volume vs. gain

[ken k]

Can someone here who has expertise in working with amplifiers explain the difference to me between the regular volume level control and the gain control on an amplifier?

thanks ken k

[Dan Schultz]

Good question. One that I wanted to know, too. So.... here's what Fender has to say about it:

http://www.fender.com/news/amp-basics-w ... nd-volume/

[ken k]

OK, i think I got it, thanks everyone

k

[hup_d_dup]

Looking at it from a circuit point of view:

In a pre-amp stage, the input signal is typically small and the goal is to increase the voltage without increasing noise. The easiest way to do this is to create voltage gain without increasing current. However, current also needs to be increased to drive the output speakers. This is the function of a power amp, which receives the now higher (and hopefully clean) signal from the pre-amp and amplifies the current to drive the speakers (Power amps can also have some gain but this is not their important function). Because the pre-amp is increasing the signal gain, it is generally measured in dB, whereas the power amp is increasing power (volume) and the output is generally measured in watts. Another important function the the pre- and power amps is to match the input and output impedances from stage to stage. Output impedance is an important aspect of mic design.

Hup