Topic: patching from UA5?

[BJ]

I know this is a newbie question, and I did search(however unsuccessful).  Is it possible for someone(without mics) to patch into my rig?  im running a UA5.(can it go in and out at the same time?)  If so...what cord would they need?  Any on the back?(coaxail, optical, etc?)  Thank you for your help...sorry for da newb question.

[creekfreak]

what are you recording into?

[BJ]

sorry, i have MK 012's --> UA5 --> Laptop  I was wondering if someone else could patch with a MD?

[mirth]

yes. They will need the appropriate cables for their MD to go from any of the three outputs on your UA-5 (RCA, Coax, Toslink).

[Electric Cowgirl]

Also (I think) you will have to run at 24/48 in order to send a viable signal to a MD or DAT.

[Matt Quinn]

Also (I think) you will have to run at 24/48 in order to send a viable signal to a MD or DAT.

You definitely don't need to do this.  

[Craig T]

Also (I think) you will have to run at 24/48 in order to send a viable signal to a MD or DAT.

You definitely don't need to do this.  

I think what BeckyT was saying is that you can't record a 96k sample rate to the laptop and still patch MD or DAT.

16/44.1, 16/48, 24/44.1, and 24/48 should all pass a signal to patching MD or DAT.  If you are doing 24bit, the MD/DAT will trucate to 16bit - not ideal, but it will work.

[quantegy]

Also, I think it needs to have the digi-mod to use the USB, coax and optical all at the same time. I dont think the stock UA-5 sends a signal to all the outs. I could be very wrong though.

[mirth]

The stock UA-5 will send two digital signals.... Always via the USB and then also to either the coax or optical, depending on how the switch is set.

[blu666z]

The stock UA-5 will send two digital signals.... Always via the USB and then also to either the coax or optical, depending on how the switch is set.

The switch sets which input it uses: optical/coax.

-Kevin

[mirth]

I've always been under the impression that the switch is for both modes. Don't have the manual in front of me, though, and Edirol's site doesn't have an online version.

[quantegy]

im pretty sure kevin is right, the switch is for the inputs.

[Craig T]

Also, I think it needs to have the digi-mod to use the USB, coax and optical all at the same time. I dont think the stock UA-5 sends a signal to all the outs. I could be very wrong though.

Its definitely easier if you have a digi-mod since it always has the USB, coax & optical active at the same time without any special software settings.  You can do it with a stock UA5, but you have to use the USB in duplex mode by doing real time monitoring of the recording through the software.  Not all software will allow this.  What happens is the signal passes from the UA5 via USB to the computer, then the software will allow monitoring by sending signal back to the UA5 via USB and out the analog and digital outputs.  In this situation, you may only get one digital out - coax or optical, selected by the switch on the back of the unit.

[BJ]

Its definitely easier if you have a digi-mod since it always has the USB, coax & optical active at the same time without any special software settings.  

Thanks for the help guys, The last post was exactly what I was looking for.  Can anyone point me in the direction for the DIY digimod?  I searched the archives, and a few other places, but could find no instructions for this, Iknow my searching isn't the greatest yet.  Thanks in advance!

[Brian]

Its definitely easier if you have a digi-mod since it always has the USB, coax & optical active at the same time without any special software settings. 

Thanks for the help guys, The last post was exactly what I was looking for.  Can anyone point me in the direction for the DIY digimod?  I searched the archives, and a few other places, but could find no instructions for this, Iknow my searching isn't the greatest yet.  Thanks in advance!

here ya go

http://ca.geocities.com/dkleined@rogers.com/audio/UA5/ModifyUA5.htm

[BJ]

wow, that was fast..you guys are great!  
Thanks

[drewloo]

If it's just for patchers why not just get a stereo RCA-to-mini cable?  That way you don't have to worry about frying your UA5 when modding it.

[BJ]

so the rca will still do output while im recording, without having to run the usb in duplex mode, and monitor thru the software?  That sounds much better than me trying to mod the UA5, b/c im a newb!

[quantegy]

yeah, RCAs will work just fine, the mod is for digital only, thus the digi-mod. I wouldnt risk ruining your UA-5 for patchers, its a kind thought but a risk for something that you dont need to record.

