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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: mikesalvo on March 03, 2008, 08:58:04 AM

Title: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: mikesalvo on March 03, 2008, 08:58:04 AM
soo...

II was at Teh State Theater in Ithaca Sat. night. Everythings going well, had a GREAT spot in the 9th row DFC. Frst set goes great, second set my deck freezes 4 min. in. Im listening to the recording right now, and it appears no much was lost, but the deck froze. I was running a new batt that night into a juicebix, into my ua5/jb3 pairing. This is the firs ttime Ive used it for the JB3. In a panic I pulled the power cable out of the JB3. The deck seemed to catch up in it's timing, but then the numbers seemed to be moving very fast after that.

Anyone dealt with anythign simmilar. Im bugging out that my deck is screwed right now. I gotta run some tests tonight. Also, why did this batt. freeze my deck??? The batt bix was supposed to properly power both deviced.
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: mikesalvo on March 03, 2008, 09:05:41 AM
just to add to this. I just ran a quick test on the Jb3...It still seems the counter is not moving at normal speed. however, recorded audio seems to be fine, with no skips or anything...WTF is going on here!~? :-X
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: lordbelial on March 03, 2008, 09:07:29 AM
just to add to this. I just ran a quick test on the Jb3...It still seems the counter is not moving at normal speed. however, recorded audio seems to be fine, with no skips or anything...WTF is going on here!~? :-X

Usually updating firmware should clear those issues.
Which version are you running?
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: mikesalvo on March 03, 2008, 09:20:31 AM
how do I check??? I feel it was a problem stemming from the batt>juicebox though. could I be wrong??? Ive heard of decks freezing when external batts were used. Either way I suppose I should maybe update my firmware.

I use this batt:

 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/375503-REG/Initial_RB270_RB_270_Universal_Rechargeable_Battery.html

any ideas?
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: Kush on March 03, 2008, 09:55:55 AM
Troubleshooting tips, first thing's first:

1. Did you follow the set-up instructions that accompanied the Juicebox? Make all connections, then connect the battery last so both devices power-on when the battery cable is connected?

2. Did you use the cables I supplied or homebrew Ratshack cables?

3. Shake the Juicebox, anything rattling around inside?

4. Are you running the 1.40.06 version firmware on your JB3?

5. How often do you clean-up the harddrive and/or do a Format All to the harddrive of the JB3? (when was the last time you did this?)

6. How much free space is available on the harddrive of the JB3?
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: mikesalvo on March 03, 2008, 06:40:30 PM
answers to Kush's questions:

1. yes, instructions on hooking it all up were followed. As with my past experiences with external batts, power cable were connected to devices before the batt was hooked up.

2. the cables you supplied were used.

3. nothing appears to be shaking around in the JB, I opened it up, all connections appear to be sound.

4. 1.40.06p firmware used

5. ive never formatted or cleaned up the HD on this since I bought it. Ive had it for about 2 months.

6. 8 gigs available on the HD
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: rdfager on March 03, 2008, 07:44:43 PM
Not sure why the JB3 locked up but as for the speed of the clock, have you tried both 44.1k and 48k?  Is it possible that the JB3 isn't getting the samping rate correct?
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: mikesalvo on March 03, 2008, 07:53:46 PM
no idea. this is strange. Sample rate on the UA5 and the JB3 set to 44.1
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: Javit on March 03, 2008, 08:21:51 PM
My jb3 does something weird too - it only counts 1 second on the clock for every 2 or 3 seconds that pass - it's really weird, but it doesn't seem to affect the music.
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: Kush on March 03, 2008, 10:06:07 PM
Sounds like the problem is the JB3 locking onto the digital signal coming from the JB3, weird. Bad optical cable maybe? Is there an adapter on the optical cable? Was it loose? Can you re-create the problem by jiggling the optical cable while recording?

Just for giggles, try cleaning up the harddrive on the JB3. Might not solve the problem but sure can't hurt either.

Did you have the internal batteries in the JB3 while powering it from an external battery? I always take my internals out of the JB3 while using an external power source.
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on March 03, 2008, 10:50:01 PM
I used to run the UA5>JB3... 

You need power up the UA5, all set up with the way you want, before you power up the JB3.  The JB3 wants to lock onto the incoming signal, but will only do so correctly if it powers on while recieving it.  If you have the JB3 powered on, it defaults to 16/44 (methinks), and doesn't correct itself to whatever the UA5 is sending...

As for batteries, the external power wants to charge the internals before it powers the JB3.  I always left both internals in, and kept the JB3 fully charged.  I used a 12v SLA into the car-charger to run power for more than 5x hours and had very good success.

The JB3 will also freeze up if it loses its optical signal.  Not sure it just doesn't keep going and leave a blank spot, but it just stops.  I guess it assumes its the end of the "program".  Anyways, if your UA5 power blinks, or the cable gets knocked around, it may cause the JB3 to freeze up.

Good luck!

Terry
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: mikesalvo on March 05, 2008, 11:45:02 PM
well, Ive been running tests all night. I seem to have solved the JB3 power issue. I believe it was due to the internal batts being left in. However, my meter is still running fast ??? Doesnt seem to affect the recorded audio (i THINK). I have played back this audio, but not uploaded it to my comp. I will ry this later.

