Choosing a Microphone Pre Amp
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What is a Microphone Pre Amp
A microphone pre amp in its simplest form takes the signal from a microphone and amplifies it. When a microphone picks up sound, it produces a very weak signal that is useless for recording purposes. A microphone pre amp boosts the signal until it reaches a useful level.
Microphone pre amps also can serve several side functions, such as providing phantom power to a condenser microphone or providing EQ, Compression, and other built in effects, although these functions are not strictly part of the Mic Pre Amp itself..
Often Mic Pre Amps are included on mixing boards and consoles, though outboard microphone pre amps are often of higher quality than built in microphone pre amps, particularly when compared to barebones mixing boards. On the other hand, some high end consoles come with fantastic microphone pre amps.
Potential Features
Tube Pre Amps
A tube pre amp uses vacuums tubes instead of solid state components to amplify the sound. This can produce a warmer sound often at the cost of distorting the audio signal. Often the tubes are replaceable and sometimes interchangeable, much like high end tube guitar amplifiers.
Solid State Pre Amps
A solid state pre amp does not use vacuums tubes to amplify the sound. These generally produce a cleaner sound, depending on the model.
Phantom Power
Almost all microphone pre amps come with phantom power, which allows them to power condenser microphones that would not work otherwise.
Dual Channel/Stereo
Dual Channel or Stereo microphone pre amps are common and useful if you play to record a stereo picture and you do not want to buy two pre amps of the same model.
Also Known As
- Mic Pre Amp
- Mic Pre-Amp
- Microphone Pre Amplifier
- mic preamp
- preamp
