Quote:



There is one more control that I'd appreciate getting some tips about; the Trim control.
What is it for and what position should it be set to for each mic channel?

TIA



The MIc Trim control is not to be used as a Volume Control. It is there to give us a way to limit the amount of gain applied to the critical input stage. Too much will cause distortion, too little will make for a weak sound that is hard for a singer to overcome and get above the band.

It is there to account for the difference in sensitivity of different microphones.

Setting one properly is easy enough. First, look at the board to see if there is a clip light next to that control or not. Don't get all upset if there is not a light there, though. One can easily still set the thing up properly without the clip light.

With the Main Volume set way too low for performing and the Trim knob turned all the way off to the left, bring up the mic's Fader to about 60-70% of its full travel.

Now start speaking (sing if it is a singer's mic) loudly, no, louder than that, into the Mic while at the same time you start bringing up the Trim control. (On some decks, the Trim may be called the "Pad" control, same thing, same function).

You should reach a point in the Trim setting where your loud voice starts to distort, or "clip" as we call it when a signal is driven harder into the following gainstage of the circuits. This is also where any LED Clipping light indicator should start blinking, indicating the distortion is starting to "cross the line".

Set the Trim to just before that point.

Don't touch it again for the rest of the performance, use the Faders down below to raise and lower volume.

In the case of the "pressure cooker" situation, it may be necessary to set the Trim up a wee bit higher and not be concerned with a little bit of clipping, it won't be noticeable in that scenario and may just add a bit more edge and intelligibility to the singer.


--Mac

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