[Brian]

yeah, RCAs will work just fine, the mod is for digital only, thus the digi-mod. I wouldnt risk ruining your UA-5 for patchers, its a kind thought but a risk for something that you dont need to record.

but what about MD patchers with optical cables, or dat patchers?

if you are good with a soldering iron then the DIY Digi mod is,apparantly, not hard.  Lots of tapers on this board have done it. so if you are not comfortable doing it, i'm sure you could find someone with teh balls and knowledge to do a fine job of course that excludes me, cause i suck at electronics

Brian

[dklein]

Just to confirm:
the switch on the back is for input only
the optical and coax output will always operate as a pair - you'll never find one working without the other.

I've spent stupid hours inside this box...

[Brian]

Just to confirm:
the optical and coax output will always operate as a pair - you'll never find one working without the other.
I've spent stupid hours inside this box...

this would be for the stock UA5, correct? if so you are saying that if the USB is connected to a computer, the optical and coax digi outs will enable if they are both plugged in to their respective recorders? i didn't know it could do this and i just want to confirm with you that this is correct.

Brian

[dklein]

I can say for certain that anything coming out of the optical is also coming out of the coax.

I did the digi-mod on my UA-5 as soon as I got it so I'm not sure about the performance of the stock unit.

I can tell you that in a stock unit, the digital signal that is fed to the coax/optical outputs originates at the output of the USB controller.   The UA-5 sends digital signal out thru USB and then gets it back thru USB and passes on to the UA-5 digital outputs.

What I'm not sure of is if it's functional anytime there's a USB connection... or if it's only active when the software is set to loopback the signal to the UA-5 (monitor).

[quantegy]

yeah, RCAs will work just fine, the mod is for digital only, thus the digi-mod. I wouldnt risk ruining your UA-5 for patchers, its a kind thought but a risk for something that you dont need to record.

but what about MD patchers with optical cables, or dat patchers?

Brian

They can both accept an analog feed.

[herrmann2burn]

Also (I think) you will have to run at 24/48 in order to send a viable signal to a MD or DAT.

You definitely don't need to do this.  

I think what BeckyT was saying is that you can't record a 96k sample rate to the laptop and still patch MD or DAT.

16/44.1, 16/48, 24/44.1, and 24/48 should all pass a signal to patching MD or DAT.  If you are doing 24bit, the MD/DAT will trucate to 16bit - not ideal, but it will work.

Craig, I dont understand something...How would the UA-5 detect that your LT is set at 24 bit, and therefore change the digital out? Arent the Bit Rates independent with your recording Device, and only the Sample Rate is Dependent on the UA-5 Setting?

[cpclark]

i do think that you have to loop the audio back to the ua-5 when it is stock, b/c i tried to use a dat as backup using the coax and it didnt pass a signal, im using soundforge 6, anyone know how to activate this so i can always back up my laptop recordings

[Craig T]

Also (I think) you will have to run at 24/48 in order to send a viable signal to a MD or DAT.

You definitely don't need to do this.  

I think what BeckyT was saying is that you can't record a 96k sample rate to the laptop and still patch MD or DAT.

16/44.1, 16/48, 24/44.1, and 24/48 should all pass a signal to patching MD or DAT.  If you are doing 24bit, the MD/DAT will trucate to 16bit - not ideal, but it will work.

Craig, I dont understand something...How would the UA-5 detect that your LT is set at 24 bit, and therefore change the digital out? Arent the Bit Rates independent with your recording Device, and only the Sample Rate is Dependent on the UA-5 Setting?

I'm assuming LT=laptop.

The UA5 doesn't detect anything.  you have to set the bit & sample rates.  the sample rate is set by the dial on the front.  the bit rate is set by the switch on the back.  For 24bit, you want the switch to be set to "ADV-ON" (or something like that) for "advanced mode", but you also need to make sure your recording software is set to 24bit (& whatever sample rate you're using).

[herrmann2burn]

Also (I think) you will have to run at 24/48 in order to send a viable signal to a MD or DAT.

You definitely don't need to do this.  

I think what BeckyT was saying is that you can't record a 96k sample rate to the laptop and still patch MD or DAT.

16/44.1, 16/48, 24/44.1, and 24/48 should all pass a signal to patching MD or DAT.  If you are doing 24bit, the MD/DAT will trucate to 16bit - not ideal, but it will work.

Craig, I dont understand something...How would the UA-5 detect that your LT is set at 24 bit, and therefore change the digital out? Arent the Bit Rates independent with your recording Device, and only the Sample Rate is Dependent on the UA-5 Setting?

I'm assuming LT=laptop.

The UA5 doesn't detect anything.  you have to set the bit & sample rates.  the sample rate is set by the dial on the front.  the bit rate is set by the switch on the back.  For 24bit, you want the switch to be set to "ADV-ON" (or something like that) for "advanced mode", but you also need to make sure your recording software is set to 24bit (& whatever sample rate you're using).

