Topic: Mod-SBM1 Questions.......

[F.O.Bean]

OK, so i just got one of these to run behind the v3 just for something diff, and also to run as  a smaller rig w/ a phantom unit, i have some basic questions i am sure i could find if i looked hard enough, but i figured a bump like this for stupid folks that have never used one wouldnt eb too bad a thing, so here goes:

1. when the overs are going off, how far can you push it, basically? steady red flash is a no-no, right? should i back off and let just a rare red flash and bump a few dbs in post? my only other levels are on the jb3 and the v3 wont be an indication of true levels because i'll be running out of it

2. do you guys put a piece of tape over the mic/line button to make sure it doesnt budge/move?

3. how much juice does it suck when recording? id ideally like to know its mah consumption, i could power the sbm1/jb3 off of a 7.2v 9000mah NIMH pack going into the VRBox and was wondering how long of runtimes ya'll think i should average, of course im gonna test once i receive them!

4. how long do rechargeables get out of it? hrs? id ideally like to use 2000mah AA's or maybe even something w/ a bigger mah capacity

5. whats a good gain setting on the modsbm1? i want a nice warm blanket on the overall sound, would opening the gain up to 10 add more warmth or would running it at lower gain add more warmth? or should i run it at about halfway at 5-6 and of course use the v3's trim to equal things out. so if you were running v2/3>sbm1, where would you try and shoot for gain settings?

I think thats all, and thanks in advance!

Bean

[F.O.Bean]

from bagtagsell:

For some reason I can't post this, so maybe you can put it in there for me.

1.  Slight flicker.  But make sure your over 6.  It doesn't add gain, only subtracts gain.  So 10 on sbm1 = full gain from pre/mics, 1 on sbm is restricting the most gain.  Anything below 6 gets some bad sounds
2. I never have, but it can't hurt
3. I ran it with 2500 AA and got 3 hours w/ two lights on.  YMMV
4. see #3
5. See #1

[tim in jersey]

The over lights kick in @ -3db, I like to see 'em flicker every so often. Don't be afraid to push it.

The 'gain' knobs are actually attenuators. IMO, the unit sounds best when run wide open. I'm sure others would agree. At the very least, try to run @ around 5 or 6. 

Power consumption is slightly higher than a D8. Around 350 maH if I recall correctly.

[F.O.Bean]

The over lights kick in @ -3db, I like to see 'em flicker every so often. Don't be afraid to push it.

The 'gain' knobs are actually attenuators. IMO, the unit sounds best when run wide open. I'm sure others would agree. At the very least, try to run @ around 5 or 6. 

Power consumption is slightly higher than a D8. Around 350 maH if I recall correctly.

thats what bagtag said, so i plan on running it at 8-10(wide open) and attenuate on the trim of the v3

i also forgot, w/ the v3 A/D section off, i should only be using 40% of the power i would be using the ANSR so im saving 60% off my power, i bet my 6v 7.2 eco could power the v3 for 20 hrs now, since w/ ansr on 44.1k and the optical/coax/aes outs active, i got 9-10 hrs pushing it

[tim in jersey]

The trim knobs on the V3 aren't attenuators like they were on the V2. They are actually part of the gain stage. Not trying to be nitpicky, but there is a difference.

Enjoy the new toy. 480>SBM-1 is def. one of my favorite combos.

BTW, running it @ 8 or so is a good jumping off point. Use the V3 left/right adjustments, and use the sbm to adjust up/down if overall levels need a little nudge up or down. That's gonna be a kick-ass sounding rig, for sure.

[tim in jersey]

Oh yeah, don't forget you're gonna need a pair of XLR>RCA cables to unbalance the outputs from the V3. I forget the exact pin assignments to unbalance the XLR, but I do have a pair laying around. If you need that info, LMK and I can take a look and let you know.

[F.O.Bean]

Oh yeah, don't forget you're gonna need a pair of XLR>RCA cables to unbalance the outputs from the V3. I forget the exact pin assignments to unbalance the XLR, but I do have a pair laying around. If you need that info, LMK and I can take a look and let you know.

under control, johnny had some toddr segue dogstar xlr>rca and im getting one of those 7-pin>optical cables todd makes as well, so im COVERED

483>v3>modsbm1>jb3 should sound sweet IMO

you said you dig that setup? I hope it shines for sure, especially useful in these sloppy bars in p-burgh im gonna hopefully try it out for moe on 12/30/31 to see whats up maybe do one nite straight 483>v3 and the next night do 483>v3>modsbm1

I know about the gain/attenuators regarding the v2/3, just starting typing really fast

[macdaddy]

i think i am the only one that repeatedly says this, but i think you should be a bit more conservative with the levels. i personally think a bit of headroom is a good thing, esp. if dithering the thing down to 16/44.1

you can pop the line/mic switch, as well as the sample rate switch; that is what i did (you can pop them on at a later time, or you can just move the switch with a toothpick, small screwdriver, etc.

as for the range of sound - if you have the oade line stage rebuild, i believe the sound quality will be the same, regardless if you are above 6 or below it (at say around three or four)...

