Power Conditioners
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Posted on Feb 07, 2010 04:04 pm
RockWood610
John
Member Since: May 06, 2007
Hey guys. I am just about to get some nice upgrades for my project studio. The birthday is coming up, and my step dad decided to get my the bestest present ever! I have a Line 6 UX8 on the way right now to replace my Line 6 UX2.
I am uber excited about is, and I want to make sure it gets babied as much as possible. I plan on buying an 8 space rack for it, my 700 wat power amp, my DM5 drum modual, and whatever else I get in the coming months.
Here is my question; Power Conditioners are something I see a lot, and I wanna keep this thing and all my other gear protected. Especialy in my house witch is somewhat older and we are still in the process of getting some electrical work upgraded.
I am looking for a good power condition for no more then $200 if it is possible. I was browsing Musician's Friend and found this one from Alesis, but wasn't sure if there was something else I should look into.
accessories.musiciansfrie...dule?sku=182538
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
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Feb 07, 2010 04:42 pm Well, the Alesis is just a power strip that you can buy from any store. It just happens to rack mountable.
Not worth the money.
If you are looking for true regulator. Then you need to look at Furman. They have a true regulator model that protects and regulates.
www.zzounds.com...item--FURAR1215
I have two of them where I work. And I have never had a single issue with them. And I use them with generators, and lousy power tie-ins.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 08, 2010 01:26 am Ouch, at 550$, i'd say that's a little out of the 200$ range.
Here's a Furman that looks quite nice:
www.zzounds.com/item--FURPL8C
I have the M8 and it's been running my rig for a few years:
www.zzounds.com/item--FURM8X
There's another M8 with lights for 90, i think.
The PL8C has some tech that the M8 doesn't, so that may be an issue. But realistically, I haven't had any glitches with my M8, so I'm not sure the extra $$$ is worth it. Maybe if you know your house power is glitchy, then the extra $$$ would be worth it.
I think to really keep your stuff protected, run a UPS battery backup. Then you're not even running on house power, but instead running from the inverter inside the UPS. I ran on one for years, and a few times the house power would drop, and I'd not even realize, unless a light was on. I lost mine though, in a house fire, and have not replaced it yet.
Here's a search on TD for UPSs:
www.tigerdirect.com/appli...VA%20and%20more
That diablotek at 89$ looks pretty nice. 5 star rating w/ 16 reviews. Not too shabby. Plus you're under 100$ so more money for toys!
Feb 08, 2010 01:49 am Thanks a lot PJK. I'm taking a look at those and a couple other Ferman's as well. The one you showed my is about 170 and the other one I was looking at was this one:
www.zzounds.com/item--FURM8DX
Is there a big reason why the one is you showed is $50 more?
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Feb 08, 2010 01:46 pm Gratz on the UX8, I love mine!
Feb 08, 2010 02:00 pm Thanks Tripps. Glad I found someone else who has it. I could use some advice on what other gearto buy.
I am not sure how the I/O setup on it as as far as how to rout the outputs goes. I called Line 6 and asked about it, and they said on the UX8, you have 8 outputs that are mono so you baiscaly have 4 sets of stero outputs with those 8 outs.
So, here is my question. I am looking to have a rack mounted headphone amp to where I can have 4 or more headphones all with thier own mixes and my studio monitors to have a mix.
Is this possible between the UX8 and your recording DAWS? I basicaly want to have the main outputs of the UX8 to go to my monitors. Then use the other outputs to send a left and right output to a headphone amp that has 4 seperate inputs.
Idk if I am making any since, but I hope so, cause I wanna get my stuff ordered soon as Musicians Friend is offereing no interest for a full year haha.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 10, 2010 12:10 am Quote:
Is there a big reason why the one is you showed is $50 more?
Well, the writeup has more bells and whistles, though I don't know really what they mean. Well, I know what they mean . . .
these seem to be things that aren't on the cheaper version:
- Linear Noise Filtration Technology (LiFT) to keep hums and pops out of your performance
- Extreme Voltage Shutdown Protection (EVS) for protection from power spikes
- Diagnostic Lights provide a visual display of the status of the PL8C
- Isolated Outlet Banks to eliminate interference between components
Alas, I don't have any experience to say if they're worth it or not.
I posted in the other thread about the Samson S-Phone headphone amp. I did forget to mention though, that the headphone inputs (aux in) on the s-phone will be TRS, which means stereo on 1 jack, (Tip, Ring, Sleeve). So, you'll probably need to get insert cables to connect from individual channel outputs (1&2, 3&4) over to TRS inputs, where 1&2 are in the same jack. I purchased a snake from Hosa that is just for that, with 8 TS connections on one side, and 4 TRS connections on the other side.
