Finally trying out my new MixPre 10 (2) with a wind band tonight. Can any owners help me out with several queries ….?

The ‘recording bells’ option….I should have disabled it of course, but it chimed twice in the cans during the middle of quiet interludes….and frightened the hell out of me ! The File/take rolls onto the next number (003>004) as it chimes. Is this simply signifying that it’s reached the 4GB size limit and has silently incremented onto a new file ? Or is there some hidden low input level threshold that auto-creates a new file anytime the level drops below it ? I don’t need such information during a concert recording, if it can occur silently in the background.

The channel input pots are input gain controls…or monitoring faders…or both ? When I select a record-armed channel and push in the pot, I can also seemingly control the record input level via the headphone level ‘tyre’, with finer-grain control. What’s the best procedure for input level setting and monitoring mix/pan balances on location (and are they independent of each other) ?

When I stop recording, the file (appears to be) immediately and automatically saved….and if I immediately start recording again, it autocreates a new file using the same settings as the just-closed one….is that correct ? If I shut down the recorder and restart it tomorrow, should it reopen with the same project settings…or do I need to save the settings as a Preset ?

I think an external control surface is called for, since I don’t have the praying mantis fingertips necessary for negotiating the touchscreen….of the several recommended by Sound Devices, which are working best for you ?

Transferring the files out of the recorder to a DAW….do you use a usb transfer cable, or take out the SD card > card reader ?

There’s no such thing as a stupid question, right ….but I’m happy to identify myself as the stupid operator here ! Any help from experienced MixPre-ers will be much appreciated…..������

Edit: I hazily recall similar issues being raised here, perhaps several years ago when the MixPre series were first released. If anyone can point me to that thread, it will likely render this one redundant….and avoid repetition

Here's another little problem I've encountered...apparently attempting to import the recorded MixPre SD card wav files into a Windows 10 computer has corrupted them, rendering them unreadable ! I wish I'd known about this before attempting to do so...

SD explains it thus:
................................................................
UPDATE:

Microsoft has issued a patch in Windows 10 to fix a serious corruption issue with regards to .wav media files written by Sound Devices & Video Devices recorders.

Windows 10 introduced the Encrypting File System (EFS) for removable FAT media, by using a reserved bit to indicate whether or not a file was encrypted. This caused Windows 10 to treat the file as EFS encrypted and overwrite the RIFF/WAVE header, making broadcast wave files unreadable. Prior to Windows 10, Microsoft did not use this bit, which was used by Sound Devices, so Quality Assurance testing would not have revealed any conflict.

The patch, KB3093266 issued by Microsoft on 30 September 2015, addresses this issue and has been verified by Sound Devices.

To get the Windows 10 patch, ensure that Windows Updates is set to Automatic, by doing the following:

Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and then select Advanced options.
Choose how updates are installed by selecting Automatic (recommended).

Note: If a temporary workaround registry key was used to disable EFS, that key may be deleted at any point after the patch is installed. Deleting the registry key will require a system reboot.

Original Tech Note

We have confirmed user reports of a serious issue with Windows 10 and removable media formatted as FAT32. Users are experiencing corruption of .wav media files by simply inserting FAT32 formatted SD or CF cards into a Windows 10 computer. Files do not need to be opened or accessed in order for them to become corrupt. <!–

We wish to emphasize that this problem exists with .wav files regardless of whether they were recorded on Sound Devices equipment or not. We strongly recommend not using Windows 10 with your Sound Devices created audio files.

–>

This problem has been reported to Microsoft. If we learn of any new information we will share it at the earliest. Thank you for your continued support!

.......................................................

I can't believe this affects every Win 10 user since July 2019, when this memo was issued by SD ? Any workarounds or solutions to this concert files corruption issue I'm faced with ? Not an auspicious start to my MixPre use....and since I've imported FAT32 wav files from other sources prior to this, I don't believe SD's pronouncement either !

Well, that's dumb.

D.

Me...or SD ? Probably both.... !

https://www.sounddevices.com/sound-d...chnical-alert/ .....issued July 9, 2019

EDIT: it seems the issue was known about almost 10 years ago, and Pete Brown (GS member and Microsoft employee) creditably acted to resolve it quite quickly. Apparently I therefore lack the hotfix patch on my Win 10 machine...see:

Windows 10 corrupting audio files

Yes, disable the recording bells! They are quite useless for what we do. I believe that you are correct that they signify a new file.

