Clean and clear amplification of a sound source to line level. This generally falls into two loose categories: preamps with color and preamps that are transparent.

Which you rely on primarily depends on your personal sonic goal but no proper thinking professional engineer limits themselves to one or the other.

bakerj99 wrote: Hi

What is the main purpose for a mic preamp?

Thanks.

To lure you out of money...... :shock:

RUN THE OTHER WAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!

8-)

MadMax wrote: [quote=bakerj99]Hi

What is the main purpose for a mic preamp?

Thanks.

To lure you out of money...... :shock:

RUN THE OTHER WAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!

8-)
So, THAT'S what they mean when they say that a pre is "slow" or "fast", eh? :)

yes to provide amplification

but it also works to the impedance of the Mic and correctly terminates the mic
tries to get good energy transfer and optimise signal to noise
then provide an output that will work with other line level equipment.

Mics can be very different in the same way that electric guitars are different.

this does suggest why some Mics work better with some pre-amps and the different tonal flavours that can occur.

SOME Mics can pass a usable signal into a Line level input.