gain structure
 

The Basics Of Setting Gain Structure

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr9...structure.html

if i am violating the code of ethics for dvinfo honcho's i apologize... i am just trying to help and the suggestion of searching "gain structure" yielded this informative article.


Please don't banish me... but do tell me if i am in error.?

Greg

The trims help put the level control "with in range" for the given input source (microphone, line level from a mixer, etc...)

If you look on any mixing board, there is a fader (level control) at the bottom of the channel strip and a "trim" knob at the top. This is used exactly the same way as you guys are describing on the EX3. (just thought you'd want to know)

Mitchell has it nailed. In general cameras use voltage controlled amplifiers so the trim control is controlling gain, not level like a traditional fader would. From my experience with the EX1 getting the trim setting correct is rather critical. If you find you're setting the level controls low to avoid clipping as indicated on the meters you can still get distorted audio but it only affects low frequencies.
Apparently the last firmware upgrade changed something in the way the EX1 handles audio. I'm yet to test to see if it has addressed the issues I've noticed before the upgrade.

Greg, those are excellent articles (and I appreciate you're sharing them), but, unfortunately, they still do not answer my original question.