Topic: First-time R-4 use vs. UA-5 > JB3?

[BradM]

I'm staying with my family over the holidays, and brought a small rig (SP-BMC3 > SP-SBSB1 > UA-5 > JB3) with me in case I managed to take in any recordable shows. As it turns out, there's one tomorrow night, and the promoter (whom I know) says he has a pair of AT3031s and an Edirol R-4 (along with stands and cables and such) that I can use. The thing is that I've never used an R-4 before, so I'm tempted to just run the 3031s into the UA-5 and then into the JB3 (which, aside from the model of mic, is what I usually use), to reduce the chances of screwing things up. Is there any advantage to using the R-4, given that I won't have been at the controls of one before? I suppose that if I could get a board feed as well that I could record both the mics and the board, but that'll make it even more complicated, and would also mean that I wouldn't have a copy for myself, unless I patched the JB3 out of the R-4, but if I were running aud+sbd, I don't think I'd want a straight stereo mix, due to phasing issues; if I were running four tracks into the R-4, can I just take an output feed of two of them? If I couldn't get a board feed, is there any advantage in using the R-4 instead of (or in front of) the JB3? (I guess I consider myself a conservative/safe taper, and given that I'll likely be the only one recording, I wonder if any extra quality I could get using the R-4 is worth the risk of me screwing things up due to not having used one before.)

Any help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Aloha,
Brad

[dgodwin]

you could run in 24bit with the R4. The R4 is pretty easy to use IMHO.  My recommendation would be to try to get there early, and try it out.  If you're not comfortable with the R4, stick with your own gear...

[kcmule]

I'm staying with my family over the holidays, and brought a small rig
(SP-BMC3 > SP-SBSB1 > UA-5 > JB3) with me in case I managed to take in
any recordable shows. As it turns out, there's one tomorrow night,

Now that is funny.  Taking gear to a family deal, just in case 

and the promoter (whom I know) says he has a pair of AT3031s and an
Edirol R-4 (along with stands and cables and such) that I can use.
The thing is that I've never used an R-4 before, so I'm tempted to
just run the 3031s into the UA-5 and then into the JB3 (which, aside
from the model of mic, is what I usually use), to reduce the chances
of screwing things up.

It'd be pretty hard to screw up using an R4.

Is there any advantage to using the R-4, given that I won't have been
at the controls of one before?

24 bit

I suppose that if I could get a board feed as well that I could record both
the mics and the board, but that'll make it even more complicated,

Not really. Set the R4 to do 4 channels and twist 4 knobs instead of two.
Good meters, easy to operate.  Not near as much guess work on levels
as the UA-5 > JB3 setup (I ran this combo for a while).

and would also mean that I wouldn't have a copy for myself, unless I patched
the JB3 out of the R-4, but if I were running aud+sbd, I don't think I'd want
a straight stereo mix, due to phasing issues;

This is true.

if I were running four tracks into the R-4, can I just take an output feed of two of them?

No.

If I couldn't get a board feed, is there any advantage in using the R-4
instead of (or in front of) the JB3?

Instead of, would be 24 bit and it's a new toy to play with .  In front of, not in my opinion.

I'd run the R4.  You'll want one after doing so, coming from the UA-5 > JB3. 
It really is super-easy to operate.  In a nut shell: plug it in, turn it on,
and hit record, twist knobs to adjust levels.  You're done.

[goodcooker]

if I were running four tracks into the R-4, can I just take an output feed of two of them?

No.

Sure you can ....you select the output by using the up and down buttons in record mode.
Whichever channels you select get sent to all outputs simultaneously... digital, analog and phones.

Run the R4 it's easy. Just make sure you have power. If it runs out of juice during your session the whole thing is lost and if you are patched out of it you will have an interupted backup.

[kcmule]

if I were running four tracks into the R-4, can I just take an output feed of two of them?

No.

Sure you can ....you select the output by using the up and down buttons in record mode.
Whichever channels you select get sent to all outputs simultaneously... digital, analog and phones.

