Has anyone used the ENG-44 field mixer?

It is sold by signvideo
http://www.signvideo.com/fpamxr.htm
I did a web search on it and there seems to be close to nothing on it. Has it just come out?

Wow, never saw this. I would also be very interested in any reviews anyone finds. Seems very cheap...maybe you get what you pay for? It sure does have all the features of the Sound Devices 302...but the sound?

KW

What makes me suspicious of their quality is that here are only two places that sell it. Are other vendors leery of customer returns? So far I have not fond any reviews anywhere to confirm.

Hi All

I don't know about this mixer but I have their XLR Pro that I got from Zotz video in Oregan...

the chap there reckons their gear is way better than Beachtek... I can't comment on that but I am very happy with both the quality and the performance of the XLR Pro adapter...

Maybe send an e-mail to the guy at Zotz he was very helpful when I was looking for kit and seemed knowledgable....

Having looked at the Sign Video site a few times I'd think this must be a fairly new item int their range.. hence maybe why it is not stocked in many places.


Regards

Gareth

It's made by sign video ( i was on the phone with them) and apparently it has just been released which would explain why no one know about it.

Does anyone have experience with the products manufactured by Sign Video? Are they good quality?

http://www.equipmentemporium.com/Articles/usingENG44.htm

I was told that the Mixpre may have better audio, but that for what I need (docs with dialogue) this may be more than enough, plus it appears to be a real mixer, 4 XLR input, one XLR for booom operator and LINE level in and out. Very tempting!! although I'm a bit scared to be one of the first users.

I can understand your hesitation to be the first one on the block to try this. It might be good...we just don't know...

If nothing else, you might want to at least compare the ENG-44 to the low-cost mixers from PSC:

http://www.dvaudio.com

Jay Rose liked their DV ProMix 3 when he reviewed it for DV mag back in May 2004 (when I worked at DV mag, btw). There's a link to the review on this page:

http://www.dv.com/reviews/hardware.jhtml


And you could always keep your eye out for a good used mixer from Sound Devices, Wendt, or someone similar. Just because you're doing docs, don't cheap-out on your mixer. Audio is the least-expensive way to improve the production quality of your project...I know you know this, but we are just talking about a few hundred dollars here...

Best,

Jim "owns two Sound Devices mixer and an older one from PSC" Feeley

I can understand your hesitation to be the first one on the block to try this. It might be good...we just don't know...

If nothing else, you might want to at least compare the ENG-44 to the low-cost mixers from PSC:

http://www.dvaudio.com

Jay Rose liked their DV ProMix 3 when he reviewed it for DV mag back in May 2004 (when I worked at DV mag, btw). There's a link to the review on this page:

http://www.dv.com/reviews/hardware.jhtml


And you could always keep your eye out for a good used mixer from Sound Devices, Wendt, or someone similar. Just because you're doing docs, don't cheap-out on your mixer. Audio is the least-expensive way to improve the production quality of your project...I know you know this, but we are just talking about a few hundred dollars here...

Best,

Jim "owns two Sound Devices mixer and an older one from PSC" Feeley

dont know about what kind of preamp it has but .
no- attenuation on the inputs , so if you have big wave -you are droning :-)
no headphones selector
no external /internal power selector
no pick indicator
no ms
no mic attenuators on xlr outs
sadly to say - find used wendt

One of these 302's is for sale on e-bay right now.

I have second hand information about the ENG-44. A sound mixer friend of mine used one recently on a very low budget indie feature, and she did not have very complimentary things to say about it. Her main complaint was that she found the pre-amps to be very noisy, which really limited the amount of gain she could get out of the mixer. In addition, there are a host of what she termed "annoyances" such as a meter dimmer that only had two positions: bright and dim, left-right pan switches instead of pots, single frequency low-cut filters, no way to solo single channels, etc.

Your requirements and expectations may be different.

Does anyone have experience with the products manufactured by Sign Video? Are they good quality?

