i also love this guy. we are now a e-love triangle. and now i hear the music from the 80s playing (in my head) every time i see you falling i get down doo doo do do do do
This is a really great introduction to preamps, and the only thing I felt was missing was audio examples of the ways in which different preamps affect the sound of various inputs. I know that's probably beyond the scope of what you aimed to do here, but I think a companion video with examples like that would be instructive in a very helpful way.
I’ve recently discovered Sweetwater tutorial videos and have had a multitude of questions answered, that I’ve wondered about for years. Thank you guys so much for your expertise and excellent teaching skills.
I've been having so much trouble with the particular setup I'm trying to work with and I've been lost for a handful of months at this point. I've watched, I've sat through, I've studied hours upon hours of content on a blogs, on videos, on PDF file user manuals and I have never heard this explained so clearly before seeing this video. I feel like I learned almost everything that this man needs to know, referring to myself, and yet I still want to find out more if that makes sense. Great job, another banger from sweetwater!
Just discovered these. Very good indeed. Just the right amount of 'tech' talk and an easy pace. I don't mind learning by listening, but others might like a graphic or two along the way.
Even thought I am not on that field I found your explanatins easy to understand. Next I am going to look on your channel for information about amps and pre amps for home theater. Thank you very much for educating me.
I can always count on you guys for the most accurate information when it comes down to this information.!!! I'm still affected by your guys customer service thank you so much and please next time when I purchase something don't be so stingy with 🍭🍬🍭😉 thank you 😊
Which is preferred? Do I need to hook up a female XLR to Balanced TRS 1/4 inch cord to my mic to hook up into the preamp? Or is my Female to Male XLR cord from my mic to my preamp good enough?
There's no difference. You need a 3 conductor cable and connectors. The only reason you would need to use a xlr to trs adaptor is if you don't have an xlr input.
Hey, Paul! Thanks for your interest. Unless you’re using a microphone, a preamp would probably not make sense in your setup. When listening to music your audio source will be sent out of your DAC most likely at line level and is able to connect directly to the amplifier. If you think there is a reason you might need a preamp in your setup, though, feel free to message me and we can go through the specifics of your equipment and figure out the best setup! I hope this helps. Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1793, connor_smith@sweetwater.com
Many HTRs on the current market offer preamp outputs as well as speaker outputs. These are superb for hooking up active speaker units or an electronic crossover/speaker control unit. Keep that in mind if considering a preamp purchase, typically they are MUCH more expensive without adding all that much overall quality in the process. HTR with jackpack output offers amplification preamps do not/more options upon install.
I have a Mixer that works well with all my Instruments except for a Roland Octapad SPD-30 which is too quiet, or buzzes. Should I use a Pre-Amp before my Mixer?
Hey! This is a really helpful video. Thanks for explaining so clearly. I’m using Rode NT1 condenser microphone and Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface along with Cubase 5 as my home studio setup. Do I need any additional preamp? Really appreciate your suggestions. Thanks a lot!
Hey there Sweetwater. I hope that this finds you Well & Happy too. Question for you: I have 6 Loudspeakers that are all 4 ohm impedance. I have also found an 8000 watt Pre-Amp that is a 6 Channel Receiver. Am I going to be okay with using this to drive a set of 6, 4 ohm speakers? I've become so confused with Impedance, watts required, etc. that I don't quite know what to do here. Can you please help me with this? Thank You in advance...
Hello, shineon7641! So your question sounds like it’s actually in regard to a stereo receiver and not pertaining to studio preamps at all? If this is the case then I wouldn’t expect your receiver to be any where near 8000 watts; likely more close to 800 with a spec of around 100 Watts per channel. If this sounds right then we just need to confirm what kind of speakers you’re trying to connect to this receiver. If they’re also surround speakers for your home theater then you’re likely fine and don’t need to really worry about impedance on this level at all because they’re all designed to play nice together. We can dive much deeper than this and be far more specific if we know your application and the brands and models of the gear you’re using; Give us a shout and we can discuss in more depth! Thanks for the interest! James Masterson, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1641, james_masterson@sweetwater.com
@@sweetwater Thank You so much James. I believe that I will put together an email for you, keep it as short as possible and see what you think, once you have some knowledge of my situation. Thank You again Cheers...
