gain question

[quarterinch]

I was recording a friend's guitar playing. Not much experience with the big electric 100 watt w/4x12 (Mesa Boogie). Anyway, it was loud. As such it was the first time I've never needed gain at the input of the channel strip. On the way home I wondered why in rock-n-roll world they make such a big deal about pres. I mean, do they pad everything or what? I'm also wondering if a pre is even necessary in this situation. I would have plugged the mic (sm57) straight into the recorder if I had the right cable.

 

[FALKEN]

umm...wow! First, many people don't have amps that loud. I play mostly 50-watt amps and for recording I use a 30-watt. so gain is needed in most cases. second, I am wondering what kind of pre you were using and if the gain at "zero" is actually "zero". Third, a lot of people don't use preamps when recording guitars! I have heard of people using a mic straight into an 1176 or even an ADL1000. Finally, guitars ain't the only thing you record in the rock world! Vocals need a good pre, I like api or vintech for rock!

 

[quarterinch]

Falken, thanks for the reply. The pre is the one in my Tascam m35 so I don't know if zero is in fact "no gain". You bring up a good question there.

The mic is an EV RE-20. No EQ. Fader on the low side of "unity" (a little higher than 3/4 up).

Next time I'm gonna try by-passing the pre.