Here's the page:
www.zzounds.com.../item--HOSSTP80
Feb 11, 2010 01:48 pm Thanks PJK.
Sorry I have not replied until now with my thanks. I have been busy picking out some gear and what not.
With some help from Noise, I ended up picking up these 2 items:
Power Conditioner from Ferman:
accessories.musiciansfrie...eter?sku=181047
And I found a really nice deal on a 6 channel headphone amp. Art isn't a brand I have heard much on, but after looking it up on a few sites, it got pretty good reviews. Plus it comes with 6 free pair of cheaper Sony headphones. They may not be great for isolating sound when recording with my condensor, but at least I can have a full band in here with a pair of headphones.
pro-audio.musiciansfriend...ones?sku=485296
Right now, I am just looking to send a single mix to all 6 channels of this headphone amp until I need multi mixes. I have been getting a couple replies from you guys, but I am the kind of guy that needs the gear here in its physical presents so I can actualy tinker with it and what not. I learn best that way. But over all, these aree the two things I went with.
Thanks for all the replies. I am sure I will be back soon for more help.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 11, 2010 05:52 pm Very cool. they both look spot-on!
Can't hardly pass up free stuff too, specially on a budget =).
I agree, tinkering with gear-in-hand is much better than reading on a screen.
Glad to see you're getting on.
Taking a look at the teeny picture on the MF site, you may still need a converter / connection cable to go from the mono outputs of the UX8 to a Stereo input on the headphone amp. The pic looks like stereo inputs, so you'll have to join 2 outputs to 1 jack : 2 TS (mono) -> 1 TRS (stereo). That's what the hosa snake above is for. You may want to call MF and talk with a sales person to confirm / get one included in the order.
Feb 11, 2010 06:11 pm Pjk, thanks again.
And chit... all I bought was 2 TRS cables. May not be able to use the amp right away then. They have already shipped the order. So I may have to order that hosa thing seperate.
I'm getting pretty exciting about this studio thing. I have somethings to learn during the mixing phase, and I know my 'mastering' isn't to swift, but I like new toys and gear, and I have plenty of it coming this weekend haha. And to think before coming here, I was trying to record on an MR8 digital recorder... now I am doing a fullfledged home PC based setup... I love this forum haha.
If UPS doesn't screw up, (and they better not because I paid $35.00 for the UX8 to be over nighted because my step dads bank had issues with MF) I'll have the UX8 here tomorrow for sure.
I don't know about the headphone amp and what not. What I don't get is, I ordered a 8 space rack, the headphone amp, the power conditioner, and a few cables all on one order. They released a tracking number for just the rack on one day, and then released the same exct tracking number for everything else a day or so later. And the rack is apparently close to me in PA while the rest of it (under the SAME tracking number) is in Kansas somewhere. So idk what the ff is up right now, but I'll be posting here on the forum in a day or so for sure if I have any issues with hooking everything up.
Thanks a million for all the help guys!
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Feb 12, 2010 12:15 pm multiple ship points is very common. they may arrive separately, no big deal.
Quote:
but I like new toys and gear
Who doesn't? =).
getting fun stuff to play with is always a great thing. GAS comes in to play now (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). You will play and learn stuff, and then * BAM * a GAS attack comes on, and Man, would this be better if I had ABC mic, or XYZ speakers, or ??? whatever. A money pit, of sorts.
have fun.
* edit * oh yeah, be sure to make sure you need the snake mentioned above. Don't just take my word for it, make sure yourself. I'd hate to see you spend $$$ on something that you didn't need, just because I said you need it. Always verify information, specially on the net =).
Feb 12, 2010 05:34 pm Oh yea man no problem on that. Like you said, my order got shipped into 2 different boxes and the headphone amp didn't make it in today. I called UPS to make sure they where running Monday with it being presidents day and what not, so it should be here by then... Tuesday at the latest. So I'll check and see what all I'll need and post on here if I have any questions.
I got my UX8 today and my rack. And I can already tell you I am in LOVE with this thing. Its solid, looks awesome, works awesome, and one thing I can tell already is the volume output is crazy loud. Gonna be great for tracking!!!
And PJK, on your GAS comment, I am already going through it... looks like I a getting the Alesis DM10 moduel with Surge cymbals for my drum tracking (I do a lot with triggers and Toontrack stuff). So you called it waaaayyy before I even read your post haha.
