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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: FLDEADHEAD on November 18, 2008, 12:30:46 PM

Title: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: FLDEADHEAD on November 18, 2008, 12:30:46 PM
Can this be done and if so how?

Thanks in advance....My friend bought a digi mod ua-5 and has a r-09 as his recorder.

Any help would be appreciated. Especially when it comes to gain..........

Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: Brian Skalinder on November 18, 2008, 12:37:09 PM
It's not ideal, but it can be done.  The R-09 only has an analog input and no digital input.  But the UA5 doesn't have an analog pass-through, i.e. it doesn't function strictly as a preamp.  All analog inputs that are subsequently routed through the analog outputs undergo conversion to digital and back to analog.  The signal path would be:  Mics > UA5 analog inputs > ADC > DAC > UA5 analog outputs > R-09 analog input > ADC > media.  The red highlights note the unnecessary (and unavoidable) ADC and DAC conversion that takes place in the signal chain.

It should work fine, and will probably sound okay, but it's not ideal.  If budget allows, maybe consider an inexpensive bit bucket, like the M-Audio MicroTrack I or II.

I'd set the R-09 to unity gain and use the UA5 to adjust gain & levels.
Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: FLDEADHEAD on November 18, 2008, 12:43:22 PM
It's not ideal, but it can be done.  The R-09 only has an analog input and no digital input.  But the UA5 doesn't have an analog pass-through, i.e. it doesn't function strictly as a preamp.  All analog inputs that are subsequently routed through the analog outputs undergo conversion to digital and back to analog.  The signal path would be:  Mics > UA5 analog inputs > ADC > DAC > UA5 analog outputs > R-09 analog input > ADC > media.  The red highlights note the unnecessary (and unavoidable) ADC and DAC conversion that takes place in the signal chain.

It should work fine, and will probably sound okay, but it's not ideal.  If budget allows, maybe consider an inexpensive bit bucket, like the M-Audio MicroTrack I or II.

I'd set the R-09 to unity gain and use the UA5 to adjust gain & levels.

TYVM Brian for the quick and detailed answers, you rock.!!
+T .!! 8)
Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: vanark on November 19, 2008, 06:57:24 AM
I had an exchange with FLDEADHEAD via PM, but guess others may benefit from the info.  I run a digimod UA-5 > R-09 and here is how I run it.  And yes, I am aware of the extra AD > DA conversion in the chain, but until I get a reliable recorder with a digi input, it is what it is.

I've been running the UA-5 for a couple months.  I run the RCA out on the UA-5 to the R-09.  As for settings, Input monitor SW ON and the input monitor volume should be all the way to the right.  Same for the output master volume.  I then adjust the levels using the sensitivity knobs.  There is some discussion as to whether the input monitor should be on, but as far as I can tell, this applies to digital outs, not the analog outs being used to go to the R-09. If I don't have the input monitor on and levels all the way up, I get no output to the R-09.
Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: SmokinJoe on November 19, 2008, 12:28:11 PM
I'll also say...
- R09 should gave gain somewhere in the middle of the 0-30 range... like 15.
- If the clip lights on the UA-5 is on steady, that you are pushing that too hard.  Given Vanark's recommendation for settings, that shouldn't happen.

For a test one time I ran LSD2 > UA-5 > optical into my H120, as well as analog > R09.  Lacking a $5000 playback system to test them on, but I couldn't hear the difference.
Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: vanark on November 19, 2008, 12:41:56 PM

- R09 should gave gain somewhere in the middle of the 0-30 range... like 15.

Yes, I run my R-09 at 13.  For a loud show, the sensitivity knobs on the UA-5 about 1/2 way (12 o'clock) seem to be about where I end up.
Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: goatfarmer on November 19, 2008, 04:59:41 PM
For a test one time I ran LSD2 > UA-5 > optical into my H120, as well as analog > R09.  Lacking a $5000 playback system to test them on, but I couldn't hear the difference.

I tried the same for Ratdog at the Up North Festival, except I ran C4 > UA-5 > optical into H120 and analog > R09. Similar to Joe, I could not hear the difference.

-Doug
Title: Re: digi mod ua-5 > Edirol r-09
Post by: FLDEADHEAD on November 30, 2008, 02:29:02 PM
Some great stuff here.  I have pointed the buyer of the UA-5 here to read more, Really appreciate all the feedback.!

 ;D +T's to ya'll  ;D