USE YOUR GAIN! The TRUTH about maximum gain setting (set preamp gain properly and minimize noise)

High gain equals high noise in recordings? Let's find out!
Support future videos on Patreon: / juliankrause **
Follow me on Twitter: / thejuliankrause
00:00 - myth explained
01:14 - origin of the misconception
03:05 - noise vs SNR
04:50 - signal-to-noise ratio explained
05:27 - WTF moment!!!
05:43 - SNR vs gain
06:26 - max gain is not always the answer
07:03 - how to set gain properly
07:54 - SNR is influenced by the signal from mic
10:02 - conclusion / how to optimize SNR
** Patreon is a platform where you can voluntarily choose to support the channel by purchasing a monthly subscription.

[@JulianKrause]

Some people have suggested to use a PAD / attenuator to be able to use more gain on the preamp to get a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). THIS DOES NOT WORK and does completly the opposite. A PAD attenuates the signal from the microphone and even though the SNR of a preamp gets better at a higher gain setting, it is not enough to compensate for the massively decreased signal level. You will end up with a much worse SNR! For the best SNR do not use a PAD, neither on your mic nor the interface.

[@Mr_G]

One important thing, your SNR graphs is valid and will be similar only for analog preamps with analog gain controls. If you will measure ZOOM H6, or ZOOM UAC-2, for example, the graphs will be different, because this two interfaces are designed in different way.

[@JulianKrause]

Good point, on the Zoom H1n for example the SNR gets significantly worse once you go below a gain of 5.5. Above that if follows the graph in the video.

[@Mr_G]

Yes, on some interfaces they combine digitally controlled resistor networks in the input of an preamp with digital gain control after A/D conversion.

[@tobytoxd]

@Julian Krause I couldn't follow anymore from 8:25 when i realized, that there's no cable attached to the SM57 :D

[@JulianKrause]

@@tobytoxd Hehe, truly wireless audio :)

[@curtisjudd]

Use that gain, people! Thanks for this Julian.

[@peachesasmr9366]

omg your here...Julian has achieved god level of AUDIO information.

[@franktntx]

@@peachesasmr9366 lol

[@lerlerler1]

May the gain be with you!

[@i_am_banished]

oh lord the worlds are crossing over

[@BleepingWorld]

Why are you here. Scalping video ideas?

[@natecol9322]

For years I’ve been recording at maximum possible gain (without clipping) and then lowering gain levels in post to the appropriate level for the mix. NOBODY believed me when I said this is actually slightly more optimal in signal to noise ratio than recording at a lower level and boosting it in post. Now I have a video to show them to prove my point. Thanks!!!!!!

[@alias_not_needed]

So when you self have proofen it it is less true, than when someone else makes a video about it?

[@supaadventure]

storkstork sadly that’s how friends work. They don’t believe you till someone famous or well know/reputable makes a video on it

[@NoOffensePies]

Tube pres saturate, not fets.

[@gaborkiss1425]

Is this also valid for speech recordings?

[@TheGrumpyExplorer]

Do you then apply some form of noise cancellation in post?

[@JohnOShaughnessy]

"The noise floor on it's own without any reference is meaningless!" You nailed it!!! SNR is the one. Proper levelling is the first thing anyone should learn

[@JamzYaneza]

Clear, logical, concise. Good job, here.

[@danboud8135]

I always suspected this to be true anecdotally. Thank you for doing the analysis confirming my thoughts!

[@dmitriybelousov8128]

This ridiculously widespread misconception shows well how little "engineering" is left in audio engineering nowadays. I perfectly understand why the author doesn't want to get very technical, it alienates the audience, but if someone is interested in this phenomenon it's quite simple. There is a handful of common mic preamp designs and their variations, but in any of them, the gain setting resistor is one of the sources of the noise. The resistor noise is inevitable, you could just google to find out more about it, and higher resistor values produce more noise. Turning your gain knob clockwise (i.e. increasing gain), you are lowering this resistor value(s), decreasing the noise of your preamplifier itself. It's a kind of an electrical engineering 101 case. The same applies to PADs. They are just resistor networks, that formes a voltage divider, so they add extra noise and reduce your signal level simultaneously, which is quite an effective way to ruin the SNR. especially for the mics, where the signal levels are tiny. At the line levels, tens of kiloohms are not a big deal, at the usual mic levels even an extra 100 Ohm is.

