MIC input vs Line In

[FLiPzOfLoW]

I'm doing some amateur recording, yknow, like just plugging the microphone directly to the soundcard.. i know it'll sound crappy but i just want to know the difference between the soundcard's line in and the soundcards mic input.. Can i also plug my microphone to the LINE IN and record? give me the differences of the both.. tnx..

 

[Farview]

A mic signal is much quieter than a line signal. The mic input has an amplifier to raise the signal from your mic to line level.
If you plug the mic into the line input, you will have a very hard time getting enough signal. (it will be very quiet) It won't hurt anything, but it won't do you any good.

 

[bennychico11]

I'm doing some amateur recording, yknow, like just plugging the microphone directly to the soundcard.. i know it'll sound crappy but i just want to know the difference between the soundcard's line in and the soundcards mic input.. Can i also plug my microphone to the LINE IN and record? give me the differences of the both.. tnx..

it's pretty self explanatory....
Mic means for microphones
line is pretty much everything else like CD players, tape players, preamp outs, etc. (except HI-Z inputs from guitars).

 

[TimOBrien]

If you plug your mic into the Line-In, you need a pre-amp to bring it up to Line level (mics do no put out enough current by themselves.)

The chips on your computer's mic-in port are only worth a few pennies, they are NOT made for recording music - just for those crappy $3 stick mics used for gaming and making quickie voice messages.

 

[Crash ©]

Plug the mic into the Line In input and you'll get zip... The line in on the average sound card is there so you can input devices more along the lines of a tape deck or walkman via headphone output.

--
Rob