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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: michael on August 03, 2005, 08:35:11 PM

Title: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: michael on August 03, 2005, 08:35:11 PM
I don't have a ua-5 but can this be done(has anyone done this) what would i need to accomplish this, i tried a search but couldn't find anything
thanks
michael




"edit for aft fingers(moke)"  :-*
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: Sanjay on August 03, 2005, 11:25:05 PM
You'd have to use another phantom power like your ps-2 source for the 2nd pair, and then run xlr>rca's to the back of the ua-5
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: jkbyram on August 04, 2005, 08:49:47 AM
what if you were to use akg c1000s with 9volt batteries in them? could you then go c1000 via xlr>rca? would you need to attenuate the signal going into the rca inputs?
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: Sanjay on August 04, 2005, 08:54:12 AM
what if you were to use akg c1000s with 9volt batteries in them? could you then go c1000 via xlr>rca? would you need to attenuate the signal going into the rca inputs?

You could also do that.  You would not need to attenuate unless the source was rediculously loud as there is an input volume knob on the back of the ua-5 which you can control the level of the signal coming in through the RCA's
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: hoobash on August 04, 2005, 09:28:42 AM
Are you sure you can run mics into the line input like that? I think you need some kinda of preamp in front of them
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: Sanjay on August 04, 2005, 09:57:22 AM
Are you sure you can run mics into the line input like that? I think you need some kinda of preamp in front of them

You can increase the gain by the input volume knob on the back of the UA-5, i've done it once and it seemed to work fine. 
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: stigs on August 04, 2005, 11:50:18 AM
how would you position 4-mics to get a better quality recording?
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: audBall on August 04, 2005, 12:26:52 PM
how would you position 4-mics to get a better quality recording?

I am by no means exp'd in this but I'd like to try some split omnis with two cards in the middle.  I'm picturing this at an STS9 show...that'd be money.
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: jkbyram on August 04, 2005, 01:30:21 PM
how would you position 4-mics to get a better quality recording?

I am by no means exp'd in this but I'd like to try some split omnis with two cards in the middle.  I'm picturing this at an STS9 show...that'd be money.

we are thinking of doing something similar to this. micheal has adk tl's and i have c1000s and a ua-5. we tape together alot  and have plenty of opportunities to try it out. i think there could be possibilites of it sounding good.
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: grider on August 04, 2005, 01:39:47 PM
all you need (ideally) is four identical mics and four identical XLR cables, run it all into the UA5 and adjust the mix on the rear of the UA5 with the black knob, and adjust the recording levels on the front of the UA5 with the trim pots; its that simple; however, it is crucial that all four mics are placed the same distance from the stage or monitors, otherwise you will have phasing/delay issues and your recording will sound strange; for an example of what I describe above go to archive.org and stream Sound Tribe Sector 9 from 12-30-04 or 12-31-04, both recorded with four 483's>into one UA5>into one JB3, turned out well
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: jkbyram on August 04, 2005, 01:46:56 PM
so is the consensus that it would only sound right with 4 identical mics. i would think that certain combinations of mics would produce differrent results. since some mics capture highs better and some lowsbetter, etc.etc. i would think a combination would be more logical to try than 4 identical mics.
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: grider on August 04, 2005, 02:17:24 PM
so is the consensus that it would only sound right with 4 identical mics. i would think that certain combinations of mics would produce differrent results. since some mics capture highs better and some lowsbetter, etc.etc. i would think a combination would be more logical to try than 4 identical mics.

I think it would work either way, I have tried it only with four identical mics myself; distance from the stage is the most crucial factor in my opinion, if that's off then it really won't matter what mic combination is used
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: drewloo on August 06, 2005, 02:17:46 AM
I think if anything you're going to need something to boost the signal, not lower it.   The rca's on the ua5 are expecting a line-level signal and unless the c1000s put out a really hot signal you'll need either a preamp or some line transformers (like AT8201s) to get a signal that's similar in levels to the XLRs on the front.  It's been mentioned here a bunch of times that the knob on the back is an atteunator and doesn't add gain, but rather it reduces gain.  If you do end up using some AT8201's you'll still need a way to go from the male 1/4" jack on the end of the 8201 to an RCA connector.  I ended up getting some female 1/4" to male RCA adapters along w/ some short male RCA to female RCA cables that plugged into the ua5.  You could do it without the cables and plug the 8201 w/ adapter directly into the ua5 but it'll be sticking straight out of the rca jacks about 4 inches. 
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: bhtoque on August 06, 2005, 02:59:37 AM
I've done it a few times with 2 sets of Oktava MC012's and once with my lsd2 and the Oktavas. I've only tried this stage lip though. Not sure how things would be back in the room.

I had to use a pair of transformers to boost the signal to line level for the rca in. just the mics>phantom will not work for most mics.

I ran cards din>xlr in and split omnis>ps-2>transformers>rca in. The config is refered to as outrigger omnis.

Work the mix just like has been described here numerous times for mic/sbd mixes. You can get a good idea of what each pair brings to the final product with a good set of headphones.

As was already mentioned the distance from the sound source to the mics has to be the same to avoid delay problems.

JAson
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: willndmb on August 17, 2005, 01:06:07 PM
if you ran 2 on the front and 2 on the back, would they output mixed together into 1 recorder?
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: Chanher on August 17, 2005, 01:15:35 PM
if you ran 2 on the front and 2 on the back, would they output mixed together into 1 recorder?

yes, the ua-5 mixes on the fly. I recently invested in some noise-cancelling headphones, GREAT decision for ua-5 matrices.
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: willndmb on August 17, 2005, 01:43:15 PM
if you ran 2 on the front and 2 on the back, would they output mixed together into 1 recorder?

yes, the ua-5 mixes on the fly. I recently invested in some noise-cancelling headphones, GREAT decision for ua-5 matrices.
nice
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: wbrisette on August 17, 2005, 01:45:59 PM
so is the consensus that it would only sound right with 4 identical mics. i would think that certain combinations of mics would produce differrent results. since some mics capture highs better and some lowsbetter, etc.etc. i would think a combination would be more logical to try than 4 identical mics.

I have been using 4 mics for a few years. Two omni's split 1 metre apart, with a set of cards in the middle.

I use Earthworks QTC-1s on the horizontal bar and SR-77s on a vertical shure bar in the middle.

There are several things posted on archive.org that use this configuration.

Wayne
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: Roving Sign on August 17, 2005, 03:14:24 PM
if you ran 2 on the front and 2 on the back, would they output mixed together into 1 recorder?

Yes...

But is there enough gain available at the Line Input to get a good signal...?

If not the, XLR inputs will have to be set at less than optimum settings...

If you can get a peak off the RCA inputs - it should work ok...
Title: Re: 4 mics> ua5
Post by: stigs on August 17, 2005, 03:19:45 PM
if you ran 2 on the front and 2 on the back, would they output mixed together into 1 recorder?

yes, the ua-5 mixes on the fly. I recently invested in some noise-cancelling headphones, GREAT decision for ua-5 matrices.
i cant get the headphone jack to work when i am recording, i swear i have tried every possible button/knob combination on the ua-5  ???