Do I Need A Mic Preamp?
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- It's often claimed that expensive mic preamps will take your recordings to the next level. But is that really true, or are you just wasting money that would be better spent elsewhere? And how can you know whether an external mic preamp will be any better than the ones built into your audio interface?
Sound On Sound Editor in Chief Sam Inglis helps you cut through the confusion in our video.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - 3 Reasons You Will Need A Preamp
01:43 - Need More Preamp Inputs
02:47 - Increase Input Signal Gain Level
05:15 - Will It Sound Better?
07:51 - Which Mic Preamp?
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#preamp #advice #explained - Hudba
Very good and accurate video. No one needs my advice but, before I spent $3000 on a mic and preamp (in this case for recording my singing voice, not voiceovers),
I bought a couple of hours at a recording studio that had the classic mics and excellent engineers I needed to really understand how the mic and preamp I had decided on would sound. I compared the mic to a collection of U67s and U87s. I knew the sound I was looking for (I listened to classic recordings of singers with a similar voice to my own and brought samples of those recordings). The mic and preamp combo added a very pleasing harmonic distortion in a studio environment that made mixing so much easier. Unfortunately cheaper preamps generally weren’t making much of a difference or their distortion characteristics were not suitable for a mic preamp. Cheaper mics were too sibilant for my voice. It may take $1000 or more to get a preamp that gives you the pleasing sound you’re looking for. Not everything has to be expensive to be good, but with some mic types and preamps, it probably will. For whatever it’s worth, I highly recommend booking a couple of hours at a well staffed studio to AB the gear you’re about to buy, or just bought, with “control” gear. Obviously you can’t always return mics, but you can return preamps. Anyway, after carefully choosing a mic and preamp beforehand, comparing them with the studios gear answered every question I had and was easily worth the $150 of studio time. I didn’t need advice,
I just needed to hear. I ended up buying a Vintech “Neve” style preamp that cost about $1,500 and a $1500 Soundelux mic (a U47 type). That was 10 years ago. I still use the same mic and preamp today. Not bad. Sorry for the long story!
This was the most coherent explanation of preamp workflow I have ever heard. Thank you.
Literally have never heard a better, or more realistic explanation!
Great video! As a music producer myself I think the "Do I need" is one of those questions which will never leave you for the rest of your life as a producer. You will always feel the need of something new :)
"You want to add an outboard mic preamp to get that liquid, 3D, solid, full, empty, thesaurus busting, magical sound that some mic preamps are supposed to have". That's exactly the one I'm looking for! Sadly, I can't seem to find it.
Get an Avalon
This was such a simple, no-frills, informative explanation. I can't give this enough praise. Thank you!
“The sound of moss trembling”
Very interesting and thorough. Thank you.
I always wanted to get at least 4 valve preamps for my digi001. I thought about buying them (well, that can be expensive) I thought about building a 4 to 6 valve preamp myself but never got to do it.
Anyway, I record my drums using 2 condenser mics in channels 1 and 2 and the rest of the mics are 57s or 58s directly to channels 3 to 8 (these are from the back pannel and aren't preamped).
My point here is that I can control the input gain from channels 1 and 2 and have a great input signal. But the 3 to 8 channels -without preamp setups- have very low inputs so I end up normalizing my tracks. I get a very good result in the dynamic range and I certainly don't need to buy or build microphone preamps. To me the normalize function is more than enough to get a killer drum sound so, I don't think I'll ever get preamps.
Douglas Adams would be proud :)
Very entertaining and informative, great video!
Love the "no bullshit" videos!
Quality video and explanation. Keep these awesome videos coming :)
You guys are how they say - “killing it”
Just getting into audio and have found this channel very helpful
This is the content the world needs!!!
Love a video that starts answering my question from the first second
Helpful video, clear answers.
As pub-gigging-for-fun amateur I have never understood the reason for mic preamps, so thx for the explanation and giving me the confidence to answer, "No".
