I would call it a “Missing manual for MixPre series”. Seriously, it made everything so clear for me on how to use my MixPre-6 device. I can’t thank you enough for this video!
That was outstanding. Just got a mixpre3 ii and this really helped. Still so much to learn and fiddle with, but your videos are a life saver. Funny how the community does an even better job than the manufacturers. Keep up the amazing work
**NOTE** This walkthrough was NOT recorded with the MixPre so please do not use this to assess the sound quality of the MixPre. Since I only have one MixPre, I could not show all of the settings and record with it at the same time. Also, the "hiss" that you hear is the fan in my camera - for practical purposes, the microphone was approximately 8 inches from the camera's fan. If you'd like to hear some clips recorded with the MixPre, please have a listen to these previous episodes: th-cam.com/video/7tr37w9isic/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/ZRc0tOTBWuw/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/Mx5JeUuVX1o/w-d-xo.html
Big fan of your videos, thanks for the extensive knowledge. Although I thoroughly read through manuals, it's great to have someone show you each process step-by-step visually. Thanks again!
Very detailed and easy to understand explanation. Why is there 3 Tracks(L,R and Ch1) when I record one boom on Ch1? What is the meaning of L, R additionally with Ch1? My setup is just one MKH416 connected to CH1 on MixPre3 and I am trying to record talking head.. Is there any additional benefit in quality of audio output or editing workflow if I use all 3 (L,R and Ch1) in final Video? Is it OK to record on Ch1 without the L and R? Should I just get rid of L and R? Is L and R really required for single Mic setup? What is the purpose of L and R?
In advanced mode, the MixPre operates like a true mixer and records the left and right stereo mix, plus the individual input channels. In your case, the three channels are left mix, right mix, and input one microphone - all the same thing unless you have moved the fader to a setting other than 0 or panned input one to anything other than center. If you just need the isolated microphone input channel and NOT the stereo mix, you can disarm the stereo mix in the Record->Rec L,R menu. Set it to off.
I find all of your videos to be very helpful, and educational. I am new to sound recording and the use of these devices. There is one thing I thought I would mention, however, just for you to think about and take into consideration when you make future videos. I've noticed in more than one video, when demonstrating assorted menu options, that (while you usually clearly explain the function of each feature and why someone might use it) you occasionally will avoid explanation in an oddly dismissive way. "If you don't know what that is, well... (laughing) you probably don't need it." I'm sure a lot of other people are like me and come to your videos to learn. I know you don't intend to mock the lack of knowledge of the viewers, but in a way it comes off as laughing at them that they wouldn't know what one of these advanced features is for, and then you don't take the time to explain what it is at all. I realize you can't cover everything in every video, but I just thought I would mention it's something I have noticed that you may want to refrain from doing in the future.
Thanks for your detailed explanation about the sound mixer. I have a Mixer 3 which I have used for years. I used with Q8 camcorder to make performance recordings. Recently , I found some electrical noise in my recording which I did not have before. I had added an audio isolator between the output of the Mixer and the input of my camcorder. However, the noise even louder. Do you know what may be the problem?
I’m having a problem connecting my comica wireless mic system. I have the two transmitters and one receiver and I’m trying to use them both with my mix pre 3 but I can’t get it to work.
@@curtisjudd I was trying to have a system like the comics wireless two transmitter and one receiver work with the mix pre 3. But I think I figured it out by linking the 1 and 2 channel as left and right.
Thankyou so much - I've had a couple of listens now and it's helped me so much in the field. I do have one question though - I wonder if you could possibly have the time to answer for me - as I can not find it anywhere! Everything has been great - however I can not find where to listen back to a track when in the field - to test that everything is coming through ok? Like a quick record test you can listen back to - does anyone know? thanks heaps!
@@curtisjudd And that would be setting the gain through the trim gain or the fader gain? It would be setting it through the trim gain right, if I'm going through CH 1? Also, would it be easier for me at weddings to just keep the recorder in Basic mode rather than having more to tend to in Advanced mode since I do shoot solo most of the time and want to just hit record and walk away knowing it's recording.
@@imageryweddingfilms2134 It sounds like it would be easier in basic mode for you, yes. And in that case, the knob is trim and fader gain combined into one.
I am so glad I found the channel. I'm on my way to better recording and post-processing the sound. have you updated to DaVinci 16 in the Fairlight class??
Thanks Riding in Retirement. Updating the Fairlight course to version 16 is next task on the list. Should have that done in the next couple of months. We're basically revamping the course from the ground up.
I thought delay can also be for mixing when you are far from the sound source so that the sound coming out of your headphones/monitors are in sync with a sound source far away? Not having this is quite distracting when trying to monitor on headphones or monitors if the source is more than like 15-30 feet away because the delay starts to get bigger than 10s of milliseconds as the speed of sound vs speed of light widens the gap. This is how I used it on house sound boards.
"When sending audio to video operators on a production set, output delay ensures that audio is in sync with camera video feeds. Outputs can be delayed from 0 to 400 ms."- From SD's website. Camera wireless or even SDI feeds to a sound mix station can have a delay. This seems more like how I have to delay my audio for to match my capture card's delay in sending a signal vs my audio interface. This actually gives a pretty cool setting for streamers I guess?
hi, I want to use the Mixpre without recording a stereo mix and just record ISO tracks with the knobs controlling gain (no faders). I've put it into Custom mode for the direct gain knob control but when I want to listen back to the 'ISO track ' etc to check my recording via headphone I can't hear it. Is there a Headphone setting that I need to change?
Question about the noise floor. Just for test I connected my Shure SM58 to the MixPre 6 II. Recorded in 32 floating point mode. The gain is set to 30db. I've recorded in 2 input modes - Line and Mic with the same gain - 30db. In Line mode I've ged much more noise. In Mic mode there was no noise at all. Help me please understand why? According to the noise level It looks like in the Line input mode it records in 24 bit (not in 32). Or I've get much more noise because the mic has not correct impedance for the line input? Can you do this test with yours mixpre?
Microphones need amplification so should always be used in mic mode, not line mode. Using line mode measures the microphone signal with zero amplification so it will always be noisy.
@@curtisjudd The level of signal in both recordings was more or less the same. So, the amplification in both modes was the same to. Why the noise level was different?
Fantastic tutorial Curtis. This is one of the best videos on YT I've come across. You mix a good explanation of the kit with a basic lesson on sound mixing, all perfectly paced. I just got given a MixPre 6 to learn in one day, with no sound experience, and this is a life saver. Great job!
There is a screw that retracts on top of the MixPre. Use the included Allen wrench to push it from the bottom of the MixPre into the camera’s mounting point.
Great walkthrough. I'm using it to setup a MixPre 3 that I don't have lol. I have a host at work that I ordered one for because it will work best for her in a podcast setup and now I'm going to train her on a device I've never used and we're doing it over Skype. Oh, not to mention she has never recorded audio;) Yeah, I guess I like challenges lol.
Wow, you do like a challenge! If you get stuck, I've got a course on getting the most from your MixPre over at school.learnlightandsound.com. :) Good luck!
Is the meter displaying VU+Peak hold? It's a very confusing type of meter response. I'd rather just see a peak meter. Easier to see the levels. Is there any way to change the meter ballistics like in the 7 series?
hi with the MixPre-3 II is that possible to record a stereo input with 3.5mm stereo input (L and R channels) in the same time that using the three XLR inputs ?
Hi Curtis, wonderful job as always - great quality content. I‘m not sure if you already made a video about the production steps that are made after the editor syncs the video footage with the stereo mix via timecode. How will an audio program like Cubase sync the isolated tracks to the now edited movie when the editor will pass it to the sound editor? Is the timecode still the same and can be synced with the iso files? Is there a resource to find out about this step of the production? Best regards - Christoph
Hi Jazz Pistols, Thanks. I haven't used Cubase for video/film post before, so I'm not sure how it works there, but the MixPre records the stereo mix and isolated channels into a single poly wav file. All of the pro video editing apps sync the entire wav file to picture and that carries through to the audio post team, usually in Pro Tools. I don't have a specific video on that, I'm afraid. Sorry about that.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, thank you very much for taking the time to answer me. Thats a value information. I thought the video team would only work with the stereo mix, and the audio team has to sync the iso tracks later to the edited video - so that the video editor don‘t have to bother with too many files. But your method would make more sense. Best regards - Christoph
Yes, you can scrub through audio clips by pressing and holding the headphone encoder knob during playback. See page 27 of the MixPre-3 manual for details.
i start to understand the MODEs: There are two Mode-Setups: Basic-Mode and Advanced-Mode in Custom-"Mode" you can mix these setups in these Points: • Channel • Gain • Headphone • Record • Metadata • Output most of these points in the Basic-Mode is a simple or limited function, but the "Gain" is change from "Gain/Trim" of the PreAmp in basic-Mode to "Fader" of the Stereomix in "Advanced-Mode" . In very intuitive on this point.
