Topic: How long before you trust your JB3

[hexyjones]

Well - mine is a refurb and has been a bit testy...but not enough to deter me. I want to send it back...but I almost can't bring myself to part with it!!

I have gotten a few dropouts - like CD skips- on one recording...I'm still on the "first tank" i.e. I havent filled up the nomad yet...I havent deleted anything...But being a refurb---I suppose the HD could need a defrag(although you would think they would do that in the factory.)

Also - I think if I just hold my nomad for too long - the heat from my hands will make the unit hard to start...

And - I cant get the battery to charge or work...(thats the main reason I'll send it back)

I assume running on battery generates a fair amount of heat? I wonder if these issues go hand in hand?

Once running...no problems at all...dreamy...

I figure I have already saved...10 DATs worth of tape and cash...

[mterry]

I haven't had a single problem with the jb3.  with a d8, i had plenty of problems.  I don't think I will ever run tape.  i may move to a laptop, but i won't ever run tape.  It is just not economical.

I'm sellin' one................sorry, I'm a slut who needs to sell!

[Sloan Simpson]

I know eventually I will move to a HD medium....but I dont see the JB3 filling my need, based on the shit level meters, making it usless to me for stealthing when compared to the D100 and remote. 

Good point.  I've all but given up on stealthing, but I wouldn't wanna use it to stealth at all.  I'll keep a buddy around with an M1 or D8 for that 

Sloan

[olyrc]

I'm most of the way to trusting the JB3.  I love not having tapes floating around my bag.  Only problem I had so far ended up not even being the JB3 - I lost the mic signal because my UA-5 battery pooped out and didn't have enough juice to send a signal (although it had just enough juice to keep the power and phantom lights on and make me think it was the JB3).

[Chapper]

I know that I am in the minority here, but I have never had a problem with my DAT that wasnt self caused, and quite honestly, I like having a tape so that when I screw up and fat finger the keyboard and delete the file by accident, at least I will have that backup. 

I know eventually I will move to a HD medium....but I dont see the JB3 filling my need, based on the shit level meters, making it usless to me for stealthing when compared to the D100 and remote. 

That being said, it is encouraging to see that at least one non-HUGE dollar manufacture has figured out how to record a digital signal...hopefully some of the other MP3 machines will figure out how to do it themselves....

I've never had an issue with my M1 either...and I NEVER make mistakes on my Pc, so I've got nothing to worry about..hehe....
I really don't have any problem with the meters on the JB3 either, there are no numbers on it, but after using it a couple times you know where they are supposed to be. 
Tough to beat the M1/D100 with remote for stealth though!   

Chapper

[Fryhoffer]

I really like my JB3... have taped many shows with no problems.  The only issue I've ever had was overheating at a DMB show... but it was hot as hell and in my infinite wisdom I left it in a small enclosed fabric case.  When I realized the issue I took it out to "breathe" and it functioned perfectly for the rest of the show.  Oh... and I didn't lose any data when it shut down from overheating.  I trust it more than my friend's D7, and a hell of a lot more than my old MD.

[F.O.Bean]

I've ran the JB3 4 times so far, and every time I also ran my D100 "just in case". The 1st 3 shows went off without a hitch, the 4th I somehow didn't get the JB3 recording in time...and didn't realize it until halfway through the 1st set. The DAT saved my ass that time....

not being a dick, but how do you "forget" to hit record on the jb3, w/ the proper firmware, i know you can see a counter of some kind

hmmm, that sux

ummm, i ran a dap1 only a few times after i got the jb3 w/ it, because i got a jb3 because 1. i had no more money to buy media
2. would never get around to transferring the dats
3. trust it after only a few uses

so i say go w/ it, just be confident you know the firmware and you'll be fine

[Sloan Simpson]

Success!!! Ran the JB3 patched out of the DAT (184>V2>ADC-20>DA-P1>ODL-276>JB3) for two bands (Lona and Now It's Overhead) last night with no problems!

