Topic: UA-5 pre-amp question

[phishmarisol]

I want to get one because I need an a/d but I see that it is a pre-amp too?  I am using this with a JB3.  Would I no longer mess with the gain on the JB3 but just use the UA-5 instead?

[jpschust]

exactly.

when you send a digital signal that disables the jb3's ability to even deal with levels.  plus you will like your ability to deal with levels way more on the ua-5

[phishmarisol]

nice.

[jpschust]

i think you will really enjoy what the ua-5 does for even the sound of the board patches.  its a nice unit.

[phishmarisol]

Now I just need to find another one for sale.

[Terps]

Look on e-bay.
I've seen a few go for under $200.

[mmmatt]

You do realize that a ua-5 will not work as a stand alone a/d converter... right?  To use it with your jb3 you will need to have it modified.  It doesn't sound too tough to do yourself, but you can buy one already done from Oade for $299  http://www.oade.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=OADE&Category_Code=DDR
otherwise the only way the digi outs work is with it connected to a computer with the usb.

Matt

[mgleason007]

Also, if you buy it from Oade you can send it back to get a warm or presence mod down the road.

[jpschust]

or you can save yourself a few bucks and buy one of the oade ones that keeps coming up for sale from time to time

[jkoch]

is it true the signal from mics to the ua5 via xlr needs to be peaked at about -3db for it not to distort and clip?

[Brian Skalinder]

is it true the signal from mics to the ua5 via xlr needs to be peaked at about -3db for it not to distort and clip?

The UA-5 ADC (like all others with which I'm familiar) clips at 0dB, not -3dB.

[jkoch]

is it true the signal from mics to the ua5 via xlr needs to be peaked at about -3db for it not to distort and clip?

The UA-5 ADC (like all others with which I'm familiar) clips at 0dB, not -3dB.

well, i figured that, but in other threads on here people are saying they've had problems with the w mod ua5 when connecting via xlr and it looks fine at the time but you can't really adjust the knobs b/c in post it is distorted or clipping if they run to peak near 0

[dklein]

I don't know the circuit path well enough to know where the peak light gets its signal, but maybe it's calibration isn't accurate after the warm mod changes.  

Somebody should plug one into a pc and monitor the levels there while recording.  You can just feed some fm hiss or any line signal into the front of the UA-5 and check when the light comes on.  It should start to flicker at -3 dB.