The average newbies will ask the same question. If all they have is an amplifier. Do I want a preamp? Or do I want a signal processor. I'm surprised you did not speak on that question. I heard it every day when I was selling audio equipment. Almost forgot, can i just use my mixer ?
Great review! Question? I have a Yamaha MG 166cx. For some reason, when I plug microphones in, they are always on. And it doesn’t matter if I push the on off button, the microphone stays on. But, I can turn the sound off with the PFL button. Also, the faders don’t turn the volume up or down, I can only control the volume with the master. Do you know what this means?
Another example could be a vinyl player that emits very low signal. It needs a preamp to boost it. Most home Hifi stereos comes with Phono input and a built in preamp.
Two questions: 1) If you keep your preamp at zero, does that mean that there is no preamp coloring whatsoever, and a line-level signal can be connected to this input without any coloring, in unity gain? And at this point, all preamps sound the same? 2) If I record a mic without cranking up the preamp, and just increase the gain in a DAW, Do I get less preamp saturation, but more noise?
Hi Paulius, great question! To answer your questions in order: 1) Preamps always impart their color onto the source coming through it. If you use a Neve 1073, even at low gain, the signal is still passing the two transformers and myriad of other components in the preamp. Pushing a preamp towards saturation does impart more color, but the signal is never free of the color the preamp provides. If you want a choice between clean and color you may want to check out the fantastic Camden EC1 by Cranborne Audio. Allows super clean pass through and has a variable toggle for saturation and color. 2) A low cranked preamp will have less color, as discussed above. Cranking the gain in your DAW will raise the noise floor of your entire input chain (preamp, power supply, converter, bit depth, etc.). It is always encouraged to record at a healthy level. But with the dynamic range of modern 24bit converters, a healthy level starts at -18dB or so, so you generally don’t have to slam a preamp anymore unless desired! If you want to dig in deeper, give me a call! Drake Sobehrad, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3271, drake_sobehrad@sweetwater.com
Thank you for this video! Last month I bought an audio line CM4 microphone for classical guitar recordings to plug it straight into the camera, now I find out that it does not work without a preamplifier because it is a CARDIOID CONDENSER MICROPHONE. Can I reconnect the preamp to the camera's external mic jack?? (otherwise it becomes too complicated) If this is true than which (not so expensive, less than $80) preamp would you recommend? Kindly, Peter
Hey, Papa DJ Whit. Thanks for hitting us up! There are tons of great powered speaker options for you on the market. What you need will really depend on environments you plan on performing in. The microphone will vary the same way depending on what you are planning on doing. Give us a call at Sweetwater and we can talk the details and get you all setup. Thanks, Grant Embury, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1647, Grant_embury@Sweetwater.com
Loved the video. I was wondering whether you could share your thoughts on a hi-fi system that uses a tube preamp with a solid state amp. Do you still get the same harmonics with such a system as a pure tube setup? Cheers.
Hello, great question. This video is mostly referring to microphone preamps, which are a little bit different in both form and function than hi-fi systems. The only way to objectively answer your question would be to run a neutral signal such as pink noise through your system and measure the results with both a solid state amp and a tube amp to compare. We sell software such as iZotope Insight that could be used for this type of measurement. If I were to take a guess, you will likely not get the same amount of harmonics through the solid state amp. Thanks! Jason Filloramo, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1281, Jason_Filloramo@sweetwater.com
Great! Very well Explained I am a Singer & would like to buy a good condenser Microphone to record on my Laptop or iPhone. whish Which Interface will be best in the budget, as, with SM7-b type of Microphone. I am thinking of buying AKG P120. condenser mic! but a little confused about INTERFACE for good enough Fantom Power 48v. Please respond soonest!