I bought an 8x8 S-Video router from them for an installation I did a few years back. It has performed well, no problems. However, a mixer is a more sophisticated piece of equipment. So I might have some hesitation there. Noisy preamps can reduce audio quality very quickly. I've bought stuff from Equipment Emporium before and have found their advice helpful. Why not call them and see what they say about it.

OK. I reviewed it for TV Technology months ago. The preamps were not noisey. Either she had a bum one or was using mics with incredibly low output. I specifically had tthem cranked all the way up and they were fine.

It doesn't have a peak flasher, but it found using the limiter threshold light worked pretty well.

It has balanced mic/line outputs.

It's lightweight.

It's really inexpensive.

I own a Sound Devices 442. The ENG-44 is no 442, but for its price, what $579 or something like that, it does a really nice job. They sell it direct to keep the price down. I'd use one to wade into the surf rather than take my 442.

If you can't afford a 442, get a 302.

Regards,

Ty For

if you can avoid that one - avoid it :-)

can you expand?

Ty was pretty happy for it's price point, how would you rate this versus say a beachtek?

Thanks

Adam

there are few things missing on that one

good preamps
sealed potensiometers - ( humidity)

good monitor section
preamp attenuation
to hi low cut fq point
pick metering .
no overload indication on inputs
input limitters
the output limiters alwais on !!!!!
12 v phantom power
no ms decoding .
the phantom appears on line inputs ( good only for recording gunshots - may fire unbalance outs )

price point crap - was made for videots - not really for sound people .

about how does it compare to beach teck - it doesnt as it 2 different minded devices .

Jesus, Oleg. Who peed in your Wheaties?

What do you want for $529.

You Said:
dont know about what kind of preamp it has but .
no- attenuation on the inputs , so if you have big wave -you are droning :-)
-so what

no headphones selector
-There is a headphone selector for input or return

no external /internal power selector
-there is an external power selector on the one I have for 9-18 VDC and power source lights on the front panel. 2.1 x 5.5mm coaxial power plug; center positive; input protected against reversed polarity.

no pick indicator:
-Right. As I said before. I used the limiter threshold light.

no ms:
-what a shock! No M/S on a $529 mixer?

no mic attenuators on xlr outs:
-Not on the first model but they changed that last year. I don't see it on the current web page, but if it's a deal-breaker, contact Sign Video at 1-888-373-8910, or at Signvideo.com.

You Said: there are few things missing on that one

good preamps
sealed potensiometers - ( humidity)
-Time will tell

good monitor section:
- What's Good?

preamp attenuation
- So what?

to hi low cut fq point
-They changed that last year to 100 Hz, -6db/octave roll off

pick metering .
-already covered

no overload indication on inputs
input limitters
-At that price?

the output limiters alwais on !!!!!
-not a bad sounding limiter when not abused, no problem.

12 v phantom power
48V, ran my Schoeps CMC641. +48VDC "48PH", individually switchable,
14mA maximum (total of all microphones)

no ms decoding .
-At that price?

the phantom appears on line inputs ( good only for recording gunshots - may fire unbalance outs )
-Phantom can be turned on/off independently per channel.

Trying to keep it real.

Ty Ford

didn't get what exactly you said but ;-)

this peace of garbage not worth the 590us$

what did they changed or not doesnt change anything to call that one is total crap
i guess that the changes where made after i revued it a year ago , what doesnt really make it better peace of junk .

what is good monitoring - i guess at least individual left right ;-)


as i stated - stay away - buy used wendt

Calling something garbage is your choice. Although I disagree with your approach. Giving out wrong information is just wrong.

