Topic: What does a SBM-1 really do?

[Depechemode1993]

I want to look into it but I am not that techiy when it comes to recording stuff... I seea lot of peolpe who tape with a DAT use it and I want to know what the thing is really used for and how you use it?

[Brian Skalinder]

It's an ADC.  One uses it like any other standalone ADC:  plug cables from preamp into SBM-1, plug SBM-1 into recording device.

[JasonSobel]

In case you're not sure about what Brian just wrote, here's a little more detailed info...

Like Brian said, it's an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter).  It takes the analog signal from a pre-amp, and converts it to a digital signal, which is then recorded by the DAT deck (or whatever digital recorder you are using).  People like to use external, stand-alone ADC's because, generally speaking, they are higher quality than the ADC contained within the DAT deck.

[Depechemode1993]

thank you +T 

[hexyjones]

If I'm not mistaken - the SBM-1 is also a mic preamp as well...although many use it just for its A/D section...

[jpschust]

If I'm not mistaken - the SBM-1 is also a mic preamp as well...although many use it just for its A/D section...

well it can be used as a preamp if it is given more gain, however unmodded it just takes line level

[nickgregory]

If I'm not mistaken - the SBM-1 is also a mic preamp as well...although many use it just for its A/D section...

well it can be used as a preamp if it is given more gain, however unmodded it just takes line level

actually unmodded it will act as a preamp as well.  Doug disables the preamp as I understand it for his mods

[Tim]

how would you rate the internal pre, as opposed to an m1, or a ua5, or one of the high dollar pres? I mean, the D8 has an internal pre too

[creekfreak]

its responsible for all the shitmapping in a rig  I still miss my modsbm-1

[nickgregory]

how would you rate the internal pre, as opposed to an m1, or a ua5, or one of the high dollar pres? I mean, the D8 has an internal pre too

just making a point my friend

[hexyjones]

If I'm not mistaken - the SBM-1 is also a mic preamp as well...although many use it just for its A/D section...

well it can be used as a preamp if it is given more gain, however unmodded it just takes line level

Sorry guys - it is most definitley a mic preamp - modded or otherwise...the quarter inch inputs go to the mic pre...and I think it has RCAs for line in...(been a while since I've  used one...)

[Tim]

how would you rate the internal pre, as opposed to an m1, or a ua5, or one of the high dollar pres? I mean, the D8 has an internal pre too

just making a point my friend

oh that wasn't aimed at you... just a general question. I have no freaking idea, I could take a guess but I've been known to be wrong on occasion.

[nickgregory]

If I'm not mistaken - the SBM-1 is also a mic preamp as well...although many use it just for its A/D section...

well it can be used as a preamp if it is given more gain, however unmodded it just takes line level

Sorry guys - it is most definitley a mic preamp - modded or otherwise...the quarter inch inputs go to the mic pre...and I think it has RCAs for line in...(been a while since I've  used one...)

the 1/4" inputs are disabled by Doug on his modded units though

[nickgregory]

oh that wasn't aimed at you... just a general question. I have no freaking idea, I could take a guess but I've been known to be wrong on occasion.

I have no idea but have thought about exploring it...would make a nice little stealthing setup if you had MG caps>cables>JK Labs ECMS22 >Mod SBM1..

[Tim]

very nice and stealthy...

[hexyjones]

If I'm not mistaken - the SBM-1 is also a mic preamp as well...although many use it just for its A/D section...

well it can be used as a preamp if it is given more gain, however unmodded it just takes line level

Sorry guys - it is most definitley a mic preamp - modded or otherwise...the quarter inch inputs go to the mic pre...and I think it has RCAs for line in...(been a while since I've  used one...)

the 1/4" inputs are disabled by Doug on his modded units though

He offers 4 mods for the SBM-1 - only one disables the mic pre...

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

[nickgregory]

He offers 4 mods for the SBM-1 - only one disables the mic pre...

