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Re: SD 7 series recorders with / without a 302

Subject: Re: SD 7 series recorders with / without a 302
From: "andrewrileysound" andrewrileysound
Date: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:59 am ((PDT))
I totally agree with you RE specs and it is certainly frustrating that SD c=
annot even stick to a standard within their own product lines.

The MIXY looks nice and has a huge amount of gain.  I guess you've also loo=
ked at the SQN gear?

As for mics the Sennheiser MKHs are good (although definitely come in the u=
sual suspects bracket).  I bought a second hand MKH80 a while back and I ha=
ve to say it is phenomenally quiet and sounds absolutely gorgeous.  I would=
 love to get a pair of the revised MKH800s but they are just too expensive =
unfortunately.

--- In  "Jez" <> wrote:
>
>
> thanks Andrew,
>
> yes - the GL is discontinued ! Lots of folks have been saying good things=
 about the MIXY recently though, so i'm going to check that out too.
>
> I'm being picky I know but it seems to me that most of the manufacturers =
could be a bit more helpful when it comes to the way the list specs on thei=
r various products - for example the gain rates across the SD range are not=
 listed in the same say or format from model to model.
>
> When it comes to the basic questions I asked, again it seems that the pri=
me use of a mixer for video location shoots gets tons of coverage but the a=
dvantages, or not, of their use for straight audio tend not to get a look i=
n.
>
> leading on from this, do members have some ideas of which mics out there =
have the strongest signal with the least noise ? I've used most of the usua=
l suspects but i'd be interested in knowing if there are any not so obvious=
 ones out there that deliver a hefty level & are quiet in terms of self noi=
se.
>
> ta.
>
>
> --- In  "andrewrileysound" <pointerzz@> =
wrote:
> >
> > Hi Munir,
> >
> > The GL is apparently now discontinued so it is all academic but I disag=
ree with your B&H source. The GL offers higher gain, which would solve one =
of my issues with the Nagra units.
> >
> > While the specs are the same for the 7 series and 302/MixPre pre-amps t=
he construction is different, in fact the 788 is different again from the r=
est of the 7 series recorders (in order to solve power issues associated wi=
th having all those pres on board).  Subjectively I believe there is a diff=
erence it's just that it is not necessarily manifested purely in terms of n=
oise.  My personal favourite mixer from SD is the old 442 which again has t=
he same pres as the MixPre along with a really good sounding and comprehens=
ive filter section.
> >
> > Would be interested to know what you make of it all after your demo in =
November.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Andy
> >
> > --- In  Munir kureshi <munirkureshi@> =
wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Jez, Andrew,
> > >
> > > When I ordered Nagra LB from B&H I also ordered Grace Lunatec and the=
 guy suggested against getting GL preamp. He said it would not make any dif=
ference. When I got my SD788t, the distributor discouraged against 302 mixe=
r because the mixer in SD 7 series is as good as 302 mixer. I will the demo=
 of SD when they come to San Francisco in November but it is ways down the =
road. Me too, if SD 302 makes ad difference then I will add it to my system=
.
> > >
> > > Hope there is more information on the subject.
> > >
> > > Munir.
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPad
> > >
> > > On Apr 17, 2012, at 3:26 PM, "andrewrileysound" <pointerzz@> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi Jez,
> > > >
> > > > 1) Theoretically you could get an extra 18dB of gain on the line le=
vel output from the 302 but I think they have a slightly lower gain than th=
e pres built into the 7 series recorders. I just did a quick subjective tes=
t using my Mixpre (original issue :) ) into my 744 and I couldn't discern a=
n advantage to the gain staging suggested.
> > > >
> > > > 2) As far as I'm aware they are the same pre-amps as were in the ol=
d Mixpre and are still listed as using Lundahl transformers on the input.
> > > >
> > > > Have you looked at/tried the Grace Lunatec? It would be great to kn=
ow how that compares to the SD stuff, on paper it looks amazing!
> > > >
> > > > Cheers
> > > >
> > > > --- In  "Jez" <tempjez@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > >
> > > > > I have some simple questions if folks could give me some feedback=
 please. Not sure why i've not got round to doing this kind of comparison b=
efore now - i've had plenty of field mixers on hand over the years !
> > > > >
> > > > > my questions are:
> > > > >
> > > > > 1) do you get any extra gain from attaching a SD 302 mixer to a 7=
 series recorder ? ie. with the same microphones plugged in do you get a hi=
gher level through the 302 into the recorder than you can get just going in=
to the 7 series recorder & is it quieter that way than whacking the gain on=
 the recorder up higher ?
> > > > >
> > > > > 2) are pre-amps / stages in the 302 analogue (like the old mixpre=
) ?
> > > > >
> > > > > i'm looking into adding a field mixer to my kit again & looking a=
t various different models. The SD website has the frustrating habit of not=
 doing like-for-like spec sheets & also, though i've searched all over the =
net, I can't find any reports on this kind of simple test.
> > > > >
> > > > > ta !
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>








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