Top 5 Reasons Mic Preamps Matter

The essential role of mic preamps revealed.

Few topics stir up more debate than microphone preamplifiers. There are many mic preamps to choose from — both hardware and plug-ins — so it’s no wonder they're among the most misunderstood pieces of the audio signal chain.

Even low-cost interfaces offer built-in mic preamps, some of which sound pretty decent. So why would anyone want to upgrade, let alone have several?

Here are the top five reasons mic preamps matter.

1. A Clean Front End

At its most basic, a mic preamp takes the low output from a microphone and amplifies the signal to a higher line level. The mic preamps built into most audio interfaces will do that. But low cost onboard preamps are typically limited in tone and flexibility, and they can add noise and coloration that might be undesirable.

A high quality mic pre, however, will do much more than just make your mic louder. It will give you a cleaner signal with lower noise, less distortion, and more headroom.

2. Transparency

It sounds obvious, but in most cases, the ultimate goal of a good preamp should be to capture the sound as transparently as possible. Listen to the sound of a good preamp and one of the first things you’ll notice is what’s missing.

3. Pick Your Color

Do you want your track to sound warm or cool? Thin or fat? Recording engineers use various microphones and preamps like a painter uses brushes, colors, and textures.

And as with painting, different mic/preamp combinations will yield markedly different results. Take time to experiment. Ultimately, it will help you to make better, more informed, artistic decisions.

Going deeper, preamps like Neve 1073 and API Vision have transformers and discrete amplifiers that add unique colors and characteristics to the sound.

Same goes for tube-based designs like the iconic UA 610-A, which is famous for adding husky warmth and saturation to signals.

On the flipside, transformerless integrated designs, such as SSL preamps, are valued for their clear and transparent sound quality.

4. Versatility

Mic preamps come in many different types, making it simple to find one for any situation.

When it comes to outboard hardware preamps, many pro engineers — both in the studio and live — have a collection of mic pres ready to go with them anywhere, for a portable palette of sounds to choose from.

For creators working in the box, it's much easier — not to mention cost effective — to have a variety of software-based mic preamps ready to go depending on what you're recording.

Tracking a hip-hop vocal? Try the Avalon VT-737 channel strip. Capturing a dynamic vocalist? Give the Manley VOXBOX a whirl.

5. Consistency

As you become familiar with the sound and characteristics of any given mic preamp, you'll start to get a feel for mic/preamp combinations that give you the best results for specific applications.

Many engineers have favorite combinations they try first when recording a specific instrument or vocal. The consistency of knowing what tonal colors to expect from different microphones through different preamps will help to guide your decisions and make you a better, more efficient, recording engineer.

Now that you know why preamps matter, explore different flavors with UAD Native plug-ins or the Unison preamps in Apollo interfaces. From the retro tube color of the LA-6176 Signature Channel Strip to the modern analog punch of the Neve 88RS Channel Strip, you can discover how the distinct, musical character of legendary preamps will benefit your signals — whether it's vocals, guitars, synths, or drums.

A special benefit of Apollo, the key to capturing these iconic hardware preamps is Unison™ technology. Harnessing bi-directional control and communication from the Unison-enabled plug-in to the physical mic preamps in Apollo, you get all of the unique preamp impedance, gain staging “sweet spots,” and circuit behaviors of mic preamps from Neve, API, SSL, Helios, and UA.