So essentially you use a preamp to boost/colorize your sound? And rather than going directly to a computer or PA you use the preamp which can be a mixing board/interface, right?
@Sweetwater I have powered pa speakers I got from you . I'd like to use them in my movie theater. What kind of preamp or what ever do I need to hook my DVD player up to control the sound??
Hey there! You’re only going to need a transmitter with your microphone when using a wireless microphone system. The transmitter will send to its corresponding receiver, and the receiver will then be run into your preamp. If you have a wired microphone (most commonly used in studio settings), then you’ll just plug the microphone directly into the preamp with an XLR cable. There won’t be any type of transmitter needed. I hope this helps! Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3230, nick_pasquino@sweetwater.com
Which one is right for me.? I have an audient id14 interface and Audiotechnica At2035 microphone. But I am planning to buy Lewitt 540 or 640 ts mic. So which one should I go for.?
Thanks for your interest! There isn't a right or wrong answer here, especially considering the 540 and 640 are fairly neutral - you could pair it up with just about any preamp depending on the sound and characteristics you want to achieve. They both require phantom power and don't require especially high gain. I would be happy to compare options and find out that would be a good fit for you! Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext 1793, connor_smith@sweetwater.com
Thank you for teaching me first about the preamp. I will be shopping for good preamp. I would like to do some voice narration to create my first audiobook. Can SweetWater help me choose a bundle for beginners?
Our team would be glad to look into preamp options with you! When you have a moment, please give us a call at (800) 222-4700 or email us at sales@sweetwater.com. You may also visit www.sweetwater.com/about/contact Thanks for the message!
Hey, I really like the song playing in the background at the beginning of this video. I can't find it in the description or the comments, I also tried shazam with no luck. Please let me know it would be much appreciated.!
Hey, Herby! The main difference is the output gain on either mic. The sm7b generally requires some sort of inline mic preamp, like a Cloudlifter. The sm7db on the other hand has a preamp built directly into it. For most talking/streaming/podcasting applications, I would recommend going with the sm7db. It’s less required cabling and equipment, and will essentially work right out of the box. I hope this helps! Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3230, nick_pasquino@sweetwater.com
Why do they keep being referenced as mic preamps, and always microphones are mentioned, making it seem as that’s the only device type that requires them?
Great question. I was hoping to learn something about preamp usage with guitars or other instruments. I knew a guy that had a customized Fender Jaguar with Humbuckers and a preamp built in. His Fender got VanHalen type of sounds. He was the guitarist for a band called " Driver" about 30 years ago.
Because almost everything that can be connected to it are a certain type of microphone. Vocal mics are a given, but guitar pickups can be considered as a type of microphone, since they take sound and turn them into electrical signal.
Uhh.. because .. 99% of the time you use it with a mic.. instruments go straight into guitar amps bass amps.. pedal etc. Each have their own preamp.. acoustic guitars have built in pre amps.. when you go buy a bass amp, or an acoustic guitar.. or anything that has a pre amp.. are you really looking for the pre amp specs???? No you are not you just what your instrument sound period.. but when it comes to recording, specifically with microphones (this why you would get a good pre amp) you start looking for low noise pre amps. Every other pre amp out there is not as relevant.
Hi there! Not necessarily. However, it is recommended to use a re-amp box when using effects pedals as they are instrument level, and not line level. The Eventide Mixing Link can work as a routing box to use pedals with an interface, or the various other Re-amp boxes that we carry. Mickey Cushing, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3024, Mickey_Cushing@Sweetwater.com
I’m glad the video was helpful for you. If you’re looking for a replacement power supply, we can help with that. We may not have it in stock but we should be able to order it in for you from Behringer if needed, or get you a suitable alternative. Feel free to reach out to your Sales Engineer to get that set up! Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1793, connor_smith@sweetwater.com
You could run an XLR (F) to TRS cable from the Line O/P jack on your 1073 to one of the stereo inputs on the back of the Big Six (the 5L input for example). Then on the Big Six, you could press the mono button on the 5L 6R channel. That would get it into the Big Six in a pretty standard way. There are more ways to do it, but that would be the most "normal" way.