How do you turn on phantom power for the individual tracks if needed? i would have assumed that any mic or mic receiver plugged in would take phantom power from the mix pre but is that not the case? i will be using mine with two sennheiser avx's and one sennheiser 416 so when i plug in the 416, will i need to turn on phantom power on that particular xlr input on the mix pre?
Press in the channel knob for the channel on which you want to enable phantom power then press the Phantom Power option on the touchscreen. You do not need phantom for the wireless systems, just for condenser mics which need phantom.
Ok ... Why we can send audio to the Camera ? Other way, mix pre rekord audio on SD card so do we need audio sending there ? Whats good for me when i connect both dslr and mix, only tomecode ? To work easy?
Do whichever works best for you. I'm just showing the options. I usually just record audio separately on my MixPre and then sync to the video clips in post because most of my projects only have a few clips. If working on a narrative film. that's when timecode makes the post workflow much easier and quicker.
Hello Curtis! Well what a tease this is! I really fancy purchasing the MixPre-3. I am doing pro voice over recording from my home studio and this seem just like what I would need. Any idea when they are supposed to become available to general public? Seems like all we can do for now is to (mix)pre-order…. Thanks!
The link in the description is to DVeStore in Washington and it looks like they may have some of the MixPre-3 in stock. Worth a look there. bit.ly/2s2DZDQ
I'm just now seeing this excellent video. One question that I have regarding these sorts of mixer/recorders is when you talk about "stereo." Isn't a single mic going into two discrete channels of a record considered "dual mono." There's no panning going on, correct?
Hi Greg, by default, each channel is panned center so yes, you get the same thing at the same level on both the L and R stereo mix channel. If you pan the mic input channel, however, then more of that source will be in left stereo mix channel than the right stereo mix channel, for example. So it depends on how you have the pan set for each input channel so to whether the stereo mix is essentially dual mono or has a stereophonic nature.
Curtis Judd got it. But for video wouldn’t you want discrete dual mono tracks for dialog? The more I think about it I can see where other applications would require a stereo mix. Sound effects, perhaps?
@@gregmcveigh9966 Historically, it was for flexibility and if you were miking with two mics, you could pan one hard left and the other hard right which would essentially record each mic input to a discreet, isolated channel. Since the MixPre can record isolated channels in addition to a stereo mix in advanced mode, this isn't needed for that purpose. But if the post team you're delivering to has a request to put say, the boom on the left channel and all of the lavaliers on the right stereo channel, you can do that. It isn't something most of us do very often when recording dialogue for video/film.
Hi Curtis, did you ever use controller (eg.nano from korg). Plan to buy controller for my MP6 (v3.00). Thank you. I always love your video about sound gears.
Great reviews! Have you noticed that HDMI triggering from a GH4 does not produce a sound file that you can drop straight over the video file and have them both synced? The MixPre-3 recorded file is three frames earlier than the camera file. It's the same at the other end. I've checked it at 48000hz and 41000hz to match the camera with the same result. Use a slate or a clap and numbered clip marker to synchronise the files in Premiere CS5.5 and the see the disparity. So be careful. It's a great little recorder in spite of this. Regards, GEOFF SMYTH.
+Geoff Smyth hi Geoff, this is a Panasonic issue. I had the same issue with my GH4 and Pro quality timecode generators. Also, I find that even the audio the GH4 records directly is off by a couple of frames. Have you tried using the delay feature in the MixPre to compensate for the GH4's sync issue?
Thanks for your prompt reply, Curtis. My unit is so new to me that I wasn't aware of the delay feature; I will investigate. I'm such a luddite that I still use a clapperboard. Thanks for your suggestion. Have you ever owned a piece of kit that is so power hungry?
The quality audio recorders use a lot of power, unfortunately. Clapperboards/slates are awesome. They rarely fail and are still used on set of large productions, even when they have wireless timecode setups. So you're in good company. :)
FS7 and Mix Pre 3 connected via HDMI TC, triggered by HDMI Flag and given Timecode. Timecode sync in premiere pro puts the Mix Pre 3 ahead by around 4 frames on a 23.975 file.
Hey brother. How to you gain stage properly? Because in advanced mode you have 2 volume options: Gain and the knob fader. How do you play with those? If I am recording with only 1 mic, (the mkh 416), isn’t it better to just leave the device in simple mode?
It depends what you want to do. It can be easier and quicker to have the knobs in Basic mode so you can quickly set your total gain on the fly - but if there is time to set the gain first then that is probably better, particularly if recording more than one channel, since when the knobs are at 12 o'clock the output to the stereo track will be the same as the gain setting - that means you know from the position of the knobs (projecting button) just where you are with the levels and can nudge the levels more accurately when you are recording + or - the 12 o'clock position. The ISO tracks (if recorded) will of course only be at the original (pre-fade) gain setting since they are not affected by the knobs. Do whatever works best for you.
So appreciate this as a beginner to audio who acquired a MixPre-6 II. Curtis, I could actually follow this, most grateful. Totally agree with Vadim Makeev, this is the missing manual for the 6 II as well. Thank you.
Hi, do you know how i can use the GH5 with both the Mixpre 3 and the Atomos Shogun being that the GH5 only has one hdmi port? I want the camera to trigger the Mixpre 3 when i start recording on the GH5. Hopefully you can help. Thanks
No, but I asked the same question in a video just this morning: th-cam.com/video/30MGH_2rwqY/w-d-xo.html Hopefully we'll find an answer from the larger community.
The gain/fade in advanced mode will be excellent for me when shooting live presentations. I record room audio in case the sound booth cable has issues during recording. Now I can record the room audio but fade it to near zero, so it doesn't go to camera and live stream.
Hello Curtis, when I synch with the HDMI cable my GH5 to the SOUND DEVICE Mix-Pre3 in Adobe Première I have 5 frame of difference between sound and picture. Any idea of the problem? Thanks to Reply, F..
Hi Francois, I'm not sure. It may be the latency of the HDMI from the camera to MixPre. Is there a way to apply an offset in Premiere when syncing timecode? If it is always 5 frames off, you could use the offset to correct for the latency.
I got my MixPre 6ii back after the stuck cable... now I know what cables to throw out ! Please, how do I do a factory reset ? I can't find that option... ( when I use the input knobs, I don't get the display to read Gain or Fade... it just says 3 : -3db (which I know is fade... but still I would like the display to read "Fade" ). Anyway, your YT clips are indispensible ! Thx
Hi Oleander, Go to the menu, then Presets menu, then Load Preset, then choose Factory Default. It won't say gain or fader when you adjust the knob, even after a factory preset from what I can tell. That would probably be a feature request you'd need to make to Sound Devices.
Great info! Thank you! I didn't know about the faders vs gain in Advanced mode since I've used a 702 for years and the setup is simpler. I'm getting quite confused as to the number of files that the Mix Pre generates. I typically record in linked stereo and get 4 files and are all mono? Just found a solution to this : when I drag and drop into Logic - it turns all into mono files. But when I use the import function I get a surround file which easily is put into stereo. The other confusion I have is with the headphone output. I also often record in linked stereo with an MS mic setup and monitor the decoded version in my headphones. I'm not quite sure if my preset is right : ch1 prefade to L postfade and ch2 prefade to R postfade with MS on. On my 702 it's very easy to switch headphone monitor settings and listen to separate left and right and MS decode.
Hi Margaret, Thanks. Good work finding a solution with Logic. I don't know how to set the monitoring for your M/S setup. Probably best to check in with Sound Devices support. Best wishes and keep making fun percussion videos!
Very useful video Curtis. I have a question - I am planning to purchase either a mixpre 3 or 6 II, for use in the field and as an audio interface. Is it good practice to use a DI box to balance the outputs for use with studio monitors? Or would you recommend going for a product with built in balanced outputs, say the mixpre 10?
Hi Batrimons, yes, a stereo DI box will do the job though not quite as tidily as the MixPre-10 which needs no DI box. Either approach gets the job done nicely. Best wishes!
If you don't change any settings, you do not have to. But always best to confirm if you plan to use your camera's audio. It would be really sad to realize that all of your camera audio is clipped or was recorded well down into the noise floor.
I think you could also split channels 5&6 using a 3.5mm stereo to either two xlr's or two 3.5 mono connectors, could you not? These would not have preamps of course. Have you tried this or what are your thoughts on it? Is it a feasible solution in a pinch? One question you don't answer in any of your videos is "from how high can I drop it before it becomes unusable?"
Many thanks for this video. I do have an issue though and it's probably me being stupid. I record in at line level on channels 1 and 2 from a keyboard and import the .wav file to Audition. Channels 1 and 2 (L & R) are exactly the same and not stereo. Channels 3 & 4 are slightly different and therefore stereo but a lot quieter so I'm guessing pre-fader. I want channels 1 & 2 to be stereo post-fader but I don't know how to do this. In Audition, if I disable tracks 1 and 2, then tracks 3 and 4 don't generate sound even though there are waveforms there. Totally confused....... Help!
