Hot on the heels of the Zaxcom Maxx, Sound Devices just announced the 664 Portable Six-Channel Mixer.
Need more inputs? The CL-6 Input Expander is available as an option.
List prices are $3,995.00 and $1,495.00 U.S. respectively.
Looks great but I'm confused. Why isn't it called a six track recorder, why the 4 busses?
The number of Hirose connectors also scares me, they're very easily broken.
On the Sound Devices site, they're calling it a "Six-Channel Field Production Mixer with Integrated Recorder" which is a better description.
It should be called a 10 track recorder.
From the SD site:
"The 664 can record each of its inputs and its four output buses, for 10 record tracks."
why the 4 busses?
To be able to send any track or combination of tracks to multiple locations simultaneously (camera, producer, video village and boom op all at the same time with each one getting only what they want to hear).
The number of Hirose connectors also scares me, they're very easily broken.
I've never had to work with that connector so I'll take your word for it.
The only "Hirose" connector is for external power.
The other small connectors are mostly Switchcraft TA(3) connectors, (sometimes called mini or tiny XLR) which have proven to be relatively rugged.
I've not had any problems with either.. except the Hirose are a nightmare to wire / solder.