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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: NYLifer on January 25, 2012, 10:35:24 AM
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My stock Sony SBM-1 over the last year has developed this nasty habit of, very occasionally dropping the R channel and just recording the L channel only. This happens maybe once or twice every 10 shows I record.
It's very easy to see, because the R light just goes off and stays off. One recording I made where I was not at the gear, the R channel actually came back on after a half hour, but usually when I notice the channel dropping I just yank the 1/4" mics out of the SBM-1 and jam them directly into the Microtrack II.
There have been occasions where turning the SBM-1 off and then back on has restored both channels, but also occasions where, after being restored, the R channel will again disappear after some time.
Is this possibly a heat or dust issue? I've been hesitant to open it up...
Is Sony still doing any sort of (warranty or non) repairs these days?
Thank you,
Bob
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The SBM is relatively easy to open up and its quite possible doing so would reveal a failing component. The age of the capacitors in these units is definitely hitting the point where may begin to leak or fail, so it probably needs a checkup.
Considering the cost of these units and their dated, 16-bit functionality, I don't think I would personally bother with spending money for repairs.
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Sorry, no help on your problem, but I'd agree that I wouldn't do repairs, at least not through Sony. If they even still worked on it, I'd bet it would be a minimum of $250.
I have the Sony D50 recorder, which I find a very nice recorder, been very robust for me, takes a digital input (optical), and sounds very good from its analog inputs. I mainly record in 24bits, but if you want to record at 16bits, the D50 offers the SBM circuitry.
Given the advances in circuits, amp chips, and A/D chips, the D50 with or without its SBM circuitry probably sounds as good or better than the original SBM1. You could probably pick one up for ~$350. I don't know that I'd really recommend recording at 16bits with so many 24bit recorders, but even if you're set on SBM-dither down to 16bits, I'd probably put my money towards a D50 and replace your SBM1 and MT, rather than spending more money to fix a pretty dated SBM1.
:2 cents:
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Also if you are looking for a replacement recorder w/ SPDIF and XLR's (I saw your other thread under 4 channel) take a look at the new Tascam DR-100mkII
Tonedef has a great run down on the unit in this section on it.
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I might bet that it is a broken solder connection where the RCA input connects to the circuit board. The intermittent behavior would possibly explain this.
Good luck!
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Considering the cost of these units and their dated, 16-bit functionality, I don't think I would personally bother with spending money for repairs.
IMHO, you are best off scrapping the SBM-1 and getting a Sony M10 for $230 shipped through B&H. Just get an adapter cable to go from your 441s into the M10s 1/8" input and you are set. The M10 sounds great, you can run 24 bit, runs for ever on 2 AA batteries (literally days) and you will be eliminating a piece of gear from the chain. Would probably cost you the $230 to repair the SBM-1 and you still have an old piece of gear that does not do 24 bit.
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Actually, you can repair your SBM-1 for about $120.
According to Paul at Prodigital, it is usually the solder around the RCA jacks or somewhere near the capacitors.
Call him up and ask.
Of course, I had him do one of mine and the problem continued, so if you get it done, get it done right!
jb
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Considering the cost of these units and their dated, 16-bit functionality, I don't think I would personally bother with spending money for repairs.
IMHO, you are best off scrapping the SBM-1 and getting a Sony M10 for $230 shipped through B&H. Just get an adapter cable to go from your 441s into the M10s 1/8" input and you are set. The M10 sounds great, you can run 24 bit, runs for ever on 2 AA batteries (literally days) and you will be eliminating a piece of gear from the chain. Would probably cost you the $230 to repair the SBM-1 and you still have an old piece of gear that does not do 24 bit.
BINGO!!!