Topic: CA-UGLY bit the dust, need another preamp solution for DPA 4061s

[Craig T]

My CA-Ugly has gain, which I believe is adjustable with screw pots.  Not just a battery box.

And Chris just replied and said they only offer the SP-SPSB-1 now in 9v, which is larger than I wanted.

He did also say that the SP-CMC-4Us, which I use 90% of the time, can handle up to 15v. So I may just get a smaller 12v battery box and use that. (I have an old 9v Microphone Madness box I can use with other mics.)

Is this not just a battery box? I don't see any details about adjustable gain.

It is just a battery box, as is the CA-Ugly and every other option mentioned in this thread.

[grawk]

And Chris just replied and said they only offer the SP-SPSB-1 now in 9v, which is larger than I wanted.

He did also say that the SP-CMC-4Us, which I use 90% of the time, can handle up to 15v. So I may just get a smaller 12v battery box and use that. (I have an old 9v Microphone Madness box I can use with other mics.)

Is this not just a battery box? I don't see any details about adjustable gain.

It is just a battery box, as is the CA-Ugly and every other option mentioned in this thread.

Ca-ugly is a preamp

[nulldogmas]

Ca-ugly is a preamp

Then we're talking about two different devices. On Church Audio's site, it shows the Ugly as a battery box, and the Ugly 2 as a preamp.

https://www.church-audio.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688

[jefflester]

Ca-ugly is a preamp

Then we're talking about two different devices. On Church Audio's site, it shows the Ugly as a battery box, and the Ugly 2 as a preamp.

https://www.church-audio.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688

We can question Church's naming convention if we like, but that is an "Ugly Battery Box" or CA-UBB not a CA-UGLY. The CA-UGLY preamp was the earlier generation of the current CA-UGLY2.

[nulldogmas]

We can question Church's naming convention if we like, but that is an "Ugly Battery Box" or CA-UBB not a CA-UGLY. The CA-UGLY preamp was the earlier generation of the current CA-UGLY2.

Aha, okay. I missed the existence of the CA-Ugly preamp entirely, then, so my bad for any confusion.

The OP said "smallest available preamp/BB possible," and the SP-SPSB-10 is in the running in terms of BBs. (Though as mgtaper noted, maybe not for 4061s because it's 12v.) But correct that it has no gain.

[Kyle K]

Pretty moot question on my part regardless, sorry, I spaced on the details early on in the thread specifically related to feeling as though gain would be unnecessary for most of the taping they were doing, hence a BB being fine. Posted in a haste having trouble making heads or tails of the sound professionals site. If one *did* need an actual preamp alternative to the CA-UGLY/UGLY 2, I am curious if anyone has any recommendations. Is there anything that actually has similar form factor/size?

[adrianb]

I have loads of different battery boxes in my collection. By far the smallest is the Soundman A3 Adapter which provides 6v of power and is tiny.

[scdegraaf]

I have a similar question: my battery box is DPA's MPS6020, which DPA doesn't make anymore. I read several suggestions here, but my mics have microdots and none of the battery boxes do. I  read somewhere (can't find it anymore) that on Ebay I can buy 2 microdot adapters for XLR. What would be the next steps, meaning what goes between the mics with XLR and the recorder.  My recorder only has a combined aux/line in input.

[aaronji]

^ You could get something like this (there are several options) and use a typical battery box with a 3.5 mm input. Then a 3.5 mm - 3.5 mm cable to go from the battery box to the recorder.

[Gutbucket]

For use with a typical minijack input battery box, use one of the alternate microdot Y cables listed below the one on the Ebay page Aaron has linked above.  The one on the linked page features a screw-in locking mini-plug, which is great if your battery box features a threaded mini-jack input, but most do not.  Those Y's adapt your microdot terminated mics to a TRS stereo mini plug which most battery boxes will accept.

