mic pre

[Nilman13]

hey. if i buy a mic pre, and from the xlr output i use an xlr cable and then an xlr to 1/8 converter to plug into my computer's soundcard?
i still have my stock soundcard and i was wondering if plugging a mic pre into it is possible and works.

 

[ssscientist]

Buy a soundcard with a mic pre already in it.

When you feel you have exceeded it's capacity or capabilities, it'll be time to move on.


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[Nilman13]

Buy a soundcard with a mic pre already in it.

any suggestions?
oh and are you saying my idea wont work?

 

[superbeatballer]

any suggestions?
oh and are you saying my idea wont work?

Your idea should work fine.

 

[ssscientist]

I'm saying that depending on the quality of your current soundcard you may be either partially or completely wasting your money by adding an external preamp to a stock soundcard.

One option:

LINK

You can do your own search based on your specific needs/wants --- do you plan to record guitar? Just your voice? A symphony orchestra? A jug band?

 

[ssscientist]

Your idea should work fine.

We seem to have a difference of opinion. You are quite correct that there's no electronic reason this plan will fail, but if the goal is any kind of audio quality that's a different story.

The best way to resolve this, Nilman13, is to try it both ways and see whose advice is better...



.

 

[superbeatballer]

We seem to have a difference of opinion. You are quite correct that there's no electronic reason this plan will fail, but if the goal is any kind of audio quality that's a different story.

The best way to resolve this, Nilman13, is to try it both ways and see whose advice is better...



.

I actually offered no advice, only an answer to his question. Nilman13 wasn't asking if his plan would yield pro results, only if it would work. It will work. I agree that a soundcard upgrade would be in order if he's unhappy with his current setup. We don't know that yet though.

 

[LeeRosario]

well to throw it out there...the idea of going from one pre into another is not usually fashionable. And for many reasons.

I would really wait until you could do with something better, like an external interface that gives you the option to attach a good pre to it (aka balanced connections such as 1/4 or XLR, but not preamplified).

 

[XLR]

hey. if i buy a mic pre, and from the xlr output i use an xlr cable and then an xlr to 1/8 converter to plug into my computer's soundcard?
i still have my stock soundcard and i was wondering if plugging a mic pre into it is possible and works.

On the variety of pre's I have here, XLR outs are balanced, +4 dBu level. They need to go into a balanced +4 dBu input. Most consumer 1/8 inch jacks are for -10 dBv unbalanced signals. You'd have a mismatch there.

EDIT: I'll add that some XLR pre outputs can be made unbalanced without problem, but not all, and levels can always be attenuated, but I'd think you'd be better off just getting a pre that has an unbalanced -10 dBv output and not having potential signal-matching headaches.

Tim

 

[Nilman13]

well, thanks for the help everyone. i love getting alot of answers, but it also confuses the hell out of me trying to decide what to do. as soon as i make a decision on one thing, someone brings something else up

anyway, right now im connecting a $50 mic straight into my stock soundcard, so of the above, what would be the cheapest way to benefit myself? right now im leaning towards soundcard first, then preamp. ive looked at that USB interface before (the toneport), but im sort of unsure.