Gain Staging – Sennheiser

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Gain staging is a crucial process in audio production. Its primary purpose is to ensure that audio signals are at optimal levels throughout the signal chain.

Preventing Distortion:

Proper gain staging helps avoid clipping and distortion, which can occur if the gain level is too high.

Signal Quality

Proper gain staging ensures that the signal to noise ratio is where it should be, reducing unwanted noise and preserving the quality of the audio.

Headroom

Proper gain staging leaves enough headroom for dynamic processing and effects, preventing the mix from becoming too compressed or distorted.

Gain Staging for your Sennheiser Wireless System

Gain

Adjust the gain on the receiver on EW-D, DX and DP devices to ensure the input signal is strong but not clipping. For the D6000 series, you can set the gain level directly on the transmitter. Start with a moderate setting and adjust based on the input signal strength.

AF Out

Set the AF output level on the receiver. The is usually set at 0dB, but you can adjust it to match your mixing console or recording device's input levels. A good starting point might be around -6dB for a line level input.

If you are connecting to a microphone level input then the AF output level should be set much lower, with a level around -30dB as a good starting point.

Signal Strength

Ensure that the audio meter on the receiver shows strong but not peaking levels when the performer uses the microphone. This helps maintain a good signal to noise ratio.

Unity Gain

For a unity gain configuration, where the audio signal level remains consistent through the signal chain, you can use recommended settings such as

AF Out 18dB and Gain 27dB,

AF Out 12dB and Gain 33dB,

AF Out 6dB and Gain 39dB

As always, these could be good starting points. Different Mic capsules will affect your gain staging, as will an instrument going into a bodypack, or the lavalier or head worn mic also going into a body pack. These all have different sensitivities. So, adjust as needed.

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