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Author
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Topic: Reviews of the IE-35 and is the o-scope any good?
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Scott Norwood
Film God
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Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 05-29-2007 07:55 AM
I don't claim to be a sound expert, but I did recently purchase the Audio Control unit and have been reasonably happy with it. It's cheaper than most of the other options, the build quality is decent, and the warranty is good (they will repair any unit that has not been abused).
The built-in SPL meter is useless without the optional A/C weighting filter (about $50). I find the Rat Shack analog SPL meter to be easier to work with, but using it requires two people (one in the auditorium to hold the meter and point up or down and one in the booth to adjust levels).
You will need to make a long balanced mic cable (for B-chains) and a 1/4" tip/ring to bare wire cable (for A-chains).
I'm sure that the Ivie can do more stuff, but I wouldn't know enough to make use of the additional features, and I'd be concerned about obsolescense of anything based on a PDA. The only other RTA in the same general price range that I have seen is the Gold Line, which some people also like.
As for oscilloscopes, I'm using a low-end 20MHz Leader model that works fine for A-chains. I'm sure that Mark's Tektronix model is far better, but this was cheap on Ebay.
If you can't borrow test loops, get ready to spend about $400 (ouch) for a complete set.
(I'll point out here that I don't make sound adjustments in venues with good equipment and service contracts. I got this stuff mainly for home use and also to help out the occasional low-budget independent theatre. If you aren't a service tech and don't own the system, don't make adjustments to any sound equipment without owner/manager approval.)
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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler
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Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 05-29-2007 12:51 PM
I use the IE-35 on an almost daily basis, and I absolutely love it. As you alerady know, it is extremely portable, and the fact that it includes a scope is incredibly handy. Now, it is NOT a replacement for a real scope, as you cannot use it for SRD alignments, and when you are doing a complete analog alignment, it is beneficial to view the RTA and scope simultaneously when adjusting focus and azimuth. However, for just checking your A-chain, such as in a preventive maintenance call, the IE-35 works just fine. I can pretty much keep my scope in my trunk unless I'm doing a digital alignment or replacing an analog reader. The IE-35 is great as an SPL meter, too. Because of the large display in SPL mode, I can place it in a cup holder in the desired measuring row and easily see the display from the booth.
The two RCA jacks are the channel one and channel two input. Yes, you would use those for A-chains. I use RCA cables from Radio Shack. One end of each cable plugs into the IE-35. The other end of each cable has an RCA-to-BNC connector, which is connected to a set of Pomona test pins, which are what you plug in to the test points on the processor.
As much as I love the IE-35, the point of the PDA becoming obsolete is a valid one. Dell has recently pulled out of the PDA market, which means the Axim X51v is no longer available. Mine is only a little over a year old and in great condition, but if it ever craps out, I would be a little scared. I may have to look on eBay for a used one, unless Dell could repair it. Let's hope that doesn't happen for along time, because I do NOT want to give up using the IE-35!
As for contacting Ivie, I've only had to do it a couple times, and I have not had any problems. But that's just me.
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