Topic: Sound Devices USBPre 2

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I'm curious, you say small dropouts and you listed VLC as the playback software, any chance that the interaction between VLC and new OSX could be the root of the issue? Maybe VLC had the weird dropout and it's not  related to your mac system at all? 

Sean listed VLC, I used Audacity as my benchtest program because it would seamlessly repeat audio, but I thought about the software interaction as well. Tried Songbird, Quicktime, Izotope's RX, and Audacity with the same results. Actually, the same program on different OSX versions worked (10.6 was ok), and the optical out never failed.

I spent some time looking over the differences and it was the operating system that was doing me in on the small dropout front (I also had general audio disruption which they could replicate on their end, thats a different problem though from the small dropouts). Now, an interesting thing I learned tonight was that while 10.5.8 (which I still have on one machine) should automatically do full speed mode upon plugging it in, mine doesn't seem to. Holding input1 while plugging it in seems to resolve the dropouts. I'd have to test it for a while to see if that's really true or not, but food for though.

Computer audio can be a real bitch sometimes... 

Then off topic, how come you chose VLC.  I do like that program and in fact talked the college where I work into installing it on all classroom computers since it will play ANY video no matter how old it is.

Bingo, thats the only reason I have it installed (in general).

I have been using mine with the 15dB pads on all the time now after having some issues with clipping onstage mics with really loud bands.  anyone else notice the clipping issue?

Makes sense, I'm doing the same thing too. The max input on the 722 for mic in is like +10dbu, while the usbpre2's without pads is something like -10dbu and rated at +4dbu with the pads (which most professional mics are capable of reaching based on table 1). Now, the line-in rating is a whopping +28dbu (2 more then the 7 series).

[F.O.Bean]

I'm curious, you say small dropouts and you listed VLC as the playback software, any chance that the interaction between VLC and new OSX could be the root of the issue? Maybe VLC had the weird dropout and it's not  related to your mac system at all? 

Sean listed VLC, I used Audacity as my benchtest program because it would seamlessly repeat audio, but I thought about the software interaction as well. Tried Songbird, Quicktime, Izotope's RX, and Audacity with the same results. Actually, the same program on different OSX versions worked (10.6 was ok), and the optical out never failed.

I spent some time looking over the differences and it was the operating system that was doing me in on the small dropout front (I also had general audio disruption which they could replicate on their end, thats a different problem though from the small dropouts). Now, an interesting thing I learned tonight was that while 10.5.8 (which I still have on one machine) should automatically do full speed mode upon plugging it in, mine doesn't seem to. Holding input1 while plugging it in seems to resolve the dropouts. I'd have to test it for a while to see if that's really true or not, but food for though.

Computer audio can be a real bitch sometimes... 

Then off topic, how come you chose VLC.  I do like that program and in fact talked the college where I work into installing it on all classroom computers since it will play ANY video no matter how old it is.

Bingo, thats the only reason I have it installed (in general).

I have been using mine with the 15dB pads on all the time now after having some issues with clipping onstage mics with really loud bands.  anyone else notice the clipping issue?

Makes sense, I'm doing the same thing too. The max input on the 722 for mic in is like +10dbu, while the usbpre2's without pads is something like -10dbu and rated at +4dbu with the pads (which most professional mics are capable of reaching based on table 1). Now, the line-in rating is a whopping +28dbu (2 more then the 7 series).

Page, just wondering, but why do you run usbpre2>722 when they are the exact same preamps Or is that just heresay?

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Page, just wondering, but why do you run usbpre2>722 when they are the exact same preamps Or is that just heresay?

I don't, my setup is to run them separately (mic audio>722 and sbd audio>usbpre2>d50) and link them via spdif so they share a clock signal, but carry 4 channels. It's my cheapsake attempt to avoid buying a second 722.

