Sennheiser EW-D

Notes

GAIN menu item

Under the GAIN menu item, you can set the level of the audio signal coming from the coupled transmitter (e.g. vocals via EW-D SKM-S or guitar via EW-D SK).

• Open the GAIN menu item.

The item flashes on the display as follows. ►

• Press the UP or DOWN button to adjust the value.

Make sure that the level indicator AF on the display is not too high. The LINK LED flashes yellow when the signal is overdriven.

• Press the SET button to save the set value.

Recommended settings for a unity gain link: Unity gain refers to the configuration where the audio signal arriving at a device leaves the device with the same level. Example: If you are using an EW-D wireless link instead of a guitar cable, with unity gain settings, the volume of the guitar in the guitar amplifier will be as high as it would be if using a guitar cable. Possible unity gain settings:

• AF Out 18 dB | Gain 27 dB
• AF Out 12 dB | Gain 33 dB
• AF Out 6 dB | Gain 39 dB

Gain and AF Output

Here is an article written for EW G series wireless systems

Note: MICROPHONE SENSITIVITY (in the article) is not the same as GAIN on the EW-D, but you'll find that you can think about it in the same way (except treat the numbers as positive instead of negative). For my microphones, I set this to 15 to 21 depending on the microphone and the talker. - Adjust the AF GAIN to suit the microphone and the talker The section on AF OUT is applicable to EW-D and going into a mixer I'd probably set it to 0 dB.

There are two main settings that will typically affect sound quality:

MICROPHONE SENSITIVITY

This is how sensitive the microphone pick up is and this is adjusted on the handheld microphone, bodypack or SKP transmitter itself. Typically for general speaking the sensitivity should be set around -15 to -18 dB. You will need to adjust this depending on the exact application. Closer to 0 dB is more sensitive and further away from 0 dB is less sensitive. If the microphone is too sensitive the input will overload the microphone and the AF level will peak and the audio will be clipped. The sensitivity should be set so the AF PEAK indicator only lights up during the loudest passages.

AF OUT

This is how strong the final signal exits the receiver into the sound board/PA system/recorder etc. The "AF OUT" setting is found only in the receiver's menu settings. Typically this will be set around 0 dB or +6 dB if you connecting to a line level input on the sound board/speakers/etc. If you are trying to connect to a device which expects a mic level input, you will typically need to drop this AF output down to -24 dB or -30 dB.

NOTE: If the AF Output is too high it may overload the input (peak) on connected device and may create undesirable noise (distortion, rumbling, etc).

Other resources:

http://www.sennheiser-sites.com/responsive-manuals/EW-D/EN/index.html#page/Evolution%20Wireless%20Digital/EW-D_03_Instructions_EN.3.12.html#wwconnect_header

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WW-ePhQRbk&t=152s

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