MixPre 6 setup for quick-and-dirty stereo recording

[Larry Sanbourne]

Hello,

 

I use MixPre 6 for quick-and-dirty stereo recording when I have almost no setup time and just need a stereo recording. I'd love your help optimizing this to be as fast as possible to setup and postprocess.

 

Using a bushing adapter, I attach a stereo bar to the 1/4 20 mount on top of MixPre, clip in two Schoeps mics, connect with 2 18" XLR cables, and hit record.

 

1. I researched cold shoe mounts but couldn't make heads or tails - is there an easier way to get the stereo bar onto MixPre? I've taken to pre-attaching it and then carrying it in my backpack, but it's a bit unwieldy.

 

2. Schoeps's "desert island stereo set" includes MK 4 with a short CMC amplifier (half the length or so of the regular CMC amp), which can transport inside a mini Pelican case pre-mounted on mic clips. This looks great for transport, but screwing the mic onto the stereo bar is slow. Still, not sure if I'm missing some way of avoiding the time it takes to clip the mics in?? Crazy, but a man can wonder...

 

3. I also travel with 6 more Schoeps mics that I use for proper recordings, and I already damaged one Schoeps mic by just carrying these in a mini pelican case with some packing material to immobilize. It's also hard to keep the matched pairs straight. I'm thinking I could find some small case that fits 8 mics on two layers with custom-cut foam…? When I travel, these are in my backpack, so I also need room for noise-cancelling headphones and whatever else I'm traveling with.

 

4. In post, I end up having to merge the multi-wavs in a DAW and remove 2 extra channels. 4.29GB for each 45 mins of music, which for some reason is recording a 4-channel wav file with the last 2 channels blank. I've read and re-read the manual and I'm sorry I'm apparently too obtuse to understand… How do I get MixPre just to record the 2 mic inputs in a stereo wav file?

 

Thank you for indulging in my endless optimization! I used to use a Zoom for these kinds of recordings but the mics were just depressingly bad...

 

Larry

[inspire]

Hello!

About 2. DESERT ISLAND STEREO SET seems to be a very nice choice!
About 4. I’m also new with this but I read from manual this:

Quote

 

Record - Advanced Mode

 

REC L, R

Arms L and/or R mix buses. Choose between Off, Off & Linked, L, R, L&R, and L&R Linked.

 

 

 

So put REC L,R to Off and ARM only these two channels, what you want to record. And I would suggest to link them as a pair (Stereo Pair Linking), so you can adjust with first knob both channels levels and put the second to centre so it displays C as centre (balance control).

The second knob first was confused me at first until I read from the manual that it checks the balance between the left and the right channel.

[ronmac]

1. I use a small tripod quick release plate assembly  (Swiss Arca type) attached to the top of my MP6ii. You do need to select a style that has a release lever that moves horizontally and clears the "deck" of the MP.

[inspire]

One more recommendation for step 4:

Create and set up the project – Configure all the desired settings (channel linking, recording format, levels, etc.).
Save a template
Steps:

1.Open Menu
2.Go to Presets
Select Save to SD
Name it Stereo_Pair_Linked
Once saved, you can quickly start a new project with the same settings in the future!
Create a new project from the template.

[Throwback]

On 2/9/2025 at 5:20 AM, Larry Sanbourne said:

3. I also travel with 6 more Schoeps mics that I use for proper recordings, and I already damaged one Schoeps mic by just carrying these in a mini pelican case with some packing material to immobilize. It's also hard to keep the matched pairs straight. I'm thinking I could find some small case that fits 8 mics on two layers with custom-cut foam…? When I travel, these are in my backpack, so I also need room for noise-cancelling headphones and whatever else I'm traveling with.

 

Well the most compact yet still reasonably shock-absorbing case I have found for eight SDC mics is a 3.5" hard-disc case, fitted with a tray to exactly match the mics I use. These 3.5" cases are much less common than the smaller cases for 2.5" external hard drives. Here's a couple of photos. 

 

Cheers,

 

Roland

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

On 2/8/2025 at 9:20 PM, Larry Sanbourne said:

2. Schoeps's "desert island stereo set" includes MK 4 with a short CMC amplifier (half the length or so of the regular CMC amp), which can transport inside a mini Pelican case pre-mounted on mic clips. This looks great for transport, but screwing the mic onto the stereo bar is slow. Still, not sure if I'm missing some way of avoiding the time it takes to clip the mics in?? Crazy, but a man can wonder...

 

I would look into replacing the whole Schoeps clips + stereo bar setup with a 3D-printed clip that matches whatever stereo system you want to use.  That's particularly true if you use ORTF where the setup is precise and fiddly.  I don't have a specific designer close at hand, but there are definitely people out there making custom clips that will let you mount both mics in a pre-configured position.  I'll bet if you find the right designer, the could work with you to make a clip that solves your #1 as well ... they could build a clip that mounts directly to the MixPre and has clips for two CMC4s that are permanently in the position you need for your preferred stereo technique.  Commissioning a custom clip wouldn't be cheap, but the alternative is learning how to design it yourself.

 

If you can't find anything ready made online, I can put you in touch with a sound mixer who is messing with this stuff and who I'm sure would be interested in experimenting with you.

[Jim Feeley]

2 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

I would look into replacing the whole Schoeps clips + stereo bar setup with a 3D-printed clip that matches whatever stereo system you want to use. 

 

I have a couple mounts from SRS Recording Services. Previously available through Shapeways, the 3D-printing maker/distributor...but since Shapeways changed their business (to no longer be a marketplace, it seems), SRS is selling through eBay. I'm not sure SRS is using the same printer as before, but I'd guess (and only guess) that their quality is holding up. And these aren't one-size-fits-all; there are specific mounts for specific configurations (ORTF, NOS, Blumlein, etc) and specific microphones (Schoeps, Sennheiser, Neumann, Line Audio, etc). That's cool in terms of quick setup, but does mean you have less flexibility (if, say you don't want to roll with ORTF for a particular job).

 

If they don't have what you want, perhaps they'll work with you.  (I think "they" = one guy, Scott)

 

I'm no expert on this stuff (so factor that in), but SRS seems like a good vendor:

https://www.ebay.com/str/srsrecordingservices

[Throwback]

Or just get a 3d printer! The technology has matured so much, there is no complex fiddling around/setting up required these days. I got a very affordable (£170) printer in the autumn, very much with mic mounts and clips in mind, and it has saved me a fortune on the one hand, and on the other has meant I can make, test and refine designs so quickly. I've not been convinced about the shock-mount options for the commercially available ORTF mounts etc., so here is one of my takes that seems - vaguely - along the lines you could use (OK this one is designed for stand-mounted use): it can use Radius hoops (as shown here) or Rycote lyres.

Cheers,

Roland