Hi Graham, The first two channels are the mix (L&R) and the next two are the isolated inputs. It sounds like you probably want to be in basic mode instead of advanced or custom. Go to the system menu and change to basic and let's see if that gets you closer.
Hello Curtis, when I synch with the HDMI cable my GH5 to the SOUND DEVICE Mix-Pre3 in Adobe Première I have 5 frame of difference between sound and picture. Any idea of the problem? Thanks to Reply, F..
Hi Filippo, I'm not sure. It may be the latency of the HDMI from the camera to MixPre. Is there a way to apply an offset in Premiere when syncing timecode? If it is always 5 frames off, you could use the offset to correct for the latency. Failing that, I would definitely contact Sound Devices support to narrow down the issue. Best wishes!
Great video. I have one question.... i guess the mixpre recorders are mainly for use in live recording situations, but if I used the mixpre 3 (or Zoom F4 for that matter) for multi track music recording with one or two musicians playing multiple instruments, could I have a backing track playing on one channel (but not being recorded) and record a solo track over it? ....and have the solo track available for mixing in post)?
If you use it as an audio interface with an app like ProTools, Garage Band, Audition, or even Audacity, yes. As just a recorder, it is not set up for multi-take multi-track recording.
We need a 633 vs mixpre(3-6) because most enthusiast prosumers think to make a big leap and spent so much for the 633 and want to see if the mixpre is a dealbraker Thanks for your magnificent videos Big fan from Kuwait 👍🏻
+qallaf313 will do. Don't expect a big audio quality difference. The difference is largely in the RF shielding, more flexible routing, timecode generator, locking hirose power input, inbuilt NP-F battery sled, balanced XLR outputs and lots of other things like that.
After watching some of your videos, I bought a MixPre3 II, only to find out, that channel 4 and 5 are (apparently) crippled so, that you can NOT assign them as USB audio returns for playback. Instead, you have to waste 2 of your 3 recording channels on audio playback from the laptop...? I feel that Sound Devices made no effort to clarify this manko, which basically shrinks the MixPre II drastically, compared to the MixPre6 II, which does NOT cripple the 'extra' channels that don't have a knob, so you CAN use them as a return for USB stereo audio playback, on the unit that is less desparate for this functionality as the MixPre3 II is. Please let me know if I'm wrong about this, by dint of some overlooked detail. But it seems I bought the wrong unit and have to buy the bigger, heavier one. (I didn't buy the 3 for saving 200 bucks, I didn't want more weight than necessary, not having seen any information on this important detail... If anyone knows a work-around, it would be you... (I know you can use analog audio from the computer, to route over aux, but analog from the computer is a hot mess, not even good enough to audition. And who wants an unnecessary extra cable hanging about...
@@curtisjudd thanks! Seems like disingenuous advertising to me "5 channels" Its not that I was planning to record from the computer, that is just to audition stereo audio from the computer. So before I buy the MixPre 6 II, is my understanding correct, that on that unit, I can use the extra channels to route audio through USB back into the MixPre for the purpose of monitoring?
@@Pharesm If you just want to monitor the audio from the computer - not record it - and you're connected as an audio interface, you can just change your headphone preset. Did I understand your question correctly?
@@curtisjudd so, after reading the manual (my coffee machine seems to have a better manual) I went back to fumble with the little UI, and really, mostly by accident stumbled over a settings page that seemed to be about that! I've now set channel 4 to HPL and channel 5 to HPR! (I assume that's head phone right and head phone left) I think that must be right, but I can't test, because apparently, Windows 10 has done away with Sound Devices' ASIO driver in the meantime :) - it has disappeared from my sound options. Windows 10 is a haunted house, even if you're on W10 enterprise LTSB. It doesn't protect you from changed or disappearing drivers. (I did find a remedy for that a couple of days ago - a minor registry edit... I guess I've reason to use it now. Your knowledgeable help is much appreciated! MixPre3 will work out great with your setting! :D
@@curtisjudd Odd, its gone, I had tried to post a thank you here above a day ago, because you did understand precisely and basically solved my problem :D
Curtis, I am a GH5 user looking to setup my rig for a run and gun project. One option is to buy the XLR extension that you reviewed as well. To me that is a decent and reliable option. The other option is to mount a mixpre3 under my camera cage. This would give me a 3 channel setup (2 AVX lavs and a shotgun) which is very appealing to me. What worries me about this route is the timecode setup via the HDMI cable. The HDMI connection on the recorder side looks really flimsy, especially in a run and gun context. Do you concur? Or would you feel comfortable in recommending the GH5-mixpre3 setup for rund and gun work? Thx so much and keep them coming. Your reviews/tutoriials have proven instrumental to me in many occasions.
Hi frankostyn, yes, the HDMI micro cable is a bit dodgy for run-n-gun situations. But the Panasonic XLR1 is also a bit dodgy in terms of its plastic build when XLR cables are attached unless you secure them very well to something more stable (e.g., rig rails, tripod legs). Some people have had what sound like ground issues when mounting the GH5 on top of the MixPre but it can be addressed by placing a quick release plate and receiver between the MixPre and GH5. Good luck!
Really great tutorial. I’m using our mix pre 3 for location foley tomorrow. Which mode is best when capturing two discreet mic channels? i.e I’m not hugely interested in the L/R mix but instead two separate mono channels, one from each mix we use. Will the poly wav nature of this recorder always output the L/R mix then each channels discrete output? (1-3) Thanks again
Yes thank you. Worked that out today before our session. Also by setting the L/R to off we can output a poly wav which is just our isolated tracks. Perfect!
@@tomspotley5733 I did the same thing for three mono tracks where I don't need a mix. I have a question tho, I made my front knobs gain instead of faders. Is there any loss, or reason I shouldn't do that? Is there any sound benefit (at 32bit floating) for having gain on the side knob and faders on the front? You address this at 11:30 - and I understand the reasoning behind more the fader for extra nuance and control. But is there any sound variation when riding gain instead of fader?
Hi, I was wondering if there would be a reason why the audio straight from the mixpre 3 would sound better than after recording in Adobe audition? I use the headphones through the mixpre and is sounds great. Then listen to the recording back that’s made in audition and it sounds way worse. Not sure what I’m missing in the process.
Hi Morgan, do you use the MixPre as an audio interface connected to your computer for playback as well? In what way does it sound worse. It is tough to tell without samples of each. Do you perhaps have a sample of each online you could share?
@@curtisjudd So, I have it hooked up to a pc via usb-c. I record straight into audition, rather than on the device. It sounds way better when I have the headphones on when I am placing the mic. I recorded tonight straight to the mixpre and it sounded great when played back as a wav file on my pc. I then dropped that same wav file into audition and it goes back to a really thin tiny sound again. I hear more nail noise... not really sure what's going on.
That’s ok! Thank you for your help. I actually figured it out. Adobe audition defaults to 48khz and my recordings are in 96. I changed it to match and it’s great now. I guess weird things happen when they don’t match, I would assume lower quality but not that tiny metallic sound. All fine now, though.
Curtis Judd i watched your review on the dslr audio recorder H4n pro and Tascam 60D mkll. Just ordered the Tascam since to make it work with my Seinnhiser Wireless Mic
Hey I wanna go left and right ear sound with my 2 mics what's the best settings for it ? My armd mics has less noise so I have to turn it on always.. right? thanks. btw. what's the pan options? with this L1 to 16 or `r 1to 16 ?
The default headphone preset should playback the left mix to your left ear and right mix to your right ear, so no configuration needed. I'm sorry, I don't understand the other questions.
@@beepasmr2461 I would normally leave that at center. If you want that microphone's audio to play out of just the left speaker on playback, then pan it to the farthest L setting. Normally you don't do this for dialogue recordings, but for ASMR, you might want to...
I received my first professional tape sync job today for a national podcast. I was so excited earlier, and while I purchased a mixpre3 a couple months ago, the recording requirements for this job were set to 44.1/16 bit and that had me so incredibly upset when the audio was completely messed up in playback for about an hour. I thought my heart would fly out out of my chest, and I would drown in my own tears, but after following you step-by-step I learned exactly what to fix, and how to fix it. This video just saved the biggest break of my young career. Thank you!! Also, I loved the laugh - keep doing it.
I'm torn between getting a Zoom F4 or a MixPre-6. I know Curtis has talked about the benefits of analogue limiters, but here in the UK there is a pretty big price difference between the two units (£600 vs £1100). My techlust side wants the MixPre, but my sensible side says save the money. Gah!
I'm torn as well. The main feature that is making me consider the F4 or F8 is the dual SD card capability because I like the peace of mind of immediately having a backup of the audio.