External preamps aren't aimed at live musicians. They're more of a pro recording thing.
Your questionable production decisions about the melodica part?
Gold, Jerry, GOLD!!
Really Thanks! Your video helped me a lot!
You are potato starch Tuber man, I heard you in Slate VMS shootout, the songs in caged prisoner's voices still rings in my head whenever I see.
Sam is correct. Live band, drums or choir, you need more preamps. Especially demanding are drums & percussion, they need a mic preamp with larger input overload margin, more dBu so they do not clip. Some preamps have input pads that help with that problem. The room you record in, the instrument, the player and the mic you use are far more important than the mic preamp.
I would add, I if you have a ribbon microphone that doesn't want 48+ phantom power and your interface is global on/off, an external preamp will be useful.
Exactly, and if this pre amp have different setings of impedance it can change the response of a ribbon completely.
@@manobap yes if it wants to see 600 ohms vs 1800 or more having the ability to load down the microphone can be very beneficial
All ribbon mics that have a transformer (so everything after say 1970) will have no trouble with phantom power.
@@MxxRie that is not true I have a pair of oktovas that will pop if 48+ is put apon them. They were made in the 90's
Oktava
Well done mate! I enjoyed this! Thank you! 🇨🇦👍🏻
Thanks 👍
I love these videos! Sam Inglis is both informative and hilarious. Thanks SOS for being the best source of audio information out there :)
I love your videos! Thank you for being the best source of Logic Pro information out there!
All the other videos on this are so crappy. This one is exactly what i needed to hear! Thank you for this guys!
Excellent and BS free advice 👍🏻
This one should be pinned at the top of every music gear forums there is. Save a lot of people’s $ it will.
Great info! Top marks A+
This question has been busting my chops all day. I have an apogee duet and I’m getting ready to order an SSL 12. Both wildly different preamp options built into the audio interface. However I just ordered a UA 710 mic preamp. I thought it fitting because of the tube and digital options. But apogee offers very nice sounding preamps as it is. I really hope that the UAE is going to offer something more. SSL built-in preamps have true tones in my understanding but don’t offer any additional flavor. Not a bad thing, just looking to have different options. Any advice would be helpful
THIS VIDEO isn't getting enough visitors. Great Info!!!!
I always wondered if preamps would give vintage synths extra warmth and punch rather than having them go straight into a converter
Great info...thx.
Hi bro, does the Dynamite inline preamp works with studio condenser microphone ?
Would a mic preamp be good for mic’ing up a clarinet? Currently using a piezo barrel and curious if instead of a piezo pickup, using multiple mics into a preamp> power amp with lots of headroom into a cab of choice.
Is this pointless or should I just go the Keyboard amp route? Not really interested in having the whole signal going to the PA.
ROCK N ROLL!
i bought the antelope zen go interface and would like to add an external preamp from golden afe pre73jr do you reckon its necessary or they do are equal please advise
This is the difference between pro and noob seriously, and I recommend everyone watch this video as the first video to watch when starting to record!
For me I want to be shure abiut the calculus you do with db and dbu, have I to calculate the difference between max gain and max input dbu ? Thanks :-)
Great video. Funny and informative. Though I’m confused as to why the video is so off centre.
Great video thanks
If you own a dynamic mic like an SM7 or Ribbon mic, a Cloudlifter is a good idea.
.... for most audio interfaces, but some do not need it. Watch Julian Kraus's YT video on the Audient iD 4 and 14 for example. They do not need it.
Great vid as always, with a 1.5x, it’s even better
You're really cool! Cheers and thanks!
excellent!!! thanks
Good video ----- well done.
Thank you
Thanks. You just saved me lots of money. Will buy an SOS to celebrate.
This guy drinks tea.
Great Magazine by the way !!!!
Thank you!
