Topic: Modding stepped gain to continual gain

[balou2]

I saw a post in a recent thread asking if someone could modify the gain knobs on a recorder from stepped gain, to continual gain.  Stepped gain exists on many kinds of units so it need not be directly a recording device, but maybe a pre-amp.  Is there a way to actually mod stepped gain in to continual gain?  I can't imagine it's just as easy as putting in continual-turn knobs...is it?

[boojum]

Essentially you would be replacing one potentiometer with another.  Unless there is a really good reason to change it, I would leave it alone.  But the other folks apparently disagree.  The trick is doing the job without buggering it up.  Send it out.   

[Ozpeter]

Some stepped gain controls are actually switching in components rather than operating a continuous pot.

Personally, the more I live with the stepped gain of the R-44 the more I like it, but I guess it's not for everyone.

(Advantages - precise resettability, precise changing of gain across multiple channels.   Disadvantages - at worst you might end up recording 5.99dB below the level you wanted - if the steps are 6dB - but the chances of that actually mattering audibly in the end result with the gear we have these days is pretty small, imho).