Chris Fuchs My advice based on your comment, the MixPre's are not intended for on-set production sound work. Get the F4/8 if that is the job you are doing.
I'll buy once they are in stock. Interested in the USB power bank powering option. Noted here how in the duration of monitoring the audio, the batteries lost about 50% of their charge...
+Martin Prothero we powered here with eneloop AA batteries which are 4 years old. Before editing, the clip was about an hour long and I had probably 30 minutes of use on this charge. I would expect 2 - 2.5 hours on a charge with 4 freshly charged eneloops, tiny bit more with eneloop pros.
Another question. Between this Mix pre 3 and the Beachtek Dxa pro , in your opinion, would I get a difference in sound between Beactek vs Mix pre 3? I have beachtek DXA and I was wondering if mix pre 3 would give me any additional boost in sound performance over the Beacteck.
Hi, yes, but not necessarily a night-and-day difference depending on what you're doing. For those that buy these but still use an on-camera mic, there isn't going to be much difference. So much to say in explanation but so hard to say it in a TH-cam comment. If you're happy with the sound you're getting currently, stick with it. If you are ready to invest more in time and effort to improve your sound, then yes, very much worth it in my opinion.
How long is battery life with the original 4-cell setup (it takes 4 without the extra 'skid', right?)? And have you used rechargeable or just alkaline with this unit?
Hi Murcury Vapor, about 2.5 hours with Ni-MH rechargeables (eneloop pro). They recommend you NOT use alkaline batteries with the MixPre. If you do, the battery life is very, very short. I believe you can also use Lithium AA cells which would probably last a bit longer than the Ni-MH rechargeables.
using the mixpre 3 as a audio interface what should the levels be on the computer? when i put the computer to 100 volume it red lines on the mix pre. i want to get the best signal to noise . Should i turn off the limiter also just for audio interface and get my levels to yellow?
Hi Rob, Not sure I follow the question. I'd set the gain on the inputs of the MixPre and set the faders in your DAW to 0 or unity if you're using a DAW?
Sorry for bothering You again. Do You know if there is a way to mount the camera (gh5) to the mix pre 6 without losing the option to change batteries. Also some of the lenses I have won't fit due to the mix pre. Thank You
Definitely go ahead and try each one. The "off and linked" option refers to the stereo mix. This means the stereo L and R channels will not be recorded, though you can still monitor them. It also means that you control both with a single control. This is a fairly rare option and I haven't come across situations where I've needed it yet. The main thing in the REC L,R menu is whether you want to record the mix.
thank you so much for this video!!! its normal i hear a flor noise when i set the gain in the middle of the knobs??? or is a problem just from mine mixpre? (is not a noise from the ambient, its clearly a flor noise from the mixpre)
Hi Curtis, Reached.a slight dilemma. I need to use my boom + 4 mics. Can I use he Aux in for both the 5th channel for a g4 and also use the aux in with a splitter for timecode
if the front knob becomes a fader instead of a gain trim. does that mean when your recording it doesn't actually reduce the level of what's being recorded but rather just adjust the volume for the LR mix? or does it also reduce the gain for that particular channel for recording.
Is there a way to trigger "record" directly from the camera via the aux-in? I use a C70 via the timecode port, but it only records when I first turn on the camera or record. When I stop the recording via the camera, I can't trigger the recorder once again.
You could use an external mixer with the MixPre in 32-bit float mode, but your mixer will be the dynamic range bottleneck if you're recording something with a very wide dynamic range.
If it was recording a movie or documentary, it would be more interesting to record in Advanced mode, right? And if it is just a shotgun microphone would it be better to set the input to Mic?
No, power is not one of the options for the assignable button. Sound Devices intentionally put the switch on the side and made it very unlikely to accidentally turn off.
Hey Curtis i just bought the MixPre-3 I have a RODE Micro video mic Im trying to plug it into the AUX in on the mixpre-3 but I can seem to get audio from it It has a TRS cable I have tried "MIC" & "LINE" and still nothing Am I supposed to be using a TRRS cable? or what could i be missing please? Regards, Rick
Hi Rick, I believe that the VideoMicro needs plugin power and is made to work with small cameras with TRS mic inputs. Unfortunately the MixPre's 3.5mm input is only for microphones which supply their own power.
@@curtisjudd Well you'll never guess what !!! I went into custom Mode and set all options to advanced I then set my AUX to MIC and what do you know........ it works Do you have the RODE VIDEOMICRO ? Or maybe another mic that needs power to confirm that it works Maybe this is some feature that has been over looked but I can confirm that the Rode VideoMicro Mic works on the premix-3 Aux port using stock TRS cable
Curtis Judd no doubt. Had to let you know. I’m literally watching another one of your videos right now on pro lavaliers. Trying to figure out if I should switch to a better lav for my Sony wireless system.
I would call it a “Missing manual for MixPre series”. Seriously, it made everything so clear for me on how to use my MixPre-6 device. I can’t thank you enough for this video!
Thanks Vadim!
seriously... I've only finally realized I need custom mode.
That was outstanding. Just got a mixpre3 ii and this really helped. Still so much to learn and fiddle with, but your videos are a life saver. Funny how the community does an even better job than the manufacturers. Keep up the amazing work
Congrats on the new MixPre and happy recording!
Sound Devices should be paying YOU for making these kinds of videos.
I prefer to stay independent. Better for the audience and better for me. And if they keep making good products, also good for Sound Devices.
Yes...or pay him to write a decent manual!
They don’t a setting to set the video camera frame rate like they do in the Zoom F4?
This is probably the best MixPre 6 setting up Video on TH-cam !
**NOTE** This walkthrough was NOT recorded with the MixPre so please do not use this to assess the sound quality of the MixPre. Since I only have one MixPre, I could not show all of the settings and record with it at the same time. Also, the "hiss" that you hear is the fan in my camera - for practical purposes, the microphone was approximately 8 inches from the camera's fan. If you'd like to hear some clips recorded with the MixPre, please have a listen to these previous episodes:
th-cam.com/video/7tr37w9isic/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/ZRc0tOTBWuw/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/Mx5JeUuVX1o/w-d-xo.html
After 4 years, #2021 I feel like I need to tell ya that you're the reason why I got my MixPre6 MkII !!! Thank you ^^
Glad to hear it is working well for you!
Thank you for this.
👍
Just got a MixPre-6 and your video was a godsend. thanks Curtis!
Glad it was helpful. Happy recording!
Big fan of your videos, thanks for the extensive knowledge. Although I thoroughly read through manuals, it's great to have someone show you each process step-by-step visually. Thanks again!
Thanks Z!
I've watched a few Mixpre-3 videos in this is the best!!
Thanks Craig!
Outstanding explanatory video!
Total sidebar question: what camera are you using that has a fan in it?
That's the Ursa Mini Pro.
Wow, this guide is 1000% better than the manual!
Thanks Terry!
Just ordered a mixpre-3 ii, can't thank you enough for this!
Very detailed and easy to understand explanation. Why is there 3 Tracks(L,R and Ch1) when I record one boom on Ch1? What is the meaning of L, R additionally with Ch1? My setup is just one MKH416 connected to CH1 on MixPre3 and I am trying to record talking head.. Is there any additional benefit in quality of audio output or editing workflow if I use all 3 (L,R and Ch1) in final Video? Is it OK to record on Ch1 without the L and R? Should I just get rid of L and R? Is L and R really required for single Mic setup? What is the purpose of L and R?
In advanced mode, the MixPre operates like a true mixer and records the left and right stereo mix, plus the individual input channels. In your case, the three channels are left mix, right mix, and input one microphone - all the same thing unless you have moved the fader to a setting other than 0 or panned input one to anything other than center. If you just need the isolated microphone input channel and NOT the stereo mix, you can disarm the stereo mix in the Record->Rec L,R menu. Set it to off.
I find all of your videos to be very helpful, and educational. I am new to sound recording and the use of these devices. There is one thing I thought I would mention, however, just for you to think about and take into consideration when you make future videos. I've noticed in more than one video, when demonstrating assorted menu options, that (while you usually clearly explain the function of each feature and why someone might use it) you occasionally will avoid explanation in an oddly dismissive way. "If you don't know what that is, well... (laughing) you probably don't need it." I'm sure a lot of other people are like me and come to your videos to learn. I know you don't intend to mock the lack of knowledge of the viewers, but in a way it comes off as laughing at them that they wouldn't know what one of these advanced features is for, and then you don't take the time to explain what it is at all. I realize you can't cover everything in every video, but I just thought I would mention it's something I have noticed that you may want to refrain from doing in the future.
Thanks David, no disrespect intended. You are correct that for practical purposes, simply cannot cover everything.
Thanks for the information.
You're welcome!
u just saved me for my exam
👍
Thanks for this very good walkthrough!
+voodoohumb thanks!