Great information, and I was really excited - until you mentioned "IF you have the mic pointed at the right instrument and musician." As a drummer, I was hoping your information on preamps would include discussion of a talent-boosting module. ;)
Love the sardonic tone aimed at the entire army of internet insistance I need a mic preamp ... Thank you
I have a Blue Nessie USB mic that i have in an adapter that hooks up to a tablet. I rap, and was told i need an amp. Is there anything compatible or whats your advice?
excellent.
Thanks
I do just voice over, so I guess I need only a microphone connected to an audio interface via XLR. It has already some preamp. Then EQ, nothing else, and I am a great speaker. Other things or effects, might be in post.
Do I need a recording magazine? LOL
If it comes in the form of videos and you watch them, probably yes.
Much better on YT than the advert heavy rag it used to be
So I have a scarlett solo
and a Aston Spirit microphone. isnt the solo a preamp? Or am I shooting myself in the foot having a good mic with a smaller interface? any info would be much appreciated.
well, there is no right or wrong answer... if you want a preamp sounding better than that of your scarlett you have to invest a lot of money - and you should be aware that the difference is small. So small that 99% of all humans will not hear it... but if you hear it, you will want one, and that's the beginning of a very expensive journey, because if you hear those nuances, you will want to change all of your gear into high end items. But, again, most people do not hear anything of this, so the best you can do is: rent some high end gear and test it against your equipment, than you will know wether it is worth the investment FOR YOU!
@@fiddleronthebike I agree. it can go down a slippery slope with that. I was thinking just getting a cloudlifter instead of a 900 apollo etc.
One most important thing than the pre amp on a interface is the quality of the conversion analog > digital.
Get an Audient ID14, good enough pre amp and conversion
You can actually use both a valve preamp and the solo-I checked this with Scarlett.
It depends on the quality of the preamp in the audio interface. Some are not very good. Many are pretty goo and some (eg Audient) are excellent.
...moss quivering... wow.. this guy is entertaining! I think this new "Sound on Sound" "megazeen" or whatever, idea he has has real potential to catch on if enough people hear about it. Although, im not sure. If it uses flattened dead trees like comes out of grampa's old "facts machine" it might struggle. I'll definitely look fornhis youtube channel though. I loved this video
Daaaaaaaaaaamn, he said thesaurus busting, very well said.
Moss trembling would be in the background of a johan Segeborn guitar video.
I have a regular Lavalier microphone but when I plug it in to the aux of my radio, it doesn't hear the lavalier. Suggestions?
I am not a musician. I just want to hear people in the back seat of my taxi. I have a Plexiglas barrier because of Covid. Amazon doesn't have an easy fix. I have a Lavalier and a mini boombox
Thanks you just talked me off the ledge
sir I have a very serious question sir, do my Focusrite scarlete 2i2 3rd has a good preamp?
No
@@robertbradley3320 We tried this cheap focusrite 2i2 3rd gen with Vintage Neumann U67 Tube Condenser Microphone - $16,000 Sounds phenomenal...
it’s decent, but there are better out there. don’t let that stop you from making good music though :)
Yes you do
I got a Focusrite ISA One purely because I have more money than sense.
oh man it made me laugh :D :D
Is that a joke or do you really own it? I wanted to buy one because the seller was basically giving it away for cheap, the thing looked robust and people were recommending it for "the sound"
@@Angelo-vb6dg Hi. I really do have one and I use it for my vocals. The reason I made it sound like a joke is because I only record myself in my home studio and it really is a great pro piece of gear. So if you can get one cheap, go for it. Ciao.
@@Scotlanz Someone beat me to it :'( it was just at $250, really wanted to try it to check if it really improved anything... At that price I could just resell if I didn't like it. But thanks for the recommendation.
I wish this guy was my college lecturer LOL
Do I need to go to a shop to buy a mic preamp? Should I shower before? Or maybe after shower the preamp? Please answer, I NEED TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!
Ah, yes, the warmth of field mice scratching their knees... perfection.
