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Asked by: Yamel Tosina
home and garden home entertainingDo I need a preamp for my mic?
Last Updated: 25th March, 2020
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Correspondingly, what does a preamp do for a microphone?
A microphone preamp is simply some sort of device that amplifies (makes louder) the microphone signal. Microphones generally have a very low, unusable output. Plugging them into a microphone preamp allows you to bring that level up to a usable (line) level. Any device that has a microphone input has a mic preamp.
Likewise, why is a preamp necessary? Years ago preamps were necessary as there was a standardized voltage output below 1 volt for most sources and most amps require more than that for full output. Today most sources output much higher voltages that can drive amps.
Thereof, do I need a mic preamp if I have a mixer?
The preamp would plug into the TRS (Line in) input on your mixer, that way it would not go through the built in preamp. Preamps, even expensive ones are unfortunately not magic devices that make everything sound awesome, so no, at this point you do not need one.
Does preamp affect sound quality?
Conclusion. The sound contribution of preamps is not so much in its frequency response but in the texture it imparts on the sound. However, a preamp shapes the sound to a much lesser degree than one would think. Usually, its sound character only becomes obvious at high gain settings or when you drive it into distortion