
Recording & Mixing Gain Staging - Episode 2
Jun 14, 2023
David Mellor, a seasoned sound engineer and Course Director of Audio Masterclass, delves into the art of gain staging in audio recording. He discusses the nuances of dynamic and capacitor microphones, and how they affect sound quality. Listeners will learn about balancing mic input and preamps to achieve ideal recording levels. David also shares valuable insights on managing headroom and preventing distortion, enhanced by practical audio examples that illustrate these concepts.
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Episode notes
Use Pads to Prevent Clipping
- Move the mic further away or use a pad if the mic output is too hot for the preamp.
- This avoids clipping from high sound pressure levels like loud drums or close-miked vocals.
Caps Limit Mic Sound Level
- Capacitor microphones have internal amplifiers that limit their maximum sound level.
- This makes them less tolerant to very loud sources compared to dynamics like the Shure SM58.
Pad Use Optimizes Clarity
- Use the pad on capacitor microphones when loud sources cause distortion.
- Switch it off otherwise to maintain a better signal-to-noise ratio.
