Pad

Q: What is a Pad?

A "pad" is short for an "Attenuation Pad".

This is a device used to lower the signal level between two other devices.

"attenuator or attenuator pad Electronics. A passive network that reduces the voltage (or power; see usage note under gain) level of a signal with negligible distortion, but with insertion loss. Often a purely resistive network, although any combination of inductors, resistors and capacitors are possible, a pad may also provide impedance matching."

We use them with our Bose Systems when running a pro level +4 dBu signal to the XLR inputs on Channels 1 or 2 on the PS1 Powerstand.

We want to do this because the input sensitivity for these inputs is set for microphones. To get a better match for levels between the source and our inputs, we can use a pad.

Another application (although relatively rare) is if you want to daisy-chain the Line-Out of one PS1 Powerstand to Channel 1 or 2 of another. In that case you probably want to have a -20 dB pad inline, between the Line-Out of the first System and the Channel 1 or 2 XLR input of the second.

You can find separate attenuation pads like this:

Example IPAD20

This an example, and you will want to look into the details to determine if you need a pad, and the kinds of connections that are appropriate for your input device.

References:

• Rand Professional Audio Reference
• All About Pads