Standalone preamps can be single or multi-channel and mixers allow you to combine multiple signals to a single output. This boost ranges from 45 to 70db based on the quality of the preamp. Mixers, preamplifiers, standalone preamps, and inline mic preamps are the most commonly used devices to boost microphone levels to line-level signals.
You can also buy standalone preamps that are better than the built-in preamps of your audio interface. Most audio interfaces have a pre-amp to bring the mic level of a microphone up to line level. You have to bring up mic level signals to line level somehow, most commonly by using a preamp or a mixer. It’s mono with terribly low-level signals, usually around between -60 to -40dBU. Mic-level is the weakest audio signal of all the types. This will almost always be via an XLR cable. This is for directly plugging in microphones without preamps. Speaker level signals or post-amp signals.We will detail the difference between line and mic level in detail, but let’s brush up on the four types of signals that you will encounter in the audio world. So you can think of signal level as “volume” if you want to simplify things. That’s why you have an inaudible signal when you plug your microphone into a line-level input. It runs at 10kohm as opposed to a mic-ins paltry 600-1Kohm.Ī mic-in is the input designed to handle the mic-level signal intensity (from a microphone) and line-in is designed to handle line level intensity.
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Line-in is the highest pre-amplification level in both consumer and professional audio products. You typically use a female XLR connector for the mic-level input. You have an RCA, quarter-inch jack, or 3.5 mm jack for a line level input. This signal travels from your pre-amp to the amplifier. The two signal types do not ordinarily use the same input. The line-level signal is about one volt, or about 1,000 times as strong as a mic-level signal.
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Reading the manual ensures that you’ll connect it properly and avoid any damage to your equipment. Several wireless receivers, for instance, have different output levels. It might be cumbersome, but reading a product manual is the best way to understand an audio device to figure out the right inputs. A line level input is not designed for microphones.
It’s used to connect an external audio device such as an instrument, microphone, or CD player (remember those?).Ĭonversely, mic-in is for microphones – you connect a wired or wireless mic to a mic-in. The Difference Between Mic-in and Line-inĪ line-in (line input) is an audio socket that is found on audio interfaces, computer sound cards, and some mixers. Knowing the difference is important and in this article, we’ll flesh out the differences between signal levels and the corresponding inputs. This is where we get the terms mic-level (for mic-in) and line-level (for line-in). These levels can be low or high and the inputs are designed to ‘anticipate’ a certain level of currents. With audio signals, sound is transferred as a voltage into our mixers, audio interfaces, amplifiers, and speakers. Line-in can handle strong (think loud) currents whereas a mic-in can handle very low level of currents. Line-in and mic-in are audio inputs but they are indicative of the voltage level of the audio signal. But you can end up damaging the sound if you mix up the two. People often struggle to tell the difference because it involves some basic knowledge of voltage levels. Line-in and mic-in pop up frequently in setup related questions. Also, consider checking out our post on analog signal flow.Learn the four types of audio signal levels – including mic level and line level.What is the difference between line-in and mic-in?.Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
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