Gonna give it a go DATless tomorrow night for Stockholm Syndrome.  Figure if I really do screw something up there'll be other tapers there, whereas most of the stuff I tape is only me. . .

Thanks for all the responses.

Sloan

[Nick Graham]

I've ran the JB3 4 times so far, and every time I also ran my D100 "just in case". The 1st 3 shows went off without a hitch, the 4th I somehow didn't get the JB3 recording in time...and didn't realize it until halfway through the 1st set. The DAT saved my ass that time....

not being a dick, but how do you "forget" to hit record on the jb3, w/ the proper firmware, i know you can see a counter of some kind

I didn't really "forget", so much as I just hit the play/record button instead of holding it down. I was watching the levels on the V3/D100, and not really paying attention to the JB3. Finally realized it wasn't recording about 30 minutes later...

Complete bonehead move on my part...and in no way a reflection of the reliability of the JB3. Just a good example of why it's not a bad idea to run a backup.

[BCostigan]

I ran no backup the first time I used (and every show since) the JB3....and I'm still not feeling 100% trusting but pretty close.  The first few times were scary!


I do love the no buying tapes and REALLY fast transfers but also kinda miss having that TAPE.  Oh well...price ya gotta pay I guess.

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

Never had a portable DAT, so perhaps I should just shut-up...

But, I bought a new JB3, and have only had a few problems.  All have been fixed by using the reset button/hole in the back (yes, I carry a paperclip in my bag) before starting up.  I figured it was just jarred from the car ride and needed a reset.  No big deal...

I have had it overheat once.  I ran it continuous for about 6 hours (2 three hours tracks) in the pleather pouch while transfering some 78s to it.  When I went to transfer the tracks to the computer, it would shut down about halfway through...  I unplugged it all, took it out of the pouch and went and ate lunch.  No problems upon my return...

A friend had overheating problems at a very hot bar.  He had his JB3 in a flight case to protect from wooks/beer, but it got too hot in there...  Thankfully he wasn't the only one at that Stockholm show in SC...

Considering the cost efficiency, it is a great stop-gap measure.  I intend to use mine until it breaks and then replace with a "real" HD recorder...  But until a HD-DAP1 or something like that comes out, the JB3 will have to do...

I also like the fact that I can use it as a portable USB HD - I take docs and pix home from work all the time...

I do sometimes wish I had a DAT though, but with it moving out and the expense of upkeep, I'm glad I got a JB3 instead of a D8 or M1... 

As for the metering, you get used to it, but it could be vastly improved...  Why not run the meters the width of the screen instead???  Damn firmware...  I saw someone, YEMNCSU Josh methinks, using one of those plug-in meters mentioned eleswhere and that seemed to fix it, but that's just one more item to carry/power...

T

[phishn]

I trusted my JB3 right away.  After researching and reading stuff on JB3 forum I had no reason to not trust it.  Brought it to vegas for the phish shows and no problems any nights.

[ashevillain]

I totally trust my JB3....it's the operator that I have a problem with... 

[Chris K]

i used my jb3 for the first time last week, and backed up with the d8.

1st set i forgot to roll tape with the d8, but the jb3 was fine.

the d8 came in handy for levels 

[Nick Graham]

Here's another example of why still using DAT as a backup can come in very handy:

I was taping Sunday night, set my levels during the soundcheck, and then powered everything down. Fast forward 2 hours later to showtime. I (being the bonehead that I am) turn everything back on, start recording on the D100 and the JB3. About 30 mins into the set I noticed the "Max Record Time" on the JB3 screen said 10 hours. "Hmmmm", I thought...that's interesting. I'd just updated the firmware the night before, and thought that might have upped the record time.

Then I realized what had happened. After powering it down, I never re-set the recording format...I was pulling the show at 128k MP3!

Needless to say, the FLACs are from the D100>Audiophile 24/96 transfer.