Skip to main content
A
animationlife
Legend
January 13, 2020
Answered

Adjusting Gain From Microphone or Tascam or Focusrite

  • January 13, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 1154 views

Hello Everyone.

 

I would like to know which Technique Is Better. For example, I have attached my Blue Yeti Pro, XLR Jack Into my Focusrite, and Focusrite Is connected to the computer. I can either adjust the Gain from Focusrite or the actual Blue Yetti Pro. Which one is better. Also, I can attach different Microphones, Into my Tascam, and I can either raise the Gain from the Actual Tascam or form the Microphone Transmitter, Receiver.

UPDATED:

If I am using my Tascam Field Recorder, I personally like to adjust the Gain, from my Tascam.

With Focusrite, It looks like It works better If I adjust the Gain from the Focusrite, not the Yeti.

Thank you very much.

    Correct answer SteveG_AudioMasters_

    This is very simple - it has nothing to do with 'better' or 'worse'. You adjust the gain of a mic preamp so that it doesn't overload with the signal you've got. So if it's quiet, you turn it up, but if it's really loud you turn it down, otherwise the preamp is overloaded and you get distortion that you cannot subsequently eliminate. This process is known as 'gain staging'. With a single mic and the metering system it's easy to do. The gain through the rest of the system is zero, so in preview mode (where have the meter set to monitor the input before recording) the meter is going to read the level of the incoming signal. The norm here is, with speech, to record with about 12dB of headroom above the normal speaking level - this allows for the occasional peak not to overload.

     

    With a Blue Yeti Pro, you still have to do this starting with the gain on the actual mic, if it applies to a non-USB output (not clear from the spec) to stop any overload at source. So if you are using it with a preamp, then ideally you set this to zero gain to check the actual mic gain. This would be a bit of a pain - ideally you'd only have one mic gain to adjust. But the rule is always the same - start with everything at a zero gain setting and adjust from the source first - this optimises the noise performance throughout your system.

     

    Does the gain control on the mic actually do anything if you connect it via XLR rather than USB?

    1 reply

    SteveG_AudioMasters_
    Community Expert
    SteveG_AudioMasters_Community ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 13, 2020

    This is very simple - it has nothing to do with 'better' or 'worse'. You adjust the gain of a mic preamp so that it doesn't overload with the signal you've got. So if it's quiet, you turn it up, but if it's really loud you turn it down, otherwise the preamp is overloaded and you get distortion that you cannot subsequently eliminate. This process is known as 'gain staging'. With a single mic and the metering system it's easy to do. The gain through the rest of the system is zero, so in preview mode (where have the meter set to monitor the input before recording) the meter is going to read the level of the incoming signal. The norm here is, with speech, to record with about 12dB of headroom above the normal speaking level - this allows for the occasional peak not to overload.

     

    With a Blue Yeti Pro, you still have to do this starting with the gain on the actual mic, if it applies to a non-USB output (not clear from the spec) to stop any overload at source. So if you are using it with a preamp, then ideally you set this to zero gain to check the actual mic gain. This would be a bit of a pain - ideally you'd only have one mic gain to adjust. But the rule is always the same - start with everything at a zero gain setting and adjust from the source first - this optimises the noise performance throughout your system.

     

    Does the gain control on the mic actually do anything if you connect it via XLR rather than USB?

      A
      animationlifeAuthor
      Legend
      January 13, 2020

      Dear SteveG.

      Thank you for the Info. I only use XLR, Because I remember when I used USB I did not have good sound quality.

      I have a few other questions regarding adding a wireless Mic such as Sennheiser G4, can I ask you about It In this Forum?

      Thank you very much

      SteveG_AudioMasters_
      Community Expert
      SteveG_AudioMasters_Community Expert
      Community Expert
      January 13, 2020

      You can ask, but we don't necessarily know all the answers about radio mics!

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices