Attenuating the input to preamp

Sean Sullivan · Post by **Sean Sullivan** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 10:43 am

I have an old Op Amp Labs console that we use for a side car and there's not a lot of headroom on the input...it's easy to clip and if you put the fader down on the console it starts overloading. It has weird gain staging. Sounds great with the fader all the way but sometime that's too hot.

So...what's a good way to attenuate the input maybe -20 dB? It would be great if i could just wire up some cables with pads on the XLR. Any help would be appreciated.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:35 am

I have been using a Radio Design Labs (RDL) Stick-On STP-1 after some pre's (especially Altec 1589b and UA710) before other outboard and it works and sounds good for a fairly reasonable price (US$25 or so, used). I have it wired into one of my TS patchbays for ease of use but it could also be wired in balanced.

I just bought a second one ...

Recording Engineer · Post by **Recording Engineer** » Sat Jul 05, 2014 3:03 pm

Shure A15AS I've had a pair for probably 15-years... Great tools!

accordion squeezist · Post by **accordion squeezist** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:21 am

A bunch of resistors.
Cheaper.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:12 am

Increase the value of the gain shunt resistor off the inverting input to ground. Or, add a reverse log pot and make it variable. I added that to a Quantum Labs Q-128 for a 20 to 60 db gain range.

The Scum · Post by **The Scum** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 2:31 pm

Is this a console that has 360BM's for the input cans?

They make an OK preamp, but a terrible line input.

The little transformers (Ei-12 size?) in the 360's are probably overloading before the opamp is even in the circuit. I'd think a pad in front would be a more likely fix.

http://www.uneeda-audio.com/pads/

Message Board

Attenuating the input to preamp

Attenuating the input to preamp

Who is online