kickingtone
New member
Some instruments need to have their impedance altered to provide a clean signal path. Not like turning the output level down type of thing, but rather a "going from a caterpillar to a butterfly" type of thing. High Z, is a reference to two things. In the audio world, "Z" is a reference to "Impedance". As taken from Sweetwater.
Since there are different types, the "High" is just that. If it were "Low", then it is referred to as "Low Z". Good amps, soundboards, Audio Interfaces and mixers, have a input jack with a switch or button to change a High Z input to a Low Z input which is what is needed for recording. Now, if you use a mic to capture the audio, all of this goes out the window! ;-)
Thanks. Yeah, I generally understand the theory of impedance matching from physics, and the quantity Z. I can even derive Z from an LRC circuit. It just strikes me that there's a lot more going on here, especially in practical terms. Great learning opportunity.