D
daveman_01
New member
Is there any software out there that acts as a mic preamp without any hardware? if someone could help me it would much be appreciated!
thanx.
thanx.
dgatwood
is out. Leave a message.
Short answer: no.
Long answer: absolutely not.
A mic preamp converts a very weak audio signal into a signal strong enough for the encoders in your audio interface to pick it up in a usable way. Yes, you -could- boost it afterwards in software, but the result would be an extremely high level of noise, as the amount of signal coming into your interface from a mic would be very small relative to the amount of electrical noise inherent in the audio interface itself.
Decent preamps start at around $25 per channel. Don't sweat it.
Long answer: absolutely not.
A mic preamp converts a very weak audio signal into a signal strong enough for the encoders in your audio interface to pick it up in a usable way. Yes, you -could- boost it afterwards in software, but the result would be an extremely high level of noise, as the amount of signal coming into your interface from a mic would be very small relative to the amount of electrical noise inherent in the audio interface itself.
Decent preamps start at around $25 per channel. Don't sweat it.
D
daveman_01
New member
thanx for ur help
K
Ken in Dallas
New member
Just an added thought....
Well, maybe there's more that can be said. I think the answer to your
question depends on why you're asking and what you're going to do with
what you record. Not everybody here is trying to make the next
"Rubber Soul" or "The Wall" in their den recording studio.
If your purpose is recording as some kind of tool, that is documentation of
some kind -- perhaps of a simpler sound source than a whole band -- and
you don't need the pre-amp for mic power, then the computer you're
reading this on might be "enough" to take the analog signal and serve the
purpose. There are some software applications that will "touch up" the
signal and might meet your needs.
Short story: When I began selling musical instruments over the Internet,
I needed sound files for my customers. I have a small studio from the
1970s, but the years have caught up with it.
I'm about to purchase new equipment, but for the last year I've used a
dynamic mic into my computer's soundcard into "Audacity" freeware.
In that application I use "plug-in" editors to adjust the sound. The ones
I use are "normalize," which places the signal at an optimal level, doing
much of what a pre-amp does; "equalize," removing unwanted excesses
like fingernail squeek; and "reverb" just a touch to relax things.
Are these studio-quality recordings? No.
Do they meet the need? Absolutely.
My customers have repeatedly commented on how the instrument
they received sounds just like the recording they listened to.
Given the nature of your question, I hope it's okay to add these comments.
Good luck.....
Well, maybe there's more that can be said. I think the answer to your
question depends on why you're asking and what you're going to do with
what you record. Not everybody here is trying to make the next
"Rubber Soul" or "The Wall" in their den recording studio.
If your purpose is recording as some kind of tool, that is documentation of
some kind -- perhaps of a simpler sound source than a whole band -- and
you don't need the pre-amp for mic power, then the computer you're
reading this on might be "enough" to take the analog signal and serve the
purpose. There are some software applications that will "touch up" the
signal and might meet your needs.
Short story: When I began selling musical instruments over the Internet,
I needed sound files for my customers. I have a small studio from the
1970s, but the years have caught up with it.
I'm about to purchase new equipment, but for the last year I've used a
dynamic mic into my computer's soundcard into "Audacity" freeware.
In that application I use "plug-in" editors to adjust the sound. The ones
I use are "normalize," which places the signal at an optimal level, doing
much of what a pre-amp does; "equalize," removing unwanted excesses
like fingernail squeek; and "reverb" just a touch to relax things.
Are these studio-quality recordings? No.
Do they meet the need? Absolutely.
My customers have repeatedly commented on how the instrument
they received sounds just like the recording they listened to.
Given the nature of your question, I hope it's okay to add these comments.
Good luck.....
mshilarious
Banned
A mic preamp does a few different things:
- provides proper input impedance for the microphone
- converts the balanced microphone signal to unbalanced, and proper grounding and isolation for the signal
- provides phantom power for mics that need it
- amplifies the signal, without excessive and unpleasant distortion or noise
- sometimes, adds "color", "character", or if you please, pleasant distortion.
Now, back to the question. There has to be an analog component to an A/D converter, because the signal starts in the analog world. It should be perfectly possible to design a converter that does the unbalancing and obviates the need for amplification. "Color", etc. can be added by software, whether or not that's the same box of crayons as analog is a larger question than this thread.
Are converters designed this way right now? For the most part, no, because the demand has been for converters to interface with existing microphone preamps. But there are already a few mics with internal converters, I suspect that will become a lot more common in the future, as having conversion right off the capsule would simplify a lot of issues with mics and mic preamps.
If you want good quality recordings without a bunch of extra gear, there are two paths you can travel today: USB microphones, like the Blue Snowball, or regular ol' studio-quality analog mics with all-in-one interfaces that have bundled preamps, converters, and soundcard. Neither option is particularly expensive.
You'll find that either of those is a superior solution to using a studio-quality mic with consumer-grade soundcards and their onboard preamps and converters, which are typically inferior in one or many of the aspects I listed above.
- provides proper input impedance for the microphone
- converts the balanced microphone signal to unbalanced, and proper grounding and isolation for the signal
- provides phantom power for mics that need it
- amplifies the signal, without excessive and unpleasant distortion or noise
- sometimes, adds "color", "character", or if you please, pleasant distortion.
Now, back to the question. There has to be an analog component to an A/D converter, because the signal starts in the analog world. It should be perfectly possible to design a converter that does the unbalancing and obviates the need for amplification. "Color", etc. can be added by software, whether or not that's the same box of crayons as analog is a larger question than this thread.
Are converters designed this way right now? For the most part, no, because the demand has been for converters to interface with existing microphone preamps. But there are already a few mics with internal converters, I suspect that will become a lot more common in the future, as having conversion right off the capsule would simplify a lot of issues with mics and mic preamps.
If you want good quality recordings without a bunch of extra gear, there are two paths you can travel today: USB microphones, like the Blue Snowball, or regular ol' studio-quality analog mics with all-in-one interfaces that have bundled preamps, converters, and soundcard. Neither option is particularly expensive.
You'll find that either of those is a superior solution to using a studio-quality mic with consumer-grade soundcards and their onboard preamps and converters, which are typically inferior in one or many of the aspects I listed above.
fraserhutch
Flypaper for freaks
Ken in Dallas said:
What you are doing here is using the preamp built into your soundcard. It is NOT done in software. It is still done in hardware. All you are quibbling about is the quality of the preamp in your soundcard.
Sheesh. I would strongly suggest that you do some research around here before investing in new equipment.
C
chessrock
Banned
I don't have any $$ for accoustic treatment.
I was wondering if there was some sort of software / plugin (that could serve as accoustic treatment or sound proofing) I could use instead (?)
Thanks.
.
I was wondering if there was some sort of software / plugin (that could serve as accoustic treatment or sound proofing) I could use instead (?)
Thanks.
.
Dogman
Unkle Ticklefingers
Yes.............chessrock said:
G
Garik
Registered Luser
its called unverb..its the latest studio craze 
G
gordone
Well-known member
There's also a new plug-in called "Slapback echo remover" and "standing-waves remover"
I'm still waiting for the "Tony Rice Flatpicking Plugin"
I'm still waiting for the "Tony Rice Flatpicking Plugin"
scrubs
Not of sound mind
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