ADC question: SBM1 vs UA5 vs ???

[nic]

so I have noticed that the SBM1 adds a LOT of gain and am wondering what the sound quality of the digimod UA5 is.
besides the UA5 and MiniME are there any other AD convertors that have a computer interface that can ALSO be run standalone?

gracias
(contemplating on selling the SBM1...)

[Brian Skalinder]

besides the UA5 and MiniME are there any other AD convertors that have a computer interface that can ALSO be run standalone?

Well...any ADC we use can interface with a computer, all you need is a soundcard.  Take yer pic.

[nic]

besides the UA5 and MiniME are there any other AD convertors that have a computer interface that can ALSO be run standalone?

Well...any ADC we use can interface with a computer, all you need is a soundcard.  Take yer pic.

well, yes, but I'm looking for a ADC/interface all-in-one box  
if the ADC in the UA5 is comparable to the SBM1 then I will switch. just looking to see what if any other options there may be

[nic]

something that prompted me to think about this:

this past weekend I was doing a multitrack and was feeding a s/pdif signal from the TL>V2>SBM1. split the digital so I had a dat backup of the mics(SBM1> M1/MOTU828)...after 20 minutes or so, the dat would show a "no input" message...the s/pdif stream going to the computer was fine, no dropouts or other anomolies.
could this be that the MOTU was altering the voltage and it was dropping below the voltage level that the M1 needs??

fishing here, cuz I'm not sure exactly why it happened

[Brian Skalinder]

but I'm looking for a ADC/interface all-in-one box  

Not trying to be a dick, just curious why you would limit your options in this way?  Soundcards aren't terribly expensive, even for laptops.

At any rate, other options:

M-Audio Firewire 410
M-Audio USBPre?
Edirol FA-101

[nic]

but I'm looking for a ADC/interface all-in-one box  

Not trying to be a dick, just curious why you would limit your options in this way?  Soundcards aren't terribly expensive, even for laptops.

At any rate, other options:

M-Audio Firewire 410
M-Audio USBPre?
Edirol FA-101

I'm not looking to limit my options, I'm trying to expand them to run dat/laptop at any show of my choosing instead of making sure I have access to ac power and having to lug my 6U rack case around  

those units above can't operate standalone.
I do realize that there are very few if any other than the UA5/MiniME that run in both situations. I have contemplated on going solely with a comp only interface like a firewire 410, etc...but the laptop we use isn't  "mine", it's my friends and I dont ALWAYS have access to it when needed.

I was just looking for a best of both worlds for when I do/dont have access to the powerbook without having to tote around yet another peice of gear

would prefer to go V2> interface>dat/laptop instead of
V2>SBM1>dat/?interface?>laptop

[Brian Skalinder]

I'm not looking to limit my options, I'm trying to expand them to run dat/laptop at any show of my choosing instead of making sure I have access to ac power and having to lug my 6U rack case around  

Duh.  Sorry, haven't engaged my "taping" brain yet this morning.  

those units above can't operate standalone.

Doh, didn't realize.  Maybe a laptop taper type will chime in with another option.  At any rate, good luck!

[nic]

ha, it's all good. I generally require 1 or 2 StarCracks before I can even think in the am hours

[goose]

something that prompted me to think about this:

this past weekend I was doing a multitrack and was feeding a s/pdif signal from the TL>V2>SBM1. split the digital so I had a dat backup of the mics(SBM1> M1/MOTU828)...after 20 minutes or so, the dat would show a "no input" message...the s/pdif stream going to the computer was fine, no dropouts or other anomolies.
could this be that the MOTU was altering the voltage and it was dropping below the voltage level that the M1 needs??

fishing here, cuz I'm not sure exactly why it happened

The problem here could have been that the split signal from the SBM was not strong enough (that's the technical term for it   ).  I know that I cannot put a digital splitter on the end of my SBM coax ouput and feed my d8 and my m1.  The only way I can use both is to use the second SBM output or to use the output on my d8 seven pin cable to feed the m1.

Not sure if that helps, but that has been my experience.

[utahtaper]

I personally would never split a digital signal with a Y splitter unless it was a last resort.

