Topic: archiving sbd advice

[pfunk_49]

I'd like to start archiving live shows of a band i'm involved with (i don't play in).  Probably start with sbd recordings exclusively, since I can and small(er) bars + bluegrass = poor sound quality.  If they move up to theatres ect... (just won telluride bluegrass competition, yehaw!!!)  I would be interested in doing both in the future though.  Thinking of starting with a JB3 or Iriver, but interested in thoughts on zoom, r-09 and mt.  Any input wouldbe greatly appreciated. 
thanks
P

[boojum]

How much can you spend?

[philR]

is this for spring creek bluegrass band?  if so, sweet, those folks can pick. 

[gratefulphish]

You need to state some sort of budget.  A better pre/AD and a cheaper bit bucket may be what you want.  Maybe a UA-5>bit bucket.

[pfunk_49]

Budget = $500 to start?  Not a ton in this part of the budget as of yet, trying to convince them it is an important part of marketing. 
Yes, it is Spring Creek Bluegrass Band.  They have one show up on cotapers.org right now, Drew Emmit sits in.  Worth checking them out.
Thanks
Paul

[Ryan Sims]

UA5>JB3 or iRiver would be very solid for your purposes and well within the budget.

[tenesejedd]

if all you plan on doing is soundboard recordings, then i would recommend the edirol R-09. 1 small piece of gear will do the job quite well. You can get a new R-09, a couple different interconnects to hook it up to the board, some rechargeable AAs and a couple memory cards for under 500.

[pfunk_49]

I think I have an old archos gmini120 lying around.  Pretty sure it's got an spdif in.  Could i use that with a ua5 until I can pick up a better reorder (thinking iriver h120)?  If I remember correctly, it's not super stable, but for the time being?

[Ryan Sims]

If it has SPDIF, you can use it with the UA5, which has optical and coax digital outs.

[terrapinj]

another benefit of UA-5 > recorder - all you need is mics and cables when you get more $ and youll have a full AUD rig as well plus you can still run on the fly matrices

[pfunk_49]

any advice on editing software?

[pfunk_49]

just got a au5 for $124 no shipping on ebay.  Hope i did well?

[Ryan Sims]

Pretty solid price, yes. 

[dean]

Very nice price.

Check this thread and the links enclosed for just about everything you'll need to know about UA-5's!   
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,86745.0.html

[fanofthemule]

any advice on editing software?

Cool Edit Pro

I just purchased an audio rig a few months ago.  I've been shooting videos for the last year and finally invested some money into the audio portion.  I bought the Church Audio Cards and the 9100 pre amp and two JB3's.  I'll run both audience and soundboard and do a post production matrix.  This set up has worked very well for me so far. 

[livin_grateful]

iRIVER

[terrapinj]

any advice on editing software?

free software: CD Wave basic tracking etc - Audacity - multritrack editing/recording

if you are willing to pay I would highly recommend Samplitude SE, which can be downloaded for $50

[pfunk_49]

another benefit of UA-5 > recorder - all you need is mics and cables when you get more $ and youll have a full AUD rig as well plus you can still run on the fly matrices

from the team ua-5 thread:
"the front inputs are seperate and live at the same time.  you can record four tracks simultaneously, and the box mixes them down to two track stereo on the fly.  phantom power is only available for the front xlr inputs though, so keep that in mind"

kinda new hear.  So is this saying I can run auds in as well as sbd and it will create a matrix automatically?  Is it still better to have more control and record seperately, and then mix? 

[dean]

another benefit of UA-5 > recorder - all you need is mics and cables when you get more $ and youll have a full AUD rig as well plus you can still run on the fly matrices

from the team ua-5 thread:
"the front inputs are seperate and live at the same time.  you can record four tracks simultaneously, and the box mixes them down to two track stereo on the fly.  phantom power is only available for the front xlr inputs though, so keep that in mind"

kinda new hear.  So is this saying I can run auds in as well as sbd and it will create a matrix automatically?  Is it still better to have more control and record seperately, and then mix? 

Well, it's a mixed bag with the UA5, but it sure makes it easy.  What I've done is run my mics into the front xlr channels with phantom power and separate channel gain control.  Then I've run the sbd through the rca's in the back of the unit.  This "issue" here is that while there are separate inputs (red & white), there's a single gain knob.

