Topic: ratshack digital signal converter testing :)

[hexyjones]

any word on the bit-perfect tests

I think they're in there, bean...seems like there was a rally on this thread a few weeks ago...dial back a few pages...

It seemed to pass the tests as I recall...

[Brian Skalinder]

any word on the bit-perfect tests

There's a test or two mentioned in the thread, but personally not thorough enough to convince me.  I'm skeptical by nature, though. 

[ChrisV]

Just a heads up on what could be some bad news.  I used the Ratshack converter when barrowing another person's rig (Schoeps MK4s -> Nbox ->Oade mod SBM-1) and all my recordings completely bombed at the Gorge show.  They were rittled with small clicks/pops throughout the recordings for all 3 bands I taped.   So I am not sure if it is an issue with the SBM-1 signal, or the JB3 receiving it or the Ratshack box but that combo of 3 equaled disaster.   I didn't have any headphones on my at the time so I thought I was golden since I was getting levels perfectly fine on my JB3.   Got home and listened to my recordings to come back with these results.   I thought it could have been a cables issue (like with the optical or coax) but I checked all the cables and they were all 100% working order.

[Brian Skalinder]

There's a test or two mentioned in the thread, but personally not thorough enough to convince me.  I'm skeptical by nature, though. 

This question came up on the yahoo NJB3 group, too. I skimmed back through the thread and came up with the following test results people have reported:

Chris V - 1 hr flawless
Rustoleum - 2.5 hrs flawless, 2 hrs flawed (cause of flaws still
unknown, but may be related to soundcard)

Have either of you performed additional testing?  Anyone else?

[ChrisV]

I haven't done any more testing since it apparently failed miserably in the field with the SBM-1 and JB3 which is the only thing I was gonna really use it for.   But with the UA-5 it works like a champ ;p

Just curious, has anyone used the Hosa converter in combo with the SBM-1 into a JB3 with success?

[Brian Skalinder]

Thanks for the update, Chris.  And WTF are you doing awake at 5:21AM?

I vaguely recall someone using one of the Hosa boxes successfully with the SBM-1, but I'm not certain.  Hopefully someone will chime in.

[ChrisV]

West Coast...2:30 AM    Although that is not too much better lol.   Going to bed soon here

[Brian Skalinder]

West Coast...2:30 AM    Although that is not too much better lol.   Going to bed soon here

lol  Alright,I'll rephrase:  WTF are you still doing awake at 2:30am?!?  Posting on TS is a bit wacky when on GMT.  I keep expecting people to respond to my morning (for me) posts, only to have to wait 5+ hrs til people start waking up back home.

FWIW, as some have declared the RS DFC bit-perfect on the NJB3 Yahoo group, I've asked if anyone has performed further RS DFC testing over there - I suspect not (though Mike Wren maybe has).  If I find anything out I'll cross-post here.

[hexyjones]

Just a heads up on what could be some bad news.  I used the Ratshack converter when barrowing another person's rig (Schoeps MK4s -> Nbox ->Oade mod SBM-1) and all my recordings completely bombed at the Gorge show.  They were rittled with small clicks/pops throughout the recordings for all 3 bands I taped.   So I am not sure if it is an issue with the SBM-1 signal, or the JB3 receiving it or the Ratshack box but that combo of 3 equaled disaster.   I didn't have any headphones on my at the time so I thought I was golden since I was getting levels perfectly fine on my JB3.   Got home and listened to my recordings to come back with these results.   I thought it could have been a cables issue (like with the optical or coax) but I checked all the cables and they were all 100% working order.

I have had the same thing happen...using only the analog ins...

The clicks I have sound like CD skips...like 5-6 clicks in a row...and then fine...no pattern...intermittent...

Highly possible that these artifacts would be undetectable with headphones...

Were you near any cellphones...? Large power wires? Some have theorized that the JB3 is poorly shielded from RF...

[dklein]

It may be difficult to pronounce a piece of gear 'bit perfect' without considering what comes before and after.  Most of these devices are way to simple to not be bit perfect if they're getting the right signal voltage.  But when the signal voltage doesn't match the design, errors can occur.  Some designs may be more tolerant of 'out of spec' signal than others.  It wouldn't be surprising if most were flaky when receiving coax digital from some Sony units becuase of their unusual voltage. 

You could accomodate this in the converter design (change the threshold for what constitutes an 'on'). 

Interesting that the digital output level of the mic2496 is switchable to match your input device.  Too bad it's from Coresound.

[rustoleum]

Haven't had a chance to do anything new, unfortunately.  Still have plans of continuing with it, but time has not been on my side.  I will definately post here when I have anything new.

[Brian Skalinder]

It may be difficult to pronounce a piece of gear 'bit perfect' without considering what comes before and after.

Great point, David.  And in light of it, I'll amend:  I still haven't seen enough evidence suggesting the RS DFC is bit-perfect in *any* gear combination.

[F.O.Bean]

my thoughts exactly brian, 2.5 hrs isnt enuf to tell anything, maybe like 40-100 hrs

i bet you could fed the hosa anything and it will shoot a bit-perfect signal, it must have the correct voltage as said.

[pfife]

FYI- these are discontinued by RS - the store by my house still had one in, so if you are thinking about this as an option, better go now!

[ChrisV]

Yep, they were all gone from every local store around here except for one which was a display model I snagged.