Topic: So this is really weird...

[pfife]

First off, here's my gear:

TL's -> UA-5 (W-Mod)->NJB3

Here's my situation:

Last Saturday, I took the above mentioned rig to a local place by my house to do some taping of some locals and touring bands.  I set up the rig.  I am watching the meters on the JB3, and the right channel keeps cutting out on the display.  So I get pissed, tear down the rig, and grab my stealth stuff, and record that way.

Yesterday, I was going to go tape again at another local bar, but I remembered that I had these issues, so I set the rig up again in my living room, and monitor the levels while playing my stereo really loud.  No problems - seemed to be acting normally on the meters.

Then, I take it to the bar, set it up, and same problem!!!  Even though I had set it up and tested it before I left, I tend to fall victim to Murphy's law quite often, so I brought a spare mic cable, thinking that was the issue.  I changed cords, and now there is no right channel whatsoever.  So, I was pissed, tore down the rig, and stealthed that mug.

So, WTF?  I am going to test out every component of my rig using my other home studio gear, but I have this cynical feeling that I could set up my rig to record my stereo at a loud volume again, and see no malfunctioning whatsoever.

Thanks for any suggestions you guys may have...

peace-
Andrew

[Chanher]

sometimes it's such a hassle to set up for all that testing, but I think it's worth it. also, try recording your stereo as loud as it can possibly go.

[Brian]

are you using your own power supplies? did you have all your gear situated(ie. in bag or on table)  the same way at home as you did at the bar? are you using all the same cables you did at home as you did in the bar?

lots of variables here we need to sort out before we can determine a problem.  i'm thinking a faulty xlr connection somewhere in the chain; either at the mic, the cable itself, or your right channel on the UA5.

did you digi mod the unit yourself? i think i remember somebody on the board complaining of a similar problem after they did the digi mod himself.

Brian

[pfife]

Thanks for the replies.  

I did use all of the exact same gear in the home test as I did at the bar, and I even set the mics up in the same config (hypthosizing that it was tension on the XLRs at the mics that might be causing the problem) ;  I switched the cable at the bar, and that made it even worse!

I did build a battery pack for the ua-5, and I used that in my home test as well, and used the same one at the bar.

That's the thing I don't understand though, is that I tested it trying to control for as many things as possible.  The only real difference was that at home I had the UA-5 on my coffee table, and at the bar it was on the mic case... I maybe that could change the tension on the inputs of the UA-5, but when I wiggle those, it does nothing...


I didn't mod it myself - I bought it w/ the digimod and w-mod from Oade in October or November, and I bought the TL's from Sonic Sense in December... so I would imagine its all under warranty still...

bummin...

thanks!
~AP

[BCostigan]

Sounds like maybe one of the xlr connectors on either the mic or ua-5 has a problem....did ya try swapping the mics/cables to see what happens??    

Try seeting it up and if the right channel is messed up.....swap the mics.  If there is still a problem with the right channel swap cables.....at this point if you still have a problem with the right channel (and the left is OK) then your problem is between the ua-5 and the deck.


Process of elimination....pain in the ass but essential!

[Lee]

check and make sure the impedance switch on the UA-5 is set for "LO-Z."  It only affects channel 2's input, so if it got bumped that would explain it.  Good luck.

[BCostigan]

check and make sure the impedance switch on the UA-5 is set for "LO-Z."  It only affects channel 2's input, so if it got bumped that would explain it.  Good luck.

I didn't  know that....nice Lee!

[pfife]

great suggestions!  I will be trying all of them!

+t's

[teajay]

check and make sure the impedance switch on the UA-5 is set for "LO-Z."  It only affects channel 2's input, so if it got bumped that would explain it.  Good luck.

I didn't  know that....nice Lee!

BCostigan,
Hi-Z is for high impedance inputs like a guitar or something... in case you really cared

[1st set only]

hmmmmm

how bout this...
is your stealth rigs recording device diffrent than the jb3?

could be yer optical cable not seating properly in the jb3.

try the problem set up in the bar or where ever you are having the problems and switch between the analog input and the opti cable input.


just a thought.

[caymanreview]

isnt the hi-z and lo-z switch and the 1/4" input disabled by oade when it is warm/presence modded?

[BCostigan]

check and make sure the impedance switch on the UA-5 is set for "LO-Z."  It only affects channel 2's input, so if it got bumped that would explain it.  Good luck.

I didn't  know that....nice Lee!

BCostigan,
Hi-Z is for high impedance inputs like a guitar or something... in case you really cared

Thanks but I did know that....just didn't know the switch only effected the right channel.

[teamakg]

isnt the hi-z and lo-z switch and the 1/4" input disabled by oade when it is warm/presence modded?

i believe so.  have had the switch in both positions and noticed no difference on my wmod

[pfife]

Once again everyone - thanks for the assistance.  I am pretty sure I have narrowed this little dilema down to one of my mics not working properly.

I took my TL's, and hooked them up to my mackie mixer, which is hooked to my digital multitracker.   I was getting a reading from one mic, and the other was not registering.  I unhooked the one that was not working, and plugged another crappy condenscer mic into the same cable (thus, controlling everything except the mic)  - and ZAM!  signal.  

I am concluding that one of my TL's is the issue...  ;(

So, now I am going to have to try to get them exchanged... purchased them in December from Sonic Sense, so hopefully it won't be a problem.  Maybe this is a blessing in disguise... I have been thinking about going solely stealth lately, so I might exchange them for some really nice stealth mics or something...

Wish me luck!

[zhianosatch]

STEALTH, BABY! STEALTH OR DIE!