Did you equalize the sound, or is it just the microphone? It sounds very muddied/bass heavy compared to a Schoeps CMC6 into a 702T.
I did not equalize, I used an Electrovoice RE20 to record this episode.
Thanks for your detailed explanation about the sound mixer. I have a Mixer 3 which I have used for years. I used with Q8 camcorder to make performance recordings. Recently , I found some electrical noise in my recording which I did not have before. I had added an audio isolator between the output of the Mixer and the input of my camcorder. However, the noise even louder. Do you know what may be the problem?
This was so helpful!!!!!! Liked, saved, subbed, Happy dance 🤟💕🤟💜🙌🤩. Thank you Curtis Judd Audio!!!👍
Thanks! 👍
I’m having a problem connecting my comica wireless mic system. I have the two transmitters and one receiver and I’m trying to use them both with my mix pre 3 but I can’t get it to work.
What seems to be the problem?
@@curtisjudd I was trying to have a system like the comics wireless two transmitter and one receiver work with the mix pre 3. But I think I figured it out by linking the 1 and 2 channel as left and right.
I recently faced a problem where channel 1 was being copied to channel 3 and same for 2-4
Thank you very much Curtis! Brilliant infos. I just ordered me one ;-)
I hope it works well for you Helge!
Thankyou so much - I've had a couple of listens now and it's helped me so much in the field. I do have one question though - I wonder if you could possibly have the time to answer for me - as I can not find it anywhere! Everything has been great - however I can not find where to listen back to a track when in the field - to test that everything is coming through ok? Like a quick record test you can listen back to - does anyone know? thanks heaps!
Hi Kell, The play button should do the job on the MixPre-3 or 6 and the joystick (pressed down) starts playback on the MixPre-10. Best wishes!
Just got this for weddings and loving it. Curious in Advanced mode, what gain would be the ideal level to set Channel 1?
I would set it to a level where the meter tops out at around -12 to -16dB so that you leave enough headroom for loud laughs and such.
@@curtisjudd And that would be setting the gain through the trim gain or the fader gain? It would be setting it through the trim gain right, if I'm going through CH 1? Also, would it be easier for me at weddings to just keep the recorder in Basic mode rather than having more to tend to in Advanced mode since I do shoot solo most of the time and want to just hit record and walk away knowing it's recording.
@@imageryweddingfilms2134 It sounds like it would be easier in basic mode for you, yes. And in that case, the knob is trim and fader gain combined into one.
I am so glad I found the channel. I'm on my way to better recording and post-processing the sound. have you updated to DaVinci 16 in the Fairlight class??
Thanks Riding in Retirement. Updating the Fairlight course to version 16 is next task on the list. Should have that done in the next couple of months. We're basically revamping the course from the ground up.
@@curtisjudd PS., im in the audio course.
@@RonTG_MediaArts Thanks and I hope you find it helpful.
Are you related to the Judd singers?
Not closely, as far as I know.
I thought delay can also be for mixing when you are far from the sound source so that the sound coming out of your headphones/monitors are in sync with a sound source far away? Not having this is quite distracting when trying to monitor on headphones or monitors if the source is more than like 15-30 feet away because the delay starts to get bigger than 10s of milliseconds as the speed of sound vs speed of light widens the gap. This is how I used it on house sound boards.
"When sending audio to video operators on a production set, output delay ensures that audio is in sync with camera video feeds. Outputs can be delayed from 0 to 400 ms."- From SD's website. Camera wireless or even SDI feeds to a sound mix station can have a delay. This seems more like how I have to delay my audio for to match my capture card's delay in sending a signal vs my audio interface. This actually gives a pretty cool setting for streamers I guess?
@@nathanksimpson Indeed, yes.
Another use-case. Thanks for sharing. 👍
10:00 this is essential. thank you.
👍
Very Helpful. Thank you.
Thanks Ty.
hi, I want to use the Mixpre without recording a stereo mix and just record ISO tracks with the knobs controlling gain (no faders). I've put it into Custom mode for the direct gain knob control but when I want to listen back to the 'ISO track ' etc to check my recording via headphone I can't hear it. Is there a Headphone setting that I need to change?
Question about the noise floor. Just for test I connected my Shure SM58 to the MixPre 6 II. Recorded in 32 floating point mode.
The gain is set to 30db.
I've recorded in 2 input modes - Line and Mic with the same gain - 30db.
In Line mode I've ged much more noise.
In Mic mode there was no noise at all.
Help me please understand why? According to the noise level It looks like in the Line input mode it records in 24 bit (not in 32). Or I've get much more noise because the mic has not correct impedance for the line input? Can you do this test with yours mixpre?
Microphones need amplification so should always be used in mic mode, not line mode. Using line mode measures the microphone signal with zero amplification so it will always be noisy.
@@curtisjudd The level of signal in both recordings was more or less the same. So, the amplification in both modes was the same to. Why the noise level was different?
@@ZhurbaV I don't know. Best to contact Sound Devices support. Best wishes.
Fantastic tutorial Curtis. This is one of the best videos on YT I've come across. You mix a good explanation of the kit with a basic lesson on sound mixing, all perfectly paced. I just got given a MixPre 6 to learn in one day, with no sound experience, and this is a life saver. Great job!
Thanks Richard and good luck on your recording!
I am finding it difficult to workout how to mount a camera like GH5 on top 🧐 The holes on top are not deep.
There is a screw that retracts on top of the MixPre. Use the included Allen wrench to push it from the bottom of the MixPre into the camera’s mounting point.
Great walkthrough. I'm using it to setup a MixPre 3 that I don't have lol. I have a host at work that I ordered one for because it will work best for her in a podcast setup and now I'm going to train her on a device I've never used and we're doing it over Skype. Oh, not to mention she has never recorded audio;) Yeah, I guess I like challenges lol.
Wow, you do like a challenge! If you get stuck, I've got a course on getting the most from your MixPre over at school.learnlightandsound.com. :) Good luck!
Wonderful course, thank you, Curtis. Good training is a blessing. I'm up and running now.
Does recording audio through the mixpre to the camera introduce self noise from the camera?
It can, depends on the camera.
Is the meter displaying VU+Peak hold? It's a very confusing type of meter response. I'd rather just see a peak meter. Easier to see the levels. Is there any way to change the meter ballistics like in the 7 series?
I’ll need to double check but I thought it was just peak+hold.
When will you do an update for the MixPre-3/6/10 version 2?
Soon as I have time. Updating the paid course first.
hi
with the MixPre-3 II
is that possible to record a stereo input with 3.5mm stereo input (L and R channels) in the same time that using the three XLR inputs ?
Hi Curtis, wonderful job as always - great quality content. I‘m not sure if you already made a video about the production steps that are made after the editor syncs the video footage with the stereo mix via timecode. How will an audio program like Cubase sync the isolated tracks to the now edited movie when the editor will pass it to the sound editor? Is the timecode still the same and can be synced with the iso files? Is there a resource to find out about this step of the production? Best regards - Christoph
Hi Jazz Pistols, Thanks. I haven't used Cubase for video/film post before, so I'm not sure how it works there, but the MixPre records the stereo mix and isolated channels into a single poly wav file. All of the pro video editing apps sync the entire wav file to picture and that carries through to the audio post team, usually in Pro Tools. I don't have a specific video on that, I'm afraid. Sorry about that.
@@curtisjudd Hi Curtis, thank you very much for taking the time to answer me. Thats a value information. I thought the video team would only work with the stereo mix, and the audio team has to sync the iso tracks later to the edited video - so that the video editor don‘t have to bother with too many files. But your method would make more sense. Best regards - Christoph
is there a rewind fast forward function on this? I have never seen one on the mic pre 3
Yes, you can scrub through audio clips by pressing and holding the headphone encoder knob during playback. See page 27 of the MixPre-3 manual for details.
i start to understand the MODEs:
There are two Mode-Setups: Basic-Mode and Advanced-Mode
in Custom-"Mode" you can mix these setups in these Points:
• Channel
• Gain
• Headphone
• Record
• Metadata
• Output
most of these points in the Basic-Mode is a simple or limited function,
but the "Gain" is change from "Gain/Trim" of the PreAmp in basic-Mode to "Fader" of the Stereomix in "Advanced-Mode" .
In very intuitive on this point.
+voodoohumb right on!
How do you turn on phantom power for the individual tracks if needed? i would have assumed that any mic or mic receiver plugged in would take phantom power from the mix pre but is that not the case? i will be using mine with two sennheiser avx's and one sennheiser 416 so when i plug in the 416, will i need to turn on phantom power on that particular xlr input on the mix pre?
Press in the channel knob for the channel on which you want to enable phantom power then press the Phantom Power option on the touchscreen. You do not need phantom for the wireless systems, just for condenser mics which need phantom.
@@LearnLightAndSoundSessions thank you!
Thank you so much for the clear and detailed explanations. No fluff just great info.
