Topic: A/D Converter w/o Phantom Power

[charles]

Does anyone know of and A/D converter w/o phantom power that is less expensive than a UA-5 digimod?

[The Kilted Taper]

AD-20. They've been going, used, for about $175 - $200.

[Brian Skalinder]

Does anyone know of and A/D converter w/o phantom power that is less expensive than a UA-5 digimod?

While a pure ADC may work well, you may also need gain (preamp or transformers) to get strong enough levels to your ADC.  Graham Patten ADC-20's run pretty cheap, but don't often see them for sale.  There's a list of some common gear and the gear's capabilities in the Archival Information's Newbie thread.  Unfortunately, no associated pricing, though.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

If you are gettin CM100s and a NJB3, can't you get started by running line in to the NJB3 via transformers? 

I thought someone posted that the nomad internal ADC was as good as the D7/D8 ADC.  It seems like that would be the cheapest way to get yourself going until you score and external ADC.

[spyder9]

I taped using the JB3 w/o an ADC.  The sound quality is subpar when compared to a ADC in the middle.  Go with a Denecke AD-20 for portabilitity ($200) or a Edirol UA-5 digi-mod ($200) along side your JB3, and you will not be disappointed.  Granted, what type of mics you use will also dictate your recording results.

[bhtoque]

For the small difference in price, you are better off with the ua-5. As long as you don't want to stealth your adc/pre.

JAson

[The Kilted Taper]

FYI, digi-mod UA-5 is $295, not $200. They are running some kind of deal with a battery pack for about $30 more.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

I taped using the JB3 w/o an ADC.  The sound quality is subpar when compared to a ADC in the middle. 

I never said the D7 ADC was good ;-)

But still it's a working solution. What he has now he could pull some shows.

[spyder9]

Bornagain,

I was talking used, not new.  No biggy.   

[The Kilted Taper]

Gotcha! Apologies.

[Sean Gallemore]

AD500/1000?

[Brian Skalinder]

I taped using the JB3 w/o an ADC.  The sound quality is subpar when compared to a ADC in the middle.

What gear was your basis for comparison?  Do any direct comps?  Mic-in or line-in?  Very few people could tell the difference in the blind line-in D100 v. JB3 comp I posted a while back, and a good number of people preferred the JB3.  Unfortunately, only a handful of people responded.

I think a lot of people bash the JB3 analog-in but haven't actually listened to it.  Not trying to knock you, sounds like you've listened with your own ears, I'm just curious under what circumstances you've run the JB3 analog-in and what gear you've used as a reference point (whether as a comp or just previuos usage).

[spyder9]

I ran mini card Mics > battery box > line-in > JB3.  W/O a Preamp, you can hear the hard drive spin in your recording.  W/ Preamp, attenuation is bumped up, over-riding the HD noise.  Therefore, if you don't use a AD20, UA-5, or higher, your recording will be bastardized by the beep that comes around every 20 seconds or so.  Many people have experienced this problem until they threw in a a preamp.  As for line-in vs digital, I went direct w/ digital.  If you got it, use it.  Sorry if I wasn't clear. 

[Brian Skalinder]

I ran mini card Mics > battery box > line-in > JB3.  W/O a Preamp, you can hear the hard drive spin in your recording.  W/ Preamp, attenuation is bumped up, over-riding the HD noise.  Therefore, if you don't use a AD20, UA-5, or higher, your recording will be bastardized by the beep that comes around every 20 seconds or so.  Many people have experienced this problem until they threw in a a preamp.  As for line-in vs digital, I went direct w/ digital.  If you got it, use it.  Sorry if I wasn't clear. 

Ahhhhh, yes...low gain.  Your experiences relative to mine make sense due to the gain issue - sounds like you didn't have enough, while I ran a pre in front and had plenty of gain.  No question, if you can run digi-in to the JB3, gotta do it!  Thanks for the additional info, Spyder.

Charles - if you want to keep things cheap, you could run Nak mics (powered internally) > Hosa MIT-176 line transformers (adds gain) > JB3 (line-in, using internal ADC).  The line transformers run around $40/pr.  Then when you have the cash, you could replace the line transformers with the UA-5 as pre/ADC and run digital-in to the JB3.

[charles]

With the Hosa I'd be running an analog signal to the JB3, correct?

[Brian Skalinder]

With the Hosa I'd be running an analog signal to the JB3, correct?

Yes, that's correct.  Detail chain would look like this:

Nak mics (XLR out) >
(XLR in) XLR cables (XLR out) >
(XLR in) 2 x Hosa MIT-176 (1/4" mono out) >
(2 x 1/4"mono in) to stereo mini adapter >
JB3

Make sense?

[charles]

Yes, that makes sense. Well, I really apreciate everyone's help on this. I'm learning a lot thanks to you guys. If I can get a ua-5 stock on ebay for pretty cheap, then I'll probably just go that route and do the DIY mod. If not, I now know my other options. Thanks again. I'll keep ya'll updated.