I'll look into that....

[kcmule]

Sure you can ....you select the output by using the up and down buttons in record mode.
Whichever channels you select get sent to all outputs simultaneously... digital, analog and phones.

Thanks.  I've never noticed that before.  That'll be handy for monitoring
only the sbd mix on a 4 channel setup while recording all 4.

[kcmule]

Run the R4 it's easy. Just make sure you have power.

Please correct me if I'm wrong here but do NOT use the battery power
for your UA-5 with the R4.  Pretty sure they are wired opposite each
other.  Wouldn't want you to fry anything.

[dgodwin]

both the ua5 and r4 use identical power supplys. 

[rowjimmytour]

I would use the R4 to capture:
24 bit
possibility of SDB/matrix
Back up recording of show in case NJB3 fails

Run both and have the NJB3 patch out and like stated w/ up/down arrows capture the Audience portion at 16/44.1

[run_run_run]

I have taken a patch of 2 channels out of a R-4 many times

[SmokinJoe]

The only thing complex about a R4 is the menu system (selecting 16/44 vs 24/48, analog vs digital in, etc).  If that is all set by the R4 owner you won't have to worry about that and the use of the R4 is pretty intuitive.

That said, if you want to just use his mics, etc and run your UA-5 > JB3, that's fine.  It doesn't mean you're a wimp, it just means you are comfortable with what you know, especially if you are drinking and don't want to be responsible for some else's expensive recorder.

[admkrk]

both the ua5 and r4 use identical power supplys. 

i don't know about the r-4, but the ua-5 is wired backwards. the ring at the battery end of the cable is the tip at the ua-5's end. i use the batteries for several things and always check that i'm using the right cable before plugging it in. i'd check before plugging in especially using someone else's gear. only takes a couple seconds.

[sleepypedro]

both the ua5 and r4 use identical power supplys. 

i don't know about the r-4, but the ua-5 is wired backwards. the ring at the battery end of the cable is the tip at the ua-5's end. i use the batteries for several things and always check that i'm using the right cable before plugging it in. i'd check before plugging in especially using someone else's gear. only takes a couple seconds.

to hopefully put an end to the speculation and misinformation in this thread: the UA5 and the R4 are wired identically.  i've run an r4 since they came out in 2005, and ii've built several power cables for people.  if you've got a power solution going for a UA5, it will power the R4.

[NJFunk]

both the ua5 and r4 use identical power supplys. 

i don't know about the r-4, but the ua-5 is wired backwards. the ring at the battery end of the cable is the tip at the ua-5's end. i use the batteries for several things and always check that i'm using the right cable before plugging it in. i'd check before plugging in especially using someone else's gear. only takes a couple seconds.

to hopefully put an end to the speculation and misinformation in this thread: the UA5 and the R4 are wired identically.  i've run an r4 since they came out in 2005, and ii've built several power cables for people.  if you've got a power solution going for a UA5, it will power the R4.

QFT.  The R4 is also wired backwards (and identical to the wiring of the UA-5).  Let this be stated as unambiguous fact.

The only thing to consider with batteries between the two is that the R-4 only runs about half as long as the UA-5 on the same battery.  I had a battery that ran my UA-5 for about 4 hours, but it could only power the R-4 for 2, so I had to get a different one with a little more juice.

[admkrk]

i wasn't trying to spread misinformation, just a note of caution. it's easy enough to run 2 things off the same power supply and have them wired backwards from each other. 

both the ua5 and r4 use identical power supplys. 

i don't know about the r-4, but the ua-5 is wired backwards. the ring at the battery end of the cable is the tip at the ua-5's end. i use the batteries for several things and always check that i'm using the right cable before plugging it in. i'd check before plugging in especially using someone else's gear. only takes a couple seconds.

to hopefully put an end to the speculation and misinformation in this thread: the UA5 and the R4 are wired identically.  i've run an r4 since they came out in 2005, and ii've built several power cables for people.  if you've got a power solution going for a UA5, it will power the R4.