Topic: Having a hard time with setting levels...(svu-1 content)

[Patrick]

I have been running the JB3 and the UA-5 combo for about 4 months now, and every single show I tape I have the hardest time trying the set levels correctly.  My levels always seem to "jump" and tend to be overall inconsistent. 

I know that the JB3's meters are not the best as far as accuracy, but I really haven't had a problem with overpowering.  Actually, most of the tapes I make have to be put under some post work for normalizing, etc because the levels are too low.

Would the SVU-1 really be a big help for this problem?  I am willing to get one if I know that it will really help out, otherwise I guess I can keep toying with the JB3 meters.

So, basically I need to hear the quick and dirty opinions/testimonials of the SVU-1.

Thanks for the help!

[Ray76]

I have been running the JB3 and the UA-5 combo for about 4 months now, and every single show I tape I have the hardest time trying the set levels correctly.  My levels always seem to "jump" and tend to be overall inconsistent. 

I know that the JB3's meters are not the best as far as accuracy, but I really haven't had a problem with overpowering.  Actually, most of the tapes I make have to be put under some post work for normalizing, etc because the levels are too low.

Would the SVU-1 really be a big help for this problem?  I am willing to get one if I know that it will really help out, otherwise I guess I can keep toying with the JB3 meters.

So, basically I need to hear the quick and dirty opinions/testimonials of the SVU-1.

Thanks for the help!

I have the svu2 and i can tell you without a doubt that it absolutely improves the level situation 100 percent. the jb3s levels suck, and ive found that the ua5s arent so hot either.

Ray

[fozzy]

i used the SVU1 w/ i was runnin the ua5>jb3 and as soon as i got it my tapes improved drastically.  kinda hard to see for outdoor shows if it is not in the shade but i would say it was probably the best 60 bucks i spent as an upgade to my rig at the time.

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, I've had no troubles running AKG C414B-ULS > T+ UA5 without level meters.  I use the JB3 for L/R balance, and the UA5 peak light for, well, peaks.  I've previously used a digi-mod UA5 and a warm mod UA5, so I'm accustomed to the peak meter.  After running it a few times, I got to know how to guage the peak levels pretty well based on how bright / long / frequently the UA5 peak LED flashed. 

All that said, if you're having trouble after 4 months, try the SVU solution - if it doesn't work out for you, there are plenty of UA5 users who will probably buy it and you'll only take a small financial hit selling it used.

[Patrick]

FWIW, I've had no troubles running AKG C414B-ULS > T+ UA5 without level meters.  I use the JB3 for L/R balance, and the UA5 peak light for, well, peaks.  I've previously used a digi-mod UA5 and a warm mod UA5, so I'm accustomed to the peak meter.  After running it a few times, I got to know how to guage the peak levels pretty well based on how bright / long / frequently the UA5 peak LED flashed. 

All that said, if you're having trouble after 4 months, try the SVU solution - if it doesn't work out for you, there are plenty of UA5 users who will probably buy it and you'll only take a small financial hit selling it used.

See, my mics for some reason have a very peculiar sensitivity to the Ua-5.  If I get the gain anywhere close to the "peak" light on the Ua-5, my recording is long since distorted.

That being said, I ran my rig for Galactic tonight and had a better time with it, but the damn meters are so jumpy!!!  That's why i am looking into a svu-1.

[kgreener]

get an svu-1 or 2...just do it man.  you won't believe how much your accuracy in setting levels will improve.  and run it line-out of your jb3...at least that's what i do.  that makes it the last piece in the chain, and when you see those lights a-blinking, it's always a good feeling to know all systems are a "go".  if they ain't blinkin', you ain't recordin'.

[Ray76]

get an svu-1 or 2...just do it man.  you won't believe how much your accuracy in setting levels will improve.  and run it line-out of your jb3...at least that's what i do.  that makes it the last piece in the chain, and when you see those lights a-blinking, it's always a good feeling to know all systems are a "go".  if they ain't blinkin', you ain't recordin'.

on a similar note, can someone out there put a new charging adapter plug on mine??mine came off.

