mic vs line in

[HeatSinks]

I have a digital recorder with mic and line in jacks. What's the difference?

 

[bouldersoundguy]

The mic input has more gain.

 

[HeatSinks]

Makes sense--I have to turn my pre-amp waaay down for use in the mic jack. Stick with the line in, then?

 

[TetraFish]

Mic's need pre amps, line level is already amplified. So if you plug a mic into a line in it will be really quiet.

edit: man I'm slow...two replies while I was replying.

 

[Farview]

Makes sense--I have to turn my pre-amp waaay down for use in the mic jack. Stick with the line in, then?

It depends of what you are plugging into it. Plug a mic into the mic input, if you have a line signal of some sort, plug that into the line input.