Question about Preamps Mic In/ Mic Out /Pad/ direct Box

[zak7]

Hi Guys!
I have a mic that I really like the sound without the Pad engaged in the Mic Pre.
But the Mic out (Tube Mic..audio Out) may be too hot.

If I use the pad at the mic pre but for me does not sound as cool for vocals than without the Pad in...but the Rec level in PT is too hot and easily will pass 0db in PT if the singer screams.

Now the Mic pre I am using...Shadow Hill does not have Output level and the gain is at minimum level.

Now if I use an attenuator or direct vox will be different as having Pad in? or equal as having the pre without the Pad engage but just the signal is lower?..that is actually what I want.

[kittonian]

Putting a pad between the mic and the pre will definitely change the sound. It will give you a lower signal level before the sound hits the mic-pre and thus you will be able to add more gain on the pre.

Likewise, if you put an attenuator after the output of the mic-pre the signal going to your pre will not change and you will be able to lower the resulting signal level after the preamp stage, much like you would do with a fader on a console.

Hope that explains it!

[zak7]

So you mean a pad from the MicPreamp out going to Protools..
Actually is a good idea I guess, just hope is not honna clip the mic pre, as I said the input is too hot from the mic .

So do you guys think will be the same sound using a Pad/attenuator from the Tube Mic Box (audio out) to the Mic Pre than engaging the Mic Pre Pad?

[kittonian]

I was not suggesting a pad between the mic-pre and the converter. I was suggesting a passive attenuator. Little Labs just came out with a unit called the 8810U8TOR that basically gives you output rotary faders. That would work between the mic-pre and the converter.

As far as the mic itself being too hot for the mic-pre, I would guess that something is setup incorrectly or broken. A nice high-end mic-pre should never clip unless it's being pushed.