please explain attenuation pads & "2:1" to me

[driches]

I'm about to purchase an API A2D, for use with a Mbox to record my band's record.

I understand in theory what these two things do (reducing the level of the signal), but I don't quite understand the difference between the two, and when you would practically use them. Will 20db have an effect on the quality of the sound, or just the level? Would you use them both at the same time? Is it just a matter of being able to turn the gain up higher than normal to get more of the API preamp's sound involved?

If anyone could explain these a little generally, then maybe go into specifics about their application in real use, I'd really appreciate it.

Oh, and another quick A2D question if anyone's feeling informationally generous: I've been reading about the importance of recording at proper levels, people generally say -18 to -12db below 0. That would be on the digital meter on the A2d, rather than the analog input, correct? Is this a true statement: You can run the meter on the analog side as hot as you want, as long as the digital meter is the right level below 0?

Sorry for the overload of questions...any help is greatly appreciated...

[Cpt.Vagabond]

From the A2D manual:

PAD: Input attenuation pad of 20dB
2:1: Attenuation of -10dB by tap selection on the microphone preamp output transformer. This reduces the amount of gain created by the output transformer itself, and allows the 2520 amplifier to be operated at higher gain, if desired.

To paraphrase, the difference is that the Pad lowers the signal at the input whereas the 2:1 lowers at the output. Both are useful if you're miking a snare with a 57 and it's just too loud. Occasionally I'll have both of them on, but the 2:1 is more for color and saturation.

The -18 to -12 guideline is generally dBFS (digital signal), but you most definitely can clip analog gear including the analog side of the A2D. I would run both the analog and digital side at reasonable levels.

If you want to read the manual: http://www.apiaudio.com/mana2d.pdf

[driches]

Originally Posted by Cpt.Vagabond

From the A2D manual:


To paraphrase, the difference is that the Pad lowers the signal at the input whereas the 2:1 lowers at the output. Both are useful if you're miking a snare with a 57 and it's just too loud. Occasionally I'll have both of them on, but the 2:1 is more for color and saturation.

The -18 to -12 guideline is generally dBFS (digital signal), but you most definitely can clip analog gear including the analog side of the A2D. I would run both the analog and digital side at reasonable levels.

If you want to read the manual: http://www.apiaudio.com/mana2d.pdf

Yeah, I have the manual; that was my initial education. But it doesn't go into much depth at all beyond the technical definition of the functions, and I need a slightly more layman's understanding.

Your snare example is helpful; more like this would be great...i'm actually not doing any drums; how would these come into play, if at all, doing vocals and acoustics?

[driches]

anyone else care to chime in?