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Sound Devices MixPre-3 II Audio Recorder and Interface

3-input, 5-track Portable Audio Recorder - Mac/PC
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Sound Devices MixPre-3 II Audio Recorder and Interface
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Record Anytime, Anywhere

If you’re a sound designer, podcaster, videographer, or YouTuber, you’re about to get a serious sonic upgrade. The Sound Devices MixPre-3 II eclipses its predecessor with faster, more advanced hardware and 32-bit/192kHz converters. A trio of custom-engineered Kashmir mic preamps delivers pro-grade audio. A quick glance at the MixPre-3 II's comprehensive metering and sunlight-readable, color LCD touchscreen tell you everything you need to know. You also get internal LTC generation, adjustable analog limiters, an auto-copy function, and a 10-second pre-roll buffer. With the MixPre-3 II, you can record anytime, anywhere — with world-class quality.

Pro-grade sound from top-shelf mic pres and 32-bit converters

You'll be shocked at how great this unassuming little device sounds. Sound Devices outfitted the MixPre-3 II with three of their great-sounding Kashmir mic preamps. These pres offer a super-low noise floor and adjustable analog limiters to keep your signal clean. The 32-bit/192kHz converters ensure that everything is captured with sublime quality. You'll see the MixPre-3 II is a definite upgrade from cheap recorders with off-the-shelf IC-based preamps.

Record directly to SD card — back up to USB

You can capture anything with the MixPre-3 II. When you're in the field, it functions standalone, recording audio directly to an SD card. On top of that, an auto-copy to USB drive function ensures that you’ll never lose a recording again. At Sweetwater, we've found that the MixPre-3 II is great for Skype or FaceTime interviews, and recording audio for podcasts or vlogs is a piece of cake.

It's only as difficult as you make it

Even though the MixPre-3 II is packed to the gills with useful features, Sound Devices realizes that not every YouTuber or vlogger is a recording engineer. That's why this portable recorder offers two modes of operation. Basic mode lets you start recording right out of the box. It takes the guesswork out of recording and is great for recording interviews, vlogs, and podcasts. Advanced mode lets you really dig into the MixPre-3 II features. It gives you access to metering, routing, time code, mic pre gain, stereo and mid-side channel linking, headphone presets, and more. You also get a Custom mode, if you’re so inclined.

Tailor-made for videographers

Pairing the MixPre-3 II with your camera is easy, thanks to its retractable 1/4-20 mounting capacity. It can generate internal LTC for perfect audio/video synchronization, and you can also feed time code into the MixPre-3 II from an external time-code generator. This flexible recorder can receive record triggers via HDMI from your camera to start and stop recording via the camera's Record button. And because it can be powered via batteries, USB bus, or AC, taking it out into the field is an easy endeavor.

Sound Devices MixPre-3 II Features:

  • 3 custom-engineered Kashmir microphone preamps deliver pro-grade audio
  • Full-featured mixer with ergonomic gain controls, pan and soloing, and easy-to-see ring LED metering
  • 32-bit/192kHz converters ensure that everything is captured with sublime quality
  • Adjustable analog limiters minimize clipping from excessive recording levels
  • Record directly to an SD card — no computer required
  • Auto-copy to USB drive function ensures that you’ll never lose a recording again
  • 10-second pre-roll buffer makes punch recording a breeze
  • Basic, Advanced, and Custom modes for intuitive operation
  • Retractable 1/4-20 mounting capacity for pairing with your camera
  • Internal LTC generation and output for perfect audio/video synchronization
  • Trigger recording from your camera via HDMI
  • Powered via batteries, USB bus, or AC
  • Wireless control via your iOS device and Wingman app

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Tech Specs

  • Audio Interface: 5 x 2 USB 2.0 Interface/SD Recorder
  • A/D Resolution: 24-bit/192kHz (internal 32-bit float)
  • Simultaneous Rec Tracks: 5 (3 + L/R)
  • Analog Inputs: 3 x XLR (mic), 1 x 1/8" (mic/line)
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x 1/8" (stereo out)
  • Headphones: 1 x 1/8"
  • Memory (removable): SD/SDXC/SDHC Card Slot (512GB max SDXC)
  • File Format: WAV
  • USB: 1 x Type A, 1 x Type C
  • Bluetooth: Yes (control only)
  • Clock I/O: Internal LTC, External LTC (1/8"), Camera TC (micro HDMI)
  • Other I/O: 1 x Micro HDMI (cam TC in)
  • Software: Wingman App
  • Additional Features: 48V Phantom Power
  • Power Supply: 4 x AA (sled included) / AC adapter power supply / Optional 8 x AA (sled sold separately) / USB bus powered
  • Stand Mountable: 1/4"-20 Mounting Thread
  • Height: 1.40"
  • Width: 5.68"
  • Depth: 4.35"
  • Weight: 1.05 lbs. (without batteries)
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 9831

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Great little pre

I work with audio professionally like some other reviews here. This little guy is wonderful. Clean, versatile, compact. Works great as an interface (as long as you know the basics of what you're doing), and always finds it's way into my field bag. Highly recommend considering the 6 vs 3 for the small price jump
Music background: Sound Designer, Post Production Sound Editor
Rated 5/5

Subtle benefits of the MixPre series

Wanting a more versatile USB audio interface, I remembered Sound Devices' USB-Pre and went to look at it in more detail. I'd used their 442 mixer and 722 audio recorder for years, and both suited my needs well. Reliable, easy to use, and they sound good. As I looked at the USB-Pre on the Web site, a chat window opened, and the sales rep asked if I had questions. I told him what I was interested in, and he suggested I look at the MixPre because it's less expensive.

I soon bought the MixPre 3. I do Internet streaming live, and I replaced a headset with a boom microphone (SM7B) and the MixPre. This sounds much better. After nearly two years using the MixPre, I've come to appreciate it even more.

Along with its built-in versatility, and fundamental reliability, here are some other benefits that might not be obvious from the specs.

The MixPre microphone pre-amps have enough gain that it can be used with low-output dynamic mics, such as my SM7B.

It is quiet. I hear room noise, not the interface.

It has an outstanding limiter. Even if I shout, there is no clipping. The only audible artifact is compression and pumping, but this happens only in extreme cases such as setting maximum gain and then yelling. At any reasonable level the limiter simply prevents clipping and I don't notice it working.

When I needed an audio interface for my other computer, I bought a MixPre-6. They do their job gracefully.
--Larry Nelson
Music background: recording, live sound, spoken word performance, on-line DJ/musical curator
Rated 5/5

Awesome

One of the best audio units I have ever used.
Rated 4/5

Incredible Recorder... with some drawbacks

This recorder is built like a tank, has amazingly clean mic preamps, and can record in 32-bit float (which still feels like sorcery). I want to say it's perfect, but two things prevent that:

1. This thing eats through batteries. The first time I used it in the field I embarrassed myself and quickly ran out of spare batteries, needing to leave and buy more. It's basically unusable on AAs — I got a giant USB C battery pack that keeps it going all day. It's a solvable problem, but SoundDevices shouldn't have shipped it like this. It ought to be more power efficient, and it'd be better if it had a large built-in rechargeable battery that could power it for a full 8 hours.
2. At over $, it's wild that SoundDevices skimped on combination jacks for the inputs. This is solved on the MixPre6 II, but come on.

If a power-efficient version of this ships with combo jacks on the whole lineup, that will be a perfect recorder. Until then, be aware of the big battery brick you'll need to carry around with it!
Music background: Radio Producer
Rated 2/5

Missing XLR combo jacks

If not the poor battery life and missing XLR combo inputs (as on MixPre-6) - would be almost ideal
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