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ViewMaster2000
New member
Hi, I was wondering what mic pre-amps are and what people use them for?
Alex
Alex
Stealthtech
LOGIC ABUSER
A microphone alone does not have enough gain. A pre-amp basically boost the signal.
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ViewMaster2000
New member
So u run the mic through the pre-amp, and then the pre-amp into the mixer?
Can u have more than 1 mic per pre-amp?
Can u have more than 1 mic per pre-amp?
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tdukex
Man of the Muse
Microphones generate a very low level signal. Mic preamps amplify that signal to "line level".
A preamp is an individual electronic unit that amplifies one mic signal. However, you can put a mic preamp (or multiple preamps) into a stand-alone box or into a mixing console. For example, if you put four of these preamps into a box you now call it a four-channel preamp because you can now amplify four separate mic signals.
The signal chain goes mic > mixer (or stand alone) preamp > recording device. For example, I record my acoustic guitar in stereo by plugging two separate mics into two of my mixer's mic preamps, then go from my mixer's main-outs into two of my computer soundcard's line-ins. It's that simple.
If you have a stand-alone preamp you don't need a mixer unless you are recording multiple tracks at once (and have a recording device with multiple inputs, as well).
A preamp is an individual electronic unit that amplifies one mic signal. However, you can put a mic preamp (or multiple preamps) into a stand-alone box or into a mixing console. For example, if you put four of these preamps into a box you now call it a four-channel preamp because you can now amplify four separate mic signals.
The signal chain goes mic > mixer (or stand alone) preamp > recording device. For example, I record my acoustic guitar in stereo by plugging two separate mics into two of my mixer's mic preamps, then go from my mixer's main-outs into two of my computer soundcard's line-ins. It's that simple.
If you have a stand-alone preamp you don't need a mixer unless you are recording multiple tracks at once (and have a recording device with multiple inputs, as well).
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ViewMaster2000
New member
thanks very much 
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treb311
New member
Ya,,, I recently bought a Tube Pre
the Presonus TubePre
it has a tube in it, which gives u a better tone ... and i really dig it ... i record vocals and acoustic with it ... also if i need one mic for drums ... congas or something like that
the Presonus TubePre
it has a tube in it, which gives u a better tone ... and i really dig it ... i record vocals and acoustic with it ... also if i need one mic for drums ... congas or something like that
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wx3
New member
ViewMaster2000 said:
You don't need a preamp if you are running your mic into your mixer.
Althought most mixers don't come with very good preamps and studio junkies like a variety of pre's to give their tracks different flavours.
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Richard Monroe
Well-known member
as WX3 said, your mixer has preamps in it, generally cheap ones.
A mixer's mission is to take multiple tracks and make them into 1 or 2. A preamp's mission is to raise the gain of a signal input. You can plug as many mics into the pre as it has channels, usually 1 or 2, but could be as many as 8, as in an octopre. Most people use the best preamp they can lay their hands on for 1 or 2 mics, and a mixer for multiple sources, especially multi-mic'ing drum kits.-Richie
A mixer's mission is to take multiple tracks and make them into 1 or 2. A preamp's mission is to raise the gain of a signal input. You can plug as many mics into the pre as it has channels, usually 1 or 2, but could be as many as 8, as in an octopre. Most people use the best preamp they can lay their hands on for 1 or 2 mics, and a mixer for multiple sources, especially multi-mic'ing drum kits.-Richie