Zoom H6 input pad: use it, don't, when, why?

Snags

Using the H6 as an audio interface, is there any point to using the pad on the XLR input(s) other than if you simply can't turn down input gain enough to stop the signal clipping no matter what?

Or, in other words, are there any pros and cons between pad + higher input gain vs no pad and lower input gain, assuming that both end up sending the same overall level to the DAW? Or is it entirely neutral?

Context would be recording mic'd amps, and vocals (not at the same time, given the space available).

spark240

Im not tech expert but I would only use the pad function if the incoming signal was uncontrollable and very high volume.

There's probably a much more technical reason for it...

WiresDreamDisasters

Use it when you're struggling to keep the level in a good zone - good zone to my mind being between -18dBFS and -12dBFS.

dBFS == decibel full-scale and is what all of our digital meters tend to show levels in, which is roughly equivalent to 0dBVU, which is what an analog console would show you.

If you aim for this signal range, you'll be giving yourself plenty of headroom and the rest of your plugin chain will react nicely to this sort of input level, and you've still got the flexibility to boost it later on if you need to.

In short - don't record too hot! There's no point!

Stuckfast

Snags said:

 are there any pros and cons between pad + higher input gain vs no pad and lower input gain, assuming that both end up sending the same overall level to the DAW? Or is it entirely neutral?

It depends on the design of the circuit but usually I'd suggest not using the pad unless you actually need it. Usually the pad button introduces extra components to drop the signal level ahead of the preamp, which can theoretically make the signal noisier or more distorted, though most likely it won't be noticeable. There are one or two bits of studio kit that have notoriously bad-sounding pad circuits.

Snags

Thanks all, duly educated!

Danny1969

The pads normally useful for kick drum mics and in some cases the snare mic. Basically the transient of a drum can create a much steeper wild transient than a vocal for example, so you need more headroom to stop it clipping the convertor. 
  
The pad is normally 2 series resistors in line with the hot and cold and then one resistor after joins the 2 ... called a U Pad. As it's basically a voltage divider it won' add much in the way of noise