[@TheHonestTruth]

i think i understand.... lol fascinating stuff....

[@microcolonel]

(controlling the temperature of the resistor helps too)

[@BurgundyKRO]

Your videos dig a lot deeper into the science of audio, than other videos I've seen. Great work! Keep it up dude!

[@kashdro85]

Thank you for all of your hard work Julian!

[@dox1755]

What are you laughing at: Me: nothing My brain: *julian krause saying *no**

[@WarerBrow]

time stamp please?

[@CrCr-cl4rk]

6:31

[@vohra79]

Much needed video! Thanks man!

[@hawaiianhaole]

Thanks Julian. Your videos are always fun, informative and great to watch.

[@raff127]

Really clear and informative. Thanks a lot for this.

[@michaelkelly6583]

Thank you Julian. Well explained for this newbie. And have yourself a happy 2021.

[@davel_ggw]

As always, thank you for the excellent, clear explanation along with the data and examples to reinforce it!

[@aniratir]

This makes so much sense. Thanks a lot Julian!

[@Mendalification]

Great vid and extremely informative. Thank you man!!

[@donjoe8907]

The best vídeos. Thanks for being so precise and specific!

[@tporter23]

You are a master at explaining complex topics in an easy to understand way!

[@onur.yardimci]

Thank you for these precious information!

[@TheOriginalGregToo]

Great video with a great explanation! Thank you so much for putting this together.

[@pml394]

Stellar content and explanation as usual !

[@AjushiPhotography]

Brilliant! Very clear and concise explanation 👍🏼

[@disienna]

I was lucky to not know anything about recording when I started making audio recordings because this video’s contents were intuitively obvious. Then I started participating in recording forums and doubts crept in d/t so many participants spreading these kinds of myths like they were common sense. For about a year I doubted my own ears and logic. Thank you for putting this so clearly and ‘correcting my course’. I really thought I was deaf and crazy.

[@marcopolosudado]

Julian, your channel is pure gold, cheers From Mexico and thank you for amazing content.

[@okay1904]

Excellent, I learned so much from this. Outstanding tutorial. Thanks.

[@learnerforever6933]

Wow wow 🤩 finally someone did it, well explained. Thank you very much!

[@ComposingAsOurSecondAct]

You have an excellent style for presenting this technical information in a very clear way. It's very helpful. Thanks.

[@datarecoverysweden]

Very well explained. Great analysis.

[@dreamyguitars]

Great stuff...thanks Julian!

[@fbodleemusic]

Most useful video I’ve seen in a long time! Thank you a lot Julian!

[@rjb7569]

Julian... You da man! Your explanations are always educational and backed by the science while explained in clear language. Once again, nice job.

[@zseven7845]

Hi Julian, your channel is outstanding. Thanks for all your research and knowledge!

[@SoeaOu]

So much good information, pure gold, thanks

[@zambination11]

Extremely valuable lesson! Wow! Thank you very much!

[@beyondmywildestdreams6942]

Very educative and phenomenal video! thanks so much Julian! please make more videos like this.

[@Themeatmedic]

amazing video I definitely learned something here Julian. Your videos are great! Just subbed for more. Wondering though if you have a database of SNR levels for audio interfaces?

[@IsidroAPS]

Great explanation, Julian. Kudos!

[@olafkliemt1145]

excellent as always - thanks !

[@marlonassef]

This video is AMAZING! I am speechless. Thank you so much!

[@jnskm]

Thank you for the scientific and common-sense approach to figuring out audio. Really appreciate it. Please continue debunking myths this way! Thumbs up!

[@AboutOliver]

Thank you, Julian. Great video.

[@guky667]

Love it when someone proves i was living with a misconception and as a result my life gets better

[@rajkishorjena1252]

Really you explained it in a simplest way. I appreciate it. Because I was in the darkness of such problem. Thanks again

[@alonsobarrera2997]

Thank you Julian. You've summarised things I watched on a Misha Mansoor videos and others on the web. Anyway, I didn't learn about the Noise Ratio when you max the gain. Thanks for these great videos!

[@lionheartroar3104]

Genius..thanks for your work Julian

[@omnomnomz1343]

This was a really informative video in which you clearly explain the problem of gain and how to deal with gain for you pre-amp. Thank you so much!!!!!