Thanks Ryan!
Ok ... Why we can send audio to the Camera ? Other way, mix pre rekord audio on SD card so do we need audio sending there ? Whats good for me when i connect both dslr and mix, only tomecode ? To work easy?
Do whichever works best for you. I'm just showing the options. I usually just record audio separately on my MixPre and then sync to the video clips in post because most of my projects only have a few clips. If working on a narrative film. that's when timecode makes the post workflow much easier and quicker.
Hello Curtis! Well what a tease this is! I really fancy purchasing the MixPre-3. I am doing pro voice over recording from my home studio and this seem just like what I would need. Any idea when they are supposed to become available to general public? Seems like all we can do for now is to (mix)pre-order…. Thanks!
The link in the description is to DVeStore in Washington and it looks like they may have some of the MixPre-3 in stock. Worth a look there. bit.ly/2s2DZDQ
I'm just now seeing this excellent video. One question that I have regarding these sorts of mixer/recorders is when you talk about "stereo." Isn't a single mic going into two discrete channels of a record considered "dual mono." There's no panning going on, correct?
Hi Greg, by default, each channel is panned center so yes, you get the same thing at the same level on both the L and R stereo mix channel. If you pan the mic input channel, however, then more of that source will be in left stereo mix channel than the right stereo mix channel, for example. So it depends on how you have the pan set for each input channel so to whether the stereo mix is essentially dual mono or has a stereophonic nature.
Curtis Judd got it. But for video wouldn’t you want discrete dual mono tracks for dialog? The more I think about it I can see where other applications would require a stereo mix. Sound effects, perhaps?
@@gregmcveigh9966 Historically, it was for flexibility and if you were miking with two mics, you could pan one hard left and the other hard right which would essentially record each mic input to a discreet, isolated channel. Since the MixPre can record isolated channels in addition to a stereo mix in advanced mode, this isn't needed for that purpose. But if the post team you're delivering to has a request to put say, the boom on the left channel and all of the lavaliers on the right stereo channel, you can do that. It isn't something most of us do very often when recording dialogue for video/film.
Curtis Judd thank you and keep up the great work!
Hi Curtis, did you ever use controller (eg.nano from korg). Plan to buy controller for my MP6 (v3.00). Thank you. I always love your video about sound gears.
Yes, I used the Novation LaunchControl XL: th-cam.com/video/nRNykAonevw/w-d-xo.html
Great reviews! Have you noticed that HDMI triggering from a GH4 does not produce a sound file that you can drop straight over the video file and have them both synced? The MixPre-3 recorded file is three frames earlier than the camera file. It's the same at the other end. I've checked it at 48000hz and 41000hz to match the camera with the same result. Use a slate or a clap and numbered clip marker to synchronise the files in Premiere CS5.5 and the see the disparity. So be careful. It's a great little recorder in spite of this. Regards, GEOFF SMYTH.
+Geoff Smyth hi Geoff, this is a Panasonic issue. I had the same issue with my GH4 and Pro quality timecode generators. Also, I find that even the audio the GH4 records directly is off by a couple of frames. Have you tried using the delay feature in the MixPre to compensate for the GH4's sync issue?
Thanks for your prompt reply, Curtis. My unit is so new to me that I wasn't aware of the delay feature; I will investigate. I'm such a luddite that I still use a clapperboard. Thanks for your suggestion. Have you ever owned a piece of kit that is so power hungry?
The quality audio recorders use a lot of power, unfortunately. Clapperboards/slates are awesome. They rarely fail and are still used on set of large productions, even when they have wireless timecode setups. So you're in good company. :)
FS7 and Mix Pre 3 connected via HDMI TC, triggered by HDMI Flag and given Timecode. Timecode sync in premiere pro puts the Mix Pre 3 ahead by around 4 frames on a 23.975 file.
Does the delay feature compensate enough to get them in sync?
Do you have any idea how long the MixPre 6ii lasts when powered by a 20K powerbank with two mics attached ?
Depends on whether those microphones need phantom power, but you should be able to get 4+ hours.
Hey brother. How to you gain stage properly? Because in advanced mode you have 2 volume options: Gain and the knob fader. How do you play with those? If I am recording with only 1 mic, (the mkh 416), isn’t it better to just leave the device in simple mode?
It depends what you want to do. It can be easier and quicker to have the knobs in Basic mode so you can quickly set your total gain on the fly - but if there is time to set the gain first then that is probably better, particularly if recording more than one channel, since when the knobs are at 12 o'clock the output to the stereo track will be the same as the gain setting - that means you know from the position of the knobs (projecting button) just where you are with the levels and can nudge the levels more accurately when you are recording + or - the 12 o'clock position. The ISO tracks (if recorded) will of course only be at the original (pre-fade) gain setting since they are not affected by the knobs. Do whatever works best for you.
@@chrisdelcan2757 great tip brother. Thanks
So appreciate this as a beginner to audio who acquired a MixPre-6 II. Curtis, I could actually follow this, most grateful. Totally agree with Vadim Makeev, this is the missing manual for the 6 II as well. Thank you.
Hi, do you know how i can use the GH5 with both the Mixpre 3 and the Atomos Shogun being that the GH5 only has one hdmi port? I want the camera to trigger the Mixpre 3 when i start recording on the GH5. Hopefully you can help. Thanks
No, but I asked the same question in a video just this morning: th-cam.com/video/30MGH_2rwqY/w-d-xo.html Hopefully we'll find an answer from the larger community.
The gain/fade in advanced mode will be excellent for me when shooting live presentations. I record room audio in case the sound booth cable has issues during recording. Now I can record the room audio but fade it to near zero, so it doesn't go to camera and live stream.
Yes! That's the flexibility of a true mixer!
Hello Curtis, when I synch with the HDMI cable my GH5 to the SOUND DEVICE Mix-Pre3 in Adobe Première I have 5 frame of difference between sound and picture. Any idea of the problem? Thanks to Reply, F..
Hi Francois, I'm not sure. It may be the latency of the HDMI from the camera to MixPre. Is there a way to apply an offset in Premiere when syncing timecode? If it is always 5 frames off, you could use the offset to correct for the latency.
Very long, watch at 1.5x to 2x w SHIFT + > Great info thanks!
👍
I got my MixPre 6ii back after the stuck cable... now I know what cables to throw out ! Please, how do I do a factory reset ? I can't find that option... ( when I use the input knobs, I don't get the display to read Gain or Fade... it just says 3 : -3db (which I know is fade... but still I would like the display to read "Fade" ). Anyway, your YT clips are indispensible ! Thx
Hi Oleander, Go to the menu, then Presets menu, then Load Preset, then choose Factory Default. It won't say gain or fader when you adjust the knob, even after a factory preset from what I can tell. That would probably be a feature request you'd need to make to Sound Devices.
Great info! Thank you! I didn't know about the faders vs gain in Advanced mode since I've used a 702 for years and the setup is simpler. I'm getting quite confused as to the number of files that the Mix Pre generates. I typically record in linked stereo and get 4 files and are all mono? Just found a solution to this : when I drag and drop into Logic - it turns all into mono files. But when I use the import function I get a surround file which easily is put into stereo.
The other confusion I have is with the headphone output. I also often record in linked stereo with an MS mic setup and monitor the decoded version in my headphones. I'm not quite sure if my preset is right : ch1 prefade to L postfade and ch2 prefade to R postfade with MS on. On my 702 it's very easy to switch headphone monitor settings and listen to separate left and right and MS decode.
Hi Margaret, Thanks. Good work finding a solution with Logic. I don't know how to set the monitoring for your M/S setup. Probably best to check in with Sound Devices support. Best wishes and keep making fun percussion videos!
Thanks
You’re welcome!
Very useful video Curtis. I have a question - I am planning to purchase either a mixpre 3 or 6 II, for use in the field and as an audio interface. Is it good practice to use a DI box to balance the outputs for use with studio monitors? Or would you recommend going for a product with built in balanced outputs, say the mixpre 10?
Hi Batrimons, yes, a stereo DI box will do the job though not quite as tidily as the MixPre-10 which needs no DI box. Either approach gets the job done nicely. Best wishes!
@@curtisjudd Thank you for the advice!
Do I have to set up "tone" with my camera every time I record a video?
If you don't change any settings, you do not have to. But always best to confirm if you plan to use your camera's audio. It would be really sad to realize that all of your camera audio is clipped or was recorded well down into the noise floor.
You're so kind. Thank you so much. I have learned a great deal from your videos
I think you could also split channels 5&6 using a 3.5mm stereo to either two xlr's or two 3.5 mono connectors, could you not? These would not have preamps of course. Have you tried this or what are your thoughts on it? Is it a feasible solution in a pinch?
One question you don't answer in any of your videos is "from how high can I drop it before it becomes unusable?"
