Sound Devices Premix. at DVinfo.net

Allan Black · April 12th, 2008, 10:36 PM

Just about to spring for an SD Pre-mix at BnH. Selected for its sound, and features of course. Sounds way better than the Beachteks to me, don't like them at all.

Premix has been out for some time, any chance SD will announce an upgrade or new mixer at NAB anyone think?
Cheers.

Mark Viducich · April 12th, 2008, 11:09 PM

look at juicedlink.com at their mixer which for the money i found better than the mixpre which i had also owned if you really want a quality mixer from sound devices move up to the 302

Allan Black · April 12th, 2008, 11:30 PM

Hi, spent yonks on this and yep checked out the Juicedlink range but they only have a minijack out and without a limiter. His demos sounded good tho.

I shoot aircraft shows with a huge dynamic rage. Sometimes it's an educated guess how big the piston engines are going to get, hence the limiters, going to a Canon A1.

Also need balanced outputs as our Super Connie has 144 spark plugs and 1960 wiring.
Cheers.

Steve House · April 13th, 2008, 06:13 AM

WOO HOO - envy your association with the Connie! I saw documentary a few years ago about the headaches encountered prepping a Connie and getting its clearance for the ferry flight from San Francisco down to Oz. Same plane? Was originally built for the TWA fleet as I recall. I used to work for Trans World, starting with them in '68, the year after the last Connie was retired from regular passenger service, though we still had a few in freight and charter operations. Their retirement was a recent enough event that we were still answering the reservations phone with the slogan "TWA, the All-Jet Airline" when I first started. Until the advent of the 707, the Connie set the bar as to what a long-haul passenger airliner was all about.

As for SD introducing new mixers at NAB, haven't heard any rumors. The other day they announced a new 8-channel recorder that looks very interesting. Even if new mixers are released, their present line should hold its value, these guys seem to be able to make gear that doesn't depreciate. If you can swing it in the budget, though, I'd echo Mark's advice to move up to the 302. More versatile, better metering, make it worth the slight extra cost.

Allan Black · April 13th, 2008, 07:03 AM

Hi, yes it's the same plane only 2 flying now, the others in Europe. Ours was a US Navy plane out of the Davis Monthan boneyard, it has the strengthened floor. Took our techs 3 years to rebuild her.

We fly her to airshows around the country, the second stage blowers are disabled so we tootle along at around 8-10,000 feet. Fitted with 40x767 first class seats she's like riding around the skies in a big 'ole Cadillac. Draws big crowds everywhere.

http://www.hars.com.au/index.html

I thought the Premix cause it's smaller and I could maybe gang 2 together later, but the 302 is like a Cadillac too. Is its metering that much better?
Cheers.

Steve House · April 13th, 2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan Black

Hi, yes it's the same plane only 2 flying now, the others in Europe. Ours was a US Navy plane out of the Davis Monthan boneyard, it has the strengthened floor. Took our techs 3 years to rebuild her.

We fly her to airshows around the country, the second stage blowers are disabled so we tootle along at around 8-10,000 feet. Fitted with 40x767 first class seats she's like riding around the skies in a big 'ole Cadillac. Draws big crowds everywhere.

http://www.hars.com.au/index.html

I thought the Premix cause it's smaller and I could maybe gang 2 together later, but the 302 is like a Cadillac too. Is its metering that much better?
Cheers.

The MixPre has 2x7 LED segment peak reading metering while the 302 has 2x20 LED segment meters with user-selectable ballistics. You have much more accurate monitoring with the larger meter with its finer graduations. The 302 also has a full-scale tone option to make it easier to align to your camera/recorder meters and set the levels so the mixer's limiters to kick in just under the camera's clip point.

Andrew Dean · April 14th, 2008, 08:07 AM

Whats a full scale tone? My mix-pre will send a tone to the camera to setup to... is there something less than full scale about my tone?

thanks,
-a

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve House

The MixPre has 2x7 LED segment peak reading metering while the 302 has 2x20 LED segment meters with user-selectable ballistics. You have much more accurate monitoring with the larger meter with its finer graduations. The 302 also has a full-scale tone option to make it easier to align to your camera/recorder meters and set the levels so the mixer's limiters to kick in just under the camera's clip point.

Steve House · April 14th, 2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Dean

Whats a full scale tone? My mix-pre will send a tone to the camera to setup to... is there something less than full scale about my tone?

thanks,
-a

The standard setting for tone is for it to be sent at a 0dBu level, usually corresponding to -20dBFS on the camera meter. The 302's 'full scalle' option lets you send tone at the level the mixer's limiters kick in, much louder than the normal tone. You'd adjust this with the camera's recording level control to sit just below full scale on the meter, giving you the maximum recording level without danger of running out of room and clipping. For details, here's the online manual - http://sounddevices.com/download/guides/302_en.pdf - take a look at page 21.

April 12th, 2008, 10:36 PM	#1
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	Sound Devices Premix. Just about to spring for an SD Pre-mix at BnH. Selected for its sound, and features of course. Sounds way better than the Beachteks to me, don't like them at all. Premix has been out for some time, any chance SD will announce an upgrade or new mixer at NAB anyone think? Cheers.

April 12th, 2008, 11:09 PM	#2
Mark Viducich Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pleasant Grove, CA Posts: 86	mixpre look at juicedlink.com at their mixer which for the money i found better than the mixpre which i had also owned if you really want a quality mixer from sound devices move up to the 302

April 13th, 2008, 06:13 AM	#4
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	WOO HOO - envy your association with the Connie! I saw documentary a few years ago about the headaches encountered prepping a Connie and getting its clearance for the ferry flight from San Francisco down to Oz. Same plane? Was originally built for the TWA fleet as I recall. I used to work for Trans World, starting with them in '68, the year after the last Connie was retired from regular passenger service, though we still had a few in freight and charter operations. Their retirement was a recent enough event that we were still answering the reservations phone with the slogan "TWA, the All-Jet Airline" when I first started. Until the advent of the 707, the Connie set the bar as to what a long-haul passenger airliner was all about. As for SD introducing new mixers at NAB, haven't heard any rumors. The other day they announced a new 8-channel recorder that looks very interesting. Even if new mixers are released, their present line should hold its value, these guys seem to be able to make gear that doesn't depreciate. If you can swing it in the budget, though, I'd echo Mark's advice to move up to the 302. More versatile, better metering, make it worth the slight extra cost. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

April 12th, 2008, 11:30 PM	#3
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	Hi, spent yonks on this and yep checked out the Juicedlink range but they only have a minijack out and without a limiter. His demos sounded good tho. I shoot aircraft shows with a huge dynamic rage. Sometimes it's an educated guess how big the piston engines are going to get, hence the limiters, going to a Canon A1. Also need balanced outputs as our Super Connie has 144 spark plugs and 1960 wiring. Cheers.

April 13th, 2008, 07:03 AM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	Hi, yes it's the same plane only 2 flying now, the others in Europe. Ours was a US Navy plane out of the Davis Monthan boneyard, it has the strengthened floor. Took our techs 3 years to rebuild her. We fly her to airshows around the country, the second stage blowers are disabled so we tootle along at around 8-10,000 feet. Fitted with 40x767 first class seats she's like riding around the skies in a big 'ole Cadillac. Draws big crowds everywhere. http://www.hars.com.au/index.html I thought the Premix cause it's smaller and I could maybe gang 2 together later, but the 302 is like a Cadillac too. Is its metering that much better? Cheers.