mic pre needed for an A/D converter?

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hk_runner

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I'm a novice. Could anyone let me know why a mic pre is necessary between an analog microphone and an A/D converter?

I thought the A/D converter should be able to convert the tiny analog signal from the microphone into a digital signal, without prior amplification.

One might say the mic signal is normally too weak for an A/D converter. But Newmann has produced a digital mic. This means that we CAN A/D convert a tiny mic signal, can't we?

Thanks.
 
In a word, no. Most all mics need a preamp to amplify its signal up to line level, which an A/D converter is going to want to see. There are a few mics (VERY few) that have an out put hot enough to be close to line level but they're a minority.
 
hk_runner said:

One might say the mic signal is normally too weak for an A/D converter. But Newmann has produced a digital mic. This means that we CAN A/D convert a tiny mic signal, can't we?
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The Neumann mic has a built in A/D, so you don't need any other A/D converter, but you need a special interface box to connect it to. It's probably VERY expansive, so it would be much cheaper to buy a high quaility preamp.
 
Darrin, I don't see any mention of TOSLINK anything. Hmmm.
 
Thank you all. The advice is very helpful. A mic preamp with a built-in A/D converter sounds like a good idea. But in general, is it better to buy a mic preamp and a separate A/D converter, or to buy a mic preamp with a built-in A/D converter?

This question is particularly relevant for a mic pre with more than two (say four) mic inputs. A mic preamp with a built-in A/D will convert all its four mic inputs to digital. On the other hand, a stand-alone A/D converter usually has only two inputs (i.e. a stereo pair), and won't be able to convert all the four line-level analog outputs of a mic pre.

Any views please?
 
It depends on budget and you expectations of quality. A D.W. Fern mic pre in an Apogee converter would undoubtedly yeild a better result than say, a DBX 386 but the Fern/Apogee set would run you about $5000 or so and a 386 about $500.
 
yes, the apogee mini-me A/D converter must sound great. But I thought the mini-me was a stereo A/D converter, and I guess it cannot A/D convert four tracks from the D. W. Fern mic pre's outputs at the same time?

By the way, I haven't even used a mic pre. Does a mic pre with four mic inputs have four outputs? Or does a mic pre mixes the four inputs into a stereo output?

I hope a mic pre can output the same number of tracks as it can input.
 
This thread is about a mic with digital outputs which is most likly spidif of toslink. and If its allready putting out digital Information in 1010101010 form no pre will work for it.
 
HK- Maybe you need to slow down and give us the big picture here. What do you need to accomplish and what gear do you have?

Most recording sound cards will give you multiple I/O DAC with comparable quality to any midrange DAC box. If you need 4 channels than a good mixer and a good sound card will be the obvious choice for under $1000.
 
HK runner

If theres Insert jacks on said mixer then you can go out each of them utilizing them as individual mic pres.


And Tex hes talking about a new Neuman that has a digital output on board designed to go straight to the digital domain, Its new and Ive only seen pic of it in EM magazine.


Its a new frontier for mics.
 
big picture

TexRoadKill -- sorry I didn't provide the big picture in this thread. The threads in this Bulletin are so specialised that subsequent to this thread, I started a new thread on the big picture. The new thread is entitled "singing practice at home". There you'll see what I'll be using recording gear for. If you want to move the discussion to that new thread, please let me know.

The gear I already have:
two AKG analog condenser microphones (I have NOT bought the Newmann digital mic)
a CD player with digital out, a line-level stereo preamp, a stereo power amp, a pair of passive speakers
a desktop computer, a notebook computer, computer speakers
a Yamaha digital piano

(no recording gear, no mic preamp, no mixer, no sequencer, no compressor, no equaliser, no A/D or D/A converter, no sound card, no breakout box)
 
I posted on your other thread and I really think for your application a Mackie 1202 and a digital 4 track will do the job. Get an 8 track or use your computer if you want to do full demos.
 
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