@@TheRecordist $79 doubloons, I might add.
@@musar03580 ah yes! You found this old post. This was way before they announced the new update with the 5 track capability.
They had done a poll asking users if they would like that feature. So obviously they knew they could do it. But I didn’t expect them to charge $80 for it. Still, a useful feature for many.
@@TheRecordist I remembered this old post and came back to it when I learned about the +2 plug-in. Actually, I think this was the first post of yours that I ever watched (and which got me interested in your channel) back when I was looking around for information on the MixPre line.
A Gearspace discussion I found yesterday indicates that +2 capability was first announced by Sound Devices last October (2023). I don't know how soon after the initial announcement the plug-in was available for download, but it's possible this has been available to MixPre-3 owners now for 4 months or so. You probably already knew about it.
Happy time traveling to you.
"Wicked expensive" 😂
UA-camrs would 💩 themselves if they knew what us professional location sound mixers spend on gear sufficient for professional tv and film work.
A zoom F8N is roughly the same price as the mixpre 6 ii, but the zoom can't hold a candle in sound quality. Features, yes, but audio quality, no. I have the mixpre as a backup to my main rig, and the mixpre replaced the zoom F8N as my emergency backup kit. The value you're getting for the price from the Sound Devices is honestly unheard of. You could run this for tv production and no one who didn't see it would know you weren't running a $6,000 mixer.
Oh easily! I fully agree! You totally nailed it!
For a lot of people just starting out, $1000 for a MixPre 6ii is an insane price tag, but try $10,000 for an 888 or even $6000 for a 633.
Not to mention $6000 for a pro floating fader control surface mixer. And then there are the plugins, and mics, and wireless systems, and fins, and carts and and and…
But the sound of the MixPre is a steal. I liked the MixPre 3 ii so much, I immediately went out and bought a 6.
Almost 100% of my videos in the last year are recorded on a MixPre 6 ii. I think this a big reason people like the sound of my channel.
Thanks for the pro comment! Cheers!
Gotta admit, I never thought I would actually hear a mouse fart...
Hahahahahaha. And now you have!
@@TheRecordist What's invisible and smells like worms? A bird fart...
You're another one of the many folks on the tube who think they're funny, with their hokey-pokey-jokey presentations. The problem is you're not. It's just mildly irritating - especially when you're trying to get specific information before making a final purchase decision. I don't need to be "entertained" during a technical review. Thanks. I will definitely take your advice and go to Curtis Judd's detailed review.
Haha. Sounds good. Curtis is great. Bye bye now!
Comedy is subjective, I love his comedy, makes me laugh.. by the fact that you have to throw shade on the hard work that he put into his videos.. maybe stop shopping for a field recording device, and start shopping for a kazoo and propeller hat.. cuz your a joke..
Woo hoo!
Brilliant
Cheers!