Topic: What recorder should I get in a post-JB3 world?

[WolfmanDMB]

Been out of the game for a while now. Was finishing some upgrades to my rig when I realized the JB3 just wasn't going to do it any more and that I need to get more current. Can you folks suggest to me what recorder to get from a UA-5 digi out? I want to get something that will do all that the JB3 did, and then some if possible. Price would be up to 300. I have a feeling I will be suggested the M10. but wanted to get other thoughts, too. If I can help it I don't want to have to upgrade anything else around it, but just do an even swap on the recorder. If not, can you make suggestions of what I'll need to add to make the swap work (cables, etc.)? Thanks for the help in advance!

[ScoobieKW]

The Sony M10 doesn't have digital inputs. Great recorder, good onboard pre's but not digi in.

Tascam DR100 MKII does have digi in. Lists $600 but found this restock unit on Full Compass for under $300.
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/423048.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=COu56svGsbACFagbQgodw0AOVA

Sony PCM-D50 also has digi in, lists $500.

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

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=155313.0

Not sure of the compatibility of the 24bit UA5 > FR2LE though...

Terry

[jbell]

The UA5 will only pass a 16bit signal to the D50!!  The UA5 doesn't send the correct digital stream, I doubt it will play nice with the DR100 MKII either.  I would go with a M10 an run analog out of the UA5, IMO the M10 has a better AD than the UA5.  The only cable you would need would be RCA>1/8

The Sony M10 doesn't have digital inputs. Great recorder, good onboard pre's but not digi in.

Tascam DR100 MKII does have digi in. Lists $600 but found this restock unit on Full Compass for under $300.
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/423048.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=COu56svGsbACFagbQgodw0AOVA

Sony PCM-D50 also has digi in, lists $500.

[runonce]

The UA5 will only pass a 16bit signal to the D50!!  The UA5 doesn't send the correct digital stream, I doubt it will play nice with the DR100 MKII either.  I would go with a M10 an run analog out of the UA5, IMO the M10 has a better AD than the UA5.  The only cable you would need would be RCA>1/8

The Sony M10 doesn't have digital inputs. Great recorder, good onboard pre's but not digi in.

Tascam DR100 MKII does have digi in. Lists $600 but found this restock unit on Full Compass for under $300.
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/423048.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=COu56svGsbACFagbQgodw0AOVA

Sony PCM-D50 also has digi in, lists $500.

Didn't we finally discover that the UA5 has never sent anything but 24 bits?

[jbell]

Since the UA-5 doesn't use the current standards for a digital signal when using a D50 it will revert to 16/44.1 since it can't read the 24bit stream!!  There is a thread on TS about the problem, but I couldn't find it.  Some companies like Grace did an upgrade so there pres work with the D50.   

The UA5 will only pass a 16bit signal to the D50!!  The UA5 doesn't send the correct digital stream, I doubt it will play nice with the DR100 MKII either.  I would go with a M10 an run analog out of the UA5, IMO the M10 has a better AD than the UA5.  The only cable you would need would be RCA>1/8

The Sony M10 doesn't have digital inputs. Great recorder, good onboard pre's but not digi in.

Tascam DR100 MKII does have digi in. Lists $600 but found this restock unit on Full Compass for under $300.
http://www.fullcompass.com/product/423048.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=COu56svGsbACFagbQgodw0AOVA

Sony PCM-D50 also has digi in, lists $500.

Didn't we finally discover that the UA5 has never sent anything but 24 bits?

[page]

Didn't we finally discover that the UA5 has never sent anything but 24 bits?

Since the UA-5 doesn't use the current standards for a digital signal

You're technically both right. The UA-5, courtesy of the digi-mod (which is the basis for all field-based mods) sends a 24bit signal regardless of what you set it to. Second, it doesn't use the current header standard for spdif so new stuff doesn't play well with it.

[newscane]

I'd been using a UA-5>JB3 setup, and recently upgraded to a DR-100mkii.  In terms of it as a recording unit, I like it.  I set it to record 24/48, and it didn't give me any errors about not getting that over the digi in.  I don't know if that's a sign that the UA-5 actually sent out 24/48 or not.  I know I set the knob on the UA-5 to 48khz.  I did love the ability to transfer 1.6GB in about 2 minutes.  My main PC at home is running Win7, and you can't really transfer from the JB3 in that environment, so I'd been transferring to my XP netbook and processing there, or then transferring to the PC.

I got mine for about $260 from B&H...

[eman]

There are many reasons to upgrade to 24 bit, but if you don't feel you need it the iRiver H100/120/140 is still an awesome unit. None of the proprietary bs of the JB3. It plugs in USB2 and reads as a drive on Explorer. Compact, and can be set to be recording with two button touches to whatever you saved last (no more running through 5 menus with a flaky scroll wheel to get where you are going). Easily outboard powered with 4 AA's to last all day. And the backlight doesn't pull much juice and can be set to stay on with the lock switch so people can easily see it in the dark. Rockbox freeware improves the functionality and is easy to install. Pick one up on Ebay for $100-$150.

[H₂O]

You could just go with the DR100mkII and ditch the UA-5 altogether as the DR100mkII has a pretty good pre-amp as well.

[Todd R]

You could just go with the DR100mkII and ditch the UA-5 altogether as the DR100mkII has a pretty good pre-amp as well.

Agreed.  You might also view it that we are now in a post-UA5 world too.  Especially if you have only a digi-mod UA5, not an Oade or Busman analog-stage mod on your UA5.

The UA5 was great for when it came out, as it was a good, low cost solution for a 48v phantom capable mic preamp + A/D that did 24bits.  And especially with the Oade and Busman mods sounded quite good.

But at this point, there are a lot more options, more options for preamps (esp on the used market with very good prices) and with all-in-one recorders that have good analog front-ends, do 24bits, and provide 48v phantom.

Giving up completely on the UA5 and looking at the Tascam DR100 mkII, the Fostex FR2le, the Marantz PMD661 (esp Oade modded), the Marantz PMD671 (esp used), and the Tascam HD-P2 (used) all would make great options for all-in-one recorders.