Eli5: What is gain (in sound and music production, amplifiers, etc)? How does gain alter a sound? What’s an example of how it sounds?

Question

Hi. I don’t really understand what gain is, in this context, but I’d really like it to know. How would you describe what it sounds like? Or what it does to the original sound? (An audio example would be good.)

Fyi, I have looked it up before, but I don’t really understand so far.

What does it mean if some amps are made to have a higher-gain sound? Why is that more suited to some types of music than others?

Ty. 🙏🏻🤗

In: Other

Answer 1

Not sure if it helps, but here’s an example of gain in a guitar amp.