How To Connect a Mic Preamp To Your Computer For Beginners (FAQ Series)

[@HobbyistPCs]

You'd be surprised how hard you have to dig for information like this. Keep doing what you do man!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Making people smarter one video at a time. Good stuff! 👍

[@Jdpanzone]

Hey Kevin! I watch your stuff too, it is pretty interesting and some of it has been helpful for the hobby stuff I have been working on. Thanks a ton for your vids!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

@@Jdpanzone Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

It is rad that you run a U87 and Portico through a Scarlet. I bet Rupert would LOL.

[@Podcastage]

Rupert apparently started Focusrite, so it’s all in the family.

[@curtisjudd]

@@Podcastage Oh, that Rupert Guy. When did he ever sleep?

[@Podcastage]

I have no idea how he has slept but he’s a hero for audio nerds. I love that man.

[@nik.6845]

​@@Podcastage indeed.

[@HarleyAMV]

For anyone that doesn't know; that's a $2000 microphone through a $1000 preamp to a $150 sound card.

[@vlad2838]

Having owned and used the 286s for a few years, I still found this episode really helpful and illuminating. I a-“pre” ya, Bandrew!

[@Symba_Lysm]

This is LITERALLY the perfect timing for a video like this! I'm considering buying the DBX286s to connect to the Behringer umc204HD for live streaming and podcasting, and although i knew how to connect them, the extra info helped a lot! Thanks and great video as always!

[@travsmac]

Love the Neve Portico 5017. Makes my SM7B sound so cleeeeeeean.

[@Podcastage]

Hope you’re doing well Travis! Great to see ya pop by!

[@BreakHarpe]

THANK YOU!!!!!! FINALLY SOMEONE IN KZbin WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS SIMPLE THING...SMH

[@primee5730]

I NEEDED THIS INFORMATION!!! I've been running xlr to xlr and I have to have it so low that I really didn't understand why I even was using the preamp... I'll be getting the trs to trs in the morning... Thanks Bro!!! One last thing, I was getting so much air that I might as well have been recording beside a fan during a tornado 🤦🏿‍♂️😂😂😂😂

[@cezarsantana]

Thank you so much for this video! I got the Portico 5017 as well and feel like I'm not getting the juice that everyone seems to get out of it! The fact that the Portico line output gives you an XLR connection and the Mic output a 1/4” confused me right off the bat, lol...great job, keep it up!

[@SoundSpeeds]

I love the "little bit of saturation" example. Makes me want to slam my limiters and compress it flat.

[@Podcastage]

For spoken work, it’s really not the best. For music is where you’re likely going to want some of that. Haha.

[@135alme]

so helpful, thank you, I was about to buy my first preamp with an xlr to xlr cable, you saved me from a big deception

[@MariaGoJa]

So valuable information!! If you only have a balanced jack output on your preamp (Black Lion) is it enough to use a TRS balanced cable to connect with the Line In of the Focusrite Interface? .... So what I mean is: Micrphone > IN XRL Preamp > TRS OUT balanced Jack > IN LINE Focusrite Interface

[@billie8156]

Oh wow Bandrew. This video came out in perfect timing. I just got my hands on a Scarlett OctoPre for cheap, and now i'm getting a new audio interface for my setup. This was incredibly helpful like always. Thanks!

[@xomgitsjay]

Wait...im sad because I didnt hear the "dubbly do for what I diddly did phrase" :(

[@00solman]

I have struggled with the gain staging on this set up for a long time. This has cleared up my issue! : ) Thanks Bandrew!

[@peas1171]

You've helped me so much over the years thanks for being here and making my life so much easier

[@zambination11]

2:00 Why not XLR balanced to XLR Balanced cable? Great video! *oops you explain it thoroughly later in the video sorry.. 😅😍

[@elrapanda]

Im not a beginner I think, but I didn't know that! thanks a lot

[@ryanfmusic]

Huh. I just learned that I've been running my signal chain incorrectly for the past 6 years. (sm7b > 512c lunchbox preamp > Scarlett 2i2 all via xlr to xlr). Time to dig into my box of cables and see if I have an xlr to balanced 1/4" lying around. Thanks man!

[@danmagoo]

Thanks for this. For years my chain has been SM7B into DBX 286S, to FocusRite Scarlett Solo, to PC, and I've been connecting the 286S to the FocusRite with a TSR to XLR cable. Why? It seems to work (the 286S has the gain around 2:00, but the output knob and the FocusRite gain each at only about 8:00). My guess was that I liked it because I figured the DBX pre-amp was doing most of the work, and with very little noise compared to what I'd expect if the Solo was cranked higher. But I could never find a good answer to why I should be connecting the 286s to FocusRite with a TSR to TSR cable. Now that you've explained it, I have a better idea how it works, and I'll experiment further. Thx again.

