I don't have a T4...bt, there should be 2 settings
One for the trim or pre-amp gain
The other for the actual volume of tht track (At least I know te Korg I have works this way).

Distortion would be from overdriving the Per-amp not the track volume.

???
Lee S.

Hi Lee, I completely agree. Interestingly enough on earlier Yamaha arranger models (aka: Tyros2), Yamaha included:

1) mic trim knob (back of keyboard)
2) mic input vol knob (on top of keyboard)
3) mic track vol (via LCD screen)

Yamaha Tyros 4 no longer has got that mic trim knob on the back of the keyboard, so one must rely on the mic input knob alone to monitor the signal input (using peak light indicator) boosting the signal as high as possible without letting the peak light indicator go red. Once that is done, the mic volume level can be raised/lowered on the LCD Screen without resulting in distortion.

I've discovered the mic distortion problem may be partly due to the brand/model mic used. It's important to use a mic that's got a hot signal output. Over the years, I tested several and found EV and Sennheiser dynamic mics to deliver higher output than others. I've had good success with the EV757 and now the Sennheiser e935. Utilizing a high signal output mic means not having to turn up the KB's mic gain knob (knob on top of the keyboard) as high to get a good strong signal, preventing preamp distortion. Once this is adjusted, I use the volume slider to control the 'mic volume' shown in the LCD screen. Raising and lowering the mic volume up/down in the LCD now does not result in distortion.

Scott,

We frequent agree on many things, but this is one the few things we don't agree on.

Keep in mind the PSR-3000 does not have a separate mic volume knob on the top of the keyboard--it doesn't need one. And, from my perspective, neither does the T4 or any other keyboard.

My outlook on this is a bit different, but it seems to work very well for me. Once I've set the trim pot on the back of the keyboard to the 12 O'clock position, and the electronic mic volume slider to 85, using the Crown CM-311A mic, I'm ready to go. My vocal to style volume ratio is perfect--regardless of the style I select.

Now, if the crowd noise increases, which is sometimes the case, I NEVER touch the keyboard's master volume or the mic slider. Instead, I gently nudge the master volume of the Bose L1 Compact enough to compensate for the crowd noise. More often than not, a tiny nudge on the Bose is all that's necessary.

My reasoning behind this is the delicate balance between the keyboard's output and the Bose input is constantly being maintained. There's no chance of overdriving the Bose input and causing distortion. I can crank the L1 Compact's output as high as needed, enough to blow out the windows if necessary and my vocal to style volume ratio will still remain the same.

Changing those volume ratios can lead to a disastrous outcome. I've been to places where the vocalist completely overpowers the accompaniment to the point where you want to scream "Turn down the mic a$$hole. I've seen other situations where the drummer should be placed in a sound-proof room because he's slamming the drums so hard that he's popping drumsticks. When I was playing in a 5-piece country band we had a lead guitarist who was incredible, but as the night progressed he would crank up his guitar volume to the point it would make your ears bleed. You couldn't hear any other instrument, let alone hear the vocalist. The point I'm trying to make is there needs to be a good balance between the vocal and instrument volumes. Once that balance is set, there's no reason to change either. That's why amps and mixers have a maser volume control.

Gary

Gar, re-read my post and you'll find that we're actually pretty much in full agreement on this issue. My explanation was regarding the 'initial' mic vol setup of the critical balance between mic volume & the keyboard output (style & panel voice volume). Once made, like you, I pretty much leave it alone, and use the PA's volume knob to raise or lower the volume.