Blackmagic Forum

Sound Devices has sent customers an invitation to a MixPre livestream event that it says will include "some exciting MixPre news." No details.

October 16, 2023
11:00 a.m. CDT

I think I’ll attend that presentation assuming it’s 9 am PDT.

Sounds exciting. Fingers crossed something great!


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So a software update or are they moving into the more compact 32-bit float recorder world to address Zooms position?
Perhaps a two channel MixPre Nano?

Looked at some post and as the multi channel recording system devs Fourier Audio have been acquired - i would guess it's about support of their control or recording protocol in the mixpre series.

Waiting on their website. Signed up. After 11 am CDT but nothing. Called Support. Apparently there was a screwup on mailing out the instructions but a help desk told me to use YouTube. 17 minutes late and it’s talking about various uses of the USB interfaces on the MixPre. Hmm is this going to be a waste of time?

And the big news is… drumroll… there’s going to be some important announcements coming soon regarding the MixPre II and announcements regarding plugins.

Yep, waste of time.

Fourieraudio's product release was about running VST plugins on live productions.
Wonder if this might be related to SD's upcoming announcement too.

I was disappointed about the announcement regarding an announcement issue. I wonder if they thought something would be ready and it wasn't yet so they just punted.

jallen0 wrote:I was disappointed about the announcement regarding an announcement issue. I wonder if they thought something would be ready and it wasn't yet so they just punted.

That hadn't occurred to me. It's possible.

I think that the session was very helpful for a lot of people. Unlike other audio interfaces, a MixPre treats a computer or iPad as just another audio source. The scenario that was discussed - recording one's computer audio such as on a Zoom call or live stream - doesn't require one to set up a loopback.

For other interfaces, loopback requires external software from the interface manufacturer or third party software such as Existential Audio's BlackHole (US$10, https://existential.audio/blackhole/) or Rogue Amoeba's Loopback ($100, https://rogueamoeba.com/loopback/).

I think that a lot of MixPre owners don't understand this, nor that it's possible to record the computer audio both to one's computer and MixPre at the same time.

I agree with your thoughts. I think all of that, and more, are a great topic for discussions and youtube videos for Sound Devices to put out on a semi-regular basis. Just not an "announcement".

We'll see what happens in the next month or so.

jallen0 wrote:I was disappointed about the announcement regarding an announcement issue. I wonder if they thought something would be ready and it wasn't yet so they just punted.

Definitely not being transparent about that likely scenario. Yes, there was value in the presentation, but embarrassing that their web presentation was an announcement of a future announcement without any timeframe.

rick.lang wrote:

jallen0 wrote:I was disappointed about the announcement regarding an announcement issue. I wonder if they thought something would be ready and it wasn't yet so they just punted.

Definitely not being transparent about that likely scenario. Yes, there was value in the presentation, but embarrassing that their web presentation was an announcement of a future announcement without any timeframe.

This morning, the woman who gave the presentation told me that Sound Devices can supply me with a part for a 702T, discontinued several years ago, that I figured they probably couldn't. She responded to my e-mail query within about 10 minutes of me sending it. The part will be shipped today. I've dealt with her before. She's wonderful. I'm a fan

This just showed up in my inbox:

New MixPre v9.00 Firmware Includes New Product Features and Plugins

MixPre v9.00 firmware is now available for download from the Sound Devices website. It includes an array of new features and capabilities, including:

Two-instance NoiseAssist plugin available for the MixPre II Series in the online store. 

New +2 Channel Plugin for the MixPre-3 I and II that expands them from a 3-channel/5-track recorder into a 5-channel/7-track recorder by adding mixable and recordable channels 4 and 5.  

The ability to have both timecode and audio output on the Stereo Out 3.5mm connector on MixPre-3 II and MixPre-6 II.

A full slate mic routing matrix added to the MixPre-10 II. 

And much more!

jallen0 wrote:This just showed up in my inbox:

Ha! Mostly not free, but very useful for some people.

Like I said, I'm a fan

The MixPre 3 II & 6 II firmware notice

New

• Support for 2-instance NoiseAssist plugin for the MixPre-Series II. The new 2-instance plugin is available from the Sound Devices Online Store.
• Support for +2ch plugin for the MixPre-3 (Series I and II). Turns the MixPre-3 from a 3-channel/5-track into a 5-channel/7-track recorder by adding mixable and recordable channels 4 and 5. The +2ch plugin is available from the Sound Devices Online Store.
• Added the ability to have both timecode and audio output on the Stereo Out 3.5mm connector (MixPre-3 II, MixPre-6 II only)
• Added a full slate mic routing matrix to the MixPre-10.
• Added Headphone + Ch1 knob and Headphone + Ch2 knob shortcuts to allow quick access to the extra channel settings (Ch 5&6 on MixPre-6, Ch 9&10 on MixPre-10, Ch 4&5 on MixPre-3 with +2ch plugin installed)
• Added adjustable virtual faders for channels 5,6 (MixPre-6), channels 9,10 (MixPre-10, and channels 4,5 (MixPre-3 with optional +2ch plugin).
• Extra channels can now be sourced from any Aux or USB input.

Fixed

• Aux input gains changing after playback or a power cycle, no longer occur.
• With a controller connected, a channel no longer shows Low Cut as '200Hz' when set to 160 Hz.

And new manual:
https://cdn.sounddevices.com/wp-content ... -v9.00.pdf


Expand the channel count of your MixPre-3 I or MixPre-3 II mixer-recorder with the +2 Plugin. It adds 2 channels/record tracks, giving you additional mixing, recording, and routing flexibility. It increases the MixPre-3 I or MixPre-3 II from a 3-channel/5-track recorder to a 5-channel/7-track recorder.

The extra two channels, 4 and 5, can be fed from the Aux 1, Aux 2, USB 1, or USB 2 inputs and recorded as ISOs and mixed along with channels 1-3 to the main mix. Both channels have solo, mute, arm, gain, fader, pan, and low-cut controls, and, if the applicable plugins are installed, can be enabled for MixAssist and NoiseAssist processing. ISO tracks 4 and 5 can also be remixed using the Remix feature. The extra channels are accessible in the Wingman app and can be controlled by supported third-party USB controllers.

I have a MixPre 3 I as well as a MixPre 6 II. I regularly use the two virtual channels (no fader knob) on the 6 and will probably add them to the 3. I'll have to install the new firmware on the 6 and see how the new virtual faders for these channels work. Maybe Sound Devices will upload a video.

Is this firmware update, the announcement that was delayed from their web stream event or is there still a new product announcement coming?

I’ll apply the version 9.00 update to my MixPre-6 II and do some testing before a weekend shoot.