[@marcelo_campitelli]

this advice here is so spot on, and yet there are so many people that do not understand or apply this, and it's super important for a professional quality recording/mix for the end product. Great video Julian! And thanks for the thorough and very well informed and clear explanation

[@AndrewDBrown2020]

Mind officially blown!!!! Great video (as always).

[@teashea1]

So very well done ------- articulate, intelligent, organized and fine production values.

[@ShinoBells]

Excellent video, and very insightful. I used to get passive mic feedback whine and worse perceived floors when not raising the physical gain dial on my mic, but I could not vocalize why this was until now. Will be sharing this with anyone who deals with this issue going forward. Thank you.

[@OogieBobbyG]

Bravo! This is as fine a tutorial as I've seen in years. I've been converting my vinyl music collection to digital and only recently began to realize that I achieve less noise with a higher gain setting on my preamp. Then I found this tutorial which confirmed what I had discovered. This detailed information greatly expanded my understanding of how best to balance signal to noise ratio. I also learned that a target recording level of -18 to -12dB is at good range to shoot for when adjusting gain and recording levels. Thank you Julian! Take it from an experienced training instructor (not in the field of audio), your tutorial is the BEST!

[@cli23]

Your videos are incredible. Such good detail and myth debunking.

[@lutzlorenz2794]

Ehrlich das Beste Audio Content auf KZbin

[@dalar2]

wow Julian, great video! I always avoided using too much gain because I could hear hissing. I had a lot of trouble getting the DBX286s processor to work correctly until I followed your video on it and calibrated the gain on the dbx and inteface so that the output reached -18db. Following your method, the gain was much higher than I would normally be comfortable with but amazingly the recording sounded fantastic, and there was no perceptible noise at all - thanks again!

[@bliiblaablue]

I already knew this from home audio/amp/preamps, but for some reason I didn't realize the same thing applies to Mic Gain. Thanks for the video, great stuff!

[@Andyilmatto]

As someone who is trying to learn more about audio, I thank you so much for this video: very clear and concise! 👍🏻

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

So useful!

[@libertyDude1775]

So Julian,...? Loved the video! Your content is always a, "MUST WATCH!

[@SaccoBelmonte]

Superb explanation. Sehr sehr gut!

[@leandronicolas8848]

Like you said, some bits may be confusing but greatly explained and detailed as usual, with measurements and examples to back it up. Great job! Also, Julian saying "NO" has to be the next meme.

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

Very clear and easy to understand. Job done!

[@locamente]

What a MASTER CLASS ! Thank you so much Julian. Unvaluable HOW TO .👍👌🙌🙏

[@SmoothSailingMusic]

Awesome video. Topic has been percolating in my brain because I've got a Sm7b arriving tomorrow and those are gaaaaain hungry. Now I will confidently max my b12aMK2 with it.

[@macjeffff]

The most helpful video ever on the subject of signal-to-noise ratio. Fabulous!

[@techmed-rainer]

Very well done 👏, thank you Julian!

[@takanashisouta3306]

Great Video! I hope you can make a video about how to measure and calculate the EIN of a preamp, like the one that you explain measuring the EIN of dynamic mics. Also, I am confused about the relation between EIN and DR. It would be greatly appreciated if you can explain that in the video too. Thank you so much! :D

[@NeXxusOutcast]

This is great information and a great video!

[@RayOrtega]

Good stuff, Julian. Thanks for the shoutout!

[@anton-nik]

That was highly educational, thank you for this lesson!

[@shacacoora]

Thanks for the video Julian! It was clear, concise, and easy to follow :)

[@elifmeryemunsal2306]

I found the exact info i was looking for, thank you very much. you are doing an amazing job.

[@manuelluizcosta6158]

Great video as always! Thanks

[@wojciech_c]

I bardzo ładnie to wytłumaczyłeś. Thx

[@culturedsquid8442]

I loved this video, I didn't know that SNR gets higher with more gain, I honestly thought it was the same, I wish this video existed about 4-5 years ago, it would save me a lot of trial and error.. Everything I learnt (and more)about preamps while running my own home studio for over 5 years at this point, summerized in 11 minutes. Excellent work!

[@rebounders]

Brilliant, perfect video

[@hildemora]

Thanks for this bro!

[@JohnOShaughnessy]

finally! someone came out with it!

