dB and Hz questions for overheads

[fris9]

So i'm just beginning to explore the different sounds out of my ADK SC-2's for overheads, and on each mic there are different settings. 0, -10, -20 dB and HP, 75Hz, and 150Hz. I'm not well versed yet on the db and hz concepts, could someone explain these different settings for me and what they mean in the overall sound equation? Thanks!

 

[MadAudio]

-10dB and -20dB are pad settings. This reduces the output signal from the mic. Useful when recording really loud sources or things with quick transients, like drums.

HP is short for High Pass. This is a filter that cuts low frequencies. Useful for getting rid of background rumbles that condensor mics are prone to pick up.

 

[fris9]

Cool...thanks. So if I was happy with the tone I was getting but just not the levels of the toms and cymbals ( a little too quiet), I would want to keep it at 0 to keep from reducing the signal from the mic?

 

[Erockrazor]

If it were too quiet you wouldnt want to turn the DB pad on. That would take away either 10 or 20 db of your signal. If its too loud , for example : Your snare hits clip even when you have your gain all the way down , then you would use your db pad to make the signal stop clipping and therefore be much more usable. If your cymbals and toms are already too quiet you would need to turn up the gain rather than to put on a db pad.

EDIT:
- db = decibels - a number to measure the loudness of a sound. in this case , to measure the amount of signal youre getting from your mic. (db pads will decrease the signal by 10 or 20 decibels.)

- hz = hertz - Discovered by Heinrich Hertz , is a number labing the amount of cycles per second for a certain sound. This is also known as frequency or could even be considered how high or low pitched a sound could be considered.

Take all my information loosely , I'm no pro , just trying to help a little.

 

[fris9]

Thanks guys, that helps a lot!

 

[MadAudio]

Cool...thanks. So if I was happy with the tone I was getting but just not the levels of the toms and cymbals ( a little too quiet), I would want to keep it at 0 to keep from reducing the signal from the mic?

Yes..........

 

[RAK]

Another way to look at it is:
dB is a measurement of Amplitude.
Hz is a measurement of Frequency.

In musical terms:
Amplitude is to Volume, as Frequency is to Pitch.

There's definetly a lot more to be said about frequency and amplitude and their definitions, and how they're calculated, but it starts to get a little more complex.