Gain Structure - Boss BR-1180 User Manual

Gain Structure.

A signal's level or volume or gain is controlled by knobs and faders at various stages in
its path. It is a crucial part of the recording process to be aware how these are set as they
will affect the quality of your recording.
For starters we will discuss gain structure as it applies to INPUT MODE.
The first stage of gain happens at the source. That's the keyboard's volume or the
loudness of the vocalist etc. To get the best recording from a direct instrument you will
generally want to have its volume turned up to maximum. Of course you may need to
bring it down according to how hard the player hits the keys or strings or pads. Because
in the end setting gains is going to be about give and take to get the best sound. When
recording live sounds, the level is going to depend on the loudness of the instrument as
well as the sensitivity, settings and placement of your microphone or microphones.
When you press INPUT select for MIC 1, the SENS knob above that button becomes the
next stage of gain control. Think of it as a faucet of sorts that as you slowly turn it
clockwise you are allowing more signal to come in. Turn the SENS knob up as you are
checking the source at its loudest until you get the PEAK LED to flash occasionally but
not continuously. This will insure that you are getting the maximum amount of signal.
The next stage of gain is determined by the INPUT LEVEL knob. As you bring this knob
up you will be adjusting the amount of signal being sent to record. As you turn this knob
up, watch the IN meter on your LCD screen. Ideally you will want the meter to bounce
above -12db and below 0db. (DB or decibel is the standard reference measurement for
volume, named after Alexander Graham Bell.)
You'll notice that the L-LINE-R input does not have a SENS knob. Therefore the record
level will be determined by the volume of the source and then the INPUT LEVEL knob.
The TRACK FADER will determine what you are listening to but will not affect the
record level.
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