Unity Gain?

[CliftonBonney]

I've seen this term used a million times. What exactly does it mean?

I always assumed it meant that you can match the volume coming out of a pedal (once it's engaged) with the volume coming through the pedal (when it's not engaged). Obviously, you can tweak the volume to make it louder or softer once the pedal is engaged (assuming the pedal has a volume knob). But, there is a point where the volume is the same. Is this correct?

If so, why is it that unity gain location is so inconsistent for pedals. For example, on my 3XFX Fatman unity gain is with the volume knob barely on. On other pedals unity gain is around 12 o'clock.

Why is this? Also, is there anything I can get to help deal with this (e.g., pedal)?

I read a recent post where Bongo talked about a Limiter. But, I couldn't tell if the poster in that message was dealing with the same thing I am.

Thanks.

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by CliftonBonney

I've seen this term used a million times. What exactly does it mean?

I always assumed it meant that you can match the volume coming out of a pedal (once it's engaged) with the volume coming through the pedal (when it's not engaged). Obviously, you can tweak the volume to make it louder or softer once the pedal is engaged (assuming the pedal has a volume knob). But, there is a point where the volume is the same. Is this correct?

If so, why is it that unity gain location is so inconsistent for pedals. For example, on my 3XFX Fatman unity gain is with the volume knob barely on. On other pedals unity gain is around 12 o'clock.

Why is this? Also, is there anything I can get to help deal with this (e.g., pedal)?

I read a recent post where Bongo talked about a Limiter. But, I couldn't tell if the poster in that message was dealing with the same thing I am.

Thanks.

This should help, goes into a bit of detail, but does a better job of explaining it than me.
http://www.rane.com/note124.html

[CliftonBonney]

Originally Posted by B.C.

This should help, goes into a bit of detail, but does a better job of explaining it than me.
http://www.rane.com/note124.html

Thanks BC. Looks like I got some reading to do.

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by CliftonBonney

Thanks BC. Looks like I got some reading to do.

No prob, but here is what I gleaned from it. What you put in Volt wise is what you get out, but that ratio may not be 1. Basically you are setting everything even is the idea.

[bongomania]

Unity gain means the ratio between input and output is 1:1. How it gets that way is literally infinite numbers of methods and settings. There is absolutely no correspondence between the volume knob settings of one device and the volume knob settings of another. Even if you have two units of exactly the same device, like two identical pedals, if they were manufactured on different days the pots inside them might have slightly (or even very) different taper, making the settings not match. But even aside from esoterica like that, again "12:00" or "maximum" on one device means nothing except in relation to that one specific device.

By way of example, a volume knob might be a passive cut, from input level down to zero; or it might control the gain of a boost, from input level up to whatever its maximum boost can be. So you see since both of them are in respect to the input level, how can "12:00" be the same level output on both? It can't.

Another reason unity gain is not the same setting on different devices is that most pedals, preamps, etc. have multiple gain stages, e.g. input gain, three or more bands of EQ cut or boost, compression, etc. etc. all of which alter the input signal level more- so with all those alterations of the level in one box, how can one output knob indicate unity gain in respect to the input? It can't.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Unity gain means...
good stuff good stuff good stuff...

Yup - that's what the "U" is for on Mackie boards: "Unity [gain]"

Joe

[barebones]

Originally Posted by CliftonBonney

I always assumed it meant that you can match the volume coming out of a pedal (once it's engaged) with the volume coming through the pedal (when it's not engaged). Obviously, you can tweak the volume to make it louder or softer once the pedal is engaged (assuming the pedal has a volume knob). But, there is a point where the volume is the same. Is this correct?

I always took this term to mean exactly what you're describing here but never paid any attention to where the knobs were set to achieve this, since that varies from unit to unit.