rec.arts.movies.production.sound

In article < @ >,
Noah Timan wrote:
> Hi Ao (once again, do you have a name?):
>
> It is obvious and implicit that *IF* you're using your recorder
> without a mixer, it is important to have good built-in mic preamps.
>
> It should also be obvious and implicit that there are many, many
> successful setups that utilize external mixers and bypass the
> recorder's built-in preamps entirely (which I personally suspect is
> the majority of cases).
>
> For example, my main recorders don't have *any* mic preamps (good or
> bad). It hasn't been a hindrance -- in fact, I would be very unlikely
> to use a built-in mic preamp on the recorder even if it was available.
>
> The importance of the recorder's built-in preamps, therefore, is
> completely subjective to the setup one utilizes. For those who don't
> use a mixer, the importance is tantamount. For those who do use a
> mixer, the importance is zero. For those who use a mixer sometimes
> and not others, the importance is variable depending upon how often
> one does not use a mixer.
>
> I sincerely hope that puts this to bed.
>
> Regards,
>
> Noah Timan

This is all very clear, Noah, and thank you for that. I do believe that
should put this particular topic to bed. The issue of the importance of
the mic preamps in the recorder is, as Noah has so clearly stated,
totally a function of how each of us uses our recorders and should not
be a deciding factor in recorder choice for many, many people. Those who
wish to persist and try and determine exactly what those numbers of
people are, what recorders they own, what their usage is and so forth, I
do not believe that speculation will yield any useful data. It is also
unlikely that any of the manufacturers will publish sales figures for
all of us here on . (and I do mean ALL of us including the as
yet still un-named "ao") to mull over.

If I were to post my estimate of these numbers based only on my
observations here in the ., I would say there are about 400 Deva
users, the majority of whom use an external mixer (and very few use the
Mix12 hardware interface), there are fewer Cantars in use of those most
are also using an external mixer (and few are using the Cantarem fader
panel --- which should not be directly compared to the Mix 12 in any
case). The Fostex machines, both the PD-6 (now discontinued, soon to be
replaced by the vastly more capable 606) and the DV824 (which has no mic
preamps) are in wide usage and to my knowledge neither has any outboard
hardware interface available. Of those machines being used in cart
setups, I believe the majority of users have an external mixer in place.

- Jeff Wexler