Craig-
Yeah, i have ADV set to ON when i have my UA-5 Hooked up to the LT(yep, Laptop) so i can record 24 bit, becuase that allows the UA-5 to operate with the Special Drivers to use with other Recording Programs and record at 24 bit.  When it is set to OFF, you would use the Standard Drivers, and only record at 16 bit.
What i dont understand is-Are you saying that when the ADV is ON, it will manipulate the Digital Signal from a Coaxial or Optical Cable when someone is patching?  I was under the impression that the ADV ON/OFF switch only affects the USB Signal/Driver.
What is getting me confused is the Reply you made-"If you are doing 24bit, the MD/DAT will trucate to 16bit - not ideal, but it will work."
Why would the MD/DAT Trucate to 16bit?  Wouldnt the MD/DAT just pull a 16bit Rate?
 

[cpclark]

can you have the 24 bit driver installed to do 24 bit tapes, then switch back to 16 bit to do digital transfers.  i just dont want to have to reinstall drivers evertime that i tape my band then have to do 16 bit transfers to my laptop from the dat recordings i make when taping other bands, anyone have any experience with this, i would love to do both 24 and 16 bit tapes without much of a hassle, just thought you couldnt have both sets of drivers installed at the same time?

[Craig T]

I have the "advanced" driver installed, but I've still switched the ADV to "off" and recorded 16bit a few times without problems on an XP machine.

The ADV on/off controlls the a/d converter, so if you have it set to "on", it will send 24bit to all digital outputs.  This means if you have a digi-mod UA5, you'll be sending 24bit to the USB, coax & optical.  I'm not sure what it means if you have a stock UA5 - I would think any software monitoring would be at the same bitrate you are recording at.  If you connect a 16bit device (JB3, MD, DAT) to the 24bit output, they will truncate to 16bit.  I've done this with a DAT as a safety net in case my USB recording to the laptop had issues.

[herrmann2burn]

I have the "advanced" driver installed, but I've still switched the ADV to "off" and recorded 16bit a few times without problems on an XP machine.

The ADV on/off controlls the a/d converter, so if you have it set to "on", it will send 24bit to all digital outputs.  This means if you have a digi-mod UA5, you'll be sending 24bit to the USB, coax & optical.  I'm not sure what it means if you have a stock UA5 - I would think any software monitoring would be at the same bitrate you are recording at.  If you connect a 16bit device (JB3, MD, DAT) to the 24bit output, they will truncate to 16bit.  I've done this with a DAT as a safety net in case my USB recording to the laptop had issues.

  Thank you for explaining that. +T
~Rhys

[cpclark]

thanks craig, im gonna have to try this at the next show

[jessedscott]

I might be too late to chime in on this , BUT, once you gat a moded UA5 warm or presence, all the out puts are active. So if your running coax out, Toslink and RCA are ACTIVE. Atleast they are on mine. I have had Coax, Tos, and RCA's all going at once.....Not to sure about the digi mod though. Hope this helps...


peace, jess

[BJ]

not to bring up old shit...  but if I am NOT using a laptop, and only using a JB3, i should turn the ADV switch to off?  so it is only sending 16 bit to my jb3?  I am so confused here...I thought the switch ONLY affected the input, not the out.  

if i am recording to BOTH the laptop(via usb) and the JB3(via optical), and the adv switch is on, i am recording 24 bit on laptop, the JB3 is truncating to 16 bit?  

[Brian Skalinder]

not to bring up old shit...  but if I am NOT using a laptop, and only using a JB3, i should turn the ADV switch to off?  so it is only sending 16 bit to my jb3?  I am so confused here...I thought the switch ONLY affected the input, not the out.

Correct.  (It's the coax/optical switch which only effects input.)

if i am recording to BOTH the laptop(via usb) and the JB3(via optical), and the adv switch is on, i am recording 24 bit on laptop, the JB3 is truncating to 16 bit?

Correct.

[BJ]

+t....INFORmation OVERload...getting my switches confused now.  thanx...hope i remember all this shit, i tend to forget(alot) when the sherlock goes swimming around the ocean of friends.  How bad is it to truncate?  is there comps available?  Am i killing/ruining my recording by doing this?

[mgleason007]

but if I am NOT using a laptop, and only using a JB3, i should turn the ADV switch to off?

This would only work if you digi-modded your UA5.