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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: AB52 on June 19, 2011, 04:05:50 PM

Title: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 19, 2011, 04:05:50 PM
Do these pres really sound as good as those on an SD 744T ???
Anyone actually compared the two.  I do not understand how a pre running on 5 volts can do this. 

Also, do you think it would run off of a keyboard USB port, such as on my Fusion 12?

THANKS for the help everyone,

Best,
AB
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: page on June 20, 2011, 10:47:05 AM
Do these pres really sound as good as those on an SD 744T ???
Anyone actually compared the two.  I do not understand how a pre running on 5 volts can do this. 

Also, do you think it would run off of a keyboard USB port, such as on my Fusion 12?

The preamps should mimic the 788's IIRC. For reference, the 744 can run on 7v, and it has a hard drive and CF card slot.

Second, I doubt it will power off of your keyboard, my apple keyboard wouldn't do it when I tried. If it did, I'd think about latency of being daisy chained.
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: kirk97132 on June 20, 2011, 04:22:59 PM
If you are ONLY after power then try it it might work, or page already has got the answer to that. I also think page could be right about a latency issue if you are trying to use it as computer interface.  BUT if it is only an input device then latency might not be an issue to you
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 21, 2011, 10:23:38 PM
Thanks everyone.  I have a mixpre-d and usbpre2 arriving on Friday - so I can compare both.  I also ordered a USB battery device as I do not think my keyboard port will work - the specs on it do not work.

What I like I will keep.  What I do not will be returned.  It will be interesting.

Best to all.  I really like this forum and the people on it.
AB
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: hi and lo on June 21, 2011, 10:26:06 PM
Thanks everyone.  I have a mixpre-d and usbpre2 arriving on Friday - so I can compare both.

 :o :o :o
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: rastasean on June 22, 2011, 10:51:06 AM
Thanks everyone.  I have a mixpre-d and usbpre2 arriving on Friday - so I can compare both.  I also ordered a USB battery device as I do not think my keyboard port will work - the specs on it do not work.

What I like I will keep.  What I do not will be returned.  It will be interesting.

Best to all.  I really like this forum and the people on it.
AB

It may be hard to say no to both since you bought both at the same time but do keep us updated!
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: page on June 22, 2011, 11:13:15 AM
Hmm, thats a question of transformers then.

Using this for concert taping or quiet stuff? Long cable runs from the preamp or standard tapingsection-style recording where everything is near you?
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 24, 2011, 11:51:31 PM
No long cable runs.   The mixpre-d went back.  The USBpre2 stays. 
I am impressed it so far.  I use an Isound power max to power it.   
It will run a long time off of that unit and it was inexpensive compared to some other options.  I am not looking to mix in the field. 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766258-REG/ISOUND_DGIPAD_4544_Portable_Power_Max_16000.html

I am looking to record and have a couple of backup channels from my Zaxcom Fusion.  (If only the fusion would run off the Isound power unit!)

By the way, this was a difficult decision.    The mixpre-d has some great features the usbpre2 does not (like internal batteries, ms recording, aes dig out)

If I was wealthy, I would have both.  (and of course a whole bunch of more field recorders and microphones, etc.

But I can wholeheartedly recommend the USBPRE2 - it was up there with the Fusion pres - using a pair of Sennheiser 8070s.

Thanks, everyone.

Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: page on June 24, 2011, 11:55:01 PM
No long cable runs.   The mixpre-d went back.  The USBpre2 stays. 
I am impressed it so far.  I use an Isound power max to power it.   It will run a long time off of that unit and it was inexpensive compared to some other options.

I am not looking to mix in the field.  I am looking to record and have a couple of backup channels from my Zaxcom Fusion. 

By the way, this was a difficult decision.

That makes sense then. The mixpre is best in adverse conditions (long cable runs, high RFI environments) since it has isolating transformers on the inputs, you lose some dynamic range IIRC, but it's not much.

Glad you're happy with the unit.
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 24, 2011, 11:58:15 PM
It would be nice to have a unit where the transformer can be bypassed.  I would pay another $300 for all the features of the mixpre-d and USBpre2 - all in one unit!

No long cable runs.   The mixpre-d went back.  The USBpre2 stays. 
I am impressed it so far.  I use an Isound power max to power it.   It will run a long time off of that unit and it was inexpensive compared to some other options.

I am not looking to mix in the field.  I am looking to record and have a couple of backup channels from my Zaxcom Fusion. 

By the way, this was a difficult decision.

That makes sense then. The mixpre is best in adverse conditions (long cable runs, high RFI environments) since it has isolating transformers on the inputs, you lose some dynamic range IIRC, but it's not much.

Glad you're happy with the unit.
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: dogmusic on June 25, 2011, 11:56:57 AM
The USBpre2 stays. 
I am impressed it so far.  I use an Isound power max to power it.   
It will run a long time off of that unit and it was inexpensive compared to some other options.  I am not looking to mix in the field. 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766258-REG/ISOUND_DGIPAD_4544_Portable_Power_Max_16000.html


How long can you power the USBPre 2 from the Isound power max?
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 25, 2011, 04:45:04 PM
 Not sure.  I guess I could leave it on for a week and write back.  It is suppose to be many, many hours.   :)

The USBpre2 stays. 
I am impressed it so far.  I use an Isound power max to power it.   
It will run a long time off of that unit and it was inexpensive compared to some other options.  I am not looking to mix in the field. 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766258-REG/ISOUND_DGIPAD_4544_Portable_Power_Max_16000.html


How long can you power the USBPre 2 from the Isound power max?
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: dogmusic on June 26, 2011, 08:48:25 AM
Not sure.  I guess I could leave it on for a week and write back.  It is suppose to be many, many hours.   :)


How long can you power the USBPre 2 from the Isound power max?

Do you think you could run it for 24 hours with phantom on?
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: notlance on June 26, 2011, 10:59:51 AM
The USBPre 2 draws a max of 0.5 amps.  The battery in question is rated for 16 Ahr.  16 Ahr / 0.5 A = 32 hours   So the battery should last for 24 hours.
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 26, 2011, 11:49:08 AM
This sounds correct.   As I left it on last nght, and now it is about 12 hours, and one of the four lights has gone off on the ISOUND.  If it really lasts about three more of the lights on the unit (It has a four light display for indicating power left) - then at most this would be 48 hours.  But who knows if the USBpre2 would really run well with the last two lights.  So I think 24 hours is probably a fair assessment of reality.

The USBPre 2 draws a max of 0.5 amps.  The battery in question is rated for 16 Ahr.  16 Ahr / 0.5 A = 32 hours   So the battery should last for 24 hours.
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: dogmusic on June 26, 2011, 01:03:16 PM
24 hours seems very good, given the low cost of the battery.
Title: Re: USBPRE2 question
Post by: AB52 on June 26, 2011, 08:07:16 PM
I am letting mine run.  I never turned it off since last night.   Still at three bars our of four.  (However, I did have the mics disconnected for some hours.  So I will let it keep on running with the two phantom powered sennheiser 8070s connected.  We will see what it is at tomorrow.
Probably good to burn in the USBpre2 anyway.
Best,
AB
update - this morning it is down to two bars.   I think someone may get more than 24 hours on this.  Does it have anything to do with it being rated at 2.4 amps and only one unit connected to it (thought two phantom power mics).