Topic: Pre-Amp's with Meter Readouts? other then the MiniMe and V3..

[F.O.Bean]

the dmic-20 could be your all-in-one box!!!

plus,it has basically the same metering as the mme!!!

[timP]

P.S.  The reason I need a Pre/AD w/ levels is because I have no level reading on my recorder......
and an optical in HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[thoman8r]

Depends on how loosely you define "meters":

UA5
SBM-1
V2
SD MP-2 / (Shure FP24 / SD MixPre, same family as MP-2)
GP DMIC-20
GP ADC-20

The sbm-1 has peak indicators for both channels.  That may be one way to go.  Set your levels until you see it peaking at the loudest point.

The ua-5 only has a single peak indicator, so unless your mics are balanced I don't think there would be any way to tell which channel was peaking.

[timP]

on the dmic-20... what could I do with it's out put?
I don't know what BNC means........

[thoman8r]

the dmic-20 could be your all-in-one box!!!

plus,it has basically the same metering as the mme!!!

Good idea if you don't mind switchable gain.

[F.O.Bean]

on the dmic-20... what could I do with it's out put?
I don't know what BNC means........

you could do aes>coax, or bnc>coax output!!!

[timP]

the sbm-1 looks like it may be right for me..has optical out, I think?, and the basic meter readout....
I found a link on the oade site that says they can do all sorts of upgrades....
Can I use this as a pre and ad?

[thoman8r]

the sbm-1 looks like it may be right for me..has optical out, I think?, and the basic meter readout....
I found a link on the oade site that says they can do all sorts of upgrades....
Can I use this as a pre and ad?

The sbm-1 has a 7-pin output.  You'll need to get a 7-pin > optical cable to interface with the iRiver.  You could use this as a pre and ad, and oade does offer both a pre-amp upgrade and a line-stage upgrade to improve the adc.  A used sbm-1 with both of those upgrades is still going to run you about $550-$600.  Someone has a stock sbm-1 on here for $325 I think.

However having said that, you may be better off with the dmic, is it has actually metering levels and not just peak indicators.

[Nick in Edinboro]

He would have to get a AES > Coax and then a "greybox".  I can't recall if the one Brian tested was the right one for the job but search for Hosa for more details on a decent one (~$50-100 depending on who you ask).

[timP]

thanks for the input everyone..
thinking of just using my Denecke AD-20> into my HD optical in> out my HD optical out> into a MD with levels...
pretty shitty, huh? but alot less dough....
once I get some real mics, I'm going to pop for a MMe or V3... just trying to see if there was other ways to solve my rpob

seriously folks, THANK YOU for all the info I get from this board..........

[Chris K]

I have a Denecke AD-20 pre/AD...bummed that it has no meter readouts....
need one with optical outs for a reasonable price..HAHA
seems like if I were to spen $on a  MP-2 and an AD converter, then I should just get the MMe or V3???

if i were confronted with this dilema, i would sell the ad-20, and buy a w-mod ua-5 from oade which has pre's, meters, ad conversion, optical outs, and does 24/96 recording

but that's what i would do

[Nick in Edinboro]

As stated before the UA-5 doesn't have "levels".  It has *a* peak (-3db) indicator.

[timP]

I have been leaning towards the UA-5...it just has lights to tell ya if yr clipping?
I could just turn the levels up at first, and then down until the light goes off?

[Chris K]

correct

[timP]

I could prob make some decent recordings with just a overload light....just interested in making the best tapes possible for the $ I have now......