Topic: ua-5 mod for true analog bypass

[Chanher]

for all the hackers on this board:

What are the chances of a mod that allows true analog bypass on a ua-5?  Maybe even removing the a>d and d>a completely?

[Daryan]

If you bypass, don't you efectively render the unit useless?  Bypassing the analog section would render the mic inputs silent. 

[anodyne33]

I think he means bypassing the ADC and just using it as a pre.

[Patrick]

I think he means bypassing the ADC and just using it as a pre.

I think what he's saying is having the option to run analog outs in addition to keeping the ADC, similar to the v3. 

Looking at the UA-5, it does have those 1/4" stereo output jacks on the back corner of the unit, maybe someone could send a feed off of the mic pres to those outputs so we can have true analog pass through capabilities. 

Just a thought!  I'd defintiely be interested.

[Chanher]

my thoughts exactly.

[anodyne33]

I just took a peek at the block diagram, and it looks like you'd have to tap in right after the op-amps. I've only been inside of the UA5 a few times and it's mostly SMT so I'd be hesitant to try this myself, but one of the UA5 gurus on the board (Busman, poorlyconditioned, etc.) may be able to shed some more light on the subject.
-s

[Chanher]

I just took a peek at the block diagram, and it looks like you'd have to tap in right after the op-amps. I've only been inside of the UA5 a few times and it's mostly SMT so I'd be hesitant to try this myself, but one of the UA5 gurus on the board (Busman, poorlyconditioned, etc.) may be able to shed some more light on the subject.
-s

hmm, all I know if someone could find a way for clean analog bypass AND keep the a>d intact, that would be AWESOME.

[poorlyconditioned]

for all the hackers on this board:

What are the chances of a mod that allows true analog bypass on a ua-5?  Maybe even removing the a>d and d>a completely?

What, you want to use this as a standalone Preamp?  Or do you want to supply analog outputs/patches to others?

Well, I won't be doing any more mods on the UA5 since I've moved on to other stuff (R4, AKG CK6x actives, and other stuff).

My advice would be to get a Presonus Firebox (approx $250 street).  This has a firewire interface, it has two mic *and* two line inputs, it outputs mic channels on the back (to use as a standalone pre), and the sound is awesome, much better than any of the modified UA5s IMO.

The only reason to stay with the UA5 is if need standalone operation of ADC, or if you need to run USB on your computer.

  Richard

[Chanher]

for all the hackers on this board:

What are the chances of a mod that allows true analog bypass on a ua-5?  Maybe even removing the a>d and d>a completely?

What, you want to use this as a standalone Preamp?  Or do you want to supply analog outputs/patches to others?

Well, I won't be doing any more mods on the UA5 since I've moved on to other stuff (R4, AKG CK6x actives, and other stuff).

My advice would be to get a Presonus Firebox (approx $250 street).  This has a firewire interface, it has two mic *and* two line inputs, it outputs mic channels on the back (to use as a standalone pre), and the sound is awesome, much better than any of the modified UA5s IMO.

The only reason to stay with the UA5 is if need standalone operation of ADC, or if you need to run USB on your computer.

  Richard

The OPTION of standalone is what I'm after, we have a lot of cameras in the shop with either rca or 1/8th audio inputs. We have some lowkey "gigs" where it would be SO MUCH easier to just run rca outs of the UA-5 into the master camera, and I wouldn't have to do any post synching and drift correction.

I guess I should run some more tests using the ua-5's rca outputs, even if it goes through the a>d/d>a.  For a couple shows I ran ua-5 > usb > laptop (24/48) and also ran the rca outs into the jb3 (16/44.1). There was a definite difference between the two, I felt that a non-audiophile could easily distinguish in a blind listening test. However, the jb3 source was still presentable, it was not terrible by any means.

After all, Doug did do a analog output mod on my ua-5 (that was when I didn't know it ran through the a/d), my thinking is that if I could just get true bypass, I'd be set.

The Presonus Firebox looks quite interesting as well. Or maybe I should just sell the ua-5 and get an aerco mp-2, it has rca outs, runs on a 9v, and is much smaller. hmm...