The rotary pots can be gain controls if the machine is set to basic mode. If advanced is used, they become channel faders.

If you stop recording and start again, it will use the same settings. If you power down and back up again, it will maintain the project settings.

I like the Novation Launch Control XL control surface, it seems to give me the best added functionality, however it will not get you away from the touch screen entirely. It just occurred to me though, you could use a generic stylus to touch the screen and that might be easier than fat fingering it.

I use the SD card reader built into my computer to transfer the data from the card. Actually, usually I use the mixpre as an interface, and hopefully don’t have to transfer anything, since the SD card is a backup recording at that point.

Thanks jheath….that’s great practical supporting info, just what I need to begin constructing my operating roadmap for this device. The user manual is ok, but doesn’t quite supply the detail I require as a new user. I’ll definitely look into the Novation too ! ������

Take a good look into Curtis Judd's youtube video tutorials. Though his focus is mainly video work, he is good at giving the needed overview of all the crazy menu traps (my words) that the Mixpre's suffers from.

https://youtu.be/tf1g-daRfu4?si=-Xd15Y1JfFnut3gp

(don't just look on this, but dig in to find the most relevant, I can't recall which ones I found best).

Regarding recorded files, I always setup my Mixpre 10 II, to make file copies to a usb thump drive and copy files to my win 10 desktop pc from there. Never experienced any file corruption, but should it happen, the (same) files on the SD card could come to the rescue.

Hope you'll find your way through it
::
Mads

Thank you for those tips Mads…. I’ll certainly check the Curtis Judd videos, and I’ll copy the audio files onto a thumb drive for safety first and convenience of transfer. It’s unfortunate that this additional step is necessary…but is better than losing files to corruption during transfer !

Is this ‘copy to thumb drive’ step something you do during your concert or session recordings… by leaving it in the MixPre usb slot, so that it automatically copies as soon as the transport is stopped, or a new file is created during the recording process ?

If you don't want to remove the SD card or USB backup drive from the MixPre you can use the "File Transfer" mode and connect directly to your computer via USBC.

https://youtu.be/RrNUNoO4beY

You're most welcome :¬) And yes that's exactly what I do. It makes the copy by itself, so no extra work-process, the Rec button flashes during the operation. For me it has worked flawlessly.

PS: Let the Mixpre format the usb drive, and use a compatible one (a list can be found on Sound Devices homepage)
::
Mads

Well certainly not you, silly! Maybe not even SD as their cards read just fine on my Mac. I think I gotta blame this one on Microsoft. Not trying to start a Mac/PC flame war, although one will erupt anyway, of course.

D.

The wingman app will get you off the screen a little bit too

I have a studio tower and a laptop on W10 that read SD cards (SD and CF) just fine and don't damage them. Since it is next to impossible to turn off auto updates on a Windows machine that's connected to the web I guess they updates fixed this issue for me.

I second using Curtis Judds vid tutorials. I paid for it and it was well worth it.

Tom

Some answers / thoughts on the original post:

1 - probably best to turn the bells off.

2 - input pots: I have mine set to control gain. I'd rather do this than fiddle with the side control. more intuitive and I'm using this as a capture device. And YES, I set gain even when I record in 32 bit.

If you look at pg 21 of the manual, you can see how things function in basic and advanced mode. I use custom mode and pick and choose how I want stuff to work. custom mode is explained on pg 22 of manual. Do what works best for you.

3 - starting / stopping - yes, uses same settings. In fact, I typically dial in my settings the night before, then power down.
Power back up on day of recording. I generally do a quick scroll through the setting to make sure they are the same. Armed tracks, bit depth, sample rate, etc...

4 - I don't use an external control surface, so I can't comment

5 - Transferring to DAW. I'm doing this now as I type this post. I use a usb C cable. I bought a large SD card and don't feel like pulling it in and out as I have an L-mount batter adapter mount on the back. Doable to take off, but it's a pain. Why monkey around with it when I can just enter file trf mode and hook in a usb cable? enter file trf via the menu -> system -> file transfer.

I have a bunch of other thoughts and tips for the MixPre crowd. At some point I'll start another thread so I'm not clogging up this one.

I love my MixPre10ii. It's a great machine. I hope you enjoy using yours. Feel free ask more questions.

Tom

Thanks Tom (and all the contributors above) ….for your wealth of hints and tips and experience, this is surely ‘GS Remote’ at its best (yet again !).

