Topic: UA5->JB3 newbie has a question...

[ReverbSF]

Hi all!
 I'd like to start off by saying how absolutely amazing this site is. Mad props to the moderators and everyone who keeps this site informative, interesting and positive. I have yet to see a single cynical or inappropriate comment made by anyone... which I find truly amazing on an open web forum.

So, here's my deal, I've finally left my ProTools rig behind and gone portable, putting down some bucks on the UA5->JB3 combo and am getting ready to do the UA5 digimod. The problem is, I bought the UA5 on eBay and I find that the mic preamp level seems to be REALLY low. If I hook up a simple SM58, for instance, and try to record some spoken word, I need to crank up the sens level ALL THE WAY to get any level. Is this a normal feature of this box? I noticed that there isn't a -20db pad on the pre's so I was thinking that they may have just built the pad right into the sens level. Or, maybe I just bought a piece O' crap box...

Anyone else out there have this experience?

Thanks!
-B

[yemncsu]

Normally I have the sensitivity set to about 3 o'clock.  I usually record rock shows so it is fairly loud source material.  This setting usually leaves the peak light flashing occasionally but never on constantly.  Also most, if not all of us use condensor mics vs dynamic.  Not so sure that this will change your volume levels though.

Josh

[Brian]

this might be a dumb question so don't be insulted, i'm just trying to cover the bases....

you didn't turn on phantom power did ya? and how far away from the 58 were you speaking?

[ReverbSF]

Nope. I had the phantom power off... wouldn't really matter on a dynamic mic, though, right?

I was speaking a few inches away from the mic... I also placed the mic in front of a speaker playing at moderate volume. Same results.

I suppose if Yemncsu has the gain at 3 o'clock for loud rock shows, I'm probably fine and just not feeding it enough signal... I'll try it out next week at the Easy Star show and let y'all know.

[Brian]

no no, something is defintely worng.  i used to run teh ua5 and have used it for interviews and never had to crank it all the way. i used the audix OM2 dynamic mic which is very similar to the 58.