desk preamps - XLR or Line inputs?

[Adzzz]

I know the XLR inputs of my desk are the input of the mixers channel preamps. Are the 1/4" line inputs on the mixer also channel preamps?

[Blue Bear Sound]

No.......

[Robert D]

What Blue Bear was rambling on about was that the 1/4 ins are line inputs, and expect a line level signal coming in, hence, they do not and should not go through a pre-amp. They may or may not be balanced inputs, depends on the mixer, and they are high impedance inputs.

Cheers, RD

[lpdeluxe]

Robert, thanks for summarizing Blue Bear's remarks.

[Robert D]

Well, you know, bears are just coming out of hibernation this time of year.

[SonicAlbert]

The thing is, a lot of mixers attenuate the signal at the line inputs and route that through the preamps, where the signal is re-amplified. Mackie mixers do this, as do most if not all of the home studio/project mixers of the last ten years or so.

So while you are plugging your gear to a line input, the signal is still going through the mixer preamp (after being brought down to mic level). But for practical purposes, mics are connected to the XLR inputs, and synths etc. to the line inputs.