[@anotagastiriola5811]

The two options will give you exactly the same result, tell me if you can differentiate 16bit to 44,100 from 16bits to 48,000khz ? well the difference here from this ass face that makes the video is the same, you will never be able to determine a hearing difference. L.A. studios have the microphones connected to the preamp and the interface like you have for many years...

[@JasonFerguson1283]

You solved my problem!! Thank you very much!!

[@stevesmith9138]

As a newbie to the voiceover industry, I’ve been looking for someone to make these clarifications for me for MONTHS!! Now if I could just find a reasonably priced audio interface that doesn’t require me to sign away to them the info on EVERYTHING I do from my computer, like Focusrite does with Scarlett.

[@michaelabayomi]

Recent fan and subscriber here. Your videos helped me choose the right gear for my recently-started KZbin channel. So thanks! 😁

[@lukewilliamwright]

Gotta love a clear, concise and well organised tutorial video 👍

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words.

[@amonchhetri1053]

finally got my confusion cleared!so that means i can route my external preamp to external compressor to line input of the audio interface preamp(antelope) and gain all the way down..and i will not blow the preamp..

[@xHadesStamps]

Most audio interfaces don't allow for line-level XLR (one notable exception being Sound Devices Mix-Pre 6), but if it does, I'd personally use that. It's easier on your inputs.

[@speaknsee]

I connected my (Daking Mic Pre/EQ) to my Presonus Studiolive 32SX line in, and my signal won't hardly show up even when I crank the Pre and the mixer? Not sure why, I"m doing it exactly like this.

[@mixedbybrayz]

Great video. Wish I would have watch it BEFORE struggling the whole day with this topic.

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

Best video on this on KZbin

[@sasuke671]

I have been waiting for this video for a hot minute!! Thank you! You have the best content on YT for recording audio gear. Keep it up! 👌

[@remora1]

Man! This video help me a lot! I’m usin the ssl 2+ but my analog comp it’s now sounding better. I was doing the xlr-xlr

[@xHadesStamps]

Holding the DBX in one hand was funny!

[@scottishwildcat6485]

Thanks. I would have gone XLR out from my preamp to XLR in, on the interface.

[@atishbarua6826]

Great video, but there is one thing I might be misunderstanding here. While I agree with everything you said, your comment about the TRS cable reducing radio frequencies/EMI from shielding confused me. TRS in itself doesnt reduce EMI and RFI, nor do all TRS cables include sheilding (obviously a good quality cable does, but that doesnt define TRS). The reason you would use TRS is becuase the signal from the mic and XLR cable is seprated by left and right, instead of one singal and ground, thus making use of TRS instead of TS since TRS also has left and right signals as seperate. Now you might have implied this and I might have simply misunderstood, so I apologize if thats the case. Other than that though, I absolutely agree with everything you said, esspecially with using TRS instead XLR on the USB interface. Anyways thanks for the great video as always! Sorry for being so nitpicky!

[@klpamei4663]

Ben please review any focusrite Clarett interface 🙏

[@TechOwnage]

i just got an scarlett solo 3rd gen, the mic input is an xlr port, it doesnt have quarter inch port for the mic :(

[@joek2904]

Best video online I’ve watched to far. Thanks bud.

[@swschilke]

What do ya think about tube mic preamps like from ART, Presonous or Behringer and the "sound," settings they have? I assume the TRS cable is needed for the output from the Mic500 from B.

[@christopherdunn317]

Well this was a eye opener i thought i knew what i was doing LOL ! One thing after seeing 3 of these video's on this, phantom power if turned on by the focusrite could possibly damage the neve pre amp if a XLR was hooked up ! did this many times thank god it was never turned on .

[@Podcastage]

Glad you were able to adjust the setup to connect it to the line level, and I'm very glad your preamp wasn't hurt! Happy recording Chris.

[@christopherdunn317]

@@Podcastage Thanks ! but after trying it i found the sound sounded a little thin and different than when hooking up the XLR ? not sure if its the pre amp on the tascam dp24 that kinda helped the volume since it was hooked up that way, but i kinda preferred the XLR even if there is a risk i don't know if you noticed this as well ? thanks again !

[@pmAdministrator]

Holy shit, this is a good video, a masterpiece. Thank you!

[@smtonlinevideos]

This video was really helpful. Thank you!

[@formalJester]

I'm soldering a landline phone to make it a mic for my pc. so this helps.

[@jayden.cornett]

Help please!! I have a microphone (EV RE-20) connected to a dbx 286s preamp/processor, which goes into a PreSonus Audiobox USB interface. There's a continuous interference sound coming through that I can't get rid of. Mic is connected to preamp with xlr cable, preamp to interface is a balanced 1/4″ TRS. Is it just a cheap interface?

[@realthoc]

this video is the gateway drug to rack.