What I'm not sure of is how those rear rca inputs disperse across each channel - if there's a true A B that disperses across each channel directly, or if it mixes the signal and applies it evenly across both channels.

But how you set it up is to test both signals separately to get an approximation of where your gain levels will be. This will show you how each signal sounds and give you an indicator of where you'll want to be from a gain perspective. Then "final" set your mic in levels on the front xlr alone.  Once you're happy with that signal, bring up the gain on the rear input to the level desired by your ears.

So when the show starts and you're on the fly, you'll only need to make very minor adjustments to the sbd feed coming in the rear inputs (that will remain fairly constant once the sbd dude is good to go), and you can make adjustments as required for your mic gain, as usual.

Make sense?  That's not as clear as I could've made it, but it's all the time I've got for now...  Bottom line is don't overthink it cause it's really simple with the UA5 - only 3 variables.

[pfunk_49]

thanks, I think I understand.  Still don't have the unit in hand.  Been reading the team ua5 threads (thanks for link).  Is there an explanation somewhere of each of these mods?  Do I understand correctly that the digi-mod is necessary for dumping to a "bit-bucket"?  Do I also understand correctly that it's something to either do yourself (given some eloctronics knowledge) or bundle with another mod? 
Thanks in advance
Paul

[hawghunter]

Great thread. It answered some ?'s I had about UA-5 and dumping into a bit bucket.
I just picked up another MT. So now I can run 1 open mics, one SBD if I can get a plug in, and also I could matrix up open mics and sbd with the UA-5. I need to get one, need to look into the mods also. I was just going to start searching for info (threads) on this.
+T's all around! 

[dean]

thanks, I think I understand.  Still don't have the unit in hand.  Been reading the team ua5 threads (thanks for link).  Is there an explanation somewhere of each of these mods?  Do I understand correctly that the digi-mod is necessary for dumping to a "bit-bucket"?  Do I also understand correctly that it's something to either do yourself (given some eloctronics knowledge) or bundle with another mod? 
Thanks in advance
Paul

Hey Paul, the ua5 is set up to go digital direct from usb into a computer, analog into everything else.  The digimod disables the computer in in trade for digital out via coax or optical cable.  If you're recording onto a laptop you won't actually want the digi mod.  The digi mod is an easy diy if you have very good soldering skills.  You can find links on here (probably in the team ua5 threads) on how exactly to do that mod.  I could never do it, though, so I can't site them directly.

The other mods (Busman or Oade) are all designed to decrease the internal noise in the ua5 and change the tone of the sound to some extent.  You'll find the links explaining how the mods are done & why within one of the Team ua5 threads.  Busman does a full explanation of his BM2p+ mod, and does a good job explaining what he *thinks* the Oade mods do.  It's an interesting read, for sure, if not a bit technical for my brain.

[RobC]

thanks, I think I understand.  Still don't have the unit in hand.  Been reading the team ua5 threads (thanks for link).  Is there an explanation somewhere of each of these mods?  Do I understand correctly that the digi-mod is necessary for dumping to a "bit-bucket"?  Do I also understand correctly that it's something to either do yourself (given some eloctronics knowledge) or bundle with another mod? 
Thanks in advance
Paul

Hey Paul, the ua5 is set up to go digital direct from usb into a computer, analog into everything else.  The digimod disables the computer in in trade for digital out via coax or optical cable.  If you're recording onto a laptop you won't actually want the digi mod.  The digi mod is an easy diy if you have very good soldering skills.  You can find links on here (probably in the team ua5 threads) on how exactly to do that mod.  I could never do it, though, so I can't site them directly.

The other mods (Busman or Oade) are all designed to decrease the internal noise in the ua5 and change the tone of the sound to some extent.  You'll find the links explaining how the mods are done & why within one of the Team ua5 threads.  Busman does a full explanation of his BM2p+ mod, and does a good job explaining what he *thinks* the Oade mods do.  It's an interesting read, for sure, if not a bit technical for my brain.

You are wrong about not being able to record using a laptop with a dig mod U-5
I have had a dig mod (actually the Oade W-Mod UA-5) and have recorded using optical, coax and USB to laptop all at the same time.

What gets disabled doing the dig mod to a UA-5 is the ability to go USB IN to the UA-5,  so You cant use a dig mod UA-5 as a sound card for a computer

[dean]

Duh.  Yeah, I had that backwards.  My bad - sorry about that...