Hey Charlie, good question! It is super easy! Simply take the output of the Neve into one of the TRS inputs on one of the first four channels of the BigSix (you may need an adapter cable). Then press the ‘Line’ button on that channel. That brings the sensitivity down, giving you plenty of headroom to work with! If you have more questions about the BigSix, give me a shout. I use mine every day! Drake Sobehrad, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3271, drake_sobehrad@sweetwater.com
Hi! I am a trumpet player, i'm using pedals and I want to have a low noise output so I can use my pedalboard for live electronic setups and also for sampling, I am probably going to purchase one shure sm7b for live (cause I feel it is a good mic that maintains certain sonic qualities of the trumpet), I recently tried some condenser mics and I quite like the color of the Neumann mics, they truly make wind instruments sound great, but im not sure if I dare to use a Neumann tlm 102 for live settings cause of the sensitivity of those mics. In the case of using both a shure sm7b or a Neumann tlm (102) what would be the best preamp setup? (ideally of course I would buy one preamp that I can trust on being sturdy enough for the road but also be great for my home studio)
Hey, it's my sales engineer! Nitish is awesome, always super helpful and knowledgeable.
😁👍
He is Indian!wohh!! Proud!
Nitish not Natish 😁😁😁
I want Natish to be my sales engineer too :(
@@TSC369 corrected 🙂
Keep making tutorials like this about gear and your sales will skyrocket.
Trust me.
I think they’re aware of that.
I dont trust you
@ Hog man has spoken... We don't trust you sir.
i'm here to increase the distrust of you
This guy is such a great teacher love these
i also love this guy. we are now a e-love triangle. and now i hear the music from the 80s playing (in my head) every time i see you falling i get down doo doo do do do do
@i Jamguitar ..yes?
Sweetwater has my business ever since I have been made aware of them. HIGHLY competitive prices and courteous and great sales folks.
No aggression ! At all...
Yeah. Greg Lanning is awesome!
This is a really great introduction to preamps, and the only thing I felt was missing was audio examples of the ways in which different preamps affect the sound of various inputs. I know that's probably beyond the scope of what you aimed to do here, but I think a companion video with examples like that would be instructive in a very helpful way.
This was so clear and very very helpful. Thank you for your direct and no frills style.
I’ve recently discovered Sweetwater tutorial videos and have had a multitude of questions answered, that I’ve wondered about for years.
Thank you guys so much for your expertise and excellent teaching skills.
Never knew Sweetwater was so on top of it. These videos are awesome.
What a tremendous presentation: clear, simple and accessible. Thanks ! I’m now well informed.
Great explanation. I find recording equipment really confusing so videos like these that are simple and straightforward are very helpful.
I've been having so much trouble with the particular setup I'm trying to work with and I've been lost for a handful of months at this point. I've watched, I've sat through, I've studied hours upon hours of content on a blogs, on videos, on PDF file user manuals and I have never heard this explained so clearly before seeing this video. I feel like I learned almost everything that this man needs to know, referring to myself, and yet I still want to find out more if that makes sense. Great job, another banger from sweetwater!
Nice! Thanks for making the water clearer. Sweet sweet 💎
Just discovered these. Very good indeed. Just the right amount of 'tech' talk and an easy pace. I don't mind learning by listening, but others might like a graphic or two along the way.
Thank you! 😎🙌
Fantastic tutorial... Nitish reminded me of my Physics professor in college. Keep at it, Nitish. You've got the flair for it.
I already knew most of this, but it was presented so well I stayed and watched. Great job!
A superb presentation by a knowledgeable and gifted communicator. Thank you very much.
Well explained! "I actually understood everything he said."
Thank you for placing the first stepping stone to get me across the river.
Had a great experience ordering stuff from these guys
really like this dude. not pretentious, not so funny. smart, and practicale
Very well written, very knowledgable! Learned a lot!
Incredibly helpful, clear and concise.