Ty Ford

------What do you want for $529.

i want my money back :-)

----dont know about what kind of preamp it has but .
ouful

---
----no- attenuation on the inputs , so if you have big wave -you are droning :-)
-so what
nothing , as i dont have to hire you making my audio :-)



------ no headphones selector
-There is a headphone selector for input or return

and that make my life easier to check rigt left , mono capability ( phase check)
ms capability
pfl listening
forget it - i guess you dont need it as you a feel it ty without actually hear it :-)

--------no external /internal power selector
-there is an external power selector on the one I have for 9-18 VDC and power source lights on the front panel. 2.1 x 5.5mm coaxial power plug; center positive; input protected against reversed polarity.

good to know they did changed it - maybe after read my revue
what abitch it was to rise the mixer and disconnect the plug to get internal batteries to work


---------no pick indicator:
-Right. As I said before. I used the limiter threshold light.

thats why is so bad - i dont want my limiters would work , i like to go down before - hello ty - are flying with me

----------no ms:
-what a shock! No M/S on a $529 mixer?
why not - who said i have talking about the price - italked about it doesnt have one - price point is nothing for me only if it has one or not


--------no mic attenuators on xlr outs:
-Not on the first model but they changed that last year. I don't see it on the current web page, but if it's a deal-breaker, contact Sign Video at 1-888-373-8910, or at Signvideo.com.

good to know - as i stated they do read what other say

You Said: there are few things missing on that one

-----------good preamps
sealed potensiometers - ( humidity)
-Time will tell

i dont want it would tell in the midle of the action

---------good monitor section:
- What's Good?
do you know to reed , look up


------------preamp attenuation
- So what?

yep - so what your preamp distort with large signal
Ty - did you try it with shoutings - i doubt


---------to hi low cut fq point
-They changed that last year to 100 Hz, -6db/octave roll off

good fopr them , they do read

--------pick metering .
-already covered
yes , you dont need one


------no overload indication on inputs
input limitters
-At that price?
who is talking about price - iam talking about product

----------the output limiters alwais on !!!!!
-not a bad sounding limiter when not abused, no problem.

sorry who hire you to work to bring compressed sound ?
i open limmiters only for unexpected and it really ones in amonth



12 v phantom power
48V, ran my Schoeps CMC641. +48VDC "48PH", individually switchable,
14mA maximum (total of all microphones)

sorry ty - why the f.. someone have to waist twice the power work with 48 instaed 12 - only you i guess .you have batteries for free ?

----no ms decoding .
-At that price?

again price - product TY , NOT PRICE , good price bad product

--------the phantom appears on line inputs ( good only for recording gunshots - may fire unbalance outs )
-Phantom can be turned on/off independently per channel.
it doesnt go down when you switch to mic if you dont turn it
may be very problematic for other equip if you forget

Trying to keep it real.

Ty Ford


Try not hassle people with your revues even they are looking for a price point .

Thanks fior helping me make my point.

Ty Ford

Thanks fior helping me make my point.

Ty Ford
continue your good work Ty
it alwais fun to read your revues :-)

"What do you want for $529" *is* the question.

In my opinion the ENG-44 is far from "garbage". It is a $529 mixer that compares well to other low-cost mixers, and I don't expect the features available on a full-pro mixer. Comparisons to gear that starts at five times the price are not very helpful except to clarify what markets in which the mixer is useful.

I'm a big fan of sound devices gear, for example. But for those who have a more limited budget and are not full-dayrate production sound professionals, the ENG-44 is a reasonable choice indeed.

BTW, the output limiter threshold is internally adjustable, see post number 14 in this thread. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=73051

seth , iam not in the price comparing
so that one still peace of garbage for me
and these who dont have the budget for something better , there allot of used gear which with 10 -15 years old desighn sounds and acts much better .

I have an ENG-44 having previously used the SD 302, and whilst it is not as good, it's less than half the price! For a dedicated sound person, the features on the 302 probably make sense, but for the average camera person that needs a small mixer, the ENG-44 is great.

Haven't noticed that the pre-amps are noisy, and the limiter seems to work well. Interestingly Oleg, the 302 only has pan switches rather than pots like the ENG-44...

Final comment - the ENG-44 works for me!

Hope this helps

I Haven't noticed that the pre-amps are noisy, and the limiter seems to work well. Interestingly Oleg, the 302 only has pan switches rather than pots like the ENG-44...

Final comment - the ENG-44 works for me!

Hope this helps

i use public toilet also from time to time , it also work for me :-)