DC power your Traveler

Discussion of Digital Performer use, optimization, tips and techniques on MacOS.

Moderator: James Steele

Forum rules
This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
Post Reply
stephen1212b
Posts: 236
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Contact:

DC power your Traveler

Post by stephen1212b »

I am posting this here rather than in the hardware section because it applies to Mac and PC users. If you have a Traveler try running it off of batteries. I connected 3 * 6 Volt 4 Amp/Hour led acid Gell Cell batteries in series to get 18 Volts and connected via the 4 pin power connection. I was on location and simply trying to maximize recording time so I didn't want to drain the laptop battery faster than necessary. The sonic improvement is _______________ ! Less harsh digital sounding hi end, deeper bass, better imaging, you know the drill. Remember the power to the mics is also being improved from this and this is multiplied by the gain.

At home playing back I normally use the wall wart, but no more. I know numbers are numbers, but even clocked to an Aardsync with only the SPDIF output feeding a better DAC everything is greatly improved. I can only assume squarer waveforms thanks to the high current reserves with no AC ripple and noise provides a less jittered read from the firewire and a less jittered digital output signal that is easier to read by the external DAC.

Don't believe me just go try this yourself.
Mac OS X version 10.5.8 / DP 7.12 / Dual 1.25 GHz G4 2GB DDR SDRAM / MOTU 2408mk3 / Powerbook G4 / traveler
User avatar
Eleventh Hour Sound
Posts: 1920
Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2006 7:50 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Southern California
Contact:

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by Eleventh Hour Sound »

It would be interesting if someone from MOTU, or someone with some test gear could confirm that using batteries gives better performance, that would be great...
DP11.1, 16" MacBookPro 2.3Ghz 8 Core i9's 32GB Ram 1TB SSD, (2) external 1TB Samsung SSD's , Steven Slate SSD 5.5 and Trigger Drums, ML-1 Mic and VSX Headphones, Omnisphere 2, Trilian, Ivory2, EW, MSI, MX-4, Philharmonik 2, Komplete, Reason, Live, Melodyne, IK Multi's Total Studio, ARC, T-RackS, SampleTron, AMG's KickA--Brass. and my beloved guitars :-)
User avatar
cloudsplitter
Posts: 467
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:54 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Everett , Washington
Contact:

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by cloudsplitter »

RecordingArts wrote:It would be interesting if someone from MOTU, or someone with some test gear could confirm that using batteries gives better performance, that would be great...
I agree.....more info needed..!!
Mac Pro 3,1 8 core 12 gigs ram Mavericks. DP-8.05 Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra, motu traveler, motu MIDI express, 2-24" LCD monitors, Yamaha HS80M,Yamaha NS10M's JBL28P monitors. Mackie control universal, BFD-2, Omnisphere,Trilian Ozone 4, Melodyne Studio/Editor, . Alesis Masterlink. Avalon 737sp. PCM 90. MikTek C4V. Korg Triton Extreme. Paul Reed Smith guitars, MPC-2500 there's more..but that's the heart of it.
User avatar
cuttime
Posts: 4351
Joined: Sun May 15, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by cuttime »

stephen1212b wrote:
At home playing back I normally use the wall wart, but no more.
The Traveler wall wart, or the Mac power supply on bus power? How does the bus power compare to batteries?
828x MacOS 14.5 M1 Studio Max 1TB 64G DP11.32
stephen1212b
Posts: 236
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Contact:

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by stephen1212b »

I rarely use buss power except in an emergency. There are too many stories of people loosing there firewire ports. Computer power is likely to be even noisier and will be affected by anything else on the buss. There are some powered hubs that might be an improvement but pure DC is hard to beat.
Mac OS X version 10.5.8 / DP 7.12 / Dual 1.25 GHz G4 2GB DDR SDRAM / MOTU 2408mk3 / Powerbook G4 / traveler
User avatar
cuttime
Posts: 4351
Joined: Sun May 15, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by cuttime »

