Sound Devices expand MixPre M-Series with 3M and 6M models

by **Darren Lynch** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 9:12 am

Dear SoS - If I post you my credit card, will you promise not to give it back for at least 6 months...no matter how much I plead and beg. Mr Robjohns - they really are that good, aren't they?

by **Bob Bickerton** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 11:25 am

They really are that good.........

I’ve had the Mixpre-10m for less than a month and have already recorded 8 concerts with it. The quality is astonishing and workflow easy. Preamps are great and of particular note is the quality of the headphone amp. I used to have to use a nice external headphone amp with the Zoom F8 - no longer necessary.

You know you want one...... don’t you.......... :thumbup:

Bob

by **Darren Lynch** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 12:05 pm

I ask if they are "good", Bob says they are "astonishing". Oh how that has dampened my GAS. You're not being very helpful, Bob :oops:

by **garrettendi** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 12:48 pm

I don't think you can expect anybody on here to dampen GAS!

by **Hugh Robjohns** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:36 pm

Yes Darren... if you send me your credit card I promise not to return it to you for six months. :-)

I'll need your PIN as well of course, just so I can stop the card becoming rusty through lack of use...

Yes, the MixPreX-M models really are very attractive indeed -- and I have a full review of the 10M in the next issue of SOS out later this month.

The only thing that slightly puts me off the 10M is its lack of word-clock connectivity, which means it can't be used as part of a larger digital system... but that really is being a bit picky given what its designed to do and its retail price.

As a standalone digital multi-tracker of the portastudio ethos, it is superbly designed, and its quality is just outstanding in every way. I've not laid hands on the 3M and 6M models yet, but they are basically the same apart from the reduced preamp count -- they still manage full 12-track multitrack recording so are ideal for the home musician wanting to build up recordings away from the computer.

H

by **Darren Lynch** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:45 pm

garrettendi wrote:I don't think you can expect anybody on here to dampen GAS!

But don't most of use tell GAS'ing prospective microphone buyers and everyone else to save their money because gear choice will not meaningfully affect the music made and sales achieved? I know we've told you on a couple of occassions

Material-Arrangement-Performance-Recording Space-Mic Placement-Mic Selection (Insert GAS-inspired forum question here)-Mix Balance-Mix Treatment is our credo. Still, your praise for the Senn 835 caused me to buy one. I love it.

by **Darren Lynch** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:46 pm

Hugh Robjohns wrote:Yes, the MixPreX-M models really are very attractive indeed -- and I have a full review of the 10M in the next issue of SOS out later this month.

by **garrettendi** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:03 pm

Darren Lynch wrote:But don't most of use tell GAS'ing prospective microphone buyers and everyone else to save their money because gear choice will not meaningfully affect the music made and sales achieved? I know we've told you on a couple of occassions Material-Arrangement-Performance-Recording Space-Mic Placement-Mic Selection (Insert GAS-inspired forum question here)-Mix Balance-Mix Treatment is our credo.

Ah yes good point, I have often been warned away from wasting money!

Darren Lynch wrote:Still, your praise for the Senn 835 caused me to buy one. I love it.

Glad you love it. It's amazing!

by **blinddrew** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:50 pm

Darren Lynch wrote:But don't most of use tell GAS'ing prospective microphone buyers and everyone else to save their money because gear choice will not meaningfully affect the music made and sales achieved? I know we've told you on a couple of occassions Material-Arrangement-Performance-Recording Space-Mic Placement-Mic Selection (Insert GAS-inspired forum question here)-Mix Balance-Mix Treatment is our credo.

I believe the appropriate maxim at this point is, "Do as I say, not as I do."

by **Darren Lynch** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:14 pm

blinddrew wrote:I believe the appropriate maxim at this point is, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Certainly I have a *few* more bits of gear than I need. I won't even start on the guitars. I consider it my duty to inform the young people that the acquisition of stuff won't make them more productive. Except of course those new Sound Devices multitrackers. They are about to revive the whole 'If Sgt Pepper was made on four-track...' argument. And they have 12 tracks. That's eight more. Count 'em.

by **blinddrew** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 4:19 pm

Darren Lynch wrote:And they have 12 tracks. That's eight more. Count 'em.

But do they go up to 11? :mrgreen:

by **Paul Isaacs** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 5:02 pm

blinddrew wrote:
Darren Lynch wrote:And they have 12 tracks. That's eight more. Count 'em.
But do they go up to 11?

11+ 1 = 12 !!

by **Bob Bickerton** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 5:32 pm

And just to balance things up..........

Would I use one as as a stand-alone device for multitrack/multitake/multipass recording as per the old portastudios? Absolutely not!

The workflow would be Jurassic as compared to using any DAW.

There, that’s just saved you lots of money, your credit card will be feeling better already......

Bob

by **Hugh Robjohns** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 6:05 pm

Bob Bickerton wrote:Would I use one as as a stand-alone device for multitrack/multitake/multipass recording as per the old portastudios? Absolutely not!

I would -- and did! :-)

Horses for courses, obviously, but for small to medium-sized projects and scratch-pad recordings I found it a very appealing tool. There are some significant benefits of not using a DAW. It's much quicker to get up and running, much simpler and more direct to use, much less distracting, etc etc... And you can record anywhere the muse strikes you. I genuinely found myself thinking much more about the music and my performances than about the technology -- and that's got to be a good thing, surely?

[quote]The workflow would be Jurassic as compared to using any DAW.[/quote

Of course, and I'd prefer to mix in the DAW, too... but it's perfectly possible to mix in the MixPre if necessary, to at least a very good demo standard. Handy if you want to listen to a rough mix on the way home... ;-)

H

by **Bob Bickerton** » Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:20 pm

Maybe my criticism was unjustified because it’s to do with what workflow best suits the project at hand, which of course is personal choice. In a sense the MixPre gives you all options; to be a straight tracking recorder, to use as a portastudio, or to be an audio interface.

I personally would find the portastudio workflow far more distracting to creative output than using a DAW. But that’s just me

Bob

by **Darren Lynch** » Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:55 am

I'll tone it down for moment - The mixpre m series is interesting because of where it places the portastudio concept in relation to the ubiquitous DAW. Current models from Zoom and Tascam have thrown in the towel where audio quality - and even MIDI - are concerned and are definitely the second-rate option only to be considered where total portability or a non-computer workflow are desired. Most comments from Tascam DP24 users usually start with 'I can't be ar**d with all that computer nonsense and I'll take the lo-fi hit'.

I mostly work with Logic, but whenever I get out my creaking Tascam DP02 (16-bit and sounds like it), a certain swagger creeps into my recordings, which sound inferior to my Duet/iMac rig, but have a more urgent feel.

The mixpre m's look like they'll match a DAW in terms of sound quality - likely they will exceed many a budget DAW set up. I would expect people who record a lot of real instruments and mix them as such, especially jazzers and folkies, to be intrigued by what this unexpected reassertion of the portable multitracker has to offer.

Now, where was I? Hugh says it's more fun than a DAW and sounds just as good! Sweet Lord take me now! :beamup:

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Sound Devices expand MixPre M-Series with 3M and 6M models