Sound Devices mixpre-D for sound backup question

[Mattias D. Valenca]

Depends on what is important for you. Mobility, quality, something else?

My mini setup at the moment is a MixPre-D + a Zoom h2. I just connect the Tape Out to line in on the Zoom and it works like a charm. It does 24bit/96k too, which is very nice. Maybe not as good quality as using say, a Sonosax miniR82 (which I would get if I had piles of cash just laying around) or a 744, but for most things it works very well.

[Marcos Montenegro]

I have the same setup. Works great!

Depends on what is important for you. Mobility, quality, something else?

My mini setup at the moment is a MixPre-D + a Zoom h2. I just connect the Tape Out to line in on the Zoom and it works like a charm. It does 24bit/96k too, which is very nice. Maybe not as good quality as using say, a Sonosax miniR82 (which I would get if I had piles of cash just laying around) or a 744, but for most things it works very well.

[Joel Arvidsson]

Do you think this gives better sound than the sound recorded to the red? Nice to hear the tape out has good audio quality. Do you think its possible to hear any difference if you were to use the xlr outputs instead going to a zoom h4n?

[Joel Arvidsson]

My mini setup at the moment is a MixPre-D + a Zoom h2. I just connect the Tape Out to line in on the Zoom and it works like a charm.

Im thinking of using this cable (se link below) from the mixpre-d tape out to the xlr inputs of a zoom h4n. Does this sound like a good idea?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ces_442_Y.html

[Marc Wielage]

I'm a bit curious. How does the 302 have more output options than the MixPre-D? To me it seems that the 302 to only have main XLRs + tape/mix out whereas the MixPre-D actually have main XLRs, tape out and mic out. But I might be mistaken, I have not worked too much with the 302.

Correct, but it has more mixing options. The third input can be very helpful. (I've used the 552 a great deal, and it's the best mixer I've ever seen in a package this small -- plus has a built-in 2-track recorder.) The 552 actually has ten sets of outputs: XLR, TA3, two tape outputs (mini plug and TA3), plus a 1/8" mono mike output, plus five direct outputs (one for each input). I routinely use at least half of these on even a simple shoot.

I do agree on always employing a sound mixer person whenever it is possible. It will yield far better results and it's also nice to have someone around who knows how to solve any audio issues that might arise.

I agree completely. I'm mainly concerned with throwing too much responsibility on the camera crew, because realistically, lighting and dealing with grip gear and camera mounts is a hard enough job as it is, without them also having to worry about sound. Forcing them to do sound as well will result in bad sound and an overworked crew, in my opinion.

[Mattias D. Valenca]

Yes, that one seems to be the correct one to use. Should work fine for the XLR inputs on the H4n. Just make sure you calibrate the levels correctly so that the test tone on the MixPre-D corresponds to -18dBFS on the H4n.