Interesting. What kind of battery life do you get? I used to keep a couple of motorcycle batteries around for purposes like this, but the voltage dropped off quickly, and I didn't like having little containers of sulfuric acid laying around. In retrospect, they were probably a bad choice, because they are designed for quick discharges and not sustained use. However, I've not had very good luck with gel cells, either. I've had quite a few go bad after very little use. How do you charge them?
828x MacOS 14.5 M1 Studio Max 1TB 64G DP11.32
mrbillet
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: san francisco, ca

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by mrbillet »

I believe many of these claims could be true. Lead acid batteries provide solid, clean power while a/c can introduce all kinds of messy crackles and hash, especially if you're at a new location. If you're doing location recording it is best to be self-contained for power.

If you have a studio then you need to get all your wiring and power sorted out, and it seems like a hell of a task.
MacBookPro 1.83GHz Core Duo, 2G RAM.
OSX 10.6.8
DP 5.13
MOTU 828
Tascam cassette 4trk
User avatar
cloudsplitter
Posts: 467
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:54 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Everett , Washington
Contact:

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by cloudsplitter »

Stephen, could you give us a wiring diagram and what you used as a connector to from the bats to the Traveller...?? also, how do you monitor voltage..? do you have a meter or something that shows the state of charge of the bats..?? Thanks, I am interested in trying this.
Mac Pro 3,1 8 core 12 gigs ram Mavericks. DP-8.05 Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra, motu traveler, motu MIDI express, 2-24" LCD monitors, Yamaha HS80M,Yamaha NS10M's JBL28P monitors. Mackie control universal, BFD-2, Omnisphere,Trilian Ozone 4, Melodyne Studio/Editor, . Alesis Masterlink. Avalon 737sp. PCM 90. MikTek C4V. Korg Triton Extreme. Paul Reed Smith guitars, MPC-2500 there's more..but that's the heart of it.
User avatar
Matcher
Posts: 903
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Finland

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by Matcher »

I power my whole rig, including the BLA modded traveler, from a Furman power conditioner, and have been happy with it.
MBP i7, OSX 10.7.4
stephen1212b
Posts: 236
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Contact:

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by stephen1212b »

I use the 4 pin locking power connection. - pin 1 + pin 4 I have 3*6 volt 4 Amp Hour sealed gel cell batteries in series but anything from 12 V through 24 V will work. I float charge the batteries from a regulated linear supply at 22.7 Volts

Matcher what did Black Lion do in terms of modifications? When I contacted them they said they didn't do the Traveler.
Mac OS X version 10.5.8 / DP 7.12 / Dual 1.25 GHz G4 2GB DDR SDRAM / MOTU 2408mk3 / Powerbook G4 / traveler
User avatar
cloudsplitter
Posts: 467
Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:54 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Everett , Washington
Contact:

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by cloudsplitter »

stephen1212b wrote:I use the 4 pin locking power connection. - pin 1 + pin 4 I have 3*6 volt 4 Amp Hour sealed gel cell batteries in series but anything from 12 V through 24 V will work. I float charge the batteries from a regulated linear supply at 22.7 Volts

Matcher what did Black Lion do in terms of modifications? When I contacted them they said they didn't do the Traveler.
Same here when I contacted them two years ago they said they didn't do travelers.....?????
Mac Pro 3,1 8 core 12 gigs ram Mavericks. DP-8.05 Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultra, motu traveler, motu MIDI express, 2-24" LCD monitors, Yamaha HS80M,Yamaha NS10M's JBL28P monitors. Mackie control universal, BFD-2, Omnisphere,Trilian Ozone 4, Melodyne Studio/Editor, . Alesis Masterlink. Avalon 737sp. PCM 90. MikTek C4V. Korg Triton Extreme. Paul Reed Smith guitars, MPC-2500 there's more..but that's the heart of it.
User avatar
Matcher
Posts: 903
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:01 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Finland

Re: DC power your Traveler

Post by Matcher »

At the time, must've been about 4 years ago, BLA did the clock mod, and the analog circuit mod. I took them both.
MBP i7, OSX 10.7.4
Post Reply