[F.O.Bean]

any more tips?

[dgodwin]

when I ran the sbm-1, I had electrical tape over the bitrate switch.  It took only 1 show recorded at 32k to learn to do that.  I never had a problem with the other ones, I think due to their location.  When using with a ps2, I used the line transformers to boost the gain, so I could go line in.  I used ones made by audio technica, but hosa makes them as well.

[F.O.Bean]

thanks daniel, I plannned on getting the hosa ones, or the AT ones, whatever is easier to find

[F.O.Bean]

specifically, what are average runtimes?

[tim in jersey]

thanks daniel, I plannned on getting the hosa ones, or the AT ones, whatever is easier to find

You won't need them if you don't w00k out on us and run from the section. 

But seriously, for most loud rock shows the 480>PS-2>sbm-1 will have plenty of 'gain'.  Not a bad idea to have the transformers on hand for quieter stuff though.

[F.O.Bean]

specifically, what are average runtimes?

[F.O.Bean]

AA's/External power mainly?

[tim in jersey]

I used to power the D8 (light on) + SBM off of 1 7.2ah batt for at least 6 hours...

[macdaddy]

i use 4x 2300 powerex with a maha charger...

those 4 batts could easily do both sets of a phish gig...

but i always would have a spare set of four in my pocket...

fwiw - i have read alot about how the batts are important, but the charger is more important...

my charger is the mh-c401fs (i can use it in the car, too - for those trips to vega$ wheni had to leave, but wasnt quite ready )

batteries = powerex aa minh 2300 mAh typical 1.2v

hth

[F.O.Bean]

i use 4x 2300 powerex with a maha charger...

those 4 batts could easily do both sets of a phish gig...

but i always would have a spare set of four in my pocket...

fwiw - i have read alot about how the batts are important, but the charger is more important...

my charger is the mh-c401fs (i can use it in the car, too - for those trips to vega$ wheni had to leave, but wasnt quite ready )

batteries = powerex aa minh 2300 mAh typical 1.2v

hth

+T macadaddy

I think im gonna go the AA route, and I know LOTS about smart chargers

so the 2300mah ones should do well

I have a maha MH-C777 universal smart charger for NICD/NIMH batts, maybe i could rig up a 4 x AA sled to it

otherwise, I was maybe gonna get the maha one or the la-crosse one made for AA batts

[macdaddy]

+T macadaddy

I think im gonna go the AA route, and I know LOTS about smart chargers

so the 2300mah ones should do well

I have a maha MH-C777 universal smart charger for NICD/NIMH batts, maybe i could rig up a 4 x AA sled to it

otherwise, I was maybe gonna get the maha one or the la-crosse one made for AA batts

this i cannot help you with (never rigged a charger, never used a different one) - i took someone's advice here and got involved with the maha charger and pwerex batts. i have only ever used those and duracells, in a pinch, which last about an hour and a half, tops...

[F.O.Bean]

so 4 X 2300mah powerex NIMH batts yeilds about 4 hrs

i also have the vrbox and i was mainly goinna run the v3 on my 6v sla, and the jb3/modsbm1 off of my 9000mah packs i have made, im guessing thats close to running the d8/sbm1 combo

[grayp]

thanks daniel, I plannned on getting the hosa ones, or the AT ones, whatever is easier to find

You won't need them if you don't w00k out on us and run from the section. 

But seriously, for most loud rock shows the 480>PS-2>sbm-1 will have plenty of 'gain'.  Not a bad idea to have the transformers on hand for quieter stuff though.

i don't think you'll need them either.  you can get the extra +6 from the 480s if you need it.   i ran the 480/ps2/modsbm combo for a while and I don't think I ever needed more.  taped a few acoustic bluegrass things too.   

[F.O.Bean]

what I did notice w/ the Energizer 2500mah NIMH batts is, on the sbm1 especially, the keep 4 bars on tha batts for awhile, and then quickly die

Im still getting 6hrs easily on those 4 x 2500mah batts but just wanted to note that Those bastards go from 4 bars(up to 4-5hrs)>>3bars(quickly)>2 bars(dies sudden)