What is a Mic Pre – Microphone Preamplifiers and preamps Explained
Information for beginners about Mic pres. What are they? Do you need one? What does it do and advice about integrating an external microphone preamp. Also discussed are the benefits of using higher quality mic pres and why some one might choose Neve or API or Great River, etc over the pre in their audio interface.
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Loved the video, thanks so much. Wish these videos were around 10 years ago, would have saved me alot of time, money, and frustration. Keep it up!
Helped alot
explains more than i thought
thanks alot for this video
Excelent work . we always are happy when someone can help make things clear and teach us more than we thought we knew…..
Perfect timing… I’m in the market for a good mic pre. I’d love to see your recommendations, or even another shootout for pre’s in the $750-$1500 range. Also, your thoughts on lunch box setups (like API 500, etc.)
Keep the great videos coming Ronan…
Thanks
Great stuff. I have a question. You said that for 24 bit recording, you would recommend the signal peaking no more than about 75% of max. Why? Can you provide some more info on that or is it covered in another video? It would seem to me that you would want your highest peak right at 100% to get the biggest dynamic range. Am I missing something?
Hey Bob,
I am going to do a couple videos on this. There are a couple main reasons. One is you risk of clipping which can ruin a take, but also the analog stage of most converters (especially low cost one) sound better when they are not pushed so hard, and 24 bit give you far more dynamic range than you could ever use.
Hello!
thank you ever so much from Russia!
Very good and intresting information.
All videos are great!
(I am sorry for my bad english)
Any chance of a future video explaining the need for and the concept and installation of AD/DA convertors?
I will always remember your advise about
“get it right at the source”
Best regards
Jeff
Great videos. I like your simple and straight to the point explanations. They have helped alot.
Thanks.
thanks ronan, i really like these videos, i’ve learned so much!
wow thank you so much!! very helpful!! i really appreciate the time you put into helping us beginners out!!
first of all thanks so much ronan really helpfull vids!! keep it up.
but would just like to say.
i am a fifteen year old musician from ireland. i have played music all my life. love it. i sing play guitar , bass, drums, and pinao.
i am a complete noob to this whole recording thing but have bin on the computer all day long looking at all this stuff and have learned loads. but i was wondering. being fifteen i rly dont have a huge amount of dosh to throw round. i am lookin to start recording my own music. are there any recomendations that you could give for a pre amp from about 100-200 euro. around 200 dolars.
if this is anything like playing guitar then i hope i can just upgrade my equipment as time goes bye.
thanks very much !!
up here at half 2 in the morniing wathin all your vids and taking notes !!
thanks
ps. sorry for leaving this twice i put the wrong email adress on the last one
keep it up man, i wish i could get some personal advice from you!!!
GOOD JOB!
Hi Ronan,
I love your videos and how you address the audience intended (that’s us!). I truly believe you’re helping us out in a huge way whilst staying very down to earth. I love it man!
p.s. Big blonds?!!! I kinda think what you meant by sayin’ that!
Greetings from The Netherlands.
Paul.
thank you so much for your time. you have a great console-side manner! i can’t tell you how many times i’ve allowed snobby attitudes to impede my learning. thank you for doing what you do. best of luck to you!
I would like to thank for the information you share with us, it’s really helpful.
I have a little question about my dinamic mic, it’s a SHURE SM58, when I use my set of KSM32 I have to set the phantom power on, can the SM58 get damaged if applied PP, the thing is that in my mixer there’s only room to either use or not use PP in all the tracks, I know it is a very silly question but I’m concerned about the best functioning of my SM58.
Thanks a lot for your help.
Ronan,
You the man, man. Many thanks. I just finished watching the first couple of episodes. and had to write to you before I continue. You are hitting me right where it counts, not too high not too low!
Smack in the Goldie-locks zone. I’ve been looking for this kind of guidance for ever.
Again, much gratitude.
D
Ok, so you got a decent preamp and a mic that suites your needs. But you still have to convert the analog signal to digital, and then you see people screwing the sound plugin the preamp in the line input of a cheap interface like a toneport, a pod, a m-audio or so. What’s the best way to send the signal you get from your preamp to your DAW? There’s this new trend that I don’t really trust of usb preamps like the Art tube stuff, kind of a preamp audio interface, other than an interface with any preamp built in. What’s your suggestion?
I love the A-Design’s Pacifica.
Loved the show. Quick Question: I use a Digidesign 003R, Even If I invest in a nice mic-pre such as the Pacifica, am I still losing some of the benefit of it by then going into an interface such as the one listed above? I have a decent mic collection. One of my favorites that i’ve been using a lot on acoustic gits lately is the Lauten Audio Oceanus. If I used this mic, into the pacifica, then into the 003r, is it worth it? Would It improve the sound that much since it’s still going into a digital interface?
Jeremiah, Yes, going through a high end mic pre and then into the line input of something like a 003 will improve the sound. Of course lower grade converters will harm the sound a little bit, but a great mic pre will sound better than the cheap ones in the 003 and make all your mics sound better.
well, I sold a keyboard and bought the pacifica mic pre. I have two questions, and they may seem stupid:
1. getting ready to do a drum session. I have the 003 and the pacifica, so 8 inputs. What should I use the pacifica on? Overheads-Snare/Kik- or Snare Top/ Snare Bottom. Just wondering. It’s my only ‘nice’ mic pre.
2. Could I output a stereo mix (with no plugs) into the pacifica? Would it make the mix sound ‘better’?
Thanks for any input you have on this.
Thank’s, great and very useful.Love it.
BBP
if anyone was wondering where to find the episode on the preamp reviews (finding one under $500) here is the link:
http://ronansrecordingshow.com/2009/10/3-mic-pres-under-500-black-lion-audio-true-systems-and-fmr-audio/
great videos by the way:-)