Head Amp VS Attenuation
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Posted on Dec 18, 2011 09:59 pm
adam81
Member Since: Dec 18, 2011
Our church just purchased a M7CL-48. The board does not have the traditional "gain" knob it is replaced Head Amp. I understand that...
When you go into the EQ screen there is an ATT Knob, Attenuation. the definition of this in the M7CL manual is: "...adjusts the amount of attenuation/gain immediately before input to the EQ, in a range of -96
dB to +24 dB. Use this to compensate for level
changes produced by the EQ." This, i don't understand... I guess I get what it does but can't wrap my head around where it fits with the Head amp and my gain/eq structure.
If anyone has ATT for dummies way of explaining this I would much appreciate it!
Thank you in advance!
Adam
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Dec 19, 2011 05:16 am Usually when I EQ something, I bring the make up gain up or down to match the original level. That way, when I bypass the EQ I can tell if its making it sound better, without the level jumping around in the mix. Also, if my EQ is the first component in my chain, boosting or cutting EQ will affect whats going on further down my signal chain (compression, FX sends, clipping/distortion). The ATT knob gives you a way to compensate for this change in level.
For example, you give the signal an 8dB low shelf. Now the signal is louder than the original. You can use the ATT knob to bring down the gain to match the original signal.
Dec 19, 2011 02:53 pm With Yamaha, the ATT is the output level of gain.
What does this mean? Well, for that I have to go into an explanation of digital gain.
With digital gain, you want to get a very hot signal coming into the board. The more of a signal that you get, the more information you will have to process. In other words, the more input you get into the board, the more of a full range sound will you get.
Now, by having a large gain into the board, this can sometimes get a little tricky with trying to control the sound in the speakers. A little movement in the fader will cause the sound to be too loud in the room.
The ATT will allow you to pull the gain down, and allow to move the fader up.
In short, you can have all of your faders at 0 or unity gain, and have your mix right where you need it.
Dec 19, 2011 03:26 pm I use that specific control (the attenuator on the EQ screen) to bring line-level inputs down to somewhere actually near line-level. CD, MDP, etc.
If you don't have the line--level input card on the board, you'll need it (the additional attenuation -- Or in the line-in card)...
AFA the name on the control, they just call it what it is -- It's gain for the head amp.
adam81Member
Since: Dec 18, 2011
Dec 19, 2011 04:47 pm Thanks a lot for all the replies! They have been most helpful!!! I've been reading up on some of the differences between analog and digital boards.
MassiveMaster, not sure about this Line-in Card you speak of. We have an Aviom card that we bought.
Also. we have a poorly setup processor, an omnidrive FDS355. Will the functions of the M7CL allow us to get rid of it completely or Is it a better idea to get someone in and set it up properly?
Thanks Again!
Dec 19, 2011 05:30 pm The M7's don't have a crossover built into them. So, you will still need your BSS.
Dec 19, 2011 07:31 pm The Aviom card (if it's the one I'm thinking of) is an ethernet router (not unlike a typical CobraNET, but specifically designed to be used with Aviom monitoring stations). The line-in card ("slot") would have (8?) 1/4" TRS line-level inputs.
Dec 19, 2011 09:36 pm Depends MM. They have the Line in cards with several different connectors. DB 25, 1/4", and XLR. And you are correct about the Aviom card. They only make one, and it's on their own protocol, which is similar to one of the CobraNet, or Ethersound cards.
Dec 19, 2011 10:15 pm Ah -- I use 'em a lot, but I never really looked at all the available add-ons.
Bummer that it doesn't have line-level stuff in the chassis though...
I really dig the iPad2 apps for the M7 & LS9's though... I get to run monitors from my friggin' pad. That's cool... Although I remember using that Aviom system with (Jersey Boys?). That was cool -- I always wanted to tell people to do their own damn monitors.
Dec 19, 2011 10:48 pm Now if they will make it to where you can save a scene with the Aviom, it would be rock'in!
Back when Aviom was first making cards for the Yamaha desks, they would come over to us at Bauder to test them. So, I got a chance to see all of the new toys before they were released. :)
