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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 10:32:08 AM

Title: Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 10:32:08 AM
Hey!  My recording from last night has random digi-pops throughout the show.  Not loud, but noticeable.

Any suggestions?

C1000's>UA5>Optical>JB3
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: teajay on March 19, 2004, 11:00:12 AM
cable issues? have you tested them again at home?
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 19, 2004, 11:03:36 AM
yep, it doesnt sound like ist a jb3 issue, buit we'd need more deatils tho

Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 11:23:09 AM
I am about to test here at home.  The UA5 was on all the right settings.

I'll let you know what happens.  Thanks
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: mgleason007 on March 19, 2004, 01:28:18 PM
What firmware do you have?
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 01:30:08 PM
1.32.02p

I bought a new optical cable, and I am Still getting pops.  What else should I check?
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: mgleason007 on March 19, 2004, 01:32:56 PM
Your toslink > mini toslink adapter ???
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 01:34:58 PM
Your toslink > mini toslink adapter ???

How do you mean?  
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: mgleason007 on March 19, 2004, 01:36:54 PM
Well if you have a standard optical cable you need an adapter.

Like this:
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 19, 2004, 01:38:26 PM
heres the latest firmware, its 1.40.06, many pholks including myself have been using it w/ MUCH success!!!

heres the link!!

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=11;action=display;threadid=11253 (http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=11;action=display;threadid=11253)

it should be the second post down, by mr. nick sullivan ;)
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: Brian Skalinder on March 19, 2004, 01:54:42 PM
1.32.02p

I bought a new optical cable, and I am Still getting pops.  What else should I check?

FWIW, I'm on the same firmware and have no problems.

Do you get the same pops via coax output (say, to a DAT deck or soundcard)?
Is your UA5 self- or Oade-modded?
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 02:10:54 PM
I do have a mini-plug, but it is all plastic.

There really is no way for me to test the coax out, I don't have a DAT.

I self modded my UA5.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: fozzy on March 19, 2004, 02:15:05 PM
I too am on the same firmware running a self modded UA5 w/ a ratshack toslink to toslink cable w/ a ratshack  toslink to mini adapter.

I do not have any issues.  How are you powering you UA5?  Is the unit secure and not moving around a lot.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: mgleason007 on March 19, 2004, 02:16:39 PM
I do have a mini-plug, but it is all plastic.

There really is no way for me to test the coax out, I don't have a DAT.

I self modded my UA5.

Does the mini-plug seat firmly and click?  Is this an isolated incident?
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 02:17:01 PM
This is the first time this has happened.  The mini-plug used to sit all the way in with a click.  Now when i sit it all the way in, I get zero levels.

I am powering the unit using a RC battery.  The same setup that I found on here last summer.

While recording something off the TV, I jimmied the optical in a little.  During playback there was a lot more static when I was messing with the cable.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: mgleason007 on March 19, 2004, 02:19:43 PM
I am by no means an expert on this but I bet your min adapter isn't seating properly.  There's a link somewhere about griding down the bit of plastic above the optical/line in.  That is supposed to help the plug fit in all of the way securely.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 19, 2004, 02:22:21 PM
good call 007, forgot about that one, its in the archival section under 'jb3 info';-)
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: fozzy on March 19, 2004, 02:23:19 PM
oh yea and i did this mod too.  It seems essential to get a good connection.

http://ca.geocities.com/dkleined@rogers.com/audio/JB3input/JB3_input_jack.htm

Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 02:23:42 PM
I have already modded my JB3 with the dremel tool.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 19, 2004, 02:24:51 PM
then its GOT to be a cable, process of elimantion!!
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 02:30:03 PM
OK,  I got the mini-plug to click in the optical in and got levels...but still got digi-pops.  
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: sleepypedro on March 19, 2004, 02:32:33 PM
is that dremel mod necessary for optical linking as well?  or does the improperly seated cable channel-swapping issue only happen if you're running an analog cable into the jb3?
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: fozzy on March 19, 2004, 02:35:45 PM
i've never had to do a disk cleanup but that may help.  Do you know anyone else w/ a jb3 or something that will take an optical input to run some tests to try to isolate UA5/jb3/cable.  When you did the dremel mod do you think you could have gotten some crap in there(canned air).  I'll shut up now cause i'm really shooting in the dark.

good luck
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 02:37:47 PM
Please don't stop.  The ideas have me running back and checking the unit.  I do not know a soul around here who owns a JB3.

I did the dremel mod a couple months ago, and have recorded a bunch since then with no problems.

I will try a disc clean.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: fozzy on March 19, 2004, 02:38:03 PM
is that dremel mod necessary for optical linking as well?  or does the improperly seated cable channel-swapping issue only happen if you're running an analog cable into the jb3?

depends on your input cable.  YMMV but I cant see how any cable would ever seat properly in the input jack.  I don't think i even turned my JB3 on before i did this mod.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: F.O.Bean on March 19, 2004, 02:39:20 PM
format first, that way you dont lose your personal settings, at least on the latest firware thats how ya do it!!!
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 02:41:14 PM
i forgot how to get to the menu that allows formatting and disc cleanups.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: fozzy on March 19, 2004, 02:43:57 PM
formatting instructions: i believe it's in the archives or somewhere on the nj3 yahoo list FAQ.
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: brandont_h on March 19, 2004, 02:52:57 PM
Out of curiosity, have you tried monitoring off the UA-5 to see if the sound is definitely happening between it and the jb3?  One time recently, I was running my UA-5 at 44.1, to a Sony D8, and I could hear this popping noise while in rec/pause mode.  It went away if I switched to 48khz.  I've never heard it since on either sampling rate.  Sometimes weird things happen.  *shrug*
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: waltflanagansdog on March 19, 2004, 03:11:44 PM
GOT IT!!!  

I pulled the mini-plug out a bit until I felt a click.  Recorded 10 minutes of the Cincy ball game...POP FREE.

Thanks a ton for everyone's help!!  If the problem arises again, I will be sure to check back!

Thanks again.

Mike
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: blu666z on March 19, 2004, 03:19:24 PM
So you think you had the optical pushed in too far?

-Kevin
Title: Re:Pops in JB3 recording.
Post by: fozzy on March 19, 2004, 04:03:08 PM
I would try a different mini adapter to see if it doesn't require backing out.
If it is the case that you need the optical cable not plugged in all the way, this could be a fairly volitile situation in the field.  I would recommend creating a "stop" w/ a thin piece of electrical tape at the base of the mini adapter.

let me try this in ascii

before:
--------------
                  ___________
                               
--------------

W/ electrical tape stop  **=electrical tape

------------- **
                  **_________
                  **
------------- **

  :)