Ray

[Brian Skalinder]

See, my mics for some reason have a very peculiar sensitivity to the Ua-5. If I get the gain anywhere close to the "peak" light on the Ua-5, my recording is long since distorted.

Sounds to me like your problem doesn't lie in adjusting levels, but rather with overloading of the [ mics? pre? ].  How are you powering your CM300s?  If they're underpowered, that might explain the distortion before you achieve proper recording levels.

[Patrick]

See, my mics for some reason have a very peculiar sensitivity to the Ua-5. If I get the gain anywhere close to the "peak" light on the Ua-5, my recording is long since distorted.

Sounds to me like your problem doesn't lie in adjusting levels, but rather with overloading of the [ mics? pre? ].  How are you powering your CM300s?  If they're underpowered, that might explain the distortion before you achieve proper recording levels.

Yes, they are underpowered, because the Nak's use that crazy 9v battery which are expensive for what they are.  I just use the AA batts for now, but it looks like I need to buy the batts if I want to use the mics.

Thanks for the help, though.  I think I still am going to look into a SVU-1 regardless.

[Brian Skalinder]

Yes, they are underpowered, because the Nak's use that crazy 9v battery which are expensive for what they are. I just use the AA batts for now, but it looks like I need to buy the batts if I want to use the mics.

Thanks for the help, though. I think I still am going to look into a SVU-1 regardless.

I'd skip the SVU-1 and the batteries and apply the money from both towards phantom-modding the CM300s.  This will have the single biggest impact on your sound.  If you use the SVU-1 while still using the AA batts, your recordings won't sound any better.  If you use the SVU-1 with the proper batteries, they'll sound better - but then you'll be out some cash and still have to deal with batteries.

[Brian]

bahhhh , skalinder beat me to it.

what he said.....mod those suckas!

[Patrick]

bahhhh , skalinder beat me to it.

what he said.....mod those suckas!

I really am interested in it but Marc seems to be a little backed up with Nakamichi mods

[Brian Skalinder]

I really am interested in it but Marc seems to be a little backed up with Nakamichi mods

Marc (leegedy)'s mods (aka Franken-Nak) go one step further than the simple phantom mod - he converts his to phantom and removes the mic body from the equation.  Not all that is necessary.  The phantom-only mod leaves the mic bodies intact.  Somewhere around here are specs for phantom modding the CM300s, as opposed to the Franken-Nak mod.  I suspect a competent local shop should be able to do it easily enough at reasonably low cost.  Search around for the specs, I'm pretty sure they're here somewhere.

[Patrick]

I really am interested in it but Marc seems to be a little backed up with Nakamichi mods

Marc (leegedy)'s mods (aka Franken-Nak) go one step further than the simple phantom mod - he converts his to phantom and removes the mic body from the equation.  Not all that is necessary.  The phantom-only mod leaves the mic bodies intact.  Somewhere around here are specs for phantom modding the CM300s, as opposed to the Franken-Nak mod.  I suspect a competent local shop should be able to do it easily enough at reasonably low cost.  Search around for the specs, I'm pretty sure they're here somewhere.

I haven't ran accross this thread/specs and I have looked *fairly* thouroughly.  When I get home I'll have to bust out the advance search feature. 

Or if anything knows the link help me out a bit. 

Thanks for all the help!!

[tms]

I have been running the JB3 and the UA-5 combo for about 4 months now, and every single show I tape I have the hardest time trying the set levels correctly.  My levels always seem to "jump" and tend to be overall inconsistent. 

I know that the JB3's meters are not the best as far as accuracy, but I really haven't had a problem with overpowering.  Actually, most of the tapes I make have to be put under some post work for normalizing, etc because the levels are too low.

Would the SVU-1 really be a big help for this problem?  I am willing to get one if I know that it will really help out, otherwise I guess I can keep toying with the JB3 meters.

So, basically I need to hear the quick and dirty opinions/testimonials of the SVU-1.

Thanks for the help!

dklein put up a great webpage of this question about the level indicators on the JB3. 

http://ca.geocities.com/dkleined@rogers.com/audio/JB3meters/JB3meters.htm

Basically he found that when you see the bars moving and you think you're getting a good signal which is maybe a little bit low and safe, the signal's actually way too low.  You want the bars to be as high as possible without getting too close to the clipping range.  The appropriate range is only the 3 or 4 pixel rows thick in the display under the clipping section.  It's a tiny little sliver of the whole meter height. 

