Hi Flawn--
I'm surprised Sound Devices omitted the internal batteries
considering they mostly specialize in portable gear. Maybe the new
pre/phantom/A-D circuit consumes too much power for the low-profile
2-AA battery solution used in earlier models.
Very likely the USBPre 2 will operate on a 6 volt (5 X 1.2V) alkaline
battery sled pack wired to a USB plug. To confirm a voltage/wiring
plan, SD is using a new, simpler Tech Support form instead of the
forum: http://www.sounddevices.com/support/ Might also ask them
about power requirements for battery sizing?
I'd definitely like to hear gear comparisons before assuming there
would be detectable differences in pre/digital input performances.
Thanks to Emil Klotsch, we have a chance to listen for SD702/DR680
pre differences: http://tinyurl.com/36rs6om Rob D.
= = = =
At 7:44 AM -0400 9/15/10, Flawn Williams wrote:
>
>The coaxial digital I/O is on RCA jacks on the right side panel of the
>USBPre 2.
>
>The real advancement of this new model, apart from having the same
>preamps featured in SD's 7-series recorders, is that unlike the
>original USBPre the new USBPre 2 can function in standalone mode as a
>mike preamp and analog-to-digital converter. The company has really re-
>thought the device, providing two banks of DIP switches on the rear
>panel for option selections so there are NO software-only-controlled
>menu options for this box when it's not connected to a computer.
>
>Among other things, this standalone mode makes the new unit a great
>companion for the Tascam DR-680: it can provide preamps and (likely
>better) digital clocking to feed the 680's digital inputs 7/8 so you
>can record 8 mikes in the field.
>
>Even if you're recording just two channels, the USBPre2/DR-680 combo
>gives you great Sound Devices preamps and a good SDHC card recorder
>for a lot less $$ than a Sound Devices 702 Compact Flash recorder. I'd
>place my faith in Sound Devices' limiters more than the ones Tascam
>provides on the DR-680. There's no MS decoding on the USBPre2 for
>inputs or headphones, though.
>
>(If you already happen to own an SD744, which can record four channels
>but has only two mike pres, this box should benefit that recorder too!)
>
>There's no obvious way to link/sync multiple USBPre2's, either in
>computer connected mode or in standalone mode. Unless SD surprises us
>and has the unit sync to a signal applied to its optical or coaxial
>digital input. No mention of such capability in the preliminary manual
>downloadable from the SD website.
>
>USB power must be supplied from an external source for standalone
>mode, but there are powered hubs and other means for supplying 5VDC.
>We'll have to ask Sound Devices whether the device can handle a
>nominal 6 volt battery supply...if so then the options for field
>powering would be numerous. I haven't gone looking yet, but USB is so
>prevalent that there may be commercial products already out there
>delivering USB power from rechargeable or alkaline batteries.
>
>Another novel feature: you can plug a mike into Input 1 and have its
>signal split to both channels. So you can record the same mike at two
>different levels for protection against overmodulation.
>
>And as someone has already noted, the device is a USB class-compliant
>audio interface, requiring no special drivers, so it may work as audio
>I/O for Apple's iPad with that box's Camera Connection Kit. Not the
>most convenient field recording setup, but another example of good
>design for versatile applications.
>
>--Flawn
>
>> Re: Sound Devices updates the USBPre
>> Posted by: "Mike Rooke" <yg%40urlme.net> picnet2
>> Date: Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:45 am ((PDT))
>>
>> Hi,
>> Digital output via optical / toslink can be seen on the side of
>> the device. - If you have a D50 it should plug directly into the
>> D50's optical input with a toslink adapter. - Nice.
>>
>> RCA (galvanic) Digital output is near the USB socket.
>>
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK
> >
>> Question remains if multiple devices can be linked and synchronous
>> clock accurate
>> recordings made. If not, for me its not bringing much to the table
>> that can't be covered already with an FR2-LE and D50. If the driver
>> allows you can gang multiple usbpre2's it would be very nice for
>> surround recording / processing with a laptop. Although an expensive
>> one.
>>
>> -M
>>
>> --- In
>><naturerecordists%40yahoogroups.com>
>>"oryoki2000" <>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Sound Devices introduced the USBPre 2 a few days ago. This is an
>>> update of their popular USBPre preamp. The USBPre 2 uses meters
>>> from the Sound Devices mixer line, and the same preamp design and
>>> components as the 7 series recorders, i.e., about as good as a
>>> field preamp gets.
>>>
>>> The documentation for the USBPre mentions coax optical input and
>>> output via RCA jacks, but I don't see these ports on the photos of
>>> the USBPre. Perhaps the unit in the photos is a pre-production
>>> model.
>>>
>>> The USBPre 2 web page is
>>><http://www.sounddevices.com/products/usbpre2.htm>http://www.sounddevices.com/products/usbpre2.htm
>>>
>>> Like its predecessor, the USBPre 2 has no battery compartment.
>>> Power must come from an external 5V source of no more than 500 mA,
>>> connected to the USB port. Needing an external power source makes
>>> the USBPre 2 a little harder to use in the field. This sort of
>>> power source is used to recharge electronics like iPods and cell
>>> phones, and is commonly available.
>>>
>>> Dimensions of the USBPre 2 are 180 x 100 x 43 mm, weight about 500 g.
>>> Retail price will be $650 USD. The product will be available in
>>> October. The original USBPre price is now $550.
>>>
>>> --oryoki
>>>
>>
>
>
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