Much thanks and +t to all for their help as always. As I become more knowledgable on this hobby, I will try harder to assist newbies as much as you have all helped me out lately (although Ive been at this for a few years  :P). I only started using TS a year ago, and became more acive within the past 6 months or so, but I sure wish I had hopped in sooner. I have improved my recordings so much since I started trawling/posting/questioning on this board. Unfortunately I cannot host torrents, and I do not often record LMA listed bands outside of festival season, but keep any eye out for more offerings from me....
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on March 05, 2008, 11:55:44 PM
I can't remember how to update the firmware you'll have to do some mining...  But I want to say one of the updates fixed the clock issue???

Terry
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: rowjimmytour on March 06, 2008, 12:03:49 AM
well, Ive been running tests all night. I seem to have solved the JB3 power issue. I believe it was due to the internal batts being left in. However, my meter is still running fast ??? Doesnt seem to affect the recorded audio (i THINK). I have played back this audio, but not uploaded it to my comp. I will ry this later.

Much thanks and +t to all for their help as always. As I become more knowledgable on this hobby, I will try harder to assist newbies as much as you have all helped me out lately (although Ive been at this for a few years  :P). I only started using TS a year ago, and became more acive within the past 6 months or so, but I sure wish I had hopped in sooner. I have improved my recordings so much since I started trawling/posting/questioning on this board. Unfortunately I cannot host torrents, and I do not often record LMA listed bands outside of festival season, but keep any eye out for more offerings from me....
Three things about NJB3 and smooth sailing:
-Always reformat the HD after your able to transfer the show and make up back up disc
-Never leave the internal batteries in if you power the unit w/ external source
-Careful not to over heat unit on hot days at festival. Make sure you have shade (umbrella) and don't close your bag or box.
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: SmokinJoe on March 06, 2008, 07:32:37 AM
Consider the possibility that the battery situation is just a coincidence, and not really your problem.

Isn't running of an external battery the same as being plugged into a wall charger?  Why would that be problematic?  You do that at home, right?  Check the voltage out of the box with a voltmeter... if it is what it should be, I don't think that is your problem.  One possible exception... the unit knows when it is running on external power and when it is on internal batteries.  If you had a flakey connection and that was switching back and forth from internal/external, I can see the JB3 getting pissed.

Optical cables between UA-5's and JB3's (or H120's) are frequently a problem.  One glitch and you loose sync.

1) Check the power source with a voltmeter.  Wiggle the wires and make sure it doesn't drop out.
2) Format the HD on the JB3, reload latest firmware (even if it's already there)
3) Try your buddy's JB3 with our UA-5 and vice-versa.
3) If that doesn't work, find another optical cable.
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: willndmb on March 06, 2008, 01:34:02 PM
its not the battery, i used the same one with mine
i am thinking its the ua5 isn't turned on 1st
also make sure the switch on the back is set to off
it was on when i sent you the ua5, not sure it matters but just in case :)
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: Roving Sign on March 07, 2008, 05:39:19 PM
Consider the possibility that the battery situation is just a coincidence, and not really your problem.

Isn't running of an external battery the same as being plugged into a wall charger?  Why would that be problematic? 

Cuz if the batteries arent fully charged...they will charge off the juicebox...
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: SmokinJoe on March 07, 2008, 07:07:22 PM
Consider the possibility that the battery situation is just a coincidence, and not really your problem.

Isn't running of an external battery the same as being plugged into a wall charger?  Why would that be problematic? 

Cuz if the batteries arent fully charged...they will charge off the juicebox...

Yes.  I guess I just took this for granted (and I shouldn't)... always start with fully charged internal batteries in the JB3.  The external battery will try to keep the internals charged.  If you start off with dead internal batteries then the external would be working very hard.  I think you want the internal batteries in there as buffers... when the hard drive writes it sucks a lot more juice and you don't want to throw that load to the external battery, by using JUST the external.

Since the JB3 and the UA-5 are pulling off the same battery through this Juicebox (and I know nothing about the juicebox) it is conceivable (but unlikely???) that the load from charging dead JB3 batteries would actually starve the power to the UA-5.  I can tell you from experience that when the external battery starts to die the first sign is that the digi out of the UA-5 gets funky and your recorder stops recording.  And that happens somewhere between 6-7 volts.  Been there, done that.
Title: Re: Is my JB3 screwed?
Post by: rowjimmytour on March 07, 2008, 07:11:02 PM
Consider the possibility that the battery situation is just a coincidence, and not really your problem.

Isn't running of an external battery the same as being plugged into a wall charger?  Why would that be problematic? 

Cuz if the batteries arent fully charged...they will charge off the juicebox...

Yes.  I guess I just took this for granted (and I shouldn't)... always start with fully charged internal batteries in the JB3.  The external battery will try to keep the internals charged.  If you start off with dead internal batteries then the external would be working very hard.  I think you want the internal batteries in there as buffers... when the hard drive writes it sucks a lot more juice and you don't want to throw that load to the external battery, by using JUST the external.

Since the JB3 and the UA-5 are pulling off the same battery through this Juicebox (and I know nothing about the juicebox) it is conceivable (but unlikely???) that the load from charging dead JB3 batteries would actually starve the power to the UA-5.  I can tell you from experience that when the external battery starts to die the first sign is that the digi out of the UA-5 gets funky and your recorder stops recording.  And that happens somewhere between 6-7 volts.  Been there, done that.
Onre thing I decided when I had my JB3 is w/ two batteries I got 11 hours of juice plenty for a festival so I made a juice box for my UA5 and NJB3 but only used it as plan b. I never had problems running just the batteries and like I said that was plenty of juice.
Peace