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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: utahtaper on April 15, 2004, 01:16:04 AM

Title: USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: utahtaper on April 15, 2004, 01:16:04 AM
I have thought about giving the USB pre a try, I have a UA5 now. Any of you used the two and can give me an idea as to which you might think is better?
Thx,
Jason
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: Terps on April 16, 2004, 07:05:21 PM
w-mod UA-5 , for what my opinion is worth.  
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: mterry on April 17, 2004, 12:35:11 AM
I'm going to have to go with the USBPre.......

I think the UA-5 is a little more clear, where the USBPre adds some color and richness to the sound

The UA-5 adds some flavor to it, just not quite as much. I've just become a fan of the smoothness of the USBPre.

You can expect to warm those MG's up with the USBPre....

I have plenty of USBPre tapes if you are interested, cept they are with 480's in front
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: utahtaper on April 17, 2004, 12:43:35 AM
What is the stability like with the USB pre? I have been reading bad vibes about the unit. Can you use it with XP?
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: mterry on April 17, 2004, 12:53:48 AM
I use it with XP. For either 24/48 or 16/48 it's fine. Right now, I have both WaveLab 4, and SF 6 on my lappy and it's working flawlessly. With any laptop though, just be sure you close out as many programs as possible (especially when running 24/48)
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: Chanher on April 17, 2004, 02:11:03 AM
keep in mind this is biased but I've been enjoying the wmod as a DAC in my attempt at a decent playback station, and the analog input rebuild affects both ADC and DAC in a most pleasant way.  remember the v3/wmod comp?
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: utahtaper on April 17, 2004, 11:00:48 AM
Anyone running the UA5 over USB with XP without stability issues?
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: C.Clark on April 17, 2004, 01:59:15 PM
Anyone running the UA5 over USB with XP without stability issues?

ive never run it with my lappy on battery power, but it has worked flawlessly at 16/48 the 10 or so times ive run it with soundforge 6
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: utahtaper on April 18, 2004, 05:39:00 PM
If you are running the USB pre, does is drain significant battery power? Would I need to have a ton of juice for my lappy to compensate?
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: mterry on April 18, 2004, 07:16:34 PM
If you are running the USB pre, does is drain significant battery power? Would I need to have a ton of juice for my lappy to compensate?



easy question to answer........probably. BUT, on that note. If you are running a laptop, I'd look into picking up something like the N-Charge battery, REGARDLESS of what you are running. I can say however, with the N-Charge battery, I have taped two phish shows back to back without recharging, and still had battery power left.

If you picked up a UA-5, you'd still need a battery to power that.......and probably an extra for your laptop......I'm just using my stock battery, and then the N-Charge
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: BC on April 18, 2004, 08:48:21 PM
If you are running the USB pre, does is drain significant battery power? Would I need to have a ton of juice for my lappy to compensate?



It does drain your computer battery much faster than without. FYI I can run my Sony C1VN picturebook (quad capacity battery) with a USBPre for close to 4 hours if I keep the screen off. I have not noticed much difference in run time whether 48V phantom is off or on.

I have never had a problem with stability, this thing has always been a rock for me. Nice sounding and versatile box at a reasonable price.

My only 2 complaints about it are that it clicks on analog playback, and it is limited to 16 bit resolution at the SPDIF output, oh and it cannot pass a digi out at the same time it is getting a digi in (have to be at the back of the chain if patching). Otherwise I am really happy with it.!      :)


Take care,
Ben





Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: utahtaper on April 18, 2004, 10:29:36 PM
What do you mean by "It clicks on analog playback"?
Title: Re:USB pre or Wmod UA5?
Post by: utahtaper on April 29, 2004, 12:01:57 AM
Anyone doing 24/96 with the UA5 over USB? Is it stable?
Would you notice a difference in sound quality running 24/96 on the UA5 over running 24/48 with the USB pre?