Volume/gain stage best practices

[MNissov1968]

Hi,

What is the optimal gain staging for the MTM MkII?

A) High input signal and volume reduced on speaker?

B) Nominal volume on speaker and input attenuated to meet desired output?

Is the input volume digital or analog? Where is it placed in the chain? Is it:

ADC - DSP - digital volume - DAC - Amplifier OR analog volume ADC - DSP - DAC - Amplifier OR ADC - DSP - DAC - analog volume - Amplifier?

[MariannaHuels]

The most accurate option is B because when you leave the volume on the speaker at nominal or high level, and adjust the input down, you toous optimize SNR, which is the signal/noise ratio. Avoid amplifying the background noise if the input is too low and the amplifier has to amplify too much.

[MNissov1968]

Got similar message from support.

Now running with MTM volume knob in the nominal middle position. Since my interface has 24dBu output, I would need to digitally attenuate ~30dB. To avoid that, I got the Shure A15AS xlr attenuators. They allow me to run the interface at about 10dB attenuation while inputting the right level into the MTM.