MixPre 10T: My Impressions After 2 Months (Final Review)
Sound Devices added some nice options to the prosumer audio recorder market earlier this year with the introduction of their MixPre-3 and MixPre-6. And now, they’ve added the MixPre-10T which takes the MixPre line legitimately into the professional recorder realm for $1800 USD. After working with the MixPre-10T for a couple of months, these are my impressions and thoughts.
Links to gear discussed and used to record this session:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer
Samsung USB Thumbdrive - This was tested by Sound Devices and I find it works great for the file copy function on the 10T
Sandisk Extreme Pro SD Card I use in my MixPre-10T and 633
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone
Adapter Cable for Mini XLR outputs (TA3F to XLRM)
AC to Hirose Adapter (useful if you plan to use this as an audio interface)
Sound Devices MixPre Battery Sled for Sony NP-F Style Batteries
NP-1 Style Battery - Higher capacity, often used for powering everything in your sound bag
NP-1 Battery to Hirose Adapter - You'll need this if you use NP-1 batteries
Anton Bauer Digital 90 Battery - I keep this on hand as a backup - its big but can save the day
V-mount IDX 95 Battery (Same as above but with a different mounting mechanism for cameras)
I also created a course on how to get the most from your MixPre recorder:
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Sound Devices MixPre-10T: Initial Impressions
Links to gear below. If you found this review helpful and are planning to buy one of these lights, please use one of our links below which will help fund our ongoing efforts to make high quality filmmaking gear reviews.
Sound Devices added some nice options to the prosumer audio recorder market earlier this year with the introduction of their MixPre-3 and MixPre-6. And now, they’ve added the MixPre-10T which takes the MixPre line legitimately into the professional recorder realm for $1800 USD. I pre-ordered and the 10T arrived yesterday. Let’s take an initial look with a full review to follow in a few weeks when I’ve had more time to work with it.
Links to gear discussed and used to record this session:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Voice Technologies VT Duplex Headset Microphone
RODE Reporter Handheld Dynamic Microphone
Sennheiser MKH 8050 Supercardioid Boom Microphone
Adapter Cable for Mini XLR outputs (TA3F to XLRM)
AC to Hirose Adapter (useful if you plan to use the 10T as an audio interface)
Sound Devices MixPre Battery Sled for Sony NP-F Style Batteries
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Sound Devices: Should I Get the MixPre-10T, 633, 664, or 688?
This is a question some people will ask themselves. And it is a fair question. Gotham Sound was kind enough to put together a nice comparison table to help answer that. Can't wait to get my hands on the MixPre-10T for review.
Sound Devices Announces the MixPre-10T
Wow, I wasn't expecting this, especially this soon after the release of the MixPre-3 and 6!
Sound Devices' new MixPre-10T is very interesting from a few different standpoints. First, the 10T adds several features usually required by pros to the MixPre line including an in-built timecode generator, redundant storage, and a locking hirose power input. Of course there are more inputs - 8 XLR/TRS mic/line and another 3.5mm stereo unbalanced input. Oh, and balanced XLR outputs (on mini-TA3). Those were the main concerns I had about using the MixPre-6 for professional location gigs but it looks like they just addressed them all.
The second and perhaps more interesting thing is that with these additional features, the MixPre-10T potentially cannibalizes some of their 6xx series sales. This is a $1,800 recorder/mixer. The 633 sells for $3300, almost double the price.
It takes a bold company to make a decision like this and from my perspective, they're doing something good for their potential customers. Now I'm still not suggesting that the 10T completely replaces the 633 entirely. Maybe it does for many workflows, but I definitely plan to hold on to mine. Nevertheless, I'm really impressed that they are forward looking enough to move this direction.
Now I've got to figure out how to get my hands on one for review!
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Field Recorder Review
Sound Devices has disrupted the sound recording game for enthusiast and semi-pro filmmakers with their new MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 recorders. I pre-ordered the MixPre-6 and have been working with it for about 5 weeks now. This is my in-depth review after having used it on several jobs and projects.
