Using a a single Mic preamp for Stereo mix?

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bsac109

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I have a single channel mic -pre that accepts 3-pin XLR and Hi-Z 1/4" inputs.

I was wondering if you could somehow route a stereo signal through this unit (even though it's only one channel for a Stereo mix?

Out-of-the-box thinking here, if you are up for it...
 
bsac109 said:
I have a single channel mic -pre that accepts 3-pin XLR and Hi-Z 1/4" inputs.

I was wondering if you could somehow route a stereo signal through this unit (even though it's only one channel for a Stereo mix?

Out-of-the-box thinking here, if you are up for it...
Click to expand...
I don't think there's a way to do that. In real time.

What I have done before - although it's been a while - and it is a PITA and not ideal - is to route and play each side of pre-recorded stereo tracks through a piece of mono outboard gear and then back to two tracks. You know.... just do one at a time. I never had any weird alignment, phase, or time issues. The rules are: there ain't no rules.
 
You would have to sum it to Mono on the way in - and split it to stereo on the way out - but you wouldn't get a stereo track - you would end up with two mono tracks that are exactly the same - so not stereo - what are you doing? Whatever it is it wouldn’t it be easier to play/sing the material twice - merge the tracks into stereo and then have at it - it wouldn’t be stereo but you would have a faux stereo track.
 
If you are thinking about sending the XLR to one channel, and the Hi Z to a second, then it will depend on your interface. Something like the Scarlett Solo, Audient ID4 or Presonus Audiobox are actually 2 channel interfaces with one mic pre and one line/Inst channel. Most purely single channel interfaces like the UA Volt 1 or Arturia MiniFuse will use a combo XLR/ 1/4" input. In those cases, it's a "one or the other".

If you tell use exactly which interface you have, we can tell you how it works.
 
I have a Motu M 4 audio interface and Millennia HV-35p mic pre with Hi-z AND XLR ins.

I'm on Win 11 PC
 
The HV-35P only has one route... you either go with instrument or mic inputs, and only one output.

What I don't understand is why you don't just use the Motu's inputs. It's not like they are bad preamps. The Motu is an excellent unit.
 
Im hopelessly confused. Mastering is an output process, the inputs are irrelevant, all your tracks are in the box. You just use the interface to direct the audio to your monitors, the end process. The ‘quality’ is done in the computer. Some people like to use processing preamps that do not have digital outputs, so they connect to a digital interface. One mic, one clever pre, into one channel of their interface. Not something I do, not convinced at all, but others love what these things do. You don't seem to be doing this, so what on earth are you up to?
 
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