Pre vs. Post Volume

  • Thread starter Thread starter Flet
  • Start date Start date
Assuming we're talking about a preamp...?

The pre-gain is the gain going in - Post is the gain going out.

*Normally* you'd likely want to have your post at unity ("U" or "0" usually) and adjust the input level to sit around 0dBVU (should be around -18dBFS or so).

If we're not talking about a preamp, I think a little more information would be handy.
 
you may also be talking about pre or post fader maybe? Some mixers have a button that lets you choose whether or not signal is sent off that channel pre or post fader...which means before or after any volume changes you make with that channels fader. If it's set to pre, then any fader moves you do on that channel will not effect the level being sent off the mixer...if it's set to post, then it WILL effect the volume.
When sending a signal via an aux send, it's nice to be able to take the pre fader level so that you can set up headphone cues or send it to a reverb and get the signal to the level it was originally recorded at. It's good to know what your mixer or DAW uses for each effect and aux send for each track (master stereo bus, audio tracks, Aux track, etc.)...because programs and mixers can differ. For example, Pro Tools' inserts are pre fader on the audio tracks but post fader on the master fader track.
 
Or you could be talking about a guitar amplifier. Pre volume would be the gain in the pre-amp section, post volume would be the gain in the power section. More pre-amp gain for more distortion, more power amp gain for volume and or chunkiness (if we're talking about a tube amp).

That's probably not what you're talking about, but I just figured I would add to the list of things with pre and post volume. :D
 
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