Topic: JB3 Question - I looked at the FAQ!

[Mitchell (Jake and Sawyer's Dad)]

Quick question - if I have a R0de NT4 mic (and I am using the internal battery), can I run that directly into the JB3 without a need for a preamp and/or battery box?  Would recommend/not recommend I do this?

[jpschust]

you would need phantom power and a pre at least.  (or a pre that provides phantom)

[Mitchell (Jake and Sawyer's Dad)]

Even if the mic has internal 9v batteries to power it?

[Tye]

You should be able to do it  but your levels might be too low you should look into getting some sort of preamp it should give you much better results.

[Tony B]

It'll work, just make sure you use Line in, not Mic in, and use the gain the JB3 to adjust your levels. You might run into problems if you're in a loud situation, but if your mic has its own power source, you're ok.

[Brian Skalinder]

If the mic is self-powered via internal batts, go for it.  If you don't have enough gain, consider running a pair of inexpensive line transformers to add ~20 dB of gain.  I like the Hosa MIT-176, personally.

[dklein]

I have run NT-4>JB3.  For loud sources, it works if you run line in at +12dB.  You might turn down for really loud sources but I never found one that went over at that setting.  For quiet sources, you'll need some gain.

[dklein]

Actually Brian, I'm curious about this free 20 dB of gain.  It seemed too good to be true so I looked up some of the calculations and I think that transformer would provide 6 dB with load loss further reducing it.  Have you used these and actually seen levels go up?  Any idea how much and with what input device?

This page was good for info  http://www.shure.com/support/technotes/app-transform.html

I'm very curious what effect these have on the sound and how much gain you really end up with.  Could be good for my JB3 stealth attempts.  I picked up an AD-20 but it's kinda big and that optical cable is a PITA.

[Brian Skalinder]

Actually Brian, I'm curious about this free 20 dB of gain.  It seemed too good to be true so I looked up some of the calculations and I think that transformer would provide 6 dB with load loss further reducing it.  Have you used these and actually seen levels go up?  Any idea how much and with what input device?

This page was good for info  http://www.shure.com/support/technotes/app-transform.html

David -- I never calculated the actual dB rise using the method on the Shure site, I just went by what one of the Hosa tech reps told me.  I have used the MIT-176 before and gotten a significant amount of gain.  I ran MBHO KA200/603A > PS-2 > MIT-176 > modSBM-1.  I don't recall precisely how much gain they gave me, but it was enough to get my levels up from well below where I wanted them even with the modSBM-1 wide open at 10, to pushing zero with the modSBM-1 riding around 7 or so.  This was for a bluegrass festival that didn't exactly crank out the SPLs.  Sorry I can't provide more details on the numbers.

[dklein]

Hey Brian - sorry I missed the response.  If you get a chance (the next time you setup your gear at home?), maybe you could just run some white noise or a test tone thru your stereo, and record mics>jb3 with and without the transformers and see how the levels differ.

Just want to satisfy that curiosity.  Thanks.

[Brian Skalinder]

If you get a chance

Would be happy to do so, but I sold my Hosa MIT-176 some time ago.