how does it actually work?

[ESPplayer7]

hey im way nub i was just wondering how exactly a mic travels through its circuits, so you need obviously the cable, then a preamp, then an amp (?), then out the speakers?

[OneRoomStudios]

Originally Posted by ESPplayer7

hey im way nub i was just wondering how exactly a mic travels through its circuits, so you need obviously the cable, then a preamp, then an amp (?), then out the speakers?

Basically what you're talking about is called signal flow. To explain it in terms of a mixer (channel path and monitor path) may be a little confusing at first, so here are the basics:

Sound vibrates the capsule of the microphone, which converts the vibration to electricity (for more info on mics, see the big thread, it's a sticky). This electricity moves through the mic cable to a preamp. When the signal reaches the preamp, it is still very low (around 1 millivolt) the preamp raises the signal to line level (about 1.2 volts). From there you either enter the circuitry of a mixer, or if you're just setting up a single mic for live sound, to an amp. The amp raises the signal further to speaker level (varies depending on the speaker), and the diaphragm of the speaker vibrates to create sound. One thing to note is that active speakers have an amp built in, so there's no need to use an external amp. Only passive speakers need an amp.

If you want to know how a mixer works, it's slightly more complicated, but I'd be happy to help you hash it out.

-Peter

[ESPplayer7]

thanks that was very helpful peter, i am going to be using a mixer so when you get the chance it would be great if you could explain what id do with the mixer, thanks a lot

[northsiderap]

I posted an answer to this in a previous topic ---HERE

Ahhh we all miss Walters' threads.