You could in theory, yes. No phantom power, just plugin but should work in a pinch. I try really hard NOT to drop my gear. I need it to work. 🤓
Many thanks for this video. I do have an issue though and it's probably me being stupid. I record in at line level on channels 1 and 2 from a keyboard and import the .wav file to Audition. Channels 1 and 2 (L & R) are exactly the same and not stereo. Channels 3 & 4 are slightly different and therefore stereo but a lot quieter so I'm guessing pre-fader. I want channels 1 & 2 to be stereo post-fader but I don't know how to do this. In Audition, if I disable tracks 1 and 2, then tracks 3 and 4 don't generate sound even though there are waveforms there. Totally confused....... Help!
Hi Graham, The first two channels are the mix (L&R) and the next two are the isolated inputs. It sounds like you probably want to be in basic mode instead of advanced or custom. Go to the system menu and change to basic and let's see if that gets you closer.
@@curtisjudd Thank you. Just wondering whether you need to pan channel 1 hard left and channel 2 hard right.
@@Graham_Wood If you are only recording a mix in basic mode, then probably yes.
Hi. Im new to the audio feild. I'm working as a boom op for a mixer using the pre6. What is the best way to get audio for both of our headphones?
Hello Curtis, when I synch with the HDMI cable my GH5 to the SOUND DEVICE Mix-Pre3 in Adobe Première I have 5 frame of difference between sound and picture. Any idea of the problem? Thanks to Reply, F..
Hi Filippo, I'm not sure. It may be the latency of the HDMI from the camera to MixPre. Is there a way to apply an offset in Premiere when syncing timecode? If it is always 5 frames off, you could use the offset to correct for the latency. Failing that, I would definitely contact Sound Devices support to narrow down the issue. Best wishes!
can you do that kind of sync live??
Great video. I have one question.... i guess the mixpre recorders are mainly for use in live recording situations, but if I used the mixpre 3 (or Zoom F4 for that matter) for multi track music recording with one or two musicians playing multiple instruments, could I have a backing track playing on one channel (but not being recorded) and record a solo track over it? ....and have the solo track available for mixing in post)?
If you use it as an audio interface with an app like ProTools, Garage Band, Audition, or even Audacity, yes. As just a recorder, it is not set up for multi-take multi-track recording.
Curtis Judd thanks for the reply and clarification Curtis.
Hi Curtis. Seat video. Which model do recommend for youtube videos?
MixPre-3 if you only need 3 XLR mic inputs. MixPre-6 if you need 4.
We need a 633 vs mixpre(3-6) because most enthusiast prosumers think to make a big leap and spent so much for the 633 and want to see if the mixpre is a dealbraker
Thanks for your magnificent videos
Big fan from Kuwait 👍🏻
+qallaf313 will do. Don't expect a big audio quality difference. The difference is largely in the RF shielding, more flexible routing, timecode generator, locking hirose power input, inbuilt NP-F battery sled, balanced XLR outputs and lots of other things like that.
After watching some of your videos, I bought a MixPre3 II, only to find out, that channel 4 and 5 are (apparently) crippled so, that you can NOT assign them as USB audio returns for playback.
Instead, you have to waste 2 of your 3 recording channels on audio playback from the laptop...?
I feel that Sound Devices made no effort to clarify this manko, which basically shrinks the MixPre II drastically, compared to the MixPre6 II, which does NOT cripple the 'extra' channels that don't have a knob, so you CAN use them as a return for USB stereo audio playback, on the unit that is less desparate for this functionality as the MixPre3 II is. Please let me know if I'm wrong about this, by dint of some overlooked detail. But it seems I bought the wrong unit and have to buy the bigger, heavier one. (I didn't buy the 3 for saving 200 bucks, I didn't want more weight than necessary, not having seen any information on this important detail... If anyone knows a work-around, it would be you... (I know you can use analog audio from the computer, to route over aux, but analog from the computer is a hot mess, not even good enough to audition. And who wants an unnecessary extra cable hanging about...
You are correct - the MixPre-3 can only use 3 isolated channels at a time.
@@curtisjudd thanks! Seems like disingenuous advertising to me "5 channels" Its not that I was planning to record from the computer, that is just to audition stereo audio from the computer.
So before I buy the MixPre 6 II, is my understanding correct, that on that unit, I can use the extra channels to route audio through USB back into the MixPre for the purpose of monitoring?
@@Pharesm If you just want to monitor the audio from the computer - not record it - and you're connected as an audio interface, you can just change your headphone preset. Did I understand your question correctly?
@@curtisjudd so, after reading the manual (my coffee machine seems to have a better manual) I went back to fumble with the little UI, and really, mostly by accident stumbled over a settings page that seemed to be about that!
I've now set channel 4 to HPL and channel 5 to HPR! (I assume that's head phone right and head phone left)
I think that must be right, but I can't test, because apparently, Windows 10 has done away with Sound Devices' ASIO driver in the meantime :) - it has disappeared from my sound options. Windows 10 is a haunted house, even if you're on W10 enterprise LTSB. It doesn't protect you from changed or disappearing drivers. (I did find a remedy for that a couple of days ago - a minor registry edit... I guess I've reason to use it now.
Your knowledgeable help is much appreciated! MixPre3 will work out great with your setting! :D
@@curtisjudd Odd, its gone, I had tried to post a thank you here above a day ago, because you did understand precisely and basically solved my problem :D
Curtis, I am a GH5 user looking to setup my rig for a run and gun project. One option is to buy the XLR extension that you reviewed as well. To me that is a decent and reliable option. The other option is to mount a mixpre3 under my camera cage. This would give me a 3 channel setup (2 AVX lavs and a shotgun) which is very appealing to me. What worries me about this route is the timecode setup via the HDMI cable. The HDMI connection on the recorder side looks really flimsy, especially in a run and gun context. Do you concur? Or would you feel comfortable in recommending the GH5-mixpre3 setup for rund and gun work? Thx so much and keep them coming. Your reviews/tutoriials have proven instrumental to me in many occasions.
Hi frankostyn, yes, the HDMI micro cable is a bit dodgy for run-n-gun situations. But the Panasonic XLR1 is also a bit dodgy in terms of its plastic build when XLR cables are attached unless you secure them very well to something more stable (e.g., rig rails, tripod legs). Some people have had what sound like ground issues when mounting the GH5 on top of the MixPre but it can be addressed by placing a quick release plate and receiver between the MixPre and GH5. Good luck!
Thx
Really great tutorial. I’m using our mix pre 3 for location foley tomorrow. Which mode is best when capturing two discreet mic channels? i.e I’m not hugely interested in the L/R mix but instead two separate mono channels, one from each mix we use. Will the poly wav nature of this recorder always output the L/R mix then each channels discrete output? (1-3)
Thanks again
Sounds like advanced mode is what you need. Basic mode only has a stereo mix.
Yes thank you. Worked that out today before our session. Also by setting the L/R to off we can output a poly wav which is just our isolated tracks. Perfect!
@@tomspotley5733 I did the same thing for three mono tracks where I don't need a mix. I have a question tho, I made my front knobs gain instead of faders. Is there any loss, or reason I shouldn't do that? Is there any sound benefit (at 32bit floating) for having gain on the side knob and faders on the front? You address this at 11:30 - and I understand the reasoning behind more the fader for extra nuance and control. But is there any sound variation when riding gain instead of fader?
Hi, I was wondering if there would be a reason why the audio straight from the mixpre 3 would sound better than after recording in Adobe audition? I use the headphones through the mixpre and is sounds great. Then listen to the recording back that’s made in audition and it sounds way worse. Not sure what I’m missing in the process.
Hi Morgan, do you use the MixPre as an audio interface connected to your computer for playback as well? In what way does it sound worse. It is tough to tell without samples of each. Do you perhaps have a sample of each online you could share?
@@curtisjudd So, I have it hooked up to a pc via usb-c. I record straight into audition, rather than on the device. It sounds way better when I have the headphones on when I am placing the mic. I recorded tonight straight to the mixpre and it sounded great when played back as a wav file on my pc. I then dropped that same wav file into audition and it goes back to a really thin tiny sound again. I hear more nail noise... not really sure what's going on.
@@MorganStuartGuitar Probably best to contact ZOOM support. Best wishes and sorry I couldn't help more.
That’s ok! Thank you for your help. I actually figured it out. Adobe audition defaults to 48khz and my recordings are in 96. I changed it to match and it’s great now. I guess weird things happen when they don’t match, I would assume lower quality but not that tiny metallic sound. All fine now, though.
@@MorganStuartGuitar Ah yes, the sample rate matching issue. Good catch.
Your audio quality by far is the best on youtube, better than my self! Impressed
Thanks Sam!
Curtis Judd i watched your review on the dslr audio recorder H4n pro and Tascam 60D mkll. Just ordered the Tascam since to make it work with my Seinnhiser Wireless Mic
@@SamCarLegion I hope it works well for you. Happy recording!
