Do I Need A Mic Preamp?

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

[SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

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!

[jefffehr]

This was the most coherent explanation of preamp workflow I have ever heard. Thank you.

[paolomotta]

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 :)

[zuider]

"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.

[projectz]

Love a video that starts answering my question from the first second

[andymcbain]

You guys are how they say - “killing it”

[chrisofnottingham]

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".

[mattborba]

All the other videos on this are so crappy. This one is exactly what i needed to hear! Thank you for this guys!

[DEADLINETV]

Love the "no bullshit" videos!

[ShipShapeMusic]

This is the content the world needs!!!

[damodecomposed]

This was such a simple, no-frills, informative explanation. I can't give this enough praise. Thank you!

[AlexAvila-hwys]

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.

[JohnSmithiuyytw]

Douglas Adams would be proud :)
Very entertaining and informative, great video!

[WhyLogicProRules]

I love these videos! Sam Inglis is both informative and hilarious. Thanks SOS for being the best source of audio information out there :)

[mrAkbad]

THIS VIDEO isn't getting enough visitors. Great Info!!!!

[LeonardoBurroni]

Really Thanks! Your video helped me a lot!

[steelhead]

Well done mate! I enjoyed this! Thank you! 🇨🇦👍🏻

[jm]

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.

[brandinwatkins]

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!

[samsonerb]

Just getting into audio and have found this channel very helpful