Oct 25, 2003 07:11 pm gain is when you take a signal and ADD level to it. output/volume/master is when you have a signal that is as loud as you want it, but you want to be able to quiet it down for whatever reason. dB...glossary time.
Gain vs Output
Posted on Oct 25, 2003 07:09 pm
PorpoiseMuffins
a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member Since: Oct 09, 2002
I'm a bit confused about the difference between Gain and Output controls on a preamp. Could someone clarify?
Another question along the same lines- What does "trim" do vs volume in Sonar?
Thanks,
Porp
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Oct 25, 2003 07:11 pm gain is when you take a signal and ADD level to it. output/volume/master is when you have a signal that is as loud as you want it, but you want to be able to quiet it down for whatever reason. dB...glossary time.
Oct 25, 2003 07:21 pm So should I leave the output up all the way and totally forget about the gain unless it's absolutely necessary to boost the signal some more? The output knob is at 0db halfway up-- doesn't that mean that anything above that is adding gain?
Oct 25, 2003 08:50 pm You should stage the gain by monitoring the preamp's input level. Basically speaking, you want the signal to be as hot as possible at the pre-amp stage (but definatly not clipping.)
The Volume knob controls the output stage. When set to 0dB to means that you are getting the exact same volume that the preamp revieved from the gain staging. If you needed to send a quiter signal to a device then you would adjust the output volume, not the gain staging.
Hope that's clear :)
As for trim in sonar - not my field, sorry.
Oct 25, 2003 09:33 pm Thanks, Jues!
It took me a bunch of times of reading over that to get it, but I think I got it now :)
So, I should always set the gain high as I can without danger of clipping and use the output to boost or cut that signal depending on what works best for the next piece of equipment in my arsonal?
Eventually I want to go to school and learn this stuff more in-depth :)
Oct 26, 2003 12:02 am Porp,
Think of it this way : Output level is always what you need to set the proper drive to the next device in the audio chain. Gain or input level is a bit more esoteric. That's because its setting needs to be tailored to the dynamic response of your preamp / compressor. If the response of your device is very linear (ie transparent like a Behringer mixer IMP preamp)then just drive it up to somewhere between -3dB to 0 dB and be done with it. But if the response is non-linear (eg ART TPS) then the gain makes all the difference in the world to the character of the sound -- the hotter you drive the input the more compression (and presumably more 'desirable' distortion ie 'warmth') you get -- up until you start clipping. Do you want lots of that compression and 'warmth'? perhaps ... or perhaps not.
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