Setting up the Mixpre-10

EQUIPMENT

Mixpre10 Recorder

NTG3/416 Shotgun Microphone or NTG5 Cardioid Microphone

Deity Radio Microphone kits

Sennheiser IFB Director's Monitor

Tentacle for Timecode Sync

Equipment Routing Diagram

Quick Start Guide

1.     POWER: Connect the D-Tap cable to the V-Lock battery. 

2.     LOAD PRESET: Load the preset to delete any weird settings other users have left behind.

• • • Press MENU, PRESETS, LOAD PRESETS, Choose SAE Film

3.     DATE/TIME: Set the date and time correctly (this helps you line up files when syncing in post).

• Press MENU, SYSTEM, DATE/TIME, Check time and date is correct.

4.     FORMAT SD CARDS: Press MENU, SD CARD, EDIT, FORMAT.

5. CHECK PHANTOM POWER: Ensure that phantom power is set correctly for the mics you are using (416, NTG3 and NTG5 require phantom power). Click down on the channel gain knob to enter the channel menu. Tap through to the page that has phantom power and choose 'on' or 'off' as required.

6a. PLUG IN HEADPHONES: On the right side of the Mixpre10 in the headphone jack. Use the knob next to the headphone jack to adjust headphone volume.

6b. HEADPHONE PRESET: Depending on what you are recording, you can choose what you want to listen to (eg. just the boom or just the radio mics). Press MENU, 🎧 (headphone symbol upper left), Choose a headphone preset (I recommend "Mono 1>8" to listen to everything mixed together AND be able to play back your recordings). 

7. CHECK TRANSMITTER SENSITIVITY: Check the radio mic transmitters (the ones you put on the actor/subject) have an appropriate sensitivity. Test by watching to see if the af/peak light comes on while your subject is talking.

8. TURN ON THE IFB/DIRECTOR'S MONITOR: The IFB TRANSMITTER should be plugged into the "x1/x2" output on the left side of the Mixpre10. Check that the IFB transmitter sensitivity is set to -42.

9. TIMECODE: If you are using timecode, turn on your tentacles, sync them in the tentacle app and connect one to the "TC IN" of your Mixpre10 (on the left side), and one to the TC in on the Ursa camera (note, the Ursa and Arri are the only cameras at SAE that take timecode).  More info here.

10. OPEN WINGMAN APP: For making notes on your digital sound report and remote control of the mixpre10, connect the wingman app to the Mixpre10. Further instructions below.

11. FILE TRANSFER (after the shoot)

The SD card is VERY inconveniently on the back of the mixpre10 under the power supply sled. Instead, you can use a USB stick or USB-C file transfer

• If you plug a USB stick into the USB-A port, the Mixpre10 will automatically copy all of your files to the USB. NOTE: You will need to format the USB stick when you plug it into the Mixpre6 so make sure there is nothing important on it. 

• If you use the USB-C cable and plug it into your computer you can use 'file transfer mode' to transfer your files. Press MENU, SYSTEM, FILE TRANSFER. Open finder on your computer and your Mixpre should be visible and accessible like an external hard drive. 

Preset Setup

Your Mixpre10 should have a preset called "SAE Film" that you can load up with the settings best suited to recording sound for film and TV. However, if this preset doesn't exist, the steps to create your own preset are below. 

First check to see if the preset already exists:

• • • Press MENU, PRESETS, LOAD PRESETS, Choose SAE Film

If the above preset doesn't exist, follow these steps:

• Factory Reset: Press MENU, PRESETS, LOAD PRESETS, Choose 1.Factory default (Use headphone knob to select). Follow the onscreen instructions.

• Custom Mode: Press MENU, SYSTEM, MODE, Choose CUSTOM.

• Press MENU, SYSTEM, CUSTOM SETUP, and set each category to Basic or Advanced.

a. Channel – Advanced

b. Gain – Basic

c. Headphone – Advanced

d. Record – Advanced

e. Metadata – Advanced

f.  Outputs – Advanced

• Change channel settings: Push the knob/pot down for channel 1. This will bring up the channel menu.

a. PAN channel 1 (and any other boom channels) to L16 (left) and PAN radio mic channels to R16 (right) – TIP: use the headphone wheel to scroll from C to L16...

b. Turn on LOW CUT to 80Hz for all channels

c.  BOOM MICS ONLY: Turn on PHANTOM POWER, to 48V.  (NOT with the Behringer or wireless radio mics).

d. RADIO MICS ONLY: Change 'INPUT' type to 'Line'.

• Press MENU, INPUTS, KNOB PRESS, choose ‘Ch. View + Solo’.

• Press MENU, TIMECODE, TC MODE, choose ‘BNC In’.

• Press MENU, TONE/SLATE, set TONE MODE to ‘L Ident’.

• Press MENU, RECORD, REC L R, choose ‘Off’.

• Press MENU, RECORD, set PRE-ROLL TIME to ‘5 secs’.

• Press MENU, *BUTTON, choose TONE.

• Press MENU, HEADPHONE ICON (top left), EDIT HP PRESET, PRESET 1, turn on channels ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8’ on L, and ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8’ on R, change name to ‘MONO 1>8’.

• Press MENU, HEADPHONE ICON (top left), EDIT HP PRESET, PRESET 2, turn on channels ‘1, 2’ on L, and ‘1, 2’ on R, change name to ‘BOOMS’.

• Press MENU, HEADPHONE ICON (top left), EDIT HP PRESET, PRESET 3, turn on channels ‘3, 4, 5, 6’ on L, and ‘3, 4, 5, 6’ on R, change name to ‘RADIOS’.

• Press MENU, HEADPHONE ICON (top left), choose ‘MONO 1>8’.

• Press MENU, PRESETS, SAVE TO INT3. Name your preset ‘SAE Film’. TIP: You can also save it to an SD card and take it with you. CONGRATS!!! Next time, you can load up your shiny new preset!