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#734500 - 07/01/09 09:57 PM
What is "attenuation" (mic help please)
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Letha Allen
Serious Contributor
Registered: 01/01/08
Posts: 1406
Loc: Michigan
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Hi There,
Still trying to get used to a new mic, and wondered if anyone can give help me figure out where I should be having the "switch" set to, lo, med or hi, and how do I get to that answer lol?
This is the mic I have:
The MXL USB.006 Cardioid Condenser Microphone has an extremely smooth, natural sound typical of what you'd hear on a professionally produced CD or radio show. Completely plug and play, the MXL USB.006 doesn't skimp on quality with a gold-sputtered diaphragm and 20Hz-20kHz frequency response. It even has a 3-position, switchable attenuation pad that makes it easy to configure this mic to just about any sound source.
Thanks in advance for any advice or insight into getting the best sound I can from it,
Letha
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#734504 - 07/01/09 10:39 PM
Re: What is "attenuation" (mic help please)
[Re: Letha Allen]
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Colin Ward
Top 100 Poster
Registered: 05/31/06
Posts: 4663
Loc: Saint Petersburg. FL
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Hi Letha,
To attenuate basically means to reduce the sensitivity. So you would use the low setting to record something very loud like a guitar amp.
I would try recording with it in each position and look at the graph that Audacity draws. You want the peaks to be no more than about halfway to the top and bottom edges. If the graph is barely visible (almost like a straight line in the middle), then you need to bump it up a notch.
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#734505 - 07/01/09 10:44 PM
Re: What is "attenuation" (mic help please)
[Re: Colin Ward]
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Letha Allen
Serious Contributor
Registered: 01/01/08
Posts: 1406
Loc: Michigan
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Hi Colin,
Thanks alot for your help. If it means the sensitivity of the mic, I am thinking then, that I might should try it on low with a forceful song, and bring it up to mid or high if I do a soft song? I am trying all different ways Colin, hope I find the right combination soon,
Appreciate it
Letha
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#734548 - 07/02/09 05:34 AM
Re: What is "attenuation" (mic help please)
[Re: Letha Allen]
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BIG JIM MERRILEES
Top 20 Poster
Registered: 11/27/06
Posts: 8077
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland. UK
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Hi Letha I do not think the different positions are changed so much for the type of song you are singing. It is more for adjusting the sensitivity of the mic for the volume strength of the specific application IE vocal, guitar amp, other instruments.
My advice would be to experiment with the different settings to find the one that gives a clear signal without distortion.
Colin is correct you do not want levels to be above the halfway marks or very low peaks. Go for peaks just touching the .5 mark.
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#734839 - 07/03/09 10:13 AM
Re: What is "attenuation" (mic help please)
[Re: BIG JIM MERRILEES]
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Ray E. Strode
Top 100 Poster
Registered: 05/22/01
Posts: 4540
Loc: Brunswick, Ga. USA
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The term, (Look in the Dictionary) simply means an adjustment in the output strength of the device it is used on. In this case it adjusts the output of the Mic to whatever it is pluged into. It is basically a three stage volume control. I would set it to the highest level and see if that is ok. If there is gross distortion then set it down to one of the lower positions. There may also be a level control on a preamp if you have one or on the system you have it plugged into. There may be a meter that you can use to adjust so you don't overload the sound and have distorted results.
_________________________
Ray E. Strode
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