-10db +4DB switch on 003 I/O 5-8?

[paul_g]

Question about the the -10 / +4DB switch on the I/O on 5-8 on Factory 003:

The diagram states that:
-with the button out it's +4 DB
-with the button in it's -10 db

When I press the button in, there is in an incredible amount of gain added to the input... I expect a -10 pad when I press the button in, instead it sounds like it's +4 db.

Did Avid (digi) reverse the little graphics on the back or am I missing something? This has perplexed me for a few years, finally getting around to asking the question.

Regards,
Paul G

[BRH]

This is correct, but in your mind you have it reversed.
-10 is for consumer gear line level (weak). It's not a -10dB pad.
+4 is for a professional line level (strong signal) It's not a +4 boost.

When you have it on the +4 setting it acts like a pad... about 12dB.

[8068]

That's correct. The terms are sensitivity, meaning -10 switch is compatible with gear that puts out a signal that is 10 db lower then 0dB. The +4 switch is compatible with gear that outputs a signal that is 4dB higher than 0db.
This is similar to many gain settings on mic preamps. -50 is 50dB gain, 0 is 0dB gain.
The reason it is just shy of 12 dB and not 14 dB is because pro gear uses a different dB standard then consumer gear. ( dBm vs dBv )
Brad

[BRH]

That's correct.

[paul_g]

Thanks for all the clarification - this makes sense.

p