Members Reddog1 Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 I'm running a Crown 802d, 500 watts a side, into Peavey SP5's. I usually set the amp levels around 3 o'clock. Sorry if this is a stupid question but can I crank the amp all the way up and just keep an eye on the clip lights? Or does distortion come into play at those last few notches? I've never put it past 3 o'clock, even with no signal passing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bigjd Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 These guys will give you better insight if they know what mixer and outboard gear your using if any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 Power amp senistivity controls have no inmpact or effect on distortion, only the level of the signal. That's what the peak or limit indicators are for on the amp, to tell you when you have exceeded the amp's capacity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 Where ever you put the amp dials you can still clip the amp as those amp controls are only one of many "volume knobs" throughout the chain. The input signal strength starts with the instrument, then on to the mixer channel, then to the mixer main slider that feeds the amp, which has another control for input strength. This is where "gain structure" is important. If you turn up your guitar after everything has been set you could clip the mixer at the channel input, or at the mixer output, or at the amplifier input. If the guitar signal is too low then you raise the noise floor as you have to "turn up" the trim on the channel or the channel slider which amplifies the noise of the guitar, guitar processor, and mixer. At the end of the day though, your amplifier is always on full bore on the output side, it's just getting the input signal adjusted by the dials on the front. As long as it's fed a signal lower than the voltage needed to clip it, it's happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reddog1 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 Thanks for the input everyone, it helps a bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Audioeast Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 I always recommend putting them all the way up for portable rigs... you dont want some fool "doing you a favor" mid show or between sets and turning these up for you, its better to choke it back somewhere else less conspicuous IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 I always recommend putting them all the way up for portable rigs... you dont want some fool "doing you a favor" mid show or between sets and turning these up for you, its better to choke it back somewhere else less conspicuous IMO Agreed. A strip of gaff tape on the main fader of your mixer will also keep an accidental slide all the way up from happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted January 15, 2011 Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 See the thread on gain structure in beginner guide sticky plenty of great info about gian structure , Also check Dave Rat's youtube video's about gain structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reddog1 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2011 Agreed. A strip of gaff tape on the main fader of your mixer will also keep an accidental slide all the way up from happening. Great idea, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.