YES go for it !! BUT remember that all of us have different mics SSOOOO do a dual test one with pad / one with out have mics at the same location to yer speakers & note the levels with a track note on the deck for each test ie '; each time u turn the volume up a notch make a track note on the deck till you get brickwalling AND then do the same with the pad on & compair .. use a loud rock source ,the same for each test , even if you have to use the same track over & over agin.. do you have a acm oade mod & what serial # do u have thanx Mike
I have an ACM, I'll post the serial when I post my results.
I already have a good feel for my meter boundaries with the pad ON (seeing how they are accurate). Like tfs8271 said, when the pad is on I am pushing the levels and fearing no red, and I have yet to get audible distortion. But you are right, I should test it anyway.
I am really running this test because the meters are innacurate with the pad OFF (or at least that is what I've read on this board) and I would like to know how to set my levels with the pad off. I tape some classical music and even with the pad off I didn't get enough gain.
Unless you have some sort of mega system at home it will be extremely difficult to re-create the SPL that you experience at a concert. The reality is that the box will begin to distort/clip when the 0dB lights start to light up whether the pad is on or not. All the above test would show is if the meters are accurate with the pad on and off. What is being argued here is what sounds "better" a much more elusive term to capture in any way shape or form. Personally I think my 480's sound "better" than many mics out there. You'll find a few folks that disagree more than a little with that statement.
Does the Pad allow you to turn the knob further with the same SPL in the room? Absolutely. Does this result in a better recording? YMMV
As I said above, what I'm trying to find out here is, plain and simple, if the meters are accurate with the pad OFF. I know that the direction of the thread was kinda based on which sounds better (pad on or off), so sorry for getting a little off topic.
I'll probably use a pair of Fender Princetons coming out of a Boss ME-50, I am pretty sure I can reach concert levels if I put the mic right up to the cone. We'll see though.
The 480's are consistently winning my listening comparisons with other mics. And after hearing some of the 480 > ACM 660, I am pretty sure those are my next mic upgrade.
I guess I haven't done any direct comparisons with the pad on or off, but after running my 660 with the pad on and cranking the levels (with just a little red), I really like the results.
