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"Master Vol always on full" - a myth?

#21
beside what was said about using the pre to set your tone, instrument amps have another good reason for using the master as a volume control rather than the gain.

If you are running into a sound board from a DI out that is post preamp, it's nice to give the sound guy a signal at a certain level (with the pre) and then leave it for the duration.

The volume knob can then be used to make adjustments to the stage level without affecting the FOH level.


as far as PA amps--it's different---I've also found it safer (headroom) to leave the master full on. It's true that you may have a lower SNR as a result but I haven't found it noticable in most bar situations.

That being said, if for some reason you needed to have the PA at much lower levels (or the ambient noise in the room is low)--the increased buzz may be audible and make you want to reduce the mains trim and increase various upstream gains.
 
#22
TFunkadelic said:
Word, in a way, the gain knob is also part of your tone. I max my bass volume, dial in the gain right where I like it, and change my volume with the master.
Click to expand...
+1 You have 2 gain knobs for a reason. The input knob is adjusting the sensativity of the pre-amp. The master is adjusting the sensativity of your power-amp section. Many pre-amp gain controls interact with the tone controls. My yba200-2 for example. The pre-amp has to be set to 3/4 or the tone is a bit mid-shy. In other cases this isn't true but, the pre will sound different at varying levels. If you are after the cleanest possible sound then maxing the master and adjusting levels with the pre-amp in is probably the best setting. If you want some overdrive in your sound then crank up the pre-amp and adjust with the master. Don't be afraid to experiment and HAVE FUN...........
 
#23
For what it's worth, I once asked Bill Lee ( QSC tech ), about this. He has the same rig as I do, a BBE 383 pre, and a QSC PLX 1650. He said to get the most signal you can from the preamp, instead of maxing out the power amp. He also said that, if power amps were meant to be pegged all the time, they would'nt come with attenuator knobs. Hopefully Bill will chime in here and speak to this more intelligently than I can.
 
#24
jnewmark said:
He also said that, if power amps were meant to be pegged all the time, they would'nt come with attenuator knobs. Hopefully Bill will chime in here and speak to this more intelligently than I can.
Click to expand...
It depends. Time was most power amps didn't have attenuator knobs, but different standards for consumer versus prosound operating levels, -10dB and +4db, made it necessary to add attenuators to power amps so they could accomodate either.
 
#25
Is there a reason not to follow the GK manual on this one?
Heck it took me a couple reads just to figure out where the "master" is since the face of my 700RBII has no such label. Turns out it's "woofer". They suggest it goes at 12 o'clock then input volume adjusted to desired level. (I think).
The founder is a Stanford engineering grad. That's why a simpleton like me had trouble with it.
 

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