Very cleverly conceived by Pro Co Sound's director of engineering, Gerry Carpenter, the StageMaster Series SMA2408FBX-20 Snake is logically thought out and designed for fixed installations and light road and stage use. The rugged and reliable design features the latest in connector technology and a cable that is extremely flexible for easy coiling.

The StageMaster stagebox is built from a thick 16 gauge connector plate with a blank template overlay that allows channel ID numbers to be written on it. The stagebox features Pro Co Duralink cable, and the fanout cable spread is 3-4' long to allow for the individual connectors to link to multiple audio components.

Rugged and Flexible

Duralink multipair audio cable and an all-new indestructible high-tech aluminum chassis

PVC tubing protects each fanout channel

Reliable solderless contact points eliminate highly resistive connections

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. No XLR outputs? Bummer. I suppose I could take the stereo out to cameras but that seems clunky.

A: Hi Matt. If you require XLR outputs, the MixPre-10 II has TA3 outputs (mini XLR). As you mention, you can send audio to cameras via the 3.5mm STEREO OUT jack, but that signal is unbalanced and is therefore more susceptible to interference over longer runs.

Q: 2. when using dynamic mics with this unit will I need to use a cloudlifter or fethead?

A: It’s got 76dB of gain for the XLR inputs. You’re probably referring to the notoriously gain-needy SM7b. I don’t have one but forum estimates place its required gain at about 60dB on average to maybe 66dB for quiet vocals. Here you would have even more if you needed to use that mic on a somewhat further source. Another thing to consider is the low noise of these preamps (-128dBu) which will allow you to safely boost levels in post.

Q: 3. What accessory can I use to mount this on a mic stand or neck of a tripiod?

A: Hello Patrick. All MixPre II Series recorders have ¼-inch, 20-threaded screw mounts on their top and bottom panels for mounting to gear. Please use the attached allen wrench to pop-up the screw by pushing the straight part of the wrench up into the bottom of the MixPre-3 II.

Q: 4. Can the MixPre-3 send or receive TC from with the Atomos Ultrasynch Blue?

A: The Sound Devices MixPre-3 II 3-Channel / 5-Track Multitrack 32-Bit Field Recorder is not compatible with the Atomos UltraSync BLUE.

Q: 5. If Recording directly from the mixpre to my camera (a7iii), will the 32bit sound be baked into the SD card of the camera along with the footage, or will the 16bit rate of the internal preamps of my camera take over? Assuming my volume level on the camera is turned down to 1 (minimal)

A: Your better quality 32 bit audio would be on the recorder only. Going into the mic input on your camera from the recorder would not give you the same audio quality as what you get from the recorder.

Q: 6. Will the MixPre-3 with the L-battery sled fit in any of the field cases?

A: It will depend upon the mount you use and the case you choose. The Dual L-Mount would need extra space due the bulk but a single L mount sled will only add heght. After decdidng which mount you will use please conatct us so we can fit a bag for you.

Q: 7. The Mixpre is successfully taking HDMI timecode from my cam. Can this timecode be simultaneously passed thru to a Tentacle Sync?

A: No, it is not possible to pass HDMI timecode from your camera through the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II Field Recorder to a Tentacle Sync device. You will want to use the same timecode generator to sync timecode directly with all of your devices.

Q: 8. Will using rechargeable Ni-MH AA batteries be an issue? The video specifically recommends Lithium ion making it unclear if there is a loss in runtime or another reason not to use other types of AA batteries in lieu of buying the LMount sled.

A: NiMh batteries even when fully charged provide only 1.4 volts or with 8 in the sled a voltage of 11.2 volts as compared to alkaline or lithium batteries that provide 12 volts. Even better are power banks with their USB-C power port and a cable to the Mix Pre. I can power my Mix Pre II for more than 18 hours with a 20000 mAh power bank. The sleds all block access to the SD card slot which can be a problem.

Q: 9. Follow up to my question When recording to the SD card of my camera, will the audio baked into the footage be 32bit? Or will it be 16bit like in the preamps of my camera

A: If using the mixpre like a mixer and sending audio from it to your camera, the audio recorded to the camera is 16bit. If recording audio to the mixpre directly, that audio is 32bit.

Q: 10. Can it record .wav files and mp3 files simultaneously?

A: no