Too bad the JB3 people didn't zoom in on this range.

In effect, the meter they designed has way too big of a range.

Todd in Buffalo

[Ray76]

I have been running the JB3 and the UA-5 combo for about 4 months now, and every single show I tape I have the hardest time trying the set levels correctly.  My levels always seem to "jump" and tend to be overall inconsistent. 

I know that the JB3's meters are not the best as far as accuracy, but I really haven't had a problem with overpowering.  Actually, most of the tapes I make have to be put under some post work for normalizing, etc because the levels are too low.

Would the SVU-1 really be a big help for this problem?  I am willing to get one if I know that it will really help out, otherwise I guess I can keep toying with the JB3 meters.

So, basically I need to hear the quick and dirty opinions/testimonials of the SVU-1.

Thanks for the help!

dklein put up a great webpage of this question about the level indicators on the JB3. 

http://ca.geocities.com/dkleined@rogers.com/audio/JB3meters/JB3meters.htm

Basically he found that when you see the bars moving and you think you're getting a good signal which is maybe a little bit low and safe, the signal's actually way too low.  You want the bars to be as high as possible without getting too close to the clipping range.  The appropriate range is only the 3 or 4 pixel rows thick in the display under the clipping section.  It's a tiny little sliver of the whole meter height. 

Too bad the JB3 people didn't zoom in on this range.

In effect, the meter they designed has way too big of a range.

Todd in Buffalo

I always had mine about halfway up in what the jb3 has as "clipping" constantly.

[tms]

I have been running the JB3 and the UA-5 combo for about 4 months now, and every single show I tape I have the hardest time trying the set levels correctly.  My levels always seem to "jump" and tend to be overall inconsistent. 

I know that the JB3's meters are not the best as far as accuracy, but I really haven't had a problem with overpowering.  Actually, most of the tapes I make have to be put under some post work for normalizing, etc because the levels are too low.

Would the SVU-1 really be a big help for this problem?  I am willing to get one if I know that it will really help out, otherwise I guess I can keep toying with the JB3 meters.

So, basically I need to hear the quick and dirty opinions/testimonials of the SVU-1.

Thanks for the help!

dklein put up a great webpage of this question about the level indicators on the JB3. 

http://ca.geocities.com/dkleined@rogers.com/audio/JB3meters/JB3meters.htm

Too bad the JB3 people didn't zoom in on this range.

In effect, the meter they designed has way too big of a range.

Todd in Buffalo

I always had mine about halfway up in what the jb3 has as "clipping" constantly.

I just realized that you all are running digital-in and this webpage and I are talking analog-in. 

[dklein]

I just realized that you all are running digital-in and this webpage and I are talking analog-in. 

There shouldn't be any difference Todd.  If you're into the clipping zone, the recordings are clipped regardless of the source.

[tms]

I just realized that you all are running digital-in and this webpage and I are talking analog-in. 

There shouldn't be any difference Todd.  If you're into the clipping zone, the recordings are clipped regardless of the source.

Right, but is it possible to have a good looking meter reading at the JB3 and still end up with crap if  it's clipped at the A/D ?

[dklein]

Right, but is it possible to have a good looking meter reading at the JB3 and still end up with crap if  it's clipped at the A/D ?

that looks like a question...and I guess the answer depends on what you're using  i.e. where the a>d is

If you're using a separate preamp and a>d (or a DAT as a front end), then you could potentially brickwall at the preamp, feeding junk into the a>d but seeing safe levels.  So it's clipping before the a>d.
If it's an integrated unit (like the V3 or AD-20) that is feeding a digital signal to the JB3 then likely no - the JB3 display shows what's going on at the external a>d.
If you're using the analog in on the JB3 then no again, the meters are indicative of the internal levels, probably measure before the a>d but properly calibrated to the a>d input level.

[willndmb]

it seems like people either have a hard time or no prob at all with the jb3 meters
i have had many people tell me they get great recordings off the jb3 meters and many others say they need a svu-x
there isn't many in the middle