Shepherd Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 Hi all, This may have been discussed before but I don't seem to be able to find anything relating to it. I have recently moved from being an SD 552 user to Nomad. I noticed that the input gain seems to be very low. Yes, phantom power is on. Running a 416 into my 552, I would usually have my trim adjusted to around 12 minutes past, and ride the fader between quarter to and quarter past depending on source. With these settings my LED's would be bouncing around between -6 and 4/6. Now, transferring to the Nomad, I seem to be having to crank my trim up to 25dB+ and fader cranked all the way to get anything between -20 and -10 (peaking at around -5dB) on my mix track. With those settings, my ISO seems to struggle to peak at anything more than -15dB (bouncing around between -30 and -20). I have discovered the +10dB option in the input menu, but not sure this should be necessary or is desirable. I have tried on a variety of inputs and with a variety of mics. I just upgraded from 6.20 to 6.22, followed by a factory reset, which made no difference. With the trim cranked up (+25 - +30dB) the sound is acceptable but it seems to me that to get those levels, I shouldn't have to be pushing the pre amps so hard. I read this article but it wasn't much help (unless this is all something to do with dB definition) - Is it also that the SD meters run from -30 to +20, whereas Nomads run from -40 to 0? Maybe this is just some transition anxiety?! Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks, Joe Quote
Jack Norflus Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 I leave the +10db gain on pretty much all the time. Quote
jason porter Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 Hmmm. I don't use the extra input gain, but I do find my trims up pretty high on the scale. Sanken Cs3e trim is usually at +20 and my receivers (411's) are at line level, +10. Quote
Jack Norflus Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 with out the +10dB I need to run my Schoeps at somewhere around 25dB Quote
Toy Robot Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 Turn the +10dB input gain on. Jack showed it to me a week or so ago and it fixed all my gain staging problems except one, which is that I really wish it was channel selectable instead of universal for analog inputs. Ideally I would only need to apply it to my mic channels, and let the Lectros run hot at line level without the added 10dB of gain. Quote
studiomprd Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 (edited) Hi, and welcome... Shepherd: " Maybe this is just some transition anxiety?! " different equipment, different set-ups. (as Rado will tell you...) " unless this is all something to do with dB definition ... the SD meters run from -30 to +20, whereas Nomads run from -40 to 0? " if you do not understand this, you really need to do some reading: I suggest Jay Rose's books at www.dplay.com you are comparing different dB scales, which is not a good idea. Edited April 26, 2014 by studiomprd Quote
Stuart Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 Same issue with the Fusion. Apparently not enough analogue gain to hit the ADC with a decent level so digital gain is added (in the case of the Fusion using makeup gain on a compressor). I'm sure I could never discern any ill audible effect but I have a, perhaps irrational, dislike of wonky gain staging like that. Quote
Angelo Waldron Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 That's why it's called 'neverclip' Quote
RadoStefanov Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 The low input is only for mic level. Line in is fine. It was strange the first time I experienced it but with time you get used to it... Quote
James Arnold Posted April 26, 2014 Report Posted April 26, 2014 Yep, line level should be totally fine. Never had to use the 'bonus' gain on Line inputs. Come to think of it I've never used it at all - you do need to whack the trim up on certain mics but I've yet to need add anything else. Quote
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