Topic: Line level A-D converter recomendations

[JNT]

Looking for recomendations for a 2 line level analog to digital converter. Something relatively inexpensive. I looked at the Flying Cow model from M-Audio which is now discontinued. Most of the time I will use this where I have AC power but ideally it could accept 6-12 vdc so it could be powered in the field if necessary. A rackmountable piece would be fine.

Joe

[bdasilva]

A UA-5 will take line levels into the RCAs in the back... Many of the Oade and BM2p+ flavors have this section modded also. Great sounding / Easy to power

Tho not really inexpensive there are deals to be had in the yard sale. I waited too long to buy one of these fine pieces of gear.

[Roving Sign]

Dont forget the flying cow's cousin....The Flying Calf...the Cow needs AC power - but the Calf can run on DC...a wall-mart DVD battery will power a Flying Calf for about 2 days...!

Much better metering on the Flying Calf (compared to UA5) - and they seldom bring more than 50 bucks on ebay...

They come in 20 and 24 bit models...no 16 bit option - there is no level control...you drive it with your preamp or mixer output...

[Ryan Sims]

Dont forget the flying cow's cousin....The Flying Calf...the Cow needs AC power - but the Calf can run on DC...a wall-mart DVD battery will power a Flying Calf for about 2 days...!

Much better metering on the Flying Calf (compared to UA5) - and they seldom bring more than 50 bucks on ebay...

They come in 20 and 24 bit models...no 16 bit option - there is no level control...you drive it with your preamp or mixer output...

This is correct.  I love my Calf.  So straightforward. 

[JNT]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  The flying calf looks promising but I would prefer something correctly outputs 16 bits rather than 20 or 24.  I will be using this for material that will go onto cd only not dvd.

Joe

[Ryan Sims]

I always thought the Calf dithered to 16 bits in much the same way the AD-20 does.  I hope that's the case.

[Roving Sign]

I always thought the Calf dithered to 16 bits in much the same way the AD-20 does.  I hope that's the case.

No - assuming a 16 bit recorder - They truncate to 16 bits - no dither...assume the same occurs with the AD-20.

[stirinthesauce]

I always thought the Calf dithered to 16 bits in much the same way the AD-20 does.  I hope that's the case.

No - assuming a 16 bit recorder - They truncate to 16 bits - no dither...assume the same occurs with the AD-20.

hmmmmm, I don't feel like going digging but wasn't there alot of talk in past threads over this.  If memory serves me correct (often times it doesn't) the 20bit ad's are giving you the full 16 bits, with a more natural truncating since you are not using all the 20bits anyways (unless your pegging 0db constantly) so you are actually getting the full 16 bits using a 20bit adc.  Maybe I'm way off target, but this is how it was explained to me.

Isn't the sbm-1 a 20 bit adc.  Same with the ad1k, ad-20, flying calf, dmic-20......

[Ryan Sims]

I always thought the Calf dithered to 16 bits in much the same way the AD-20 does.  I hope that's the case.

No - assuming a 16 bit recorder - They truncate to 16 bits - no dither...assume the same occurs with the AD-20.

hmmmmm, I don't feel like going digging but wasn't there alot of talk in past threads over this.  If memory serves me correct (often times it doesn't) the 20bit ad's are giving you the full 16 bits, with a more natural truncating since you are not using all the 20bits anyways (unless your pegging 0db constantly) so you are actually getting the full 16 bits using a 20bit adc.  Maybe I'm way off target, but this is how it was explained to me.

Isn't the sbm-1 a 20 bit adc.  Same with the ad1k, ad-20, flying calf, dmic-20......

This would be what I was trying to say.  Thank you for making it make sense. +T

[JNT]

I always thought the Calf dithered to 16 bits in much the same way the AD-20 does.  I hope that's the case.

