Topic: MP-2 > UA-5?

[drewloo]

So I picked up John J.'s MP-2 and am gonna try running it in front of my p-mod UA-5 & then do a separate comparison between the two (I know, one has an AD, yadda yadda).  Has anyone here ever tried an MP-2 in front of a UA-5?  I suspect it'll sound much different than when we went V2>UA-5.  The V2 was so transparent that I hardly noticed a difference, but I suspect the MP-2 will 'warm' the sound up a good bit.  Comments/thoughts?
 
thanks,
Drew

[Sean Gallemore]

i think that'll sound dank, though I am not speaking from much experience.  When I saw this thread, I thought to myself, "i hope this us-5 has a presence mod and not a warm one."  Turns out my guestamation was correct, so I say go for it!

[joeshambro]

I think that would sound great.. I"ve always thought the mp2 had a round, "boxy"sound that was really pleasing on the ears... as does the UA5's A/D...  so they'll match well together.

[Lee]

are you running XLR-out of the MP-2 into the XLR-in on teh UA-5?  That's two preamp stages, your levels are going to be way hot.

Try going 1/8" out of the MP-2 and RCA in on the back of the UA-5.  I've done that with my PSP-2 once or twice and I think the RCA's on the UA-5 bypass the preamp stage.

[cpclark]

are you running XLR-out of the MP-2 into the XLR-in on teh UA-5?  That's two preamp stages, your levels are going to be way hot.

Try going 1/8" out of the MP-2 and RCA in on the back of the UA-5.  I've done that with my PSP-2 once or twice and I think the RCA's on the UA-5 bypass the preamp stage.

this is true about the 1/8 into the rca's, no preamp stage and i think, being a current and former mp-2 user, that this would be a great combo for either the stock or p-mod ua-5, if i can ever get external power to my ua-5 i have before i sell my mp-2, it might be a good comp, maybe run my v2 in it as well at some point,let us know how it sounds, probably will be very pleasing

[Brian Skalinder]

I recently told Doug Oade about the V3 v UA5 comparison I'm gonna do, and here's what he head to say when I brought up running V3 analog out > UA-5 RCA-in:

"If you use the UA5 RCA inputs, one of the lesser op amps ( 4570) is
still in circuit, but it is a bit better than stock, but not as improved
as the XLR ins. The UA5 will overload at +14 and the V3 outputs +25 at
0DBFS, so that wont work either."

[Craig T]

I just ran V3(xlr>rca)>UA5's rca line inputs as a 16bit patch chain at YMSB last weekend.  I was using the V3 at 24/48 into a laptop and there was only 2 sets of mics, so I wanted to try to help out the patchers.  It didn't work.  I was running the V3 as I normally would, not taking into account that the UA5's line inputs won't take the +25 output of the V3.  I overloaded the UA5 and the 16bit patchers got a "brickwalled" signal.  Sorry guys, I tried!

[drewloo]

are you running XLR-out of the MP-2 into the XLR-in on teh UA-5?  That's two preamp stages, your levels are going to be way hot.

Try going 1/8" out of the MP-2 and RCA in on the back of the UA-5.  I've done that with my PSP-2 once or twice and I think the RCA's on the UA-5 bypass the preamp stage.

Probably will do it the same way we ran the V2>UA5.  First I'll try it w/ the gain all the way down on the UA5 and go into the UA5 via the XLR's and adjust levels with the MP2.  Hopefully this won't be too much gain and I'll still get the p-mod benefits.  If it is too much gain then I'll have to go the way Lee describes.  Should be interesting...

thanks,
Drew

[hoobash]

Let me know how this sounds. I am running TL>mp2>adc-20>d10 pro. My last recording came out a bit bright. I have was thinking about getting a stock ua-5(mod it myself) and using that for a/d instead of my adc-20. I am also thinking about just runing mp2>d10

[cpclark]

ive ran the mp-2 -> adc-20 and i found the same results you did, very bright, lacking bass, a little harsh on the ears too, i would suggest using the sony a/d or finding another that would better suit your tastes

[utahtaper]

I just ran V3(xlr>rca)>UA5's rca line inputs as a 16bit patch chain at YMSB last weekend.  I was using the V3 at 24/48 into a laptop and there was only 2 sets of mics, so I wanted to try to help out the patchers.  It didn't work.  I was running the V3 as I normally would, not taking into account that the UA5's line inputs won't take the +25 output of the V3.  I overloaded the UA5 and the 16bit patchers got a "brickwalled" signal.  Sorry guys, I tried!

Just a suggestion but why not run attenuators betweent the pre and the UA5 to cut 10 or 15 db's off the signal before it hits the UA5?

[hoobash]

This sound worked well with my oktavas. It help with the lose bottem end. But the Tl dont have the same bass issues as the oktavas. I might just run into the deck. I might get a ua-5 anyway as a toy

ive ran the mp-2 -> adc-20 and i found the same results you did, very bright, lacking bass, a little harsh on the ears too, i would suggest using the sony a/d or finding another that would better suit your tastes

[cpclark]

I just ran V3(xlr>rca)>UA5's rca line inputs as a 16bit patch chain at YMSB last weekend.  I was using the V3 at 24/48 into a laptop and there was only 2 sets of mics, so I wanted to try to help out the patchers.  It didn't work.  I was running the V3 as I normally would, not taking into account that the UA5's line inputs won't take the +25 output of the V3.  I overloaded the UA5 and the 16bit patchers got a "brickwalled" signal.  Sorry guys, I tried!

Just a suggestion but why not run attenuators betweent the pre and the UA5 to cut 10 or 15 db's off the signal before it hits the UA5?

this is a good idea, hadnt even crossed my mind, this would work , might have to try, v2-> ua-5 with shure attenuators at -20db

[Craig T]

Just a suggestion but why not run attenuators betweent the pre and the UA5 to cut 10 or 15 db's off the signal before it hits the UA5?

