Topic: Problem with CA-14 Cards and CA Ugly 2. Getting odd sounds.

[Laminateman]

I'm having a problem when I use both of these together. If I plug them directly into my Sony a10 there is no interference. If I use them with the ugly there a weird almost radio frequency and like tapping sound. So I'm not sure what to do. I've attached a mp3 sample of the problem. Any help is appreciated.

Edit: I just tried with my ca omni's and its doing the same. So It must be something with the ugly 2 I assume.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12NHiSV6SGXXEhdAkLAEDTZpE2tKUxWkd/view?usp=sharing

[unidentified]

How high have you cranked the gain on the Ugly 2 pre-amp?  I have found that if I crank it to the max or near the max, I may pick up radio noise.  My solution was to find a more equal balance in how high I set the gain on the recorder and how high I set the gain on the Ugly 2.   Later, I had Doug Oade upgrade my Sony PCM-M10's internal pre-amps, so I no longer needed an external pre and could power my CA14s with a simple Church battery box instead of with the Ugly 2.  .   

[Laminateman]

In the sample I shared I did turn the gain all the way up, just so others could hear the noise more clearly. I've had the gain set at the 2nd position on the Ugly 2 at a show and picked up radio noise as you said.

[unidentified]

Not good. Sounds like a problem unit. How long have you been using it, and when did you first start to notice this problem?

[Laminateman]

I've had it since 2018 I believe. First started noticing it a couple months ago.

[unidentified]

If you need more juice going to the microphones than the recorder can provide to avoid distortion at high volume levels, and if you are satisfied with the recorder's preamp, than perhaps you'd want to use a simple 9 volt battery box to power the microphones

[bonghitwillie]

sound professionals have alot of boxes for reasonable prices and they are still in business

[nassau73]

I've had several different BBoxes over the years including the Ugly. It has been inexplicable how everything is fine one day and the next show has buzzes, taps, dropouts, etc.

In every case, replacing the battery box has cured the immediate problem/issue - until - THAT replacement battery box starts exhibiting issues.

So far, the one I've had the best results with consistently has been the Sound Professionals SP-SPSB-8. Nice small size and 9v.

Not many shows of my taste coming thru Maui since the pandemic so haven't recorded much recently. However, last show had one channel noticeably lower than the other. Meters were ok when checking record levels but the playback level was low on one.

Checked the battery box and as much as I like the SP battery box, they don't have any real strain relief near connections. I noticed that one of the cables had split the jacket and bare wire was exposed. Taped it up as best I could with electrical tape but no record opportunities recently. So - ordered another bbox from Sound Pros, even though they're kinda spendy. But with so few opportunities to save a show I like, it's not worth all the time to troubleshoot then dink around in post to balance everything out for me.