Topic: My JB3 recording sounds really low, can barely hear it...

[Howid]

I upgraded my firmware, like suggested, and did a test run with my new mics. Basically, I did a little talking and blasted my stereo really loud. When playing back my recording, it was barely audible. The volume was really low. Is there a setting I need to adjust or something?

Thanks

[bagtagsell]

were you running mics>jb3?  What were your meters doing during the recording?

[The Kilted Taper]

What mics are you using? Any pre between the mics and JB3?

[Ed.]

if you run mics > bat box > jb3, this most likely will be the case.  try boosting the gain on the jb3, that should raise it a bit.  if you're still not happy with the levels, try normalizing it post.

i never got great levels on my jb3 until i started running an external pre like the ua-5 or a v3.

[Humbug]

if you run mics > bat box > jb3, this most likely will be the case. 

I get great levels on my JB3, but I've heard from other people that they get low levels.

I generally run +3 or so gain to be cautious, plus a little 2-3dB post gain.

Perhaps some SP battery boxes give out a lower signal than others???

[Ed.]

i thnk it depends a lot on the mics you use as well.

[The Kilted Taper]

I'll just say this while we're waiting for a reply on the mic set up. I use the Corse Sound Stealth Cardiods, and pushing th eJB3 to +12dB does squat. The mics just don't run hot enough with the BB.

[kfrinkle]

I have had this problem for quite some time, and it is really fucking annoying. I would not even bother with Corse Sound mics into JB3 unless you have a nice clean preamp.  I am running come CMC-8's right now (see my signature thingy) and that works just fine.  You will need a preamp for acoustic type stuff, but can get reasonable levels at a rock show.  Even the most insanely loud shows that i have been to never overload the jukebox with any mics i have ever had.  Get used to it, it is a pain in the ass.  For the longest time i was running LC CSB's > SPSB-1 or 3 > JB3 and I would just get as close to the stacks as possible, and boost by 20db afterwards to get it up to 0dB.  Now, with the CMC-8s, it usually only takes 5-8dB boost to get it up to 0dB.

[Howid]

These are the mics I got:

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-cardbattery1.html

I was told by many that I wouldn't need a preamp and what I had would be fine. The gain was set to the default 0.

The meters were moving a little (about a 1/3 of the way up), but not as much as I expected with the volume I was putting through them. I even screamed really loud into the mics and they barely moved.

[The Kilted Taper]

You're getting a hotter signal with those giant squids than I do with the CSSC's. If you're 1/3 of the way up on the levels at 0dB, push it up a little, maybe in the +3 - +5dB range. That should get you pretty close to where you want to be. With the CSSC's and the JB3 at +12dB I am barley even making it to the 1/3 mark.

[Howid]

Cool, Ill try it out and let you know

[kfrinkle]

I would not push the levels on the JB3 EVER.  What you will notice, even at say, +4dB line-in boost, is some beeping periodically in the recording.  It is not too pronounced, but it is there.  If you get a good signal, get a preamp, that is the only way to do it unless you boost post recording.  But even then, if the signal is tooo weak, you have problems boosting to listenable levels without it sounding like ass.

[Howid]

I would not push the levels on the JB3 EVER...If you get a good signal, get a preamp, that is the only way to do it unless you boost post recording.  But even then, if the signal is tooo weak, you have problems boosting to listenable levels without it sounding like ass.

So, I assume you mean "If you dont get a good signal, get a preamp"?...

And, Im confused, lol, many sources from here and the manufacturer told me I dont need a preamp, now I do?

[dhora]

I had the same issue last weekend when I did a test of my new mics.  Still havent' had a chance to do a live test.

Ok, I'm playing around w/ my new mics.  I'm running SP-CMC-2 > SP-SPSB-1 > JB3.  I'm taping a CD playing in my stereo.  I cranked my stereo up pretty loud.  I could hear it in every room in the house.  I had the gain on the battery box all the way up, and the gain on the JB3 set to +12.  The mics were about 3 feet from the speakers.  However, the levels on the recording are pretty low.  I understand a concert will be much louder than my test, but this just seems really low.

Does this seem normal to you guys?

Here's a screenshot of the levels in Cool Edit Pro.
I also attached a 10 sec unedited mp3.

Check out the second to last post in the following thread if you want to see the screenshot or hear the sample.
http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33382.0

[Howid]

Seems that is the same peoblem I am having. Hopefully someone will have a non-preamp fix for this.