Which Sound Devices MixPre Should I Get?

In recent years, Sound Devices has been doing a great job at helping to expand the versatility of recorders on the market. However, with so many recorders it can be intimidating if you are new to Production Sound on which Sound Devices MixPre to get. There have been many models released in the span of a couple of years, and now with the new Version 2 units, a few of the older MixPre recorders are being demoted to “legacy products”. This guide is meant to be a primer for all things MixPre and to help when purchasing to get the right one for you.

We will be adding to this blog post as time goes on regarding plugins etc. Be sure to subscribe to us to know when there are updates.

We are also releasing a MixPre Update Post which keeps you up to date on everything that is happening inside the software of these incredible machines. It will be updated as we progress through software. Look of for this post soon. We will update this blog when its released as well.

Quick Note: If you are looking for approved media for your Sound Devices MixPre Recorders, you owe it to yourself to read this article.

Sound Devices MixPre-3 II

Price:

$649.00 (price subject to change)

Description:

The MixPre-3 features Sound Devices’ groundbreaking Kashmir microphone preamps. These high-performance, ultra-low-noise, discrete, Class-A mic preamps  were custom-engineered by Sound Devices. The Kashmir mic preamps feature a -130dBV noise floor, analog limiters, and new 32-bit A-to-D converters, and ensures the highest quality audio recordings.

My Review:

The Sound Devices MixPre-3 Version II is one of the best bang for your buck recorders on the market today. This recorder is a great pick for schools and universities that need to buy multiple recorders for their sound class. If you have smaller jobs recording interviews with only a boom and a wire then again this is a great purchase. There is no reason to bring huge carts and massive cases of gear to record simple interview setups. The pre-amps sound absolutely amazing, and when paired with the 32Bit Floating Point capabilities, it makes it almost impossible to “destroy” the audio being recorded by beginner students.

I cannot stress how great this miniature recorder is even for professional sound mixers. If you have small jobs that only EVER require “2 wires and a boom”, then this could easily be the mixer for you. When paired with a Tentacle Sync E or Denecke JB-1 Time Code Box, this unit can slave to timecode and be synced later. It also has a stereo mini input that allows for 2 extra line level inputs. This can easily take a board feed or a playback track from some other source and be recorded into the mix or just to its own ISO track. Simply put, I have been saying it for years: Professional Sound Mixers need multiple kits. The Sound Devices MixPre-3 II can easily take over as your SMALL ENG KIT, which saves your back and still delivers outstanding results.

Specifications:

Sound Devices MixPre-6 II

Price:

$849.00 (price subject to change)

Description:

The Sound Devices MixPre-6 II multitrack field recorder offers many upgrades over its predecessor. Chief among these features is the ability to record at 32-bit floating point. This makes it nearly impossible for you to clip (distort) audio on the way in. Whether you’re recording hot or making use of the unit’s astounding 142 dB dynamic range, you’ll only be handicapped by the quality of your microphone. The ability to auto-copy to USB thumb drives has now been included (it was unavailable in the version 1 model). The MixPre-6 II now how’s a built-in timecode generator that is accurate to better than 0.2 ppm (0.5 frames in 24 hours). Whether you use the device in an advanced or basic capacity, the MixPre-6 II will suit any intimate, field-based production.

My Review:

Like its baby brother, the Sound Devices MixPre-6 II is a beast of a machine. Not only does it add more inputs, it adds a timecode generator so you don’t need to sync externally. These are the types of machines that work great on smaller reality shows that have multiple crews. Having a Master Setup followed by multiple smaller bag setups using the 6. There are a multitude of options when setting up your bag, and as long as there isn’t a 12 person cast, you can easily get 3-4 wires and a boom into this recorder without issues. If you are looking into second packages but don’t want to pay identical price tags for one of the flagship recorders, then the MixPre-6 II is a perfect option for you.

Specifications:

Sound Devices MixPre-10T II

Price: $1399.00

Description:

The Sound Devices MixPre-10T II multitrack field recorder is what I call a workhorse . Chief among these features is the ability to record at 32-bit floating point. This makes it nearly impossible for you to clip (distort) audio on the way in. Whether you’re recording hot or making use of the unit’s astounding 142 dB dynamic range, you’ll only be handicapped by the quality of your microphone. The ability to auto-copy to USB thumb drives has now been included (it was unavailable in the version 1 model). The MixPre-6 II now how’s a built-in timecode generator that is accurate to better than 0.2 ppm (0.5 frames in 24 hours). Whether you use the device in an advanced or basic capacity, the MixPre-6 II will suit any intimate, field-based production.

My Review:

The Sound Devices MixPre-10T II is a something of an anomaly to me. It not only builds upon the structure and fixing small issues with the first version 10T, it adds features that make this machine pretty much unbeatable for anyone that wants to get into Production Sound or record sound to compliment their camera audio. These machines are great for recording a lot of tracks. If you are recording multi-channel audio, 3D ambisonic events, or concert audio, you cannot beat this device. Now that it has 32bit Floating Point, it is a no brainer that this machine can help protect a lot of camera operators and other producers that may be making their own content.

I will leave you with this. If you are running camera and also in charge of recording 8-10 tracks, you are not allocating the proper resources in your head to record and monitor all those tracks while also recording video. You owe it to yourself to hire a sound mixer who owns their own equipment and let them assist you on the project. I personally believe if you are operating a camera, this is too many inputs for you and will either be overkill or get you in trouble later.

Specifications: