Does a Tube Mic NEED a pre-amp??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Les W
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Les W

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Does a Tube Mic NEED a pre-amp??
I think I am sold on the SP TB1 which is a tube and seems the power supply is enough to raise it to line level...with that in m ind would it be wiser to invest in a better sound card and let the computer do the rest (in post)??
 
tubes come with their own external power
In His Name
Big Kenny
 
The idea is totally messed up. The PSU has nothing to do with raising signal to line level. You need it to supply the tube with anode and filament voltages to make it work.
Yes, you need a preamp.
 
Yep, you still need a mic pre.

The extra power supply is required to supply a higher voltage and current that is necessary to power the tube. It does not add extra amplification.

A $39 Behringer Eurorack UB502 will do just fine until you can afford a better pre.
 
Why don't we all answer at the same time! :p

If I'd known you guys were here, I would have gone on to bed. ;)
 
<If I'd known you guys were here, I would have gone on to bed.>

Yeah, I was wondering why you haven't gone yet :p

Don't you need to go tomorrow at 6.00AM to buy some flowers?;)
 
<I took care of that today - and boy, was it worth it!>

Good--at least for tomorrow you gonna be a good boy. :D
 
Only if you buy a soundcard with built-in preamps.

What do you mean by "let the computer do the rest in post"???

You want the hottest signal you can get to disc without clipping. That allows you to take advantage of the dynamic range of your soundcard, and you want a fat signal that's gonna minimize your noise floor in the room you're using.
 
Flatpicker said:
Yep, you still need a mic pre.

The extra power supply is required to supply a higher voltage and current that is necessary to power the tube. It does not add extra amplification.

A $39 Behringer Eurorack UB502 will do just fine until you can afford a better pre.
Click to expand...

where can I get this @ tis price Flatpicker??

c7sus:
From what I understand the power suppy can get the mic to "line level" if i am wrong about this l et me know. From line level what other preamps do is basically moderate volume and tweek the signal whicih I guess you can do with FX in your cpu. Correct me if I am wrong and BTW don't be afraid to get tech, just not too tech :)
 
A tube mic has it's own power supply, but the output is still on mic level.

The only tube mic that has a very hot output, so that you can use it on line level is the Neumann M149.
 
^^^ sry, you're right line level. Which is what the preamp is for anyways right? I mean that's why you have mic inputs because it is at a diff level than line level. So Han, do you have anyway to know if you can go "pre-ampless"
thx
 
A microphone has an ouput of approx a couple of milivolts, something like an electric guitar. The mic is low Z (impedance +/- 200ohm) and the guitar is hi Z.

Condenser mics have a higher output than dynamic mics, ribbon mics have a lower output than dynamic mics.

Line level is somewhere between 150 milivolt and 1.5 volt.

So you have to use a pre amp(lifier) to amp the very low output level of the mic to a level which is high enough to the power amp, which has an input at line level.

A tube mic like the Neumann M149 has a very high output level for a mic.
Even with the pad (-20db knob/button) engaged, the gain pot must be turned almost to minimal.

Hope this helps.
 
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