basic preamp terminology questions

[osion]

hi,
i tried using the search function to find some basic terminology definitions/answers but couldnt find the relevant information so ill post them instead.

1- what does micing something "hot" mean? (high gain?)

2- what exactly does input gain and output level mean? why does output level go from -12 to +12 (at least on my studio projects vtb1 amplifier)?

3- what decides how much input gain is needed? the microphone used? the volume of the instrument being recorded?

4- on the vtb1 there is a meter reading that shows the "level." what does level mean? (volume?). the manual also says to move the gain knob until i get a reading between 0 and +8. what exactly does +8 mean?

5- if i move the gain knob all the way to the end (60 on the vtb1), and the level reading doesnt go past -8, there is something wrong, right? why would that happen?

6- how come sometimes i record my guitar and the recording has static/distortion when the instrument is played? (because the gain is too high?)

7- there is a switch that reverses the polarity of the outputs. when should that be used?

i've been using a studio projects C1-VTB1 combination for a couple months by simply following the directions and things have mostly been coming out fine, but i would like to have a better understanding of whats going on. Any replies appreciated, thanks.

 

[Chris Fallen]

Do you have the phantom power on? If you have the gain cranked and you aren't getting a good level that might be a problem.

 

[eeldip]

1- what does micing something "hot" mean? (high gain?)

you are right... hot usually refers to running an amp at high gain. some amps distort in pleasing ways at high gain...

2- what exactly does input gain and output level mean? why does output level go from -12 to +12 (at least on my studio projects vtb1 amplifier)?

dont know specifically about the vtb1, but i will assume that input gain is a gain stage early in the circut, probably the primary gain. and output level is some sort of gain stage or something else that is set up so that the box can interface with recorders that expect different input levels.. (commonly either -10db or +4db) having the ability to turn down the output gain is cool cause you can run the amp very hot (read above) and not have it overload the next circuit (usually whatever you are recording on to)

3- what decides how much input gain is needed? the microphone used? the volume of the instrument being recorded?

both.

4- on the vtb1 there is a meter reading that shows the "level." what does level mean? (volume?). the manual also says to move the gain knob until i get a reading between 0 and +8. what exactly does +8 mean?

yea, pretty much volume. +8 db.

5- if i move the gain knob all the way to the end (60 on the vtb1), and the level reading doesnt go past -8, there is something wrong, right? why would that happen?

input signal is very very very low compared to what the amp wants.

6- how come sometimes i record my guitar and the recording has static/distortion when the instrument is played? (because the gain is too high?)

that is one reason. there are a million others. probably because of distortion from the amp though.

7- there is a switch that reverses the polarity of the outputs. when should that be used?

you might not need that for a while. you use it when you have phase problems.... this is a really long subject that you should read up on.