That was really informative Nitish, thankyou so much, I've learnt so much today
Sweetwater - thank you for all of the great videos - very helpful!!
😊👍
Very clear and usable guidelines. I'm much more informed than I was before coming here. Thanks!
Even thought I am not on that field I found your explanatins easy to understand. Next I am going to look on your channel for information about amps and pre amps for home theater. Thank you very much for educating me.
I can always count on you guys for the most accurate information when it comes down to this information.!!! I'm still affected by your guys customer service thank you so much and please next time when I purchase something don't be so stingy with 🍭🍬🍭😉 thank you 😊
Love SWEETWATER ! Greg is my sales engineer and he’s awesome.
Cristal clear explanation, keep that good work !!
Which is preferred? Do I need to hook up a female XLR to Balanced TRS 1/4 inch cord to my mic to hook up into the preamp? Or is my Female to Male XLR cord from my mic to my preamp good enough?
There's no difference. You need a 3 conductor cable and connectors. The only reason you would need to use a xlr to trs adaptor is if you don't have an xlr input.
Very good and clean explanation, thank you!
I have passive bookshelf speakers, dac, and amp for personal office music. Does a preamp add any value?
Hey, Paul! Thanks for your interest. Unless you’re using a microphone, a preamp would probably not make sense in your setup. When listening to music your audio source will be sent out of your DAC most likely at line level and is able to connect directly to the amplifier. If you think there is a reason you might need a preamp in your setup, though, feel free to message me and we can go through the specifics of your equipment and figure out the best setup!
I hope this helps.
Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1793, connor_smith@sweetwater.com
Many HTRs on the current market offer preamp outputs as well as speaker outputs. These are superb for hooking up active speaker units or an electronic crossover/speaker control unit. Keep that in mind if considering a preamp purchase, typically they are MUCH more expensive without adding all that much overall quality in the process. HTR with jackpack output offers amplification preamps do not/more options upon install.
I have a Mixer that works well with all my Instruments except for a Roland Octapad SPD-30 which is too quiet, or buzzes. Should I use a Pre-Amp before my Mixer?
Finally, an explanation that makes sense!
Thanks Nitish! You have poured great clarity and easily understandable to a beginner too!
Thanks again..
Is software based preamp ie vst3 comparable to hardwares based preamps? Pros and Cons? 😊
I knew they were official when I heard that awesome beat in the background
Hey! This is a really helpful video. Thanks for explaining so clearly.
I’m using Rode NT1 condenser microphone and Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface along with Cubase 5 as my home studio setup. Do I need any additional preamp? Really appreciate your suggestions. Thanks a lot!
your Scarlet solo already has one :3
Great we need more studio lesson .
Good job Nitish!
Great video. Now I have a better understanding of Pre-Amps, and microphones. Thank you .
Great Video! Thanks for all the helpful info!
Excellent tutorial. Thank you! Sweetwater rules!
Wow this video really helped me realize I am WAY in over my head...This is really might take me years to understand lol
Hey there Sweetwater. I hope that this finds you Well & Happy too. Question for you: I have 6 Loudspeakers that are all 4 ohm impedance. I have also found an 8000 watt Pre-Amp that is a 6 Channel Receiver. Am I going to be okay with using this to drive a set of 6, 4 ohm speakers? I've become so confused with Impedance, watts required, etc. that I don't quite know what to do here. Can you please help me with this? Thank You in advance...
Hello, shineon7641! So your question sounds like it’s actually in regard to a stereo receiver and not pertaining to studio preamps at all? If this is the case then I wouldn’t expect your receiver to be any where near 8000 watts; likely more close to 800 with a spec of around 100 Watts per channel. If this sounds right then we just need to confirm what kind of speakers you’re trying to connect to this receiver. If they’re also surround speakers for your home theater then you’re likely fine and don’t need to really worry about impedance on this level at all because they’re all designed to play nice together. We can dive much deeper than this and be far more specific if we know your application and the brands and models of the gear you’re using; Give us a shout and we can discuss in more depth!
