This is why I have previously suggested that there is actually no analog gain control but that setting levels is always post ADC.
They say it quite clear. The maximum analog gain is 75 dB. And indeed, with the gain control set to "advanced" you have access to the
analog preamplifier gain.
If you apply gain with the fader then you are applying digital gain. And you can achieve a maximum of 96 dB from microphone to recording.
"The maximum analog gain is 75 dB. And indeed, with the gain control set to "advanced" you have access to the analog preamplifier gain"
From my reading this is largely correct, or at least its the impression I've gotten. This is why I sued advanced mode.
"If you apply gain with the fader then you are applying digital gain"
I think this is true in advanced mode but not in custom...
Sorry, my phrase was poorly written. If you use the basic gain mode the faders apply both analog and digital gain. I wanted to say “you are applying digital gain as well”.
i imagine that the first 76 dB will be analog, and moving the fader further will add digital gain.
Also,
note that the unit has 32 bit A/D converters. Sound Devices don’t mention why, but I imagine that they wanted to reduce quantization noise for low level signals. Or maybe part of the 75 dB of analog gain are actually digital? Anyway as long as the noise specs are maintained it should be harmless.
I guess my conclusion that the pre-amp is a probably a digitally controlled, analog preamplifier. In other words, the knob are digital controls. In custom mode, the "fader" knobs also control the pre up to the maximum pre gain and then the purely digital gain kicks in?
Yes, that’s how I think it is. And of course the preamplifier is digitally controlled. But I’m still curious about the 32 bit A/D.
By the way, I saw the internal photos in the FCC filing. Indeed the converter is 32bit (I don’t remember the part number) and the electrolytic caps are high end ones (Nichicon).