Sound Skulptor forums

Build help and troubleshooting => MP573 Microphone preamplifier => Topic started by: PACO on February 12, 2023, 05:57:28 PM

Title: Question about Gain Staging
Post by: PACO on February 12, 2023, 05:57:28 PM

Hi everyone,

I am testing my new preamp and I have some questions, maybe you can help me.

In order to test the preamp behavior, I send a sine signal of 1 khz at -18 dB to the preamp. If I want to preserve in the DAW the same level od -18dB I must set the preamp like this:

(https://i.imgur.com/z5vB0fz.jpg)

obtaining this signal:


(https://i.imgur.com/ZPji0Xe.png)

So, at this point, trying to test it without clipping, I put the preamp in Line mode in order to obtain the cleanest signal, con this configuration:

(https://i.imgur.com/qHMvF6e.jpg)

and this signal (very clean).

(https://i.imgur.com/q3aWx06.png)

But, If I want to obtain more colour, boosting the output transformer, I get this:

(https://i.imgur.com/ymPxA7J.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ys2QNrW.png)

It's almost the same signal, without any harmonics.

Is this normal? Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

Thank you so much for your advices!

Paco

Title: Re: Question about Gain Staging
Post by: JPK on February 15, 2023, 03:26:57 PM

This looks normal for a good preamp.
As long as you are far enough from saturation the signal must remain the same.