Thanks for the interest!
James Masterson, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1641, james_masterson@sweetwater.com
@@sweetwater
Thank You so much James. I believe that I will put together an email for you, keep it as short as possible and see what you think, once you have some knowledge of my situation. Thank You again Cheers...
Wow, this is SUPER helpful!
We're glad you found it so helpful! 😎🤘
Thank you for the clear information. Worth of watching!
Great Explaination
What is it
Why u need it
Scenerios
Bit of a pre terms for better understanding
Well done
The average newbies will ask the same question. If all they have is an amplifier.
Do I want a preamp? Or do I want a signal processor. I'm surprised you did not speak on that question. I heard it every day when I was selling audio equipment. Almost forgot, can i just use my mixer ?
Great review!
Question? I have a Yamaha MG 166cx. For some reason, when I plug microphones in, they are always on. And it doesn’t matter if I push the on off button, the microphone stays on. But, I can turn the sound off with the PFL button. Also, the faders don’t turn the volume up or down, I can only control the volume with the master. Do you know what this means?
My fav sales guy!
Great video !
Another example could be a vinyl player that emits very low signal. It needs a preamp to boost it. Most home Hifi stereos comes with Phono input and a built in preamp.
I was expecting a different accent. Thank you so much for this.
Bought a lot of stuff from Sweetwater. Never heard of this guy !
Do you live in India?
@@atisanskari9814 same question
Two questions:
1) If you keep your preamp at zero, does that mean that there is no preamp coloring whatsoever, and a line-level signal can be connected to this input without any coloring, in unity gain? And at this point, all preamps sound the same?
2) If I record a mic without cranking up the preamp, and just increase the gain in a DAW, Do I get less preamp saturation, but more noise?
Hi Paulius, great question! To answer your questions in order: 1) Preamps always impart their color onto the source coming through it. If you use a Neve 1073, even at low gain, the signal is still passing the two transformers and myriad of other components in the preamp. Pushing a preamp towards saturation does impart more color, but the signal is never free of the color the preamp provides. If you want a choice between clean and color you may want to check out the fantastic Camden EC1 by Cranborne Audio. Allows super clean pass through and has a variable toggle for saturation and color. 2) A low cranked preamp will have less color, as discussed above. Cranking the gain in your DAW will raise the noise floor of your entire input chain (preamp, power supply, converter, bit depth, etc.). It is always encouraged to record at a healthy level. But with the dynamic range of modern 24bit converters, a healthy level starts at -18dB or so, so you generally don’t have to slam a preamp anymore unless desired!
If you want to dig in deeper, give me a call!
Drake Sobehrad, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3271, drake_sobehrad@sweetwater.com
@@sweetwater thank you!
Excellent explanation!
Great video man, So If I have a receiver I love everything about but need more bass coming out of the speakers, A preamp will help me get there ?
Excellent tutorial. I was desperately looking for it. I just started looking at the sound as important as video. Just bought some equipment.
Thank you for this video!
Last month I bought an audio line CM4 microphone for classical guitar recordings to plug it straight into the camera,
now I find out that it does not work without a preamplifier because it is a CARDIOID CONDENSER MICROPHONE.
Can I reconnect the preamp to the camera's external mic jack?? (otherwise it becomes too complicated)
If this is true than which (not so expensive, less than $80) preamp would you recommend?
Kindly,
Peter
Im starting my DJ career and have purchased the DDJ 3 Serato control board. What pre amp speakers and microphone do you suggest I get?
Hey, Papa DJ Whit. Thanks for hitting us up! There are tons of great powered speaker options for you on the market. What you need will really depend on environments you plan on performing in. The microphone will vary the same way depending on what you are planning on doing. Give us a call at Sweetwater and we can talk the details and get you all setup.
Thanks,
Grant Embury, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1647, Grant_embury@Sweetwater.com
Loved the video. I was wondering whether you could share your thoughts on a hi-fi system that uses a tube preamp with a solid state amp. Do you still get the same harmonics with such a system as a pure tube setup? Cheers.
