Likewise, most mixers have microphone inputs which have preamps in them. There will be a preamp in there somewhere. A computer sound card, for example, has a little hole with the word mic written write next to it. And that device is called.you guessed it.a preamplifier.Īnything you can plug a microphone into (well, that EXPECTS to have a mic plugged into it - I guess technically you could plug one into your ear) will have a mic preamp built in. So you need a device to boost ( amplify) a microphone level to line level. But audio recorders (and other devices that ultimately amplify and send signals to speakers) need something a called a line level, which is quite a bit louder than mic level. OK, so what are they talking about when they say "microphone preamplifier" or "mic pre" for short? That's one of the reasons I write these articles. I know, I know - more confusing terminology in the audio recording world. So what is a preamp? Well first off, it's short for "preamplifier." Second, yes - it is a thing that amplifies something before it goes to an amplifier. Standout mic preamp: AMS Neve 1073 (link to check the price at KMR Audio).The term preamp, most often paired with the word microphone is something you'll see a lot if you do much reading about audio recording. The company offers continuing upgrades with the latest technological advances while maintaining the strength and character that Neve preamplifiers have been known for since the very beginning. Users of Neve preamps can expect top-notch performance and durability that will outlast nearly all other mic pres on the market. The particular mic preamps are highly sought after by many professional engineers. Neve's 10 microphone preamplifiers are world-famous and have been the inspiration for countless other preamplifier designs (none of which are as pristine as the originals). Since its inception, the Neve brand has been specializing in the finest professional audio consoles and systems, utilizing Class A designs and high-quality components to produce top-of-the-line equipment, including, obviously, microphone preamplifiers. In 1992, after being acquired by the Siemens Group (1985), the company was combined with Advanced Music Systems to form AMS Neve.Īlthough Rupert Neve had split from the company to start a new company (Rupert Neve Designs), AMS Neve still benefits from the incredible breakthrough designs of Rupert from the earlier days of audio equipment development. Neve Electronics was founded in 1961 by none other than the man credited with the invention of the recording console: Rupert Neve. Standout mic preamp: Universal Audio SOLO/610 (link to check the price on Amazon). Universal Audio is a renowned audio brand and is one of the best manufacturers of microphone preamplifiers in the world today. Perhaps the most famous UA microphone tube preamplifier is the 610, which is modelled after the preamps in the company's groundbreaking modular 610 console. He was also the first engineer to use artificial reverb in a commercial recording and, with his friend Les Paul, was also involved with the early development of stereo recording. For example, he was invaluable in the development of the modern recording console, the multi-band audio equalizer and the vocal booth. In fact, many of the plugins we know and love from UA are based on their legendary hardware!īill Putnam, who founded Universal Audio, has been a major player in the advancement of audio technology. However, the company is also a top-of-the-line manufacturer of microphone preamps and other hardware processor units. Today, Universal Audio is probably best known for its incredible audio interfaces and digital audio plugins. This modular preamp, now offered as the 512c, has been largely unchanged and has maintained its warm analog character throughout the decades. The legendary 512 preamp is proof of this dedication to preserving API's tradition of manufacturing the best analog recording equipment the world has to offer. Related article: Do Microphone Preamplifiers Improve Sound/Audio Quality? To this day, API builds its microphone preamps with the highest quality components to ensure the superior performance the company is known for. More than 50 years later, the company continues to innovate and maintain its legendary status with the modern production of its legacy products. Since its birth in 1968, API has been successfully fulfilling its mission to create the highest possible quality professional audio gear and then back it up with excellent customer service. Automated Processes Incorporated, better known as API, is an American manufacturer/brand of high-end professional-grade audio equipment for recording studios.
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