Headphone Preamp

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roachguitar

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What is a headphone preamp
I am getting started in a little home recording but i have no clue what these are, do i need one if i am recording several tracks at different times??
please help me out!!!
 
There are times that you need one. If your soundcard only has Mono Channel TRS outs(M-Audio Delta 44). If you need more gain to power higher end headphones with a relatively high resistance. Or you're using cheap PC speakers that need an amped signal to make it audible. Or you just need more headphone outs, so you can use every cheap PC speaker set you've gotten in your lifetime, at the same time.

For me I need one so I can multitrack with my Delta 44. In my case I got the Presonus HP4 so I can mute the monitors out since my PC and monitors are in the same room that I'm recording in. It also makes answering the phone a little less annoying. I also have a Samson Q5 which runs hotter and puts out a lot more amps, enough to run some old style PC speakers that are otherwise inaudible plugged into anything else.

HTH
 
I use a Live Wire Solution HA04 headphone amp. It's cheap and gets the job done. A good piece to start out with.
 
Hi,

You don'y absolutely need one, but if your are recording multiple musicians a the same tracks, in the same room (or in seperate rooms), it can be very useful so that everyone hears clearly what the others are doing. A headphone preamp simply split a signal to multiple headphones and every channels can be controlled in volume. As mentionned by Shadow 7, the HP4 features a monitor mute button which is very pratical. So it's not necessary, but it's a very useful thing.

Hope this helps.
 
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