The MixPre-6 or MixPre-3 are also potentially a very good fit for mobile musicians, podcasters, YouTube creators and videographers. Simple workflow if you want that, But many of the advanced features if you prefer that as well.
Supported Cameras (for HDMI timecode and start/stop triggering)
Powering Options for the MixPre-3 and MixPre-6
Approved Media Cards (this list is actually for the 6xx series mixers/recorders, but I've had good luck with the SD cards listed here) I use this SD card.
Links to Gear Discussed and Used to Record This Session:
Anker USB Power Bank with USB-C Output (recommended)
Sound Devices 633 Pro-level Audio Recorder
DPA 4017B Shotgun Microphone - All of the audio in this episode was recorded with this microphone
Sound devices 8 AA Battery Sled
Sound Devices NP-F Battery Sled (to use Sony L-mount batteries)
Panasonic GH5 Camera
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Sound Devices MixPre Sound Samples Comparison (MixPre, 633, Zoom F8)
In this episode, we have three sound samples to give you a sense for how the Sound Devices MixPre-6, Zoom F8, and Sound Devices 633 differ. The difference is not big in terms of timbre or self-noise. Have a listen!
If you’d like to listen to the original WAV audio files from the recorders, you can do that here.
Gear used to record this episode:
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder & Mixer
Zoom F8 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder/Mixer
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone (my pro-level outdoor mic)
Sound Devices MixPre-3 The "Little Brother" of the MixPre-6
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Sound for Video Session: Set Up Sound Devices MixPre-3 & MixPre-6
In this week's Sound for Video Session we walk through set up of the Sound Devices MixPre-6 (99% of this also applies also to the MixPre-3).
For details on powering your MixPre-3 or 6, please see the tech notes over at Sound Devices:
Links to Gear Discussed and Used to Record This Session:
Sound Devices MixPre-6 - my new favorite sub $1000 audio recorder/mixer.
Sound Devices MixPre-3 - even smaller with 3 XLR inputs
Sound Devices 633 - my pro level recorder/mixer used to record my voice for this session
Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone (this is the mic I used for this session)
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer: Initial Impressions
The Sound Devices MixPre-6 (and MixPre-3) are the newest recorder/mixer series from Sound Devices. These are targeted at enthusiast filmmakers, Vloggers, podcasters, mobile musicians, and even as backup recorders for professional sound mixers.
In this episode I share my initial impressions after having the MixPre-6 for about 48 hours and having used it for a voice-over job.
If I had to sum it all up: Amazing value, great preamps with analogue limiters and low-cut filters, good ergonomics, tough build quality. Does not replace pro-level recorders but a great feature set for the price and a good option for enthusiast filmmakers, video makers, mobile musicians, and podcasters.
Gear used to record this episode (or mentioned):
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder & Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder & Mixer
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone (my pro-level outdoor mic)
Audio Technica AT4053b Microphone (my pro-level indoor mic)
RODE NTG2 Shotgun Microphone (good prosumer outdoor mic)
ElectroVoice RE50L Dynamic Reporter’s Microphone
Panasonic GH5 Camera
Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm f/2.8 Lens (1st Generation)
Lifecharge USB Battery (for powering the MixPre-6)
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Sound Devices MixPre-3 and MixPre-6: Overview at NAB 2017
Sound Devices just announced a new set of audio recorders/mixers called the MixPre series. In this episode, we stopped by the Sound Devices booth at the 2017 NAB show where Paul Isaacs gave us an overview of the new mixers for filmmaking enthusiasts, podcasters, musicians, and even production mixers.
It was an honor to have Paul run through the features and capabilities of the MixPre as he is the lead designer for Sound Devices.
We have a MixPre pre-order in so that we can review them in the next few weeks. Can't wait to get my hands on them!
Gear used to film this interview:
SoundDevices MixPre-3 Audio Mixer/Recorder
SoundDevices MixPre-6 Audio Mixer/Recorder
Panasonic Lumix GH5 Camera
Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm f/2.8 Lens
RODE Reporter Microphone
RODE iXLR Audio Adapter for iPhone
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