Hey I wanna go left and right ear sound with my 2 mics what's the best settings for it ? My armd mics has less noise so I have to turn it on always.. right? thanks. btw. what's the pan options? with this L1 to 16 or `r 1to 16 ?
The default headphone preset should playback the left mix to your left ear and right mix to your right ear, so no configuration needed. I'm sorry, I don't understand the other questions.
@@curtisjudd When You press gain wheel there is pan options You can go to L1 or L2 or center, whats that mean ?
@@beepasmr2461 I would normally leave that at center. If you want that microphone's audio to play out of just the left speaker on playback, then pan it to the farthest L setting. Normally you don't do this for dialogue recordings, but for ASMR, you might want to...
Great video!
Is there a way to Name tracks before I record? Or can I just to this after I stopped recording and add notes to the file
Yes, easiest way is with the Wingman app.
Is it possible to record files to an external hard drive aswell as the SD card?
Hi Simon, no, but you can connect the MixPre to a computer or laptop to record to it at the same time.
in version ii there is a usb possibility, right?
I received my first professional tape sync job today for a national podcast. I was so excited earlier, and while I purchased a mixpre3 a couple months ago, the recording requirements for this job were set to 44.1/16 bit and that had me so incredibly upset when the audio was completely messed up in playback for about an hour. I thought my heart would fly out out of my chest, and I would drown in my own tears, but after following you step-by-step I learned exactly what to fix, and how to fix it. This video just saved the biggest break of my young career. Thank you!! Also, I loved the laugh - keep doing it.
Thanks Gregory, so glad it helped!
Hi Curtis! Great video. I was wondering, how do you think the sound compares to the 633 and F4/F8?
Sound quality is very similar between all three. Hard to tell the difference.
I'm torn between getting a Zoom F4 or a MixPre-6. I know Curtis has talked about the benefits of analogue limiters, but here in the UK there is a pretty big price difference between the two units (£600 vs £1100). My techlust side wants the MixPre, but my sensible side says save the money. Gah!
I'm torn as well. The main feature that is making me consider the F4 or F8 is the dual SD card capability because I like the peace of mind of immediately having a backup of the audio.
Steve Criddle My advice based on your comment, get the F4. Better yet get a used F4.
Chris Fuchs My advice based on your comment, the MixPre's are not intended for on-set production sound work. Get the F4/8 if that is the job you are doing.
How do you make the home screen show how much time you have left on the sd card rather than showing the date?
Tap the date and it will scroll through a few options including space remaining on your card.
Curtis Judd - Thank you very much! This was incredibly helpful.
I'll buy once they are in stock. Interested in the USB power bank powering option. Noted here how in the duration of monitoring the audio, the batteries lost about 50% of their charge...
+Martin Prothero we powered here with eneloop AA batteries which are 4 years old. Before editing, the clip was about an hour long and I had probably 30 minutes of use on this charge. I would expect 2 - 2.5 hours on a charge with 4 freshly charged eneloops, tiny bit more with eneloop pros.
Another question. Between this Mix pre 3 and the Beachtek Dxa pro , in your opinion, would I get a difference in sound between Beactek vs Mix pre 3? I have beachtek DXA and I was wondering if mix pre 3 would give me any additional boost in sound performance over the Beacteck.
Hi, yes, but not necessarily a night-and-day difference depending on what you're doing. For those that buy these but still use an on-camera mic, there isn't going to be much difference. So much to say in explanation but so hard to say it in a TH-cam comment. If you're happy with the sound you're getting currently, stick with it. If you are ready to invest more in time and effort to improve your sound, then yes, very much worth it in my opinion.
@@curtisjudd Thanks!!!!
How long is battery life with the original 4-cell setup (it takes 4 without the extra 'skid', right?)? And have you used rechargeable or just alkaline with this unit?
Hi Murcury Vapor, about 2.5 hours with Ni-MH rechargeables (eneloop pro). They recommend you NOT use alkaline batteries with the MixPre. If you do, the battery life is very, very short. I believe you can also use Lithium AA cells which would probably last a bit longer than the Ni-MH rechargeables.
Can u please help! If I make notes and Q points in my mix pre 3 while recording
Where do I find them on a computer when I’m editing?
DAW apps which support metadata markers will display them. Adobe Audition, for example.
Curtis Judd thanks!
so it is no to logic ?😅 how could that be😒 I can’t find metadata anywhere here
using the mixpre 3 as a audio interface what should the levels be on the computer? when i put the computer to 100 volume it red lines on the mix pre. i want to get the best signal to noise . Should i turn off the limiter also just for audio interface and get my levels to yellow?
Hi Rob, Not sure I follow the question. I'd set the gain on the inputs of the MixPre and set the faders in your DAW to 0 or unity if you're using a DAW?
Great guide. Very helpful at explaining the features of the MixPre.
Thanks Christian.
Sorry for bothering You again. Do You know if there is a way to mount the camera (gh5) to the mix pre 6 without losing the option to change batteries. Also some of the lenses I have won't fit due to the mix pre. Thank You
Not a bother at all! I would add a quick release receiver and plate between the MixPre and camera. Best wishes!
I’m still unclear about the “record” menu. Does “off and linked” mean it will give record L&R plus iso tracks? What exactly does each option record?
Definitely go ahead and try each one. The "off and linked" option refers to the stereo mix. This means the stereo L and R channels will not be recorded, though you can still monitor them. It also means that you control both with a single control. This is a fairly rare option and I haven't come across situations where I've needed it yet. The main thing in the REC L,R menu is whether you want to record the mix.
This was one of my q's too, thanks!
thank you so much for this video!!! its normal i hear a flor noise when i set the gain in the middle of the knobs??? or is a problem just from mine mixpre? (is not a noise from the ambient, its clearly a flor noise from the mixpre)
in the middle of the knobs or higher
@@orbitacine6205 Which mic are you testing with?
Hi Curtis,
Reached.a slight dilemma. I need to use my boom + 4 mics. Can I use he Aux in for both the 5th channel for a g4 and also use the aux in with a splitter for timecode
No, I believe the Aux input can only be used for one at a time.
if the front knob becomes a fader instead of a gain trim. does that mean when your recording it doesn't actually reduce the level of what's being recorded but rather just adjust the volume for the LR mix? or does it also reduce the gain for that particular channel for recording.
Hi Gilbert, it reduces the level of that channel in the overall stereo mix.
Is there a way to trigger "record" directly from the camera via the aux-in? I use a C70 via the timecode port, but it only records when I first turn on the camera or record. When I stop the recording via the camera, I can't trigger the recorder once again.
I am not sure whether the C70 sends the HDMI trigger info via HDMI. Probably best to check with Sound Devices support to see what their tests say.
Could I use the 32 bit with an external mixer with more channels into the mix pre ii?
You could use an external mixer with the MixPre in 32-bit float mode, but your mixer will be the dynamic range bottleneck if you're recording something with a very wide dynamic range.
If it was recording a movie or documentary, it would be more interesting to record in Advanced mode, right? And if it is just a shotgun microphone would it be better to set the input to Mic?
If you’re just recording one microphone and you don’t want all the extra settings, yes, use basic mode and set the input to mic.
helpful video! Is it possible to program the 'assign button' to power the unit on/ off? The power switch is a pain to access when in a mixer bag
No, power is not one of the options for the assignable button. Sound Devices intentionally put the switch on the side and made it very unlikely to accidentally turn off.
Hey Curtis
i just bought the MixPre-3
I have a RODE Micro video mic
Im trying to plug it into the AUX in on the mixpre-3 but I can seem to get audio from it
It has a TRS cable I have tried "MIC" & "LINE" and still nothing
Am I supposed to be using a TRRS cable?
or what could i be missing please?
Regards, Rick
Hi Rick, I believe that the VideoMicro needs plugin power and is made to work with small cameras with TRS mic inputs. Unfortunately the MixPre's 3.5mm input is only for microphones which supply their own power.
@@curtisjudd
Well you'll never guess what !!!
I went into custom Mode and set all options to advanced I then set my AUX to MIC and what do you know........ it works
Do you have the RODE VIDEOMICRO ?
Or maybe another mic that needs power to confirm that it works
Maybe this is some feature that has been over looked but I can confirm that the Rode VideoMicro Mic works on the premix-3 Aux port using stock TRS cable
@@rickvestuto Excellent news, thanks Rick!
This is a better shot, better explained video tutorial than the one’s sound devices have. Bravo Sir!
Thanks Alexander.
Hi Curtis, how do you transfer the audio file onto you computer using the USB-port? Thank you.
Go to Menu -> System -> File Transfer.
Great video! Thank you!
Thanks Cesar!
Curtis Judd no doubt. Had to let you know. I’m literally watching another one of your videos right now on pro lavaliers. Trying to figure out if I should switch to a better lav for my Sony wireless system.