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Randy5235
Member
I keep coming across this term.I'm still pretty new at this please help!!!
drstawl
Banned
Unity gain means there is no gain and no cut.
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Randy5235
Member
So essentially zero on the fader?
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Sabith
New member
ya basically... unity means you aren't raising the level, not are you lowering it.... usually that is the center of the pot....
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Randy5235
Member
How do You know when you've acheived this?
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Sabith
New member
well... when your raising the level, just make sure itz at zero. So just look for the zero or unitity mark (which is a U) and then put the fader(or knob) there... and tadaa unity gain. Also make sure you main mix is at unity....
Hope that helped,
Sabith
Hope that helped,
Sabith
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Randy5235
Member
WHat about the preamp trim?
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pglewis
New member
What mixer are you using? Level setting isn't a universal thing. Check your manual, too, it should cover how to set the trim on the input source.
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Randy5235
Member
Old machine no manual,Actually using the board from an old Tascam 388
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pglewis
New member
No manual, I was afraid of that 
. Someone has probably used one of those bad boys, though.
. Someone has probably used one of those bad boys, though.
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Randy5235
Member
sorry to bring up an old thread but im still wondering how you know when you have reached unity any ideas any one?
drstawl
Banned
Well- if you're using an old TASCAM- try asking this in the TASCAM forum. Neither of my Portastudios have any markings on the pots to indicate unity gain. On my tube pre-amp though both the input and output levels have a unity gain marking.
But it's really not that important.
What you really need to know is:
What do the levels look/sound like at the signal destination?
Are you distorting the signal by having the input or output levels on the pre too high?
There will generally be a "sweet spot";
a range of settings where the pre will sound quietest while providing enough gain.
Find that region and you've done all you can with that pre.
BTW: this whole thread is a great plug for digital transfers, which easily achieve unity gain by default.
But it's really not that important.
What you really need to know is:
What do the levels look/sound like at the signal destination?
Are you distorting the signal by having the input or output levels on the pre too high?
There will generally be a "sweet spot";
a range of settings where the pre will sound quietest while providing enough gain.
Find that region and you've done all you can with that pre.
BTW: this whole thread is a great plug for digital transfers, which easily achieve unity gain by default.
dobro
Well-known member
Unity gain is when the input gain is the same as the output gain. No?
sonusman
Banned
Unity gain is where the operating level of the equipment is achieved. On a preamp gain, this would entail providing enough gain from the preamp for the source going into the microphone is producing a either -10 or +4 level at the output of the mixer.
Unity on a fader or an aux send is simply the point of the fader or potentiometer where if there was a -10 or +4 level feeding to it, it would output that much also. So, sort of "no gain, no cut" like said earlier.
Usually you know you have achieved unity gain on a preamp by employing the PFL or Solo button on the channel, and looking at the meter that handles PFL or Solo functions. You would select the PFL (Pre Fader Level) for the preamp you are trying to set, the adjust the Trim or Gain knob of the preamp until the meter that handles PFL functions displays 0db.
Unity level on a fader will usually have a 0 mark for unity gain. On some console, all the way up is unity level.
On Aux sends, if all the way up is not unity level, then usually around 7 is.
You should thoroughly investigate how your particular console deals with gain structure. This is good stuff to know, because you really do want to provide unity gain levels at the output of any buss on the console.
Remember, if you are summing two things together, if they are both at unity gain, you will have a +6 db level at the output. Decreasing the two induvidual things by 3db apiece will of course make the combined level at unity at the output. If you have 4 sources combined, and all playing at once that are at unity gain, you will have a +12db gain at the output....etc.....
Confused yet?
Ed
Unity on a fader or an aux send is simply the point of the fader or potentiometer where if there was a -10 or +4 level feeding to it, it would output that much also. So, sort of "no gain, no cut" like said earlier.
Usually you know you have achieved unity gain on a preamp by employing the PFL or Solo button on the channel, and looking at the meter that handles PFL or Solo functions. You would select the PFL (Pre Fader Level) for the preamp you are trying to set, the adjust the Trim or Gain knob of the preamp until the meter that handles PFL functions displays 0db.
Unity level on a fader will usually have a 0 mark for unity gain. On some console, all the way up is unity level.
On Aux sends, if all the way up is not unity level, then usually around 7 is.
You should thoroughly investigate how your particular console deals with gain structure. This is good stuff to know, because you really do want to provide unity gain levels at the output of any buss on the console.
Remember, if you are summing two things together, if they are both at unity gain, you will have a +6 db level at the output. Decreasing the two induvidual things by 3db apiece will of course make the combined level at unity at the output. If you have 4 sources combined, and all playing at once that are at unity gain, you will have a +12db gain at the output....etc.....
Confused yet?
Ed
sonusman
Banned
What the f8^k!?!?!
[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 06-25-2000).]
[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 06-25-2000).]
sonusman
Banned
Crazy internet!
[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 06-25-2000).]
[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 06-25-2000).]
sonusman
Banned
oh boy....
[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 06-25-2000).]
[This message has been edited by sonusman (edited 06-25-2000).]
hixmix
Halibut, North Dakota
Unity Gain?
Something like some kind of political/religious idiot trying to bring non-believers around to their point of view?
Uh....huh...huh...huh...
Something like some kind of political/religious idiot trying to bring non-believers around to their point of view?
Uh....huh...huh...huh...