New Sound Devices MixPre-D vs. Original MixPre and 302...

[David Draper]

Just found out about the new Sound Devices MixPre-D.

MixPre-D Compact Field Mixer | Sound Devices, LLC

Apart from better audio monitoring meters, and a USB port, what are the differences between the original MixPre and the new "D"?

Also, probably a bit of a pointless question, but what's the likelihood of a 302-D in the near future?

I had almost made my mind up on getting a 302, but now, am not too sure.

DD.

[Galen Rath]

Mic output in addition to line output. The bracket, although expensive, is suppose to be a better way to be able to mount this thing to a camera setup. Think I saw that the bracket may work on the old unit too, but I don't know.

[David Sholle]

There are fact sheets online at the Sound Devices website for each of the items:

http://www.sounddevices.com/download...re-d-facts.pdf

http://www.sounddevices.com/download/lit/mixpre_lit.pdf

http://www.sounddevices.com/download...-factsheet.pdf

The fact sheets have a summary of the features and specifications of each device.

Also, the user guides for all three devices are online:

http://www.sounddevices.com/download...ixpre-d_en.pdf

http://www.sounddevices.com/download.../mixpre_en.pdf

http://www.sounddevices.com/download/guides/302_en.pdf

The user guides give more information on other features, such as setup features on the MixPre-D and the 302. Carefully reading the guides gives a great idea of the actual differences between these three devices.

The MixPre-D appears to me to be a worthwhile step up from the MixPre, with numerous features, including digital output, better metering, other analog outputs that might be useful for DSLRs and consumer camcorders, and an AES digital output as well as USB. The 302 of course doesn't have digital output, but it has three inputs, gain (trim) and fader on each input, and numerous setup features (much more than the MixPre-D has, and the MixPre has none). The MixPre has no digital outputs also.

I have a 302 and it is a great field mixer, but I'll probably sell the 302 and get the MixPre-D, as it fits my needs, and I need USB input for my laptop. On the other hand, if I made my living doing audio professionally (I do not), I would keep the 302, as the three inputs, the gain and faders and the numerous setup features would come in handy in some situations.

The MixPre-D should be shipping in several weeks.

[Kirk Candlish]

The likelihood of a 302 with A/D converters and USB ?

I'm not sure they could pack more in the 302 and it's market is different.

I've used a 302 for years and I wouldn't want to trade the greater range of the meters, the ability to set their brightness and the much greater control over mic gain.

A 302 feeding a PIX 220/240 is the way I'll be shooting once the PIX recorder ship.

[David Sholle]

Originally Posted by Kirk Candlish

I've used a 302 for years and I wouldn't want to trade the greater range of the meters, the ability to set their brightness and the much greater control over mic gain.

A 302 feeding a PIX 220/240 is the way I'll be shooting once the PIX recorder ship.

Actually the MixPre-D has better meters with more resolution than the MixPre, and they appear to be similar to those on the 302, so that is an improvement. Also, the MixPre-D has a setup that allows you to change the brightness of the LEDs, so the 302 is not "better" than the MixPre-D in that sense. Look at the MixPre-D user guide online - it has numerous features not on the MixPre.

The 302 has the gain (trim) and fader controls on each input, while the MixPre-D just has the fader on each input.

The PIX 220/240 look very nice.

[Kirk Candlish]

David I apparently didn't make myself clear. Let me try again.

The MixPre-D has 16 segment meters.

The 302 has 40 segment meters.

MixPre-D meter brightness is adjustable at setup.

302 meter brightness is adjustable on the fly.

Invaluable when you walk from shade into full sun or from direct window light into a fill lit location on set.

Here's a quote from SD rep on another forum:

"The main thing you're losing when going from the MixPre-D to the 302 is the dual gain staging that you mentioned and (of course) an additional input. You can essentially think of the MixPre-D's input gain structure to be the same the 302 if the faders were locked at 0 dB. The dual gain stage is convenient because it allows you to set a level and then make slight adjustments with the fader. You can also turn the fader all the way down without adjusting the trim to effectively mute an input and then bring the fader back up to unmute it in a way that allows you to more easily return to your previously set gain value. "

[David Sholle]

On the fact sheets, it lists the 302 as having 40 segment meters, and the MixPre-D as having 16 segment meters. But, looking at my 302, it is clear that the 302 has 20 segment meters. It would appear that Sound Devices has made a mistake in their literature here. The 302 has 20 segment meters for each of its two outputs, for a total of 40 segments. You can't compare those total 40 segments with one channel's 16 segments on the MixPre-D, since the 16 refers to segments on one output of the MixPre-D, but there are separate segments for both outputs on the MixPre-D, for a total of 32 segments. Look at the front face photos of both devices to verify this. Yes, the 302 has better metering than the MixPre-D, but it is a 20 to 16 or 40 to 32 comparison, not the 40 to 16 comparison that you have stated. In any case, both the MixPre-D and the 302 have much better metering than the MixPre, which has 7 (or 14) segment metering.

If you read the manual for the MixPre-D, you will see that the meter brightness can be adjusted not just at setup but during use.

To me, the ideal device would add A-D conversion with USB and multiple outputs (including digital) to the 302, giving all of the features of the MixPre-D with the dual gain structure and other features of the 302, at of course a substantially higher cost than the MixPre-D. As I stated in an earlier post, if I did field mixing as my career, I would not sell my 302 to obtain the MixPre-D, as the dual gain structure on the 302 is a nice feature, as are the three inputs. But, for my use, the MixPre-D makes more sense, and is a big improvement over the MixPre.

[Chad Johnson]

You can adjust the meter brightness on the fly with the original MixPre. I've never needed it to be brighter than the dimmest setting though.