[nic]

I personally would never split a digital signal with a Y splitter unless it was a last resort.

why?
up until this weekend, the splitter has worked flawlessly for years.
if you are a patcher and use a D100/M1, a splitter is practically a requirement!

[utahtaper]

I personally would never split a digital signal with a Y splitter unless it was a last resort.

why?


up until this weekend, the splitter has worked flawlessly for years.
if you are a patcher and use a D100/M1, a splitter is practically a requirement!

Your dividing up information and not analog sound.

[Brian Skalinder]

Your dividing up information and not analog sound.

So are you saying a coax splitter actually delivers different data streams to the two recording devices it feeds?  As in some 0s and 1s make it to one device and not the other, and vice versa, while still other 0s and 1s actually make it to both devices?

That's not my understanding at all.  My understanding is the same data stream is delivered - but simply to two different destinations.  In both cases - analog and coax digital - you're simply routing a single electrical (voltage differential) signal to two different paths.

Granted, the signal may be weakened - and if weakened enough will cause problems for the recording devices as the voltage differential between a logical 1 and logical 0 becomes too small and the recorder can't accurately/consistently/precisely differentiate between the two.  But a single splitter from a solid S/PDIF coax transmitter shouldn't pose a problem, I don't think.

[utahtaper]

Your dividing up information and not analog sound.

So are you saying a coax splitter actually delivers different data streams to the two recording devices it feeds?  As in some 0s and 1s make it to one device and not the other, and vice versa, while still other 0s and 1s actually make it to both devices?

That's not my understanding at all.  My understanding is the same data stream is delivered - but simply to two different destinations.  In both cases - analog and coax digital - you're simply routing a single electrical (voltage differential) signal to two different paths.

Granted, the signal may be weakened - and if weakened enough will cause problems for the recording devices as the voltage differential between a logical 1 and logical 0 becomes too small and the recorder can't accurately/consistently/precisely differentiate between the two.  But a single splitter from a solid S/PDIF coax transmitter shouldn't pose a problem, I don't think.

Jitter and dropouts are what I'm referring to. It would have made more sense for me to say dividing up signal strength/voltage like you put it. The decks ability to read the signal has to be factored in. Of course active cables do help in this situation(For Sonys), but not always. And to me if I'm not running a backup, it's not worth risking the recording by splitting the signal because of the above issues. I had this problem a while back when splitting a signal with an M1 and a D8. I even tried two M1's with a buddy of mines deck as well splitting the signal. All decks had active cables and were getting a split signal. Occasionally I would get dropouts/diginoise/jitter but worked flawlessly when ran solo. Then I switched to giving a D8 Coax and the M1 AES(With 110>75 converter) from the same unit and problem solved. It was a source of great frustration for me.

[Lee]

Your dividing up information and not analog sound.

So are you saying a coax splitter actually delivers different data streams to the two recording devices it feeds?  As in some 0s and 1s make it to one device and not the other, and vice versa, while still other 0s and 1s actually make it to both devices?

That's not my understanding at all.  My understanding is the same data stream is delivered - but simply to two different destinations.  In both cases - analog and coax digital - you're simply routing a single electrical (voltage differential) signal to two different paths.

Granted, the signal may be weakened - and if weakened enough will cause problems for the recording devices as the voltage differential between a logical 1 and logical 0 becomes too small and the recorder can't accurately/consistently/precisely differentiate between the two.  But a single splitter from a solid S/PDIF coax transmitter shouldn't pose a problem, I don't think.

Jitter and dropouts are what I'm referring to. It would have made more sense for me to say dividing up signal strength/voltage like you put it. The decks ability to read the signal has to be factored in. Of course active cables do help in this situation(For Sonys), but not always. And to me if I'm not running a backup, it's not worth risking the recording by splitting the signal because of the above issues. I had this problem a while back when splitting a signal with an M1 and a D8. I even tried two M1's with a buddy of mines deck as well splitting the signal. All decks had active cables and were getting a split signal. Occasionally I would get dropouts/diginoise/jitter but worked flawlessly when ran solo. Then I switched to giving a D8 Coax and the M1 AES(With 110>75 converter) from the same unit and problem solved. It was a source of great frustration for me.

if the situation calls for it, a splitter can work wonders for sorting out a patch chain- but only behind my lead deck!