Weasel Speak

[theblue1]

I was just flipping through the latest Electronic Musician and I saw the lead letter to the Ed. regarding a review of the MOTU Traveler. As an 828mkII owner, I have a passing interest in MOTU products.


Seems that MOTU list the Traveler as having a gain range of 73 dB.


But don't be fooled into thinking that means it's got 73 dB of gain, oh no. Much to the contrary. The letter writer found out the hard way when he had to add in extra preamplification to use a vintage RCA ribbon mic to get the signal "above the hiss."


Turns out those fine folks at MOTU had a different sort of "gain range" in mind with that "spec" -- their marketing director Jim Cooper is quoted:

For the gain range, we are thinking of the difference between these two states: pad engaged with trim set to zero (-20 dB) and pad disengaged with trim set to +53 dB The difference (range) between these two states is 73 dB. We have been careful to refer to this figure as "gain range" and not simply as "gain."

Um... no slag on REAL, furry, four legged weasels, mind you.