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

agreed, I was talking about his "line mod" which disables the mic pre...though I know there are at least a couple out there with the mic pres still active....not sure if Doug did that to requested units or if the user got it done "after market" so to speak

[Chris K]

doug is not the only one who does mod sbm-1's, and for the record the mod-sbm-1 i have does not have the mic inputs disabled (although i cant think f a time when i would need to use the mic pre's)

doug can keep the mic pre's intact but the sbm-1 will consume more power, and he will even mod the mic pre's if you so desire so it suites your needs

[fozzy]

oh that wasn't aimed at you... just a general question. I have no freaking idea, I could take a guess but I've been known to be wrong on occasion.

I have no idea but have thought about exploring it...would make a nice little stealthing setup if you had MG caps>cables>JK Labs ECMS22 >Mod SBM1..

just picked up a mod sbm1 and will soon be picking up a jklabs ECMS for my akg's.  been talking to doug and he thinks i will be fine w/ the existing line-stage mod but i may need to have it tweaked once i get everything put together.  we'll see.

[Tim]

if you have any problems I would just go buy some line transformers... cheap, clean gain. Congrats on the new JKLABS box, I really like Todd's...

[fozzy]

if you have any problems I would just go buy some line transformers... cheap, clean gain. Congrats on the new JKLABS box, I really like Todd's...

what would you reccomend?

[Tim]

I think the ones at Rat Shack will do you just fine. I believe that there are some recommended model numbers in the Archive section...

[Charlies]

Consider also that Jon/JK has been known to make "custom" boxes other than the ecms box that include adjustable gain (from around zero on up).  If you are considering transformers, you may want to consider a modified JK box as well.  Goddamn the pre on the JK box smokes! Doug O tried to tell me so, full well knowing that I love the m148 and wanted to run JK (no gain)->m148.... 

 
 

[jk labs]

how would you rate the internal pre, as opposed to an m1, or a ua5, or one of the high dollar pres? I mean, the D8 has an internal pre too

One very interesting feature found in the now _dated_ sbm-1 is that Sony made both plus and minus 7 Volts available to the four or so front-end opamps providing the mic and line in gain. I.e., an amply powered dual power rail solution as far as portables go. That translates into 10 dB or so more headroom before brickwalling compared to the oft seen 0 & +5 Volts rails powering most of the "modern" portables.

So I don't think the analog stages within the stock sbm-1 is inferior to other "consumer grade" units in any way.  And it's dated design holds quite a bit of potental as far as upgrades go: new opamps can be selected from a wide range and the dual rail feature allows cleaning up the signal path at large.   

Edited: reformulated for clarity

[thoman8r]

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Plus, as I think it has been mentioned, I think Doug disables it to conserve power, and he probably assumed (correctly, I believe) that most people use a different source for gain.

[hexyjones]

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Plus, as I think it has been mentioned, I think Doug disables it to conserve power, and he probably assumed (correctly, I believe) that most people use a different source for gain.

I know...I cant resist sarcasm sometimes...

[thoman8r]

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Plus, as I think it has been mentioned, I think Doug disables it to conserve power, and he probably assumed (correctly, I believe) that most people use a different source for gain.

I know...I cant resist sarcasm sometimes...

gotcha.  You realize that sarcasm doesn't come across too well over the internet...

[hexyjones]

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Plus, as I think it has been mentioned, I think Doug disables it to conserve power, and he probably assumed (correctly, I believe) that most people use a different source for gain.

I know...I cant resist sarcasm sometimes...

gotcha.  You realize that sarcasm doesn't come across too well over the internet...

[sarcasm]Really - I'll try to be less sarcastic[/sarcasm]

[thoman8r]

I swear - Doug is a genius...charging $250 to make a device do LESS!!!

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Plus, as I think it has been mentioned, I think Doug disables it to conserve power, and he probably assumed (correctly, I believe) that most people use a different source for gain.

I know...I cant resist sarcasm sometimes...

gotcha.  You realize that sarcasm doesn't come across too well over the internet...

[sarcasm]Really - I'll try to be less sarcastic[/sarcasm]

See how much better that works

[Brian Skalinder]

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Oade line-stage modification SBM-1s use the same ADCs as stock.  The Oade Bros change analog components before the ADC.  They do not change the ADC.

[thoman8r]

It may do less things, but the adc sounds light years better than the stock version.

Oade line-stage modification SBM-1s use the same ADCs as stock.  The Oade Bros change analog components before the ADC.  They do not change the ADC.

Interesting.  Regardless, the end result is that the sound kicks ass