Esteemed pro audio mixer and recorders maker Sound Devices have released details of their highly anticipated firmware update v3.00 for the MixPre series of audio recorders, mixers, and USB audio interfaces. As a reminder, firmware v2.21 was released earlier in the year alongside the more musicians-oriented MixPre-3M and MixPre-6M.
MixPre firmware v3.00 adds a host of new features and enhancements tailored to both filmmakers using them for corporate shoots, documentaries and/or narrative, and also audio professionals working in the fields of events and live recordings.
What’s New in Mix Pre Series Firmware v3.00
- Support for third-party USB control surfaces
- Ambisonic and binaural recording, monitoring, and playback for:
- the MixPre-6 and MixPre-10T
- Pre-roll buffer:
- for the MixPre-3, MixPre-6, and MixPre-10T
- Wireless control and metering for:
- MixPre-M models from iOS and Android devices
- ASIO drivers for MixPre-M models
Third party USB Control Surfaces Support
The ability to control a MixPre from a USB control surface takes the experience of using MixPre devices to a whole new level of flexibility and control. Supported USB third party control surfaces include:
- Korg nanoKONTROL Studio
- Korg nanoKONTROL2,
- Akai MIDImix
- Novation Launch Control XL.
The four affordable third-party USB control surfaces can now connect to the MixPre and instantly control fader, trim (gain), pan, low cut, reverb, record, stop, and more.
“The MixPre recorders are built for go-anywhere portability. However when the environment allows, it’s nice to spread out and ride linear faders,” said Nicholas Vandrush, Director of Marketing at Sound Devices.
“The MixPre series address a variety of applications and workflows, and with four controllers to choose customers can use the controller that suits them best.”
Ambisonic Plugin for 360 degree audio
The new Ambisonics Plugin for MixPre-6 and the larger MixPre-10T is another key addition to the MixPre devices in firmware update v3.00.
Field recordists, game developers, and VR content creators have requested a way to improve the recording capabilities of 360° spatial audio on the MixPre series.
Sennheiser’s popular AMBEO VR microphone pairs perfectly with the Ambisonics Plugin. Other microphones and microphone arrays are also supported. MixPre Ambisonics features include:
- A-Format, B-Format, and A- to B-Format conversion
- Real-time binaural and stereo monitoring
- Simultaneous recording of:
- AmbiX, FuMa
- LR Stereo
- LR Binaural
“Sound Devices recorders have been used to create ambisonic field recordings for many years, so it was a natural progression for us to bring our MixPre recorders into this new world of 360° recording,” said Matt Anderson, CEO of Sound Devices.
“We are happy to partner with Sennheiser to provide a high-quality ambisonic recording and monitoring option for our MixPre-6 and MixPre-10T customers.”
The Ambisonics Plugin is available now at no charge from the Plugin Store.
Pre-Roll Recording
Any field recordist understands the disappointment that comes with waiting for the perfect sound and missing it because they didn’t press record. Pre-roll provides a safety net for when fingers aren’t fast enough and ensures all crucial audio is captured in the seconds before the record button is pressed.
The MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 offer five seconds of pre-roll. The MixPre-10T offers ten seconds.
Wireless Control & Monitoring from iOS/Android Devices
Musicians recording with a MixPre can now view high-resolution meters and control record, stop, and playback remotely from their iOS or Android device.
The Sound Devices Wingman app, a MixPre companion application, now communicates via Bluetooth Smart with the MixPre-M models and the MixPre-3, -6, and -10T running the Musician Plugin.
MixPre-M models used as a computer audio interface with Windows OS computers are no longer limited to 2-input, 2-output and 44.1 and 48 kHz sampling rates.
Firmware version 3.00 works with the latest MixPre ASIO driver to offer multi-channel I/O (MixPre-3M = 5 in, 2 out; MixPre-6M = 8 in, 4 out; MixPre-10M = 12 in, 4 out) at sample rates up to 96 kHz.
MixPre v3.00 firmware update is available now for download for the MixPre-3, -3M, -6, -6M, -10M, and MixPre-10T from the Download section of www.sounddevices.com.