Hello, great question. This video is mostly referring to microphone preamps, which are a little bit different in both form and function than hi-fi systems. The only way to objectively answer your question would be to run a neutral signal such as pink noise through your system and measure the results with both a solid state amp and a tube amp to compare. We sell software such as iZotope Insight that could be used for this type of measurement. If I were to take a guess, you will likely not get the same amount of harmonics through the solid state amp.
Thanks!
Jason Filloramo, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1281, Jason_Filloramo@sweetwater.com
Great video and well explained. Thanks, Natish.
Thank you for this video guys!
Great! Very well Explained I am a Singer & would like to buy a good condenser Microphone to record on my Laptop or iPhone. whish Which Interface will be best in the budget, as, with SM7-b type of Microphone. I am thinking of buying AKG P120. condenser mic! but a little confused about INTERFACE for good enough Fantom Power 48v. Please respond soonest!
So essentially you use a preamp to boost/colorize your sound? And rather than going directly to a computer or PA you use the preamp which can be a mixing board/interface, right?
What is the intro/background music called,
@Sweetwater I have powered pa speakers I got from you . I'd like to use them in my movie theater. What kind of preamp or what ever do I need to hook my DVD player up to control the sound??
SO HELPFUL. Thank you!
Thank you, for sharing these precious knowledge 😊👍
Thanks alot
I'm looking for a video on how to connect everything together to hook up to my pc. The EVRE20
If I have a preamp and want to record, do I still need an audio transmitter?
Hey there! You’re only going to need a transmitter with your microphone when using a wireless microphone system. The transmitter will send to its corresponding receiver, and the receiver will then be run into your preamp. If you have a wired microphone (most commonly used in studio settings), then you’ll just plug the microphone directly into the preamp with an XLR cable. There won’t be any type of transmitter needed.
I hope this helps!
Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3230, nick_pasquino@sweetwater.com
Which one is right for me.? I have an audient id14 interface and Audiotechnica At2035 microphone. But I am planning to buy Lewitt 540 or 640 ts mic. So which one should I go for.?
Thanks for your interest! There isn't a right or wrong answer here, especially considering the 540 and 640 are fairly neutral - you could pair it up with just about any preamp depending on the sound and characteristics you want to achieve. They both require phantom power and don't require especially high gain. I would be happy to compare options and find out that would be a good fit for you!
Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext 1793, connor_smith@sweetwater.com
Nice to see a marathi man there at sweetwater. 👍👍👍👍
Nitish!!! epic video!!
Very very clearly explained. Thanks
Thank you for teaching me first about the preamp. I will be shopping for good preamp. I would like to do some voice narration to create my first audiobook. Can SweetWater help me choose a bundle for beginners?
Our team would be glad to look into preamp options with you! When you have a moment, please give us a call at (800) 222-4700 or email us at sales@sweetwater.com. You may also visit www.sweetwater.com/about/contact
Thanks for the message!
Super useful! Thanks for the excellent explanation!
Hey, I really like the song playing in the background at the beginning of this video. I can't find it in the description or the comments, I also tried shazam with no luck. Please let me know it would be much appreciated.!
Can we just use only microphone & preamp for recording vocal?
What is the difference between Shure SM7B and Sm7DB build preamp which one is better for a UA-camr?
Hey, Herby! The main difference is the output gain on either mic. The sm7b generally requires some sort of inline mic preamp, like a Cloudlifter. The sm7db on the other hand has a preamp built directly into it. For most talking/streaming/podcasting applications, I would recommend going with the sm7db. It’s less required cabling and equipment, and will essentially work right out of the box.
I hope this helps!
Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3230, nick_pasquino@sweetwater.com
@ thanks for the answer.
Excellent Nitish!!!
does preamp automatically add gains or we have increase gain manually in the mixer
Great explanation !
Why do they keep being referenced as mic preamps, and always microphones are mentioned, making it seem as that’s the only device type that requires them?