SMALLER DRUMKIT! 😂😂😂😂😂
that was funny
Nail the Mix !! Hilarious !!!
❤️
You must be using a genuine Neve 1073 for this Presentation… 😊
Fieldmouse scratching its knees 😆 thats wild
Just wondering ...... do i need a mic pre-amp? :-)
You Do Not Need a Shower. It’s been 3 years and I still Bring home ladies from the pub.
I look forward to these videos now. 😂
I think there’s one more thing about mic preamps - input impedance. Different types of mic preamps have different input impedance so they load a mic differently and so they affect microphone’s behavior in frequency characteristics and in dynamics at specific frequencies. Even some of the classic mic preamps have input impedance switch, so user can better match it with output impedance of a microphone, and so change mic behavior. Sam said that most mic preamps in their level comfort zone will sound the same. In my opinion it’s not true. Switching input impedance can really make a difference in sound and it’s not that subtle as you may think.
Can't get enough of British teeth. Malcolm Dome was the best.
500th Thunbs Up.
Only if you want to record.
Pre amp or compressor?
Rico Phillips Depends on what you are doing.. I have a compressor, but do not always use it. More of a “ nice to have” in case you do need one.
Vocal’s! Lol
A compressor is great for vocals. I plan to get the ART MPA II. It's an optical compressor with a tube gain stage. It's $359.00 @Sweetwater.com
Focusrite makes some ridiculously good equipment. Those things are great! A little spendy but well worth it.
Rico Phillips So the ART Pro MPA II is a 2 channel tube preamp with variable voltage. The ART PRO VLA II is leveling amplifier era / compressor
Which mic pre amp? A mixing desk. ☺️
Moss Trembling
I feel like you found you reason of existence
nice... fuzz box lol
Hahha. This is on its way to praising Brando. What plants crave.
Keeping in mind that "The right setup" is always subjective and heavily dependent on the context.
do I need a mic preamp.. YES..
I feel personally attacked by that melodica comment
good man yerself
'Or a smaller drum kit' ...
DOI
This bloke needs a personality
i was so shocked to see John malcovich ... I thought it was you...
This dude needs a de-esser
Do you have a mic? Then yes.
Getting married soon,Bro in law(marriage celebrant)wants a wireless mic)for the officiating.
I can for $42 buy a cheap ass mic with a 3.5 jack receiver,if this plugged into my vox practice amp and switched from line to mic mode,will it work?
PS Ryuchi Sakamoto would be interested in the sound of moths cowering😉😅
I barely understood anything so I guess its too early for a mic preamp for me xD
why is everything about recordings and vsts and interfaces What happened to doing it in front of people.Anyway surely they can just do it close proximity to amp.oh dear
not if you're recording a snare with a 414 you don't
His mouth says no but his continually nodding head says yes, go buy that expensive preamp! ;)
Mic pre amp are a thing of the past ,get a apollo and call it a day,I listen to test after test no different then the preamp and if it is ,it’s so minor you have to listen a 1000x time to tell the different ,trust me save ya money buy a plugin I was in this same boat looking at tons of videos almost pull the trigger on the Avalon glad I didn’t
Which plug-in did you buy?
@@DestinyTownes fabfilter is good. especially their pro-Q 3
@@Otondabeat thanks!
i agree with you, except if you wanna use any other outboard gear like an EQ or compressor, you need a mic pre to go into that first. otherwise i’m with you as someone who has a mic pre, two compressors and an Apollo interface lol. the Unison plugins are hella nice to use when tracking with zero latency
The difference is only subtle is your talent is subtle.
6:00 “Pretty much any mic preamp, if you operate it within its comfort zone, will sound the same”… is about the time you should realize no one should be listening to this dude.
Preamps, not driven hard at all, add density and impart an EQ curve… some “soak up” transients or sibilance, others offer a mid-boost. Some sound soft, some sound “hard” and yes, some sound cheap and some sound expensive.