Topic: UA5 matrix ADC question...

[rabhan]

alright, so lets say that i got mics>v3 running xlr out to the rca inputs on the ua5. and then i have a second set of mics>ua5 thru its xlrs.

now before i plug in the mics to the ua5. lets say that my mics>v3 signal is at -12 to -2 for example, an acceptable recording signal.

once i try to mix that with the mics>ua5, the levels will be double that, no?

so the knobs on the back of the ua5 are attenuators to reduce the signal coming from the v3? how does affect the sound? what is happening? will i be able to reduce that signal to 50% and run the mic>ua5 50% also to get acceptable levels to the d8 out of the ua5, which is -12 to -2?

just trying to figure out how this box works......

(all this coming from someone who isnt home to take the unit out of the box yet)

[rabhan]

am i gonna have to ask them over at oade?

[mirth]

If the input knob on the back of the unit is an attenuator & doesn't apply real gain then you're just turning the volume down. I believe that turned all the way clockwise (looking at the knob) is at line level.

[jessedscott]

Yes, and NO. The RCA are provided w/ very little gain. So I use a Balanced line transformer to add the -12 to -10 w/ the knob turned all the way clock wise. But scince you are going from a V3, I would think that the V alone will add much needed gain. So you might have to turn it down some. This being, you will not need the line transformer. i hope I think i go that right.

JDS

[mirth]

My last sentance in reply #2 was supposed to mean more along the lines of if the volume knob is turned all the way to the right it will be taking the signal at whatever the input level is. Depending on where your levels are, you may need to either turn down the V3 or the RCA inputs on the UA5.

[rabhan]

the reason i dont want to turn down the v3 is bc the v3 is also feeding a digital signal to a laptop@24bit, so i have to be able to attenuate that analog signal before it gets to the ua5, so i can mix that input with the mic>ua5 input stage. my question, is 1. will the knobs on the back of the ua5 attenuate the signal enough?, and 2. how will that affect the sound/signal integrity?

[rabhan]

answer from oade page:

Subject:  Re: UA5 4 mic matrix question
Date:  Sun, 24 Aug 2003 00:48:27 - (EDT)
From:  Jason Adler <jason@galactic-trading.com>  


>alright, so lets say that i got mics>v3 running xlr out to the rca
>inputs on the ua5. and then i have a second set of mics>ua5 thru its
>xlrs.

Let me start by saying I've only ever run a sbd signal into the rca's
and never tried 4 mics, but the same method should apply regardless
of source.

>now before i plug in the mics to the ua5. lets say that my mics>v3
>signal is at -12 to -2 for example, an acceptable recording signal.
>once i try to mix that with the mics>ua5, the levels will be double
>that, no?

It is a cumulative signal. It would only be exactly double if you
made sure the same level was coming from the mics on the xlr
first.

>so the knobs on the back of the ua5 are attenuators to reduce the
>signal coming from the v3? how does affect the sound?

In monitoring live sbd feeds, I have not noticed any audible quality
issues when I limit the signal or have it wide open. I have also not
heard any noise generated when changing the setting.

> what is happening? will i be able to reduce that signal to 50% and
run the
>mic>ua5 50% also to get acceptable levels to the d8 out of the ua5,
>which is -12 to -2?

I'm not sure of what happens inside the ua-5, but I am able to mix
the 2 sources with no problems. It took some practice. The lack of
level meters makes it harder than it should be. The lack of markings
on the ua-5 does not allow for easy repeat settings either.

>just trying to figure out how this box works......

That's tough, as all it does is blink that little peak light at you.

The method that has worked best for me is to set the rca signal to
roughly -12 then fill the rest (till the peak light starts to blink)
with the xlr's. I monitor the mix and adjust to taste. Say if the
room was too noisy, I'd fade the mics and turn up the rca signal by
ear. If the board mix was too bright or to vocal foreward, I'd trim
the rca's and up the mics to keep the peak blinking a little.

JAson

[Brian Skalinder]

Hey Jon, from the reply on the Oade board it appears you're not likely to encounter any audible problems attenuating the V3 signal going into the UA5s RCAs.

I know you travel a lot - do you have a sound source you can fire up to get a feel what levels you'll get on the UA5 when the V3 levels are set properly on the V3?  I'm getting the sense no one here has tried this setup yet.

[rabhan]

i will try it when i get home on tue/wed. i was trying to get some feelers b4 i get home and have like 24hrs to digimod the ua5, make some xlrs, make the batts for the ua5, and then try to get to the show i am taping.....

[Brian Skalinder]

i will try it when i get home on tue/wed. i was trying to get some feelers b4 i get home and have like 24hrs to digimod the ua5, make some xlrs, make the batts for the ua5, and then try to get to the show i am taping.....

That's pretty quick moving once you get back in town, Jon - I know how that goes.  Good luck!

[rabhan]

and ppl wonder why i wont trade or do bnps, i am only gonna be home for 3.5 days, sheesh....

[rabhan]

new issue:

when going from V3 > analog > XLR inputs of UA5, i get a 20db variance with the UA5 knobs all the way left which is off. but when going from V3 > analog > RCA inputs of UA5, i can adjust them and match them.

i need attenuators when i go into the xlr inputs.

anyone ever use attenuators?

how will 20db ones affect the sound integrity/quality?

[cpclark]

an attenuator just lowers the sound db when coming in, i dont believe it affects the sound quality a bit, your just lowering the input, i use the audio technica 8202 for my mics that run pretty hot into my ad-20 and ive gotten some good tapes and no measurabele sound quality loss in my expericence, .02

[rabhan]

cool, thanks for the lightning response! +T