Ikr
Great question. I was hoping to learn something about preamp usage with guitars or other instruments. I knew a guy that had a customized Fender Jaguar with Humbuckers and a preamp built in. His Fender got VanHalen type of sounds. He was the guitarist for a band called " Driver" about 30 years ago.
Because almost everything that can be connected to it are a certain type of microphone. Vocal mics are a given, but guitar pickups can be considered as a type of microphone, since they take sound and turn them into electrical signal.
Tony Fedor damn they rock! I’m sure my dad knows about them. But holy shit!!!
Uhh.. because .. 99% of the time you use it with a mic.. instruments go straight into guitar amps bass amps.. pedal etc. Each have their own preamp.. acoustic guitars have built in pre amps.. when you go buy a bass amp, or an acoustic guitar.. or anything that has a pre amp.. are you really looking for the pre amp specs???? No you are not you just what your instrument sound period.. but when it comes to recording, specifically with microphones (this why you would get a good pre amp) you start looking for low noise pre amps.
Every other pre amp out there is not as relevant.
Very useful. Very clearly explained. Thank you.
Super clear and helpful!
Do you have to have a pre-amp in order to connect physical effects pedals through the interface and into a computer?
Hi there! Not necessarily. However, it is recommended to use a re-amp box when using effects pedals as they are instrument level, and not line level. The Eventide Mixing Link can work as a routing box to use pedals with an interface, or the various other Re-amp boxes that we carry.
Mickey Cushing, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3024, Mickey_Cushing@Sweetwater.com
Sweetwater thank you for the response:)
Good explanation thanks
You sir, are awesome. Thank you.
Great video! You helped me understand the concept perfectly. Btw, i need a plug for my behringer mic100 preamp , does Seeetwater carry those? Thx
I’m glad the video was helpful for you. If you’re looking for a replacement power supply, we can help with that. We may not have it in stock but we should be able to order it in for you from Behringer if needed, or get you a suitable alternative. Feel free to reach out to your Sales Engineer to get that set up!
Connor Smith, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 1793, connor_smith@sweetwater.com
Hello, I'm a proud Sweetwater customer. I'm trying to run a neve 1073 through my SSL big six. How would you connect this pre-amp?
You could run an XLR (F) to TRS cable from the Line O/P jack on your 1073 to one of the stereo inputs on the back of the Big Six (the 5L input for example). Then on the Big Six, you could press the mono button on the 5L 6R channel. That would get it into the Big Six in a pretty standard way. There are more ways to do it, but that would be the most "normal" way.
Hey Charlie, good question! It is super easy! Simply take the output of the Neve into one of the TRS inputs on one of the first four channels of the BigSix (you may need an adapter cable). Then press the ‘Line’ button on that channel. That brings the sensitivity down, giving you plenty of headroom to work with!
If you have more questions about the BigSix, give me a shout. I use mine every day!
Drake Sobehrad, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, (800) 222-4700 ext. 3271, drake_sobehrad@sweetwater.com
Wow I only wanted to know what is a preamp now I will google to know more about how a mic works. really nice Videos!
I have a steel tongue drum with pickup, and a reverb pedal and amp. Will I need a preamp? I'm just wanting to directly record it to my fl studio
What is the reason for the huge disparity in prices for preamps? Are the cheapest ones really that bad?
Hi! I am a trumpet player, i'm using pedals and I want to have a low noise output so I can use my pedalboard for live electronic setups and also for sampling, I am probably going to purchase one shure sm7b for live (cause I feel it is a good mic that maintains certain sonic qualities of the trumpet), I recently tried some condenser mics and I quite like the color of the Neumann mics, they truly make wind instruments sound great, but im not sure if I dare to use a Neumann tlm 102 for live settings cause of the sensitivity of those mics. In the case of using both a shure sm7b or a Neumann tlm (102) what would be the best preamp setup? (ideally of course I would buy one preamp that I can trust on being sturdy enough for the road but also be great for my home studio)
Thank you so much for this wonderful informative video..........
Dang, we’re just scratching the surface. Thanks for the explanation.