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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: Nick's Picks on January 24, 2004, 08:06:38 AM

Title: UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Nick's Picks on January 24, 2004, 08:06:38 AM
This is so cool, it needs its own thread
From the "more tweaks" post...
http://www.canakit.com/Default.asp?Contents=/Include/Template/MenuCat.asp&Main=http://www.canakit.com/Contents/Items/CK106.asp

This looks like an easy hack!
it has cal pots for calibrating the lights to another meeter (probably software would work best).  Only 5 lights, more would be sweet, but I couldnt find another LED meter that was both stereo and had the calibration options as this stereo one does.  I'm guessing that making the top light represent 0db is the way to go.

DC input, just two pins to connect + and - , easy enough.  Can be powered off of the UA-5 battery source, no matter what that may be 9-12v.

has two input pins, in1 and in2.  Easy enough.
It can take its feed from the RCA outputs on the back of the UA-5.
Though, I wonder where/if another option inside the UA-5 would be better?

I'm fishing for different mounting options, I'd like to do it in or on the box itself where it can be easily seen.
Another option is to mount it in a small project box as a seperate componant.

In any case, meetering on the UA-5 would be sooo sweet!

Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Kindguy on January 25, 2004, 11:14:01 AM
I'd like to see it off the box. I'd love some meters. But wouldn't want to void my warranty from Doug.

I could add it once the warranty peroid was over. :)
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: jpschust on January 25, 2004, 01:40:57 PM
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C2BD32E27

just makin life easier :-)
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: BCostigan on January 25, 2004, 05:38:02 PM
It would be pretty sweet.  I just grabbed my ua-5 and was looking at where you could put this thing........I don't think it'll fit anywhere on the faceplate :'(    I think the best thing would be a separate wired "box" of some sort.  Keep us posted. :)
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Ed. on January 26, 2004, 06:13:06 AM
maybe a small wired box of sort that could easily be velcro'd to the top of it...possibly.  Or maybe even have something rigged up with longer wires to run on top of your pack so you don't have to have everything open and such....just ideas

keep us posted.

ed
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 26, 2004, 07:04:37 AM
maybe a small wired box of sort that could easily be velcro'd to the top of it...possibly.  Or maybe even have something rigged up with longer wires to run on top of your pack so you don't have to have everything open and such....just ideas

keep us posted.

ed

i like that idea ed!!!

running those meters outside of your pack would be the way to go ;)
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: tadjblack on January 26, 2004, 05:05:49 PM
+T Nick-
you go boy
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: dklein on January 26, 2004, 10:44:43 PM
When you plug into the analog output to meter, don't forget about the ferrite loop that came with the UA-5.  The manual says you gotta use it if you're running headphones to avoid introducing noise back into the pre.  Not sure if the same would apply to the rear outputs.
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: VA_TAPER on January 26, 2004, 11:58:31 PM
maybe a small wired box of sort that could easily be velcro'd to the top of it...possibly.  Or maybe even have something rigged up with longer wires to run on top of your pack so you don't have to have everything open and such....just ideas

keep us posted.

ed

i like that idea ed!!!

running those meters outside of your pack would be the way to go ;)

rcas in - cal pots, long batt life....no mess

http://www.beachtek.com/svu1.html

 ;D

peace, chris
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: timP on January 27, 2004, 01:08:08 AM
wondering if the meter box above would solve my problem of no visable levels on my recorder if I ran it from the line out....
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Ed. on January 27, 2004, 02:50:36 AM
i was kinda wondering that too, rather than have it go from the ua-5 where the optical and analog controls might differ, have it run from the line out on the nomad?  would that work?  it seems like it just might using a simple mini > rca cable.

ed

edit: holy crap that thing is over $100.  maybe i won't consider buying one.
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Scuba Jeremy on January 27, 2004, 05:01:33 AM
... except that the line outs on the UA5 are independant from the digi out, so it would not be accurate.
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on January 27, 2004, 09:37:55 AM
I was involved in a previous conversation about metering...  I'm not sure, but maybe it will help, maybe not.  Here is the "shorter link":

http://makeashorterlink.com/?H20C51437

Hopefully that works, or you could do a search on"metering, was JB3 metering".