Alternate is to use XLR phantom adapters in place of a battery box, into a recorder that features XLR inputs and phantom power.  They convert phantom power to plug-in-power.  That option typically means using a larger recorder that features those things, along the two XLR phantom adapters, but eliminates the battery box with its extra battery to deal with.  Options for that are many, including DPA's DAD6001 which features microdot inputs (no microdot adapter needed, but the rigidly mounted microdot inputs stick out vulnerably, so usually best to use a short flexible XLR patch cable between adapter and recorder), Naiant PFAs which have the input on a short flexible cable, and can be terminated to miniplug, mini-xlr, or you can probably send one of those microdot Y's to Jon and have him use that to create short-cable microdot inputs), or pretty much any other XLR phantom adapter designed to power 2-wire PIP mics with between 5 and 10 volts.

[adrianb]

I’ve been using this XLR adapter to provide 9V of PIP and have been very impressed with it. I have the low profile version which I think is essential.

https://immersivesoundscapes.com/earsight-pip-xlr-adapter/

I wonder if it’s possible to take the 2.5 - 3.0v PIP of these small recorders and use a step-up converter to take it up to 5v. Some of these converters are tiny.

[rocksuitcase]

I’ve been using this XLR adapter to provide 9V of PIP and have been very impressed with it. I have the low profile version which I think is essential.

https://immersivesoundscapes.com/earsight-pip-xlr-adapter/

I wonder if it’s possible to take the 2.5 - 3.0v PIP of these small recorders and use a step-up converter to take it up to 5v. Some of these converters are tiny.

really cool product. Looks well made also

[grawk]

Here's what chatgpt says it will take to accomplish it:

To create a voltage doubler circuit on a stripboard using the LM2665 IC to take 3V DC input and output 6V DC, you can follow the schematic below. This circuit uses the LM2665 IC, which is a switched capacitor voltage converter specifically designed for voltage doubling applications.

Components needed:

   •   LM2665 IC
   •   Capacitors (2x 1μF, 16V or higher)
   •   Optional: 0.1μF capacitor for decoupling

Stripboard Layout:

3V IN ----------------------+
                            |
                            C1 (1μF)
                            |
                            +----- VOUT (6V)
                            |
                            C2 (1μF)
                            |
                            +----- GND
                            |
                            C3 (0.1μF) - GND
                            |
                            GND

   •   Connect pin 1 (SW) of the LM2665 to the positive terminal of the input.
   •   Connect pin 3 (VOUT) of the LM2665 to the positive terminal of the output.
   •   Connect pin 2 (GND) of the LM2665 to the ground (GND).
   •   Place the capacitors C1 and C2 between the positive and negative terminals of the input and output, respectively.
   •   Optionally, place capacitor C3 between pin 2 (GND) and the ground (GND) for decoupling.

This circuit will double the input voltage, providing 6V at the output.

[Gutbucket]

Liking the right angle low-profile XLR adapter option at the link above.

Started typing the reply below this morning but just returned to post it.  Grawk has fleshed out the idea with more detail in his post above.  The questions about needed current, minimum supply voltage, and filtering still stand..

Step up converter is an interesting idea. Would essentially retain battery box battery box like circuitry, with the step-up-converter in place of the battery, powered by the PIP from the recorder.  May depend on having sufficient PIP voltage and current available to power the converter, also unsure how clean the supply out of the converter might be and much filtering might be needed to clean it up.  If it could be made small enough to built into a Y adapter to essentially eliminate having an extra box-device as well as they extra battery to worry about, it would make for a quite attractive option.

[adrianb]

Liking the right angle low-profile XLR adapter option at the link above.

I’ve purchased one and using it with my Zoom H1 XLR to provide 9v power and I’m really impressed with it.

I like the look of some of the products he’s selling, particularly the neat 110 degree microphone pairs deigned to make the Zoom F3 and Tascam FR-AV2 portable all in one recorders. I spoke to the owner of the site and suggested he didn’t join them but sold them separately so they could be used on any recorder and he went and designed them straight away and I’m taking delivery of my pair tomorrow.

https://immersivesoundscapes.com/earsight-thumb-cardio-angled/

Back to the step-up voltage idea, I’ve stopped using battery boxes simply because it’s another battery to make sure is charged. I’m not disciplined enough for that, and just want to keep things simple. The XLR 48v/9v step-down adapter works for me, just as would a PIP 3v/6v step-up adapter.

I have just bought these boost converters and will be thinking if I can implement them somehow.

https://www.amazon.com/Comidox-Module-Voltage-Converter-0-9-5V/dp/B07L76KLRY/