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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 :)

Two new pro sound recorders announced: Zaxcom Nova ($5K)& Sound Devices Scorpio ($9K)

Christoffer,


I would look at the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II. You could use long lasting AA rechargeable batteries with it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1503266-REG/sound_devices_sound_devices_mixpre_3_ii.html

Price $824

Key Features at a Glance

Kashmir microphone preamps with 48V phantom power
Internal timecode generator
Sample rates up to 192 kHz
Bit depths up to 32-bit float
Adjustable limiters
SD card recording and reading
Backup to USB drive
10 seconds of pre-roll at 48 kHz
USB control surface support
Customize with plugins
Add low cut, high pass, delay, polarity invert, and panning
Simultaneous recording, mixing, and USB audio streaming
Trigger record via timecode or HDMI timecode
Bluetooth for wireless control via Wingman app
Basic, advanced, and custom modes
High-fidelity headphone amplifier
 
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Christoffer Glans said:
Yes, it's pretty much something between Zooms and Sound Devices I'm after. Problem is that Zoom F6 doesn't seem to have the good preamps that Sound Devices has, but Sound Devices doesn't have the long battery times that Zooms have.

So... is there any Zoom with preamps as good as Sound Devices? Or any Sound Devices with as good battery times as the Zooms?
Click to expand...

I’m not sure how small of a set-up you are wanting to run, but everyone usually powers their mixers off of external batteries. I power my SD 664 and 633 off of BP-U style batteries(from the built-in P-tap’s). Even when recording, powering wireless and a boom, we usually get a full day or darn close to it, from a single battery(98wh-ish)
 
So, the recommended one is the MixPre-3 II with an external battery? Is the pre-amp much better on the MixPre compared to the F6?
 
Christoffer,

Here's a few videos comparing the two. Some people like the sound and quality of the Kashmir Preamps in the Mix-Pre series recorders better than the Zoom F6. They believe the Kashmir Preamps have a "Warmer " sound. However, I don't think the Scorpio, 888 or 833 uses the Kashmir Preamps, they use a higher quality one.










 
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Patrick Tresch said:
I was really interested in your opinion even if it isn't a lowcost device and not even a recorder.
Click to expand...

Pat,

I didn't really have any knowledge of the Sonosax M2D2 until you mentioned it, but I can find more info on it and see what it's about.
 
The Sound Shack: Sound Devices 833 - "Q"



By Thom Shafer


 
rand thompson said:
Christoffer,

Here's a few videos comparing the two. Some people like the sound and quality of the Kashmir Preamps in the Mix-Pre series recorders better than the Zoom F6. They believe the Kashmir Preamps have a "Warmer " sound. However, I don't think the Scorpio, 888 or 833 uses the Kashmir Preamps, they use a higher quality one.
Click to expand...

So generally people seem to lean towards the MixPre-3 II over the F6, due to the preamp. I actually own an older MixPre-D which doesn't have any recording capabilities, but it is damn good in its preamp, so I know they can do that at least.

But the MixPre-3 II may be on its last legs now? Is there any notion of the update cycles for it? Might we expect a MixPre-3 III soon?
 
Christoffer Glans said:
So generally people seem to lean towards the MixPre-3 II over the F6, due to the preamp. I actually own an older MixPre-D which doesn't have any recording capabilities, but it is damn good in its preamp, so I know they can do that at least.

But the MixPre-3 II may be on its last legs now? Is there any notion of the update cycles for it? Might we expect a MixPre-3 III soon?
Click to expand...

Christoffer,


The original MixPre-3 came out in I think 2017. The current MixPre-3 II came out around August/September 2019. So I would guess that it will have a refresh some time around 2021. That's if its not another model under the 833 like maybe a 688 or a 588/533.
 
rand thompson said:
Christoffer,


The original MixPre-3 came out in I think 2017. The current MixPre-3 II came out around August/September 2019. So I would guess that it will have a refresh some time around 2021. That's if its not another model under the 833 like maybe a 688 or a 588/533.
Click to expand...

Alright, I think I'll wait for that and figure out a combo between my current MixPre and the H6 until then.
 
With 8-Series firmware v7.20, SD-Remote is now supported for iPhones. Download v7.20 at www.sounddevices.com/download/

It is really nice how they implemented this for the iPhone. Also, Noise Assist is now available for purchase up to 8 channels.
 
SD-Remote for iPhone Overview


This previews the SD-Remote for iphone in the 8-Series version firmware v7.20 update Jon mentioned above.


By Sound Devices

SD-Remote for iPhone Overview


 
Christoffer Glans said:
So, the recommended one is the MixPre-3 II with an external battery? Is the pre-amp much better on the MixPre compared to the F6?
Click to expand...

Just get yourself a Zoom F6, unless you want the ultra compact size of the MixPre3mk2

Stop worrying over the preamps, they're both good in the F Series and the MixPre series.
(what Zoom has done with the F Series is light years ahead of the old and terrible Zoom H Series which was awful)

Nobody is going to be able to consistently tell the difference between a blind A/B test of a MixPre vs Zoom F Series once used in the final video produced.
 
Christoffer Glans said:
But the MixPre-3 II may be on its last legs now? Is there any notion of the update cycles for it? Might we expect a MixPre-3 III soon?
Click to expand...

The Gen2 series coming out so soon shocked everyone.

But all it really added was 32bit, USB thumb drive copying, and internal timecode.

Of which one, or all, of these features are no big deal for most people.

So don't stress too much about a MixPre3 mk3 coming out tomorrow with radical new features, that's unlikely to happen so soon.
 
Christoffer Glans said:
Alright, I think I'll wait for that and figure out a combo between my current MixPre and the H6 until then.
Click to expand...

Could be a good plan, stick with your existing MixPre3, learn to use it better, and sell off your H6.

Jon Dishler said:
With 8-Series firmware v7.20, SD-Remote is now supported for iPhones. Download v7.20 at www.sounddevices.com/download/

It is really nice how they implemented this for the iPhone. Also, Noise Assist is now available for purchase up to 8 channels.
Click to expand...

Oh *yay*, Sound Devices is now charging up to TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS for what is essentially just a firmware update.
 
David,

Maybe Tascam or Marantz will come out with low cost high quality sound recorders in the near future. It's really just Zoom and Sound devices most are seemingly using now.
 
David Peterson said:
Could be a good plan, stick with your existing MixPre3, learn to use it better, and sell off your H6.



Oh *yay*, Sound Devices is now charging up to TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS for what is essentially just a firmware update.
Click to expand...

Yes, I highlighted about this $2000 price tag earlier today on jwsoundgroup, wasn’t well received. It approaches a significant amount of what the entire 833 costs (half). I think they should have kept it at $600 and just increased the number of channels it would work on.
 
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