Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    
    The switch adjusts the level at the output.  Most audio amps expect
    between 500 mV to 1 volt at the line input.  Guitar amps are usually
    expecting between 100 - 500 mV of signal. 
    
    Either setting should work.  Possible problems:
    
    1.  On "high" you may overdrive the input stage of the amp you're
    using.  This would be audible as distortion even at low volume settings
    of the amp.
    
    2.  On "low" the signal would be noisier (hissier) because you have
    to turn the amp up higher to get the same volume.
    
    Just try both settings with your amp, I would use high all the time
    unless I was getting distortion.
    
    

RE < Note 1838.0 by BPOV02::M_CLEMENT >

	Generally speaking, different amps/consoles are made to expect different
kinds of input devices.  A guitar amp expects a low level signal, since guitars
generally put out low levels.  That's why your documentation tells you to set it
to low on a guitar amp.
    
	'Audio Amp' is a bit abstract to me.  Does that mean a power amp?  Like
one that comes after a pre-amp?  If it does, then it makes sense to set the
keyboard to high, as it is expecting something that has been pre-amplified.

	Keyboard amp and mixing console can be flexible, depending on whether 
they supply input attenuators (pads) or not.  An input attenuator is different 
from a volume knob.  It is meant to adjust the level of signal coming into the 
pre-amp.

	The idea is to try it out with your equipment.  The safest way would be
to sdet the DW at low and determine whether your getting all you want out of
your amp.  If you're not satisfied, try setting it to high and play something 
softly on the keyboard into your amp.  Does it sound distorted?  If so, then 
you can either set your keyboard back to low or adjust the input attenuator (if
your amp has one) to suit.  You should be careful in doing this as you may burn 
out the preamp circuitry in your amp if its not made to recieve the higher level
signal.  I'd think most modern keyboard amps would be able to recieve high-level
signals, though.  Most keyboards ('cept perhaps old ones like the clav and the 
electric pianos) are made to put out line level signals.

	Dan

RE < Note 1838.1 by AQUA::ROST "Marshall rules but Fender controls" >

	Somehow I knew you'd get a note in before me...

	Dan  &^)

    Let me add a small safety measure to the experiments suggested so far.
    
    Always start out with the volume knob (of the instrument) all the way
    down and bring it up gradually until it starts to distort.
    
    I.E., do not start with the instrument set to HI and with the volume 
    all the way up.  This can damage the preamp in the amplifier.
    
    	db

    
    Not to mention your speakers. It's a good general rule of thumb
    for any and all types of sound systems, to turn the amp down all
    the way before powering it on, then slowly turning it up. You never
    know when a plug may be partially inserted, a cable went bad, etc
    that could cause a ground loop and full blast 120Hz.
    
    CdH
    

    Thanks for all the replys...
    
    I switched over to HIGH, and wow is it louder thru my just bought
    Yamaha keyboard amp.
    
    The amp has a switch which goes from 0 to -20db.
    
    At 0 the amp plays loud enough for in the house.
    At -20 the amp plays much louder, this is where I would need it
    	to be for jamming or gigging.
    
    Anyways, the person I got the amp from said to leave it at -20
    all the time and just turn the volume on the amp way down in the
    house.  He said if I use "0" and have the volume at 8 for instance,
    the amp is working harder and consumming more electricity.
    Whereas if the switch is at -20 and and the volume at 2, which for
    the sake of discussion is just as loud as the other setting combo,
    the amp is not working as hard and consumming less electricity.
    
    Anyone care to comment on this.
    
    Thanks, Mark.

>  Anyways, the person I got the amp from said to leave it at -20
>  all the time and just turn the volume on the amp way down in the
>  house.  He said if I use "0" and have the volume at 8 for instance,
>  the amp is working harder and consumming more electricity.
>  Whereas if the switch is at -20 and and the volume at 2, which for
>  the sake of discussion is just as loud as the other setting combo,
>  the amp is not working as hard and consumming less electricity.

>  Anyone care to comment on this.

   Well, don't let that joker anywhere near your toys if he's packing a
   soldering iron. :-)

   If it's 'just as loud' it's eating just as much electricity.

   Whether an amp is working too 'hard' depends on a lot of things, but
   NOT on the position of the volume knob.  For a silly example, if the
   amp is on, but you're not playing, the amp is doing EXACTLY the same
   thing (idling) whether the volume knob is at 2 or 11.

   Class B transistor amps work 'hardest' (run hottest, anyway) at about
   1/3 rated power.  Class A transistor amps run about the same regardless
   of volume.  Dunno about tube amps...?

   Yesterday's advice -- try it at -20, but swich to 0 if it sounds distorted
   at lowish volume -- is correct.  If it sounds OK, don't worry about it.

   Happy Friday,
   Dave