Pad and Rolloff features?

[dmbandtimmy]

Hey guys! I just purchased a matched pair of B- Stock SP B1's from PMI audio. They were $140 shipped for the pair. However, they are the old ones without the pad and rolloff features. The guy told me not to worry because most preamps have these features.

However, the firepod (which I have) and a lot of other preamps I have researched sure don't seem to have them. Would these features have been worth spending the extra $30 per mic?

I am thinking about blowing these out at $130 shipped on the bay and upgrading myself. I tried to cancel the order when I found out, but they had already shipped Any input would be greatly appreciated Thanks!

 

[Newbie dude]

I don't think its gonna be a problem for ya. So you've got a really loud voclist and normally you'd use and 10 or 20 db pad? why not just turn down the gain on your pod? So you're recording a really high soprano and would normally roll of at 75 or 150 Hz? Why not just record her and cut out the frequencies once you're to the mixing stage? Keep your 30 bucks and go buy the beavis and butthead volume 1 or 2 video.

 

[mitosis]

Pad and rolloff aren't really necessary in the mic and they just give a mic like the SP B1 a chance to get ruined with a faulty switch or wiring.

 

[bennychico11]

I disagree, I use a pad a lot. A loud vocalist can still clip the preamp before it hits the gain control....causing audible distortion. The pad (on a mic or on the preamp) reduces the volume -10dB before it hits the preamp. It's a nice feature to have. I wouldn't purchase a mic solely on that feature...because if you really think you need a pad, buy one of these. Otherwise, yes, you should find a lot of preamps that DO have pads/rolloffs.
(rolloffs can be done after recording if you wanted...unless of course the low frequencies are so big they distort the preamp).

 

[dmbandtimmy]

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll just keep the B1's I got. Thanks for the link too Benny! Go Huskers!