The built-im preamps of an interface: can they be bypassed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eleanor Fudd
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Eleanor Fudd

Eleanor Fudd

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if you want to? [Say, if you bought a superior preamp.]

Thank you.
 
Depends on the interface! Usually they are only on the XLR mic inputs and are not bypassable on those inputs.
 
Thank you, that seems a good answer.

I was thinking of this one:
8 in / 6 out USB 2.0 Audio Interface featuring two Focusrite Mic Preamps

The blurb says: Alongside the two high-quality mic preamps, two additional analogue inputs, four analogue outputs, S/PDIF and MIDI open the door to true multi-track recording.

I will assume that bypass is not likely possible on that one. Will a XLR to 1/4" adapter allow you to go into one of the other analog inputs, and do the bypass THAT way? [This is a matter of future-planning and understanding. I'm not assuming any problem with the interface.]

Thanks again.
 
if you use xlr to 1/4" you'll have no preamplification (<- that should be a word)

usually analogue inputs accept line level devices. preamps usually output at line level.

so. if you bought that interface and an additional stereo preamp,you could have four microphone preamps in total.


It's also worth considering that some preamps have spdif (stereo digital format) output, so you could add two extra mic pres that way.
 
Steenamaroo said:
if you use xlr to 1/4" you'll have no preamplification (<- that should be a word)

.
Click to expand...

It IS a word now. ;)

Could you not plug the mic into the independent preamp, then the preamp into the 1/4" analog input?
 
Eleanor Fudd said:
It IS a word now. ;)

Could you not plug the mic into the independent preamp, then the preamp into the 1/4" analog input?
Click to expand...
thanks for that :)

that's what i mean about the independent pre...i just didn't word it well.
 
It depends on the interface. For those that allow it. XLR is for mic level input that uses the interfaces preamps. TRS (1/4") will be for line level and bypasses the preamps. But not all interfaces work that way. And some might only work that way on certain channels, but not all channels. Check the specs for your gear.
 
Eleanor Fudd said:
Thank you, that seems a good answer.

I was thinking of this one:
8 in / 6 out USB 2.0 Audio Interface featuring two Focusrite Mic Preamps

The blurb says: Alongside the two high-quality mic preamps, two additional analogue inputs, four analogue outputs, S/PDIF and MIDI open the door to true multi-track recording.

I will assume that bypass is not likely possible on that one. Will a XLR to 1/4" adapter allow you to go into one of the other analog inputs, and do the bypass THAT way? [This is a matter of future-planning and understanding. I'm not assuming any problem with the interface.]

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the two analogue inputs are line inputs.

Are you talking about using an outboard pre into those inputs?

Should be do-able.

You could also use those inputs for outboard signal processing. Or the output of another interface or tape deck or anything else line level.

Just not a mic.
 
Well ... that's pretty much what the two additional analog inputs are for, isn't it? That is: to route analog inputs to the interface and bypass the mic pres?

If you're so inclined, you could even get a standalone AD converter, connect the mics to a standalone preamp, the preamp to the AD converter and the AD converter to the interface's S/PDIF in, and bypass the mic pres and the converter in the interface.
 
sjjohnston said:
Well ... that's pretty much what the two additional analog inputs are for, isn't it? That is: to route analog inputs to the interface and bypass the mic pres?

If you're so inclined, you could even get a standalone AD converter, connect the mics to a standalone preamp, the preamp to the AD converter and the AD converter to the interface's S/PDIF in, and bypass the mic pres and the converter in the interface.
Click to expand...

:cool: But doesn't that negate the entire interface? What is an interface but A/D converters and connections?
 
Eleanor Fudd said:
What is an interface but A/D converters and connections?
Click to expand...
The connection to the computer?

You might possibly jam an RCA plug into a USB or Firewire port, but not much would happen.

Plus ... with quite a few interfaces, using an outboard converter gets you an additional two simultaneous inputs, if you want them.
 
Why would you buy an interface with preamps that you dont want to use?
 
Perhaps you (or whoever it was who bought it ... Eleanor Fudd, possibly) did want to use the preamps when you bought the interface, then later on, say, you bought a superior preamp.

Such things happen.
 
sjjohnston said:
Perhaps you (or whoever it was who bought it ... Eleanor Fudd, possibly) did want to use the preamps when you bought the interface, then later on, say, you bought a superior preamp.

Such things happen.
Click to expand...

That is exactly the hypothetical scenario I was thinking of.
 
Why would you buy focusrite and then want to bypass the preamps?
If you buy a very high quality preamp that has digital conversion you can go in via spidf and then you bypass everything including the a/d conversion of the sound card.
You generally can bypass any preamp by simply going through the "line in" from the "line out" of your preamp.
 
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