Pad button

  • Thread starter Thread starter rguagenti
  • Start date Start date
R

rguagenti

New member
What does the "PAD" button on my pre amp do?

I just got the thing and I haven't played with it yet?

Thanks
 
It knocks down the incoming signal by some amount (typicaly -10dB) if it's too hot.
 
Thanks for the reply Track Rat.

So, if as I record I am going into the red a lot, I press the pad button and that should alleviate the hotness. Is that what clipping is?

There is also a knob on the pre amp that I turn down if the signal goes into the red too much? I think that is to control the clipping. Does this have the same effect as the Pad key.

Sorry for the ignorance, but this is my first foray into the world of pre amps. I used to record everything direct and I am told, and I have read in this forum, that using a pre amp is the way to go. It allows for greater flexibility and warms up your sound. I do vocals, acoustic guitar and the rest is MIDI.

Thanks for your help.
 
not quite

the pad is for really hot sources that overload the mic--such as a kick drum or a Marshall stack cranked to 11. the pad will cut the signal level going from the mic to the preamp's input by a certain (usually pre-determined) amount.

THEN, you use the gain to control the levels. if you're constantly going into the red on your mixer/preamp, then chances you've got the gain up too high. if you're going into the red on your recorder, you've likely got your output too hot.

if all you're recording is acoustic guitar and vocals, then you shouldn't need to use the pad.


wade
 
Your pre amp knob will amplify your signal where your pad button reduces the incoming signal before it hits the pre amp. If you have your pre amp knob all the way down and your red clip light goes on, then that is when you will need to press your pad button.


The pad is great to use when tracking drums. It will let you have better control over your preamps since they have such high db's.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top