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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: phishn on October 30, 2003, 05:05:08 PM

Title: pre-amp levels setting question...
Post by: phishn on October 30, 2003, 05:05:08 PM
Hi,

From your experiences...is there any general rules that may help you initially get the levels in the ballpark before the show?  Like...set the levels at x db when the pre-show music is playing....or set it at x db and adjust x db based on distance from the stacks..etc.  Any tips or tricks would be helpful.

Thanks,

Greg
Title: Re:pre-amp levels setting question...
Post by: phishn on October 30, 2003, 05:18:47 PM
AKG 391's -> UA-5 (Warm Mod) -> D8
Title: Re:pre-amp levels setting question...
Post by: Craig T on October 30, 2003, 05:21:52 PM
Start with the gain/sens knobs at 12 o'clock.  I typically have them at 2 o'clock once dialed in.  You'll want the red "peak" light to barely flicker during the loudest parts - it will start to glow at -3db, so you should be somewhere between -3 & 0 db running this way.
Title: Re:pre-amp levels setting question...
Post by: DaryanLenz on October 30, 2003, 05:23:03 PM
General rule of thumb for me is to start the mini-me at 12 o clock, which I guess would correlate to about 30 db of gain or so, and usually work my way down.  Gain however I find to be VERY microphone dependant, as well as venue dependant.  If the house music pre-show is loud enough, which I find it generally is NOT, I try to get peaks at around -12 on the db meter.  But really, and in actual uusage, just set them in the first three minutes and leave them alone...I usually don't leave them alone, but it is probably a god rule of thumb.  Keep in mind with 16 bits it is really necesaary to run as hot as you can to maintain fidelity...not so much in 24 bits.  I hope this helps, and if you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

Daryan
Title: Re:pre-amp levels setting question...
Post by: junkbondking on October 31, 2003, 02:04:40 PM
i start my ua-5 at 12 as well, and find that at places like red rocks it ends up closer to 3 o clock, inside at the fillmore, fox,  or cervantes at 2-2:30.