Reggie said:
So I wonder if the volume knob on the back of my active monitors are actually controlling the the amp power (in which case I should turn them all the way up), or just an attenuation knob like a mixer or something (in which case I would prefer to keep them around the middle so as not to push them too hard)?
What do you guys do with the volume knob on your active monitors?
Let me rephrase your questions:
Is the volume knob on my actives an attenuator?
Where should I set it?
Asking them the way you did kind of mixes up some unrelated issues, IMO.
Amplifer output power is determined by input signal level. That goes for any amplifier.
The knob is an attenuator. The only difference with an active monitor and a passive set-up is that the amp is in the speaker box. Your monitors may have a max input level, but the knob is still an attenuator. It turns down the signal going to the amp.
As far as where to set the knobs, it depends on your preference, kind of, and your needs. As long as you know what you are doing, "better" isn't absolute, it depends on your application.
There is no difference between a 100W amp with the "volume" all the way up getting a 0db signal and putting out 100W and an amp set for -6 getting a +6 db signal and putting out 100W. They are both working just as hard. And both will clip if the signal goes past those levels. So the actual position of your volume knobs doesn't affect how hard the amp works at a given power output.
The only way to push the amp too hard is to give it too much signal and drive it into clipping. The volume knob just determines how much signal it takes to do that.
Turning down is fine, if you want/need to run your equipment at a certain level. I like to monitor at about 85 db. I also like to run my board so the main meters are peaking around 0 db when I get 85 db. It's a good visual aid, for me. So I set my amp so it puts out 85 db when the mixer hits 0db on the main output.
It's one of my PA amps. If I have it wide open, it's way too loud even with
-20 on the mixer meters. So I have to dial it back a lot.
Here is the thing: I know how much headroom I have. If I need more volume, I know I can go all the way up on my mixer output meters and the amp won't clip. Or, I can leave my output level at 0db, and turn up the amp. Same end result. The amp gets more signal, and stays below clipping. I get more volume.
People run into problems turning down amps by not knowing how much headroom they have, ie not knowing at what level their amp will clip for a given volume setting. If it's not loud enough, they push up the fader instead of turning up the amps. If you don't know where your amp clips, you don't know how far you can push your level up before clipping starts.
If you do, you can always stay in a safe range.
Like xstatic said, in live work people usually run amps flat out, so control is at FOH and the full volume of the system is at fingertip control without having to run to your amps.
yes i know im a n00b.