While there is little/no difference in sonic attributes between the two pre-amp stages, they do have different stats. So if there is a specific application (e.g. using mics in an ultra loud environment, or getting a really hot sbd signal), and because of different stats one box is better suited for a specific application, then I'd like to know that so I know which one to pair with which signal.

[F.O.Bean]

Page, just wondering, but why do you run usbpre2>722 when they are the exact same preamps Or is that just heresay?

I don't, my setup is to run them separately (mic audio>722 and sbd audio>usbpre2>d50) and link them via spdif so they share a clock signal, but carry 4 channels. It's my cheapsake attempt to avoid buying a second 722.

While there is little/no difference in sonic attributes between the two pre-amp stages, they do have different stats. So if there is a specific application (e.g. using mics in an ultra loud environment, or getting a really hot sbd signal), and because of different stats one box is better suited for a specific application, then I'd like to know that so I know which one to pair with which signal.

gotcha

[rastasean]

Glad to hear that you're not having the issues on the new OS but what's even more odd is that the mac I tested the playback on is 10.5.8. I think I may try running the test again but I don't think I will be able to get around to that until late this week.

[braweave]

Has anyone used the Rca line outs on the Usbpre2?

I currently have Mp2 > r-09hr.

Thinking of upgrading to usbpre2 > r-09hr

I was wondering if I will really notice that much of a difference between the 2 pre's.

[acidjack]

Has anyone noticed the headphone amp being kind of noisy, at least through the miniplug?  Running Macbook Air>USBpre2>Westone 3s I get a lot of hiss. I'm assuming the little earphones have higher self-noise than fullsize cans, but it still seems like more hiss than I'd expect.  I don't think (?) that the computer itself could generate the hiss since it's passing a digital signal, but perhaps I am mistaken.

FWIW the hiss is audible even if no music is playing; just if the unit is plugged in.

[bhadella]

Has anyone noticed the headphone amp being kind of noisy, at least through the miniplug?  Running Macbook Air>USBpre2>Westone 3s I get a lot of hiss. I'm assuming the little earphones have higher self-noise than fullsize cans, but it still seems like more hiss than I'd expect.  I don't think (?) that the computer itself could generate the hiss since it's passing a digital signal, but perhaps I am mistaken.

FWIW the hiss is audible even if no music is playing; just if the unit is plugged in.

The headphone section is very noisy.   My R44 headphone out is much better than the Sound Devices box.   

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It's a known issue. The more sensitive your headphones, the more you will notice it because you won't be able to crank the gain to excape it. Something along the lines of orthodynamic based headphones would pair great since they eat current like twinkies (which the pre2 has oodles of) and are generally low impedance (which the pre2 is geared toward), but they are also ugly expensive and typically open-backed which are two strikes against field use...

I suspect it's like a TV with static on the W3s, they are very sensitive if they are anything like their UM3x monitor cousins.

[hi and lo]

Also, my third (!) 680 STILL will not take a feed from a USBpre2, even with the SD box's firmware updated.

FYI to anyone that is interested, we FINALLY got the 680 to accept an SPDIF signal from the USBPre2. We didn't change anything to our knowledge, so no idea why it now works.

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Has anyone noticed the headphone amp being kind of noisy

FWIW, same issue with the MixPre.  The preamp itself is a wonderful piece of gear but the headphone amp in it leaves a lot to be desired.

[acidjack]

Also, my third (!) 680 STILL will not take a feed from a USBpre2, even with the SD box's firmware updated.

FYI to anyone that is interested, we FINALLY got the 680 to accept an SPDIF signal from the USBPre2. We didn't change anything to our knowledge, so no idea why it now works.

'Tis true, our 680 likes us now.  All known issues we had have been put to rest.  Also did successfully power this one off a Tekkeon at 10V without frying. 

[hi and lo]

Also did successfully power this one off a Tekkeon at 10V without frying.

 

 

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the pre2 at 10v or the 680?

[hi and lo]

The 680 - wrong board/thread... perhaps? The fact that our 680 is a giant paperweight anymore? Totally awesome