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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: Thelonious on January 02, 2026, 09:06:11 AM

Title: Lunatec V2 gain setting
Post by: Thelonious on January 02, 2026, 09:06:11 AM

I am going to run a new (to me) V2 tonight with some KM 184s into my SD MixPre 6ii. I have never run the V2 before but I have read the manual and I did run a "trial" last night to get things started.

My question is about the gain settings. I will be somewhere between stage lip and 2' from stage lip recording a primarily acoustic jazz show (drums, bass, guitar and trumpet with likely one other lead instrument - no PA).

I have set up the V2 to run XLR in to the MP6 and set the input on the MP at line level.

I have not "calibrated" the deck as my assumption is that this is no longer necessary in a world with 32 bit.

My question is how to set the gain structure to be "safe", in this case not overloading analog stage of either the grace or the MP ii. In a world where I'm running 32 bit, is "calibrating" the deck still relevant?

When I set it up last night had the gain all the way up to full (with no trim reduction) on both channels with my stereo playing at moderate volume. When I reduced the gain on the V2, and then increased the headphone volume on the MPii, I noticed some noise/hiss. Some of this is likely headphone amp noise, which is fine because I won't have that on the recording, but I did want to make sure I wasn't missing anything in how to approach the set up.

Thanks very much in advanced for what I realize is an odd question for 2026.

Title: Re: Lunatec V2 gain setting
Post by: goodcooker on January 02, 2026, 10:03:22 AM

For unamplified jazz the sweet spot on the V2 will likely be between 20 and 30 on the gain knobs. Assuming there's some distance between your mics and the drum kit and the trumpet. This will leave some headroom.

It's not necessary (for this use case) to calibrate the pre and deck to get unity gain between them.

Title: Re: Lunatec V2 gain setting
Post by: Thelonious on January 02, 2026, 12:09:33 PM

Thanks you for this.

There will be a few feet between the mics and the drums and, in general, the music is not very loud. That said, I'll start at 25 based on your advice to leave room for drum/trumpet peaks.

Thanks again.

Title: Re: Lunatec V2 gain setting
Post by: HealthCov Chris on January 03, 2026, 11:46:13 PM

I recently acquired a V3 and ran it xlr into my MixPre-3ii a few times now in difference situations.  I find it very safe, even in fairly loud rock shows, to set the gain to 30db and fine tune (if necessary) with 10db trim pots.