dynamic/condensors and pre-amps

[drummersteve]

im new to the whole recording scene, so this may seem very ameturish, but here we go...
ok, i know that dynamic microphones create a small induced current to do with magnets etc, basically the reverse of a speaker. as the current is so small, a preamp is needed to boost this tiny current. now with condensor microphones, you need phantom power, which is 48V? or something like that, and the current is changed due to capacitace. i only really vaiguley know the theory. question is, as there is a rather large signal going thru the condensor mic, is a preamp needed for it? replies appreiciated!

 

[Track Rat]

All mics (with RARE exception) require a preamp regrdless of their architecture (Dynamic, condensor or ribbon).

 

[drummersteve]

thanx alot track rat!

 

[Timmy2000]

The 48V phantom power isn't actually boosting the signal going through the mic. All it's doing is polarising the two plates of the capacitor (AKA the condenser) in the mic. Off the top of my head, a basic explanation of the way the mic works is when sound is allowed to strike one of the plates, it causes it to move closer and further away from the opposite plate. Because capacitance is related to the distance between the two plates, the change in separation changes the amount of charge the plates can hold. This causes charge to leave (or be attracted to) the plates, creating a current flow that is analogous to the sound wave that generates it. I think that's pretty much how it works anyway - any corrections fire away.

 

[mixsit]

All mics (with RARE exception) require a preamp regrdless of their architecture (Dynamic, condensor or ribbon).

The exceptions being high output condensors that run near line level.
(Useless info. #107)