[@BenSchillaci]

Off topic for this video BUT I’ve watched a bunch of your videos when shopping for a new interface. Thank you so much for the concise and clearly demonstrated information! I went with the Motu M2 thanks to the info you provided.

[@sidestreamGLX]

Thanks a lot for the good explanation. Coming from the 80s, I did a lot tape recording back then and amplifying a quiet source always resulted in a high backround noise. However, I thought pre-amps would distort at the highest gain, so I always opted for some kind of middle ground when setting up my audio-interface. Thanks to you, I threw out the fethead and cranked up the gain. Sounds good and less kibble. Much appreciated.

[@jahstafari4606]

Wish someone told me all this before i had to think it through myself ........it took me time and time ....you wrealy explain things 👍

[@sirnigelcogs]

Very good information. Very well done.

[@KC-hk2ub]

This has come at such a good time for me at the beginning of my journey recording. I've been massively struggling trying to do all sorts in post to increase voice recordings. To avoid noise my recordings are peaking at -36db because I'm slowly turning up the gain and stopping when I hear the slightest noise. I'd hit a wall till I saw this and can't wait to go and do some new recording with your advice in mind!!!!

[@teashea1]

Lately I have left comments on a number of YT videos that are wrong about this issue. So many YT video creators are ignorant. It is great that you are here to tell the truth. You the Man Julian.

[@xHadesStamps]

Exactly. Increasing the gain of the preamp only amplifies the already existing noise. The signal will be amplified faster. It does not add more noise!!

[@osheadavis]

Well said. Thanks.

[@regaudieguillaume]

That was great! Thanks!!

[@Blueye555]

Really great explanation!

[@johnlentokone7318]

With maximum gain you get the lowest EIN noise. With the lowest gain you the the best dynamic range and the best possible SNR but you need to record really loud sounds. Dynamic range sets the upper limit for for SNR.

[@leswright4108]

Excellent as always. I am a complete hobbyist, and I am not ashamed to admit that the most important learning point for me was the most basic---namely, if the volume of your instrument or voice is quieter, you need to be closer to the microphone. I have in recent days been bolder about cranking the gain, and I must agree that it seems much better to record "hot" and turn down the volume of my tracks in the final mix, than be nervous about the gain and later crank it up. Now I have to be on the lookout for clipping, but in my experience that is a much easier problem to contain.

[@megyalilaballad]

Very useful! Looking forward to more content! Thank you. A suggestion I have for a video is how different gain staging setting affect the frequency response of the preamp and DAC. I have noticed my drums sound quite different at high and low gain settings. Does it have something to with headroom and how that can seem like it almost ‘compresses’ or ‘expands’ the sound input source?

[@fmeffects]

Wow the timing of this video showing up on my feed couldn't be more perfect.

[@oliverfries9386]

Danke Julian!

[@seanvgmusic3630]

Also, some of the factors contributing to the noise some people hear will be actually the noise of the environment/room your mic is picking up and not generally the pre-amp itself. The AC, the PC fan, the traffic, the neighbor's barking dog, 60 cycle hum, vacuum cleaner etc. That's why treating and sound-proofing a recording-isolation booth, checking your wires and earthing is also important. While it's true that there's no equipment that is noise free, at least we can lessen it! Cheers for bringing this topic up!

[@papankunci]

Awesome Informative Video!

[@AntonioAdame1]

Subscribed! Very informative video.

[@user-dh9zt5cl2y]

WOW!!! Thank you very much for this video! I am always happy to see if qualitative and technically well-founded content appears on youtube. There are really only very few users who reach a similar high level.

[@veraarnot4322]

I agree, Julian does an amazing job. But could you mention those other users? I’m hungry for the good quality audio tech explanations and already watched about 95% of Julian’s videos (while choosing the interface).

[@soundsquadmusic]

Thanks brother ❤️

[@WackorMiki]

Mate I appreciate your videos so much. Now instead of explaining the same thing again and again to guys looping audio misconception BS, I just send the link of your related video to explain the reality. Thanks for all your work!

[@farid1280]

Good job. My instrument is Persian hammered dulcimer which has a low level sound in comparison to lots of other instruments. So when I try to record it's sound first, I try to place my pair of condenser microphones closer to it, and then set the gain of my preamplifier in order to achieve the best sound level in order to record it properly.