No - assuming a 16 bit recorder - They truncate to 16 bits - no dither...assume the same occurs with the AD-20.

hmmmmm, I don't feel like going digging but wasn't there alot of talk in past threads over this.  If memory serves me correct (often times it doesn't) the 20bit ad's are giving you the full 16 bits, with a more natural truncating since you are not using all the 20bits anyways (unless your pegging 0db constantly) so you are actually getting the full 16 bits using a 20bit adc.  Maybe I'm way off target, but this is how it was explained to me.

Isn't the sbm-1 a 20 bit adc.  Same with the ad1k, ad-20, flying calf, dmic-20......

I thought the SBM-1 dithered the output from 20 to 16 bits rather than truncating it. Not sure about the others.

Joe

[Roving Sign]

I always thought the Calf dithered to 16 bits in much the same way the AD-20 does.  I hope that's the case.

No - assuming a 16 bit recorder - They truncate to 16 bits - no dither...assume the same occurs with the AD-20.

hmmmmm, I don't feel like going digging but wasn't there alot of talk in past threads over this.  If memory serves me correct (often times it doesn't) the 20bit ad's are giving you the full 16 bits, with a more natural truncating since you are not using all the 20bits anyways (unless your pegging 0db constantly) so you are actually getting the full 16 bits using a 20bit adc.  Maybe I'm way off target, but this is how it was explained to me.

Isn't the sbm-1 a 20 bit adc.  Same with the ad1k, ad-20, flying calf, dmic-20......

I thought the SBM-1 dithered the output from 20 to 16 bits rather than truncating it. Not sure about the others.

Joe

Correct - SBM1 outputs 16 bits...no truncation.

Part of sales pitch - back in the day - was that the SBM1 would deliver 20 bits of worth of resolution via its 16 bits...due to Sony's magical "Super Bit Mapping" - - - no doubt the source of some of the confusion that persists today.

[JNT]

I found this one made by Behringer. Its not portable but that is fine for most of what I would use it for.
http://www.behringer.com/SRC2496/index.cfm?lang=ENG

I  found other models that offer multiple channels of A-D conversion but very few that are stereo only.

Happy turkey day everyone!

Joe

[JNT]

Anyone know of other AD converters I should look at? 

Joe

[BC]

why not use your V3? If your line signal is hot you can enagage the internal -15db pads.

[caymanreview]

why not use your V3? If your line signal is hot you can enagage the internal -15db pads.

i used to use mine all the time like that, with the pads

[F.O.Bean]

why not use your V3? If your line signal is hot you can enagage the internal -15db pads.

i used to use mine all the time like that, with the pads

are they -15db pads? i thought they were -20db pads

[caymanreview]

20 i believe

[BC]

why not use your V3? If your line signal is hot you can enagage the internal -15db pads.

i used to use mine all the time like that, with the pads

are they -15db pads? i thought they were -20db pads

My bad. Just grabbed that number off the top of my head, I have never actually used the pads.         

[caymanreview]

i couldnt remember exactly either, its been so long since i used em.

ive used them on a bunch of SBD patches archiving a local band, worked great

[JNT]

why not use your V3? If your line signal is hot you can enagage the internal -15db pads.

I haven't run my V3 that way yet but I certainly could. That is what I would use for taping a show from a sbd feed.

What I am looking for would mostly be used in the equipment rack I am putting together for when I am paid to do live sound and recording. I was originally thinking of something battery powered in the event I wanted to use it for taping off the board while also running my mics.

Good to hear that people have successfully used the v3 for  patchin out of a sound board.  Have you guys needed to use any attenuation other than the V3s build in pads?

Joe

[caymanreview]

v3 pads were def enough for all the sbd patches ive done

[Kyle]

You could jump right into the deep end with one of these...

Couldn't have designed it better myself (except for the AC power issue...)

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/adc1/

[ingsy]

How about an Apogee AD-500?  They usually go for about $225 used and (IMO) sound great.  The only problem is that they are old and not easily repaired.