We found these DIY meters that could be added to an output, and someone was thinking about trying it out, but I'm not sure hwat happened of it...

I've kinda of gotten used to the metering on my JB3...  But a bigger and badder meter would be nice...

Terry
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: F.O.Bean on January 27, 2004, 09:56:05 AM
maybe a small wired box of sort that could easily be velcro'd to the top of it...possibly.  Or maybe even have something rigged up with longer wires to run on top of your pack so you don't have to have everything open and such....just ideas

keep us posted.

ed

i like that idea ed!!!

running those meters outside of your pack would be the way to go ;)

rcas in - cal pots, long batt life....no mess

http://www.beachtek.com/svu1.html

 ;D

peace, chris

that would almost be worth it just to close your bag up, and keep that outside of it!!! ;)
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Nick's Picks on February 03, 2004, 09:09:33 AM
quoted:
rcas in - cal pots, long batt life....no mess

http://www.beachtek.com/svu1.html


________________-

this looks awesome...more lights!  and definately better meetering.   The only problem here is that it costs $110 (cheapest I could find via retail).  I did see one on ebay for $75.
That is still $50 more than the DIY kit i'm messing with.  Still, I may end up w/one any way.  :)

I'm hoping to get mine together by the end of this week.  I'll take pictures and let every know how I did it....as long as it comes out in workable order, that is.
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: F.O.Bean on February 03, 2004, 09:23:57 AM
quoted:
rcas in - cal pots, long batt life....no mess

http://www.beachtek.com/svu1.html


________________-

this looks awesome...more lights!  and definately better meetering.   The only problem here is that it costs $110 (cheapest I could find via retail).  I did see one on ebay for $75.
That is still $50 more than the DIY kit i'm messing with.  Still, I may end up w/one any way.  :)

I'm hoping to get mine together by the end of this week.  I'll take pictures and let every know how I did it....as long as it comes out in workable order, that is.

i thought you saw that post/link about a wek ago,saME THING, very promising :)
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: sexymexi on February 04, 2004, 12:00:18 AM
heres one, only 8.95 each, but you would need 2 cause they are mono.
http://www.kelvin.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=K&Product_Code=841127

here's a bunch of different kits, 10 led, 15, many different things.
http://www.hobbytron.net/audiosub.html

i might get one, just for fun, would be cool..  good luck.

matt
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Nick's Picks on February 04, 2004, 11:31:45 AM
 that first one lookes to have a mic element that serves for the input source?
that wont do.

we need input pins and cal pots.  those are a must.  two monos are fine, and iv'e seen some other kits that offer more lights.  this one that i chose had it all, except lots of lights.
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Nick's Picks on February 04, 2004, 11:35:54 AM
the 2nd link has much better options!  whish I had seen those first!
damn.  I'll likely order one of those 15 or 10 led kits and go for a more refined version on my 2nd attempt.
i'm almost done w/my first kit.  just need to design the box.  
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Nick's Picks on February 04, 2004, 11:40:40 AM
ok, another problem w/the hobbytron kits is that they require 10-15v of juice
and i'm not carrying a 12v SLA to power anything!  
down w/lead is my motto.

now, i know a small 12v sla is still several pounds, would run both the ua-5 and a nice level meter like either of those stereo ones for a long time, but still...I dont think i'd carry lead for it.
shit, thats a bummer.
Title: Re:UA-5 level meeters
Post by: Electric Cowgirl on February 12, 2004, 10:47:29 AM
I'd like to see it off the box. I'd love some meters. But wouldn't want to void my warranty from Doug.

I could add it once the warranty peroid was over. :)


Perhaps Doug could come up with a new mod.  I love my UA5, but professionally done meters would be the icing on the cake. ;)