Yes, this should work fine.  I just didn't have any attenuators on me, nor did I even consider the fact I might need them.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Nic Caudle and I were taping last night and we were talking about running his MP-2 in front of my UA5.  And we were wondering how all that would work.

Did a search here and found this thread...

But I still have a few questions, of any folks that run any kind of preamp in front of their UA5:

1)  Is the UA5s own pre-amp work for both the XLR and 1/4" inputs on the front?  If so, wouldn't running a pre into that input just run the signal through the UA5s pre, basically "fouling" the original pre-amped signal???  Wouldn't there be too much gain going into the AD, with 2 preamps running???

2)  I think I already know the answer to my first question, and that is yeah, yeah, and yeah...  Not the way to run a pre-amp in front of the UA5...  Which bring me to my second question:  Running the pre-amp into the rear RCA inputs on the back, that must be the way to go, right??? 

3)  If this is correct, how should I be thinking about setting my levels with both gain on the MP2 and the volume know on the UA5???  Should the UA5 be set to zero and then use the MP2 for gain?  Or a the other way around, or perhaps a balance between the two???

Thanks for any help!!!

Terry

[Rick]

Recently I've been running SX-M2 > Stock UA-5 and I run XLR > RCA. I have the "input volume" all the way open (to the right) and adjust the levels with the SX-M2.  I haven't done an formal comparison, but I'm not so sure SX-M2 > UA-5 > D100 sounds any better then SX-M2 > D100. That's why I'm selling mine.

[dklein]

Just a suggestion but why not run attenuators betweent the pre and the UA5 to cut 10 or 15 db's off the signal before it hits the UA5?

Yes, this should work fine.  I just didn't have any attenuators on me, nor did I even consider the fact I might need them.

How about turning the input level (on the rear) way down?  It is an attenuator and not a gain control.

[Chris K]

i have run my mp-2 into an oade digi mid ua-5 a few times. get yourself a good pair of xlr>rca cables. maybe someone on this board can make them for you. connect xlr out of the mp-2 into the rca ins of the ua-5.

you can also use a stereo 1/8" miniplug>stereo rca cable

i find the ua-5 to be a fine a/d converter, but i dont like the access to the gain knob for the rca inputs which is a tiny knob in the rear of the ua-5. a 1-1/2" 10-32 wellnut that can be had at a good hardware store and can make the gain knob a little easier to use

do not run mp-2 XLR out > ua-5 XLR (or TRS) in, you will be going from mp-2 preamp to ua-5 preamp.

i run my mp-2 gain all the way down, that is the gain knobs totally counterclockwise, and when music starts playing adjust only the side that is a little lower levelwise than the other to even out. then adjust the rca gain on the rear of the ua-5 so the high points are blinking the over led which goes off i believe at -3db.

hope this helps...have fun

[Rick]

Just a suggestion but why not run attenuators betweent the pre and the UA5 to cut 10 or 15 db's off the signal before it hits the UA5?

Yes, this should work fine.  I just didn't have any attenuators on me, nor did I even consider the fact I might need them.

How about turning the input level (on the rear) way down?  It is an attenuator and not a gain control.

It's the opposite. all the way up is 0db

[dklein]

Just a suggestion but why not run attenuators betweent the pre and the UA5 to cut 10 or 15 db's off the signal before it hits the UA5?

Yes, this should work fine.  I just didn't have any attenuators on me, nor did I even consider the fact I might need them.

How about turning the input level (on the rear) way down?  It is an attenuator and not a gain control.

It's the opposite. all the way up is 0db

Aaren't we saying the same thing?  If it's 0 dB when it's all the way up then any other setting is attenuation (although there may be some minimum gain in there anyways)

[Craig T]

Level knob on the rear for the line inputs is at unity gain around 1-2 o'clock.  "all the way up"/clockwise does not equal 0 gain.  (from correspondence with D.Oade)

[Rick]

opps, I miss read it 

Nominal Input Level (variable)
Input 1/2: -50 -- 0 dBu
Input 3/4: -10 dBu

[AT853rxwh]

Dunno, maybe I have tin ears but I liked the sound of the MP-2 straight into the NJB3 vs MP2>UA-5...  Seemed a bit fuller to me.

[drewloo]

Dunno, maybe I have tin ears but I liked the sound of the MP-2 straight into the NJB3 vs MP2>UA-5...  Seemed a bit fuller to me.

Out of curiosity what mics were you using?  thanks

[AT853rxwh]

Dunno, maybe I have tin ears but I liked the sound of the MP-2 straight into the NJB3 vs MP2>UA-5...  Seemed a bit fuller to me.

Out of curiosity what mics were you using?  thanks

AT853's

[drewloo]

Cool.  I've been thinking of getting some 853's or something similar for stealthing & would be using them w/ an MP2>D8 or M1.  I gotta admit that I'm a little suprised you didn't like the UA5 in there since it has a better A/D than the JB3 (well, going on comments from others who went straight in to the JB3 w/ other stuff), but it's nice that it works out for you. +t

[AT853rxwh]

Cool.  I've been thinking of getting some 853's or something similar for stealthing & would be using them w/ an MP2>D8 or M1.  I gotta admit that I'm a little suprised you didn't like the UA5 in there since it has a better A/D than the JB3 (well, going on comments from others who went straight in to the JB3 w/ other stuff), but it's nice that it works out for you. +t

Dunno, the UA-5 seemed "sterile" sounding... (then again mine was just a digimod'd one.)  The 853's are phantom'd btw.  That seems to make the most difference on those mics.  They work okay on plug power, but really come alive with phantom...