The USB-C cable transfer sounds like a good way to go, with thumb drive backup for safety. I’m guessing that, on location, it would simply invisibly copy to a thumb drive (for safety) in the background, whenever recording is stopped….even if a new file recording has commenced ?

The headphone amp seems powerful enough to drive most high efficiency/low impedance cans to loud levels….although it struggled with my old AKG 240 DF ….which are notoriously inefficient, but if I need to use them I’d bring along a dedicated headphones amp.

A small angled bracket, to give the recorder a 30 degree tilt-up would help secure it from being dragged off a table by heavy mic cables, and protect the hirose connector too….plus be helpful for viewing the display optimally. Maybe something a bit simpler than the offerings here >>> https://filmdevices.com/rack-n-bag-info/

Anyone’s welcome to re-direct this thread to a ‘more generic ‘MixPre hints/accessories/troubleshooting’ focus….unless as Tom notes it deserves a separate and more specific one ?

Note that the USB thumb drive copy feature can take extra time, as it works on its own pace. I tend to use the file transfer mode, but note also that the file transfer connector is USB-C, but it works at USB2 speed (confirmed by SD).

I’m hoping Sound Devices support might be able to point me towards some file header repairs for the corrupted files that my Win 10 card-reader caused….but not a great loss if it’s impossible either. I’ll certainly install that HotFix patch which Pete (Psychlist ‘74) instigated on behalf of SD and Microsoft: KB3093266

Does anyone here use SD’s ‘WaveAgent’ file splitter….or do you default to your favourite DAW to do this ?

Yes, I do: it's very handy.

Also never once had a corrupted file, and I've been using MixPre recorders (and I'm running Windows 10) since they first came out in 2017! I just plug into USB and use file transfer, rather than mess around with SD cards.

Cheers,

Roland

Ray, I use Manfrotto fold-flat mini 'tripods' - the MP3 - on the bottom of my recorders: they fold flat, and give the recorders a useful angle for desktop use when required.

Regular Mixpre user here.

Everyday I pop the card out shove it in a USB card reader connected to a terrible old DELL running Win 10. Never had an issue.

It is possible that the Win OS might struggle with the embedded multitrack WAV from the Mixpre, but that would be a fairly stripped down windows version.

Same here. Works well.

I did to begin with, now I use the "explode" function I Reaper ;¬>
::
Mads

WA is very useful for other things besides splitting polys. It can also COMBINE files into polys, and do some great TC fixes. What it can't do is operations on polys with a whole lot of tracks--that's when I use Reaper or etc to explode the poly into individual tracks. The Reaper route is more complex and time consuming, so if you have under 16 chan then WA is faster.

Those are cool. I made the same sort of bracket for my 788T/CL9 fader package with some aluminum plates and an old-school cell phone bracket that I had in one of my tubs from the 1990s. Cheaper than the Film Devices rigs, a bit more specific to the two units and pretty elegant if I do say so myself. Even has LED strip lighting to light the fader surface. But if I hadn't had the metal working capabilities in my shop, the Film Devices stuff looks like a good choice.

Good share.

D.

The Film Devices gear looks ideal in terms of a slim lightweight frame, and for stacking associated gear vertically…. the only downside seems to be non-foldability. I’d prefer not to add frame assembly time to my typical load-in

Wave Agent can be handy but Reaper/explode is faster for me. Also Wave Agent does not work on 32b float files.

Although i didnt try to split the poly, i loaded a poly 32bit file into WA last night to map out channels for import into cubase. Worked fine.

Maybe they finally updated it. It's been an issue for years.

I tried a poly 32FP file in WaveAgent and was met with horrible distorted results. SD has not updated this software in a long time, and they do state 32FP is not supported.
https://www.sounddevices.com/product...gent-software/

Even though I'm using a 788 which can be set to record mono tracks, I keep it set on poly so I don't get confused importing recordings from longer concerts that have multiple split tracks on 4+ channels.

Reaper explode does work pretty well for exploding 32FP poly, but it's a bit of a hassle to do that and then recombine your stereo pairs to work with them.

I wish there was an app similar to WaveAgent that had the option of explorting stereo tracks in addition to mono. I recall seeing some custom ffmpeg scripting on Stack Exchange to do this.

FWIW, Zoom F-series allow you to record to stereo WAVs in addition to the mono or poly options. I believe Tascam recorders have the same option. SD can be forgiven for not including this in the older 7 series, but not giving the option of multiple stereo tracks in the new MixPre and 8 series seems odd.