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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Audio preamp for Weapon - SONOSAX M2D2

Patrick Tresch

Patrick Tresch

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Hello,

I think this is built for our purpose. A nice audio add on to our Weapon kit.
Small, light, best preamp ever made with 135db overall dynamic range. Limiter integrated.
Self powered or with external Hirose
Minijack Line output or AES/Line


https://www.sonosax.ch/category/news/sononews/

This can also record directly to a Smartphone for a smaller recording setup.

Pat



SX-M2D2.jpg


SX-M2D2_rear.jpg




SX-M2D2 Product Announcement

The SX-M2D2 is a lightweight 2 channels high resolution dual-domain microphones preamplifier with integrated USB audio Class 2. Compact, low power, battery powered, the SX-M2D2 embeds similar high performance dual A/D converters than the SX-R4+. This product is the ideal companion for various mobile environments. Its ergonomic has been carefully designed for convenience and easy of operation.
Inputs / Outputs

2x mic/line inputs on TA3, electronically balanced, with phase reversal, 48V phantom, LF cut and level control on the front panel
1x AES3/AES42 on TA3, transformer balanced input with phase reversal, 48V phantom, LF cut and level control on the front panel
1x line output on TA3, 2 channels analog unbalanced
1x AES3 output on TA3, 2 channels transformer balanced with ASRC (48/96/192k)
1x USB audio 2 channels input/output on micro USB type B connector
independent line/headphones stereo output on mini-jack

Performance

135 dB (A-weighted) overall dynamic range
THD < 0.001%
90 kHz overall frequency response @192kHz
24-bit 48/96/192kHz

Powering

external DC 9-18V on Hirose 4-pin
external DC 5V on micro USB
removable lithium-ion battery, charged with external DC input
intelligent energy management

User interface

128×64 monochrome OLED display
two rotary encoder for gain control
intuitive menu navigation

Mechanical

Machined aluminum housing
overall dimension: 74 x 28 x 130 mm (2.9’’ x 1.1’’ x 5.1’’)
weight 300g (0.44lbs) with battery
mounting holes on both sides
optional mounting bracket for still camera

Note: preliminary specifications, subject to change without notice
 
Nice find! Only for Weapon or for all DMSC2?
 
If you wanted to use the Sonosax M2D2 for single system sound with a DSMC2 Base Expander, would you just get a short stereo mini to stereo mini plug to connect them? Wouldn't that still route your audio signal through the same pre-amp prior to recording? I realize the M2D2 offers lots of potential configurations, but AFAIK the vast majority of RedUsers run RED Base Expanders. Would the M2D2 be able to provide such a robust signal that you could turn the gain far enough down on the pre-amp inside the Base Expander to overcome it's limitations?

FWIW, I'd love to see them add an SD card slot that would allow direct recording simultaneously with sending a signal to camera. Perhaps such a feature would add too much cost/power draw/heat to the equation to make sense - but if it could be done without too much impact on form factor/cost...

To be clear, I'd rather have a dedicated sound person with an independent recording device - but not every project will provide that.

Cheers - #19
 
Zeb B said:
Nice find! Only for Weapon or for all DMSC2?
Click to expand...


It's working with all DSLR type or minijack input (5D, DMSC2, Sony A7, and so on)

Blair S. Paulsen said:
Would the M2D2 be able to provide such a robust signal that you could turn the gain far enough down on the pre-amp inside the Base Expander to overcome it's limitations?
Click to expand...

That's exactly how it's intended to work. Use the best preamp out there to power your 48v or AES mic and then feed a line signal to your camera skipping the camera preamp system.

Pat

PS: Blair you'r right, Sonosax did skip the part of the recording. They have been studiying the case but due to a cost increase they decided to focus on building the best preamp they could. The system is also a great addition to an AES recorder (like the Sonosax-SX R4+ or the Omod XLR) or even a Smartphone to make some wildtrack in the smallest foot print but keeping the best quality possible.
 
Blair S. Paulsen said:
FWIW, I'd love to see them add an SD card slot that would allow direct recording simultaneously with sending a signal to camera. Perhaps such a feature would add too much cost/power draw/heat to the equation to make sense - but if it could be done without too much impact on form factor/cost...
Click to expand...


If the camera has an AES input, then the quality in the camera would be exactly the same as if they'd built an SD card into it. That is a reason why it has an AES output.
 
Sadly, most RedUsers sport Base Expanders that do not have a tap for AES audio. To be fair, Sonosax, or any third party vendor, cannot be expected to design products that fit every possible use case. Just looking to drill down and determine whether the M2D2 - great though it may be - can bypass the Base Expander audio tap. I grasp that feeding a line level signal into the mini plug should be vastly superior to directly connecting a mic, which is certainly useful.

For me, a Base Expander user, the addition of an SD card slot for redundant recording upstream from being fed to camera would make the M2D2 a must have. YMMV.

Cheers - #19
 
Very nice! For people looking for onboard recording the MixPre would probably do you just fine unless you are looking for specific output type. If gain on the camera is set to zero though I am sure what the camera records will sound fine.

Love that it has a built in battery and ability to power from various methods and even USB. Should get enough USB power even from the Base Expander.

This mounted to the left side of the camera with a Small Rig left side plate would be a pretty nice setup. https://www.smallrig.com/smallrig-red-scarlet-w-epic-w-raven-weapon-left-side-plate-1847.html

This is how I have been mounting my MixPre.
 
The Lectrosonics unit looks nice - but not excited about mounting both the Sonosax and the Lectro to my rig (plus wireless video TX, wireless MDR, etc).

Thanks to Patrick for the find, I might rent one on some projects. That said, from a form factor perspective, I just want something as small and light as possible that has good pre-amps, rock solid 48v phantom power and a card slot for redundant recording upstream from the camera audio section. Maybe a Lectro-Sax love child...

Cheers - #19
 
Blair S. Paulsen said:
The Lectrosonics unit looks nice - but not excited about mounting both the Sonosax and the Lectro to my rig (plus wireless video TX, wireless MDR, etc).

Thanks to Patrick for the find, I might rent one on some projects. That said, from a form factor perspective, I just want something as small and light as possible that has good pre-amps, rock solid 48v phantom power and a card slot for redundant recording upstream from the camera audio section. Maybe a Lectro-Sax love child...

Cheers - #19
Click to expand...

Blaire, is not the Sound Devices Mix Pre II 3 a bit what you are asking for? It is 0.480grams and phantom power.
It is small as well, but the Sonoxas is of course a bit smaller. Its cheaper too.
Andreas
 
Blair S. Paulsen said:
If you wanted to use the Sonosax M2D2 for single system sound with a DSMC2 Base Expander, would you just get a short stereo mini to stereo mini plug to connect them? Wouldn't that still route your audio signal through the same pre-amp prior to recording? I realize the M2D2 offers lots of potential configurations, but AFAIK the vast majority of RedUsers run RED Base Expanders. Would the M2D2 be able to provide such a robust signal that you could turn the gain far enough down on the pre-amp inside the Base Expander to overcome it's limitations?
Cheers - #19
Click to expand...

To connect to a Base Expander, you could use a TA3F to stereo mini cable like this https://www.trewaudio.com/product/remote-audio-cat3f18ms/ ? The M2D2 has 1x line output on TA3, 2 channels analog unbalanced.

and you could power the Sonosax M2D2 with the Base Expander's USB port or Panasonic NCR18650B battery.
 
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