Microphone "pad" question

[Cavet Your Eruptor]

Hi All,

Sort of a newbie question, I guess. I was just reading some reviews of microphones that have a 10dB pad feature. Is this just an attenuator? I'm not really clear as to why this would be a good feature to have. Couldn't you just turn down the input on your mic pre and achieve the same result?

Thanks for any replies!

[Carl Fuehrer]

Some mic outputs can be hot even without a preamp to boost them. It also allows the mic to handle more SPL like infront of a guitar cabinet or snare drum.

[lemix]

CYE,
As a matter of fact some mics have -10/-20 pad switches or insertable pads between the capsule and the amplifier body.
This could be a lifesaver, as most pre-amps input will overload long before the "gain" knob can be activated..
capice ?

happy tooling,

[Carl Fuehrer]

OMG, I always hated those damn screw on pads with my old AKG C-451EBs.

BTW Lemix, how have you been?

[PhilHall]

A condenser microphone has either a Field Effect Transister (FET) or tube amp inside which basically operates as a preamp and impedance converter. On a loud signal source like drums, a pad on the microphone prevents that FET or tube from clipping and causing distortion before it ever reaches your console.

[Carl Fuehrer]

All condensor mics have a preamp in them, that's why they require phantom power.

[Stagefright13]

Using a condensor mic with a pad is a great feature. No pad for vocals and almost always use the pad for drums. Most dynamic mics have no pad at all. And none is needed. A pad is very important for condensors due to thier high output.