[@Podcastage]

The gateway drug to 500 series....MMMM! Tasty Tasty 500 series racks. I love them so much, and you’re right. There’s a video on that coming in the next 6 months or so.

[@pineapplej7310]

I just used a shure xlr attenuator with my presonus tube pre into audiobox usb 96

[@Bascott03]

You mentioned adding coloration as a reason to use external preamps. Are there any any other reasons? If I already have a decent to quality audio interface, would I need an external preamp?

[@adamdanmusic]

Where is your mic plugged in? Into the Scarlett or the pre amp?

[@headban1434]

can you plug in the output from dbx 286s directly to laptop/pc? using using 1/4 jack to 3.5 mm cable

[@lucinae8510]

This a great video, but what I think would be better is a video to show how complete beginners should set up a USB or XLR microphone.

[@chrissvoice1770]

This was so, so helpful Thankyou!!

[@minusx31]

Thanks...I was using XLR from preamp into my interface..

[@TheEdgedCarbine]

i have a Scarlett Solo, and my setup is like mic Scarlett Solo computer. Is this sufficient, or do I need a preamp?

[@billie8156]

You don't NEED a seperate preamp, but say you have a mic like the SM7b, then it might be a good idea to invest in a preamp with higher gain that can drive the mic whilst keeping the noise-floor low. Also if you want a more round and less harsh sounding signal, seperate preamps usually have that, because well, it's obviously more space to fit everything inside in a seperate box just for that. But the Scarlett Solo has pretty decent preamps already, just a bit on the harsh side if you are going for a more professional smooth sound.

[@biteme263]

Like Billie said, no you don't need a separate pre amp. The Scarlett is a pre amp/interface so it has one built into it. Its just a very basic one is all and doesn't offer a ton of gain or any processing. The advantage to using a separate pre amp that is better is to One: take advantage of a better pre amp with more gain and Two: take advantage of something that might have some processing built into it. Like say the DBX 286s that has a compressor, gate/expander and de esser built into it so you don't have to do it with VST plug ins on your computer. I think it would also rule out the need for a "cloud lifter" or something since you would have a ton of gain between the two pre amps. Another advantage, and the one I personally like is that you can process your sound before you monitor it in the interface. I use the focusrite 2i2 that has direct zero latency monitoring and I can do everything I want with vsts on my computer like noise suppression, gate and all that. Only problem is I can't hear it in my headphones. So whatever background noise I have or whatever sound I get directly from the mic is what I hear from my headphones. With something like the 286s in the chain before my interface the sound I hear in my headphones is already processed and gated so I don't hear all that background noise all the time in my headphones. I also use a dynamic mic that has fairly low sensitivity (sen e835) and instead of dropping 150 bucks or more on a DB lifter like a Cloud I would rather use a 286s that has some processing built into it for 219 dollars. Do you need any of it? Hell no, what you have is fine and there is no need to spend more money. If the signal is too low coming in because your pre amp doesn't have enough gain you can boost it on the computer. Either do it in your DAW, streaming software or use something like equalizer APO to add a pre amp vst and boost it there. I also wouldn't suggest dropping 200 bucks or more on an additional pre amp with processing to fix a bad mic or mic you don't like the sound of. You might be better off spending that money on upgrading the actual mic, not blowing money on things to fix it. If you have a 30-50 dollar mic you don't care for (or whatever it costs), think about selling it and moving on to a better mic more suited to your needs.

[@PRESTIJUS]

literally same question!!

[@maximerodriguez-medallo2192]

Hey ! Very interesting video but I'm in a case you didn't talk about (or maybe I'm wrong). I have a babyface 1 from RME. I don't have a line in except for the instrument one, other wise it's just an XLR, what should I do ? Im completely lost 😭 Thank you in advance

[@kartikjoshi889]

Bandrew, can I use a Podmic with a XLR to USB or 3.5mm with sound card? As it doesn't require 48v Phantom power.

[@pankajawasthimusic]

Is it okay to use the hi Z input of the audio interface? I have a motu and it has line inputs and Hi Z inputs. Which one's should be used ideally.

[@StoneyBabyMusic]

What if the output on my pre amp only has one for 2 female inputs for left and right.

[@KronixSantana]

I used the balanced male 1/4" to balanced male 1/4" cable to connect my external preamp to my interface "Presonus AudioBox 22VSL" as you explained in the video, but it didn't work. Even with the input and output volume of my preamp at maximum the signal that comes out is very low. Should I use a mono or unbalanced cable?

[@aceaveli4008]

wow I've been searching for a simple but informative video like this!! thank you so much! now if I wanted to add an external compressor do I do the same thing ? and if so will I have to manually arrange which comes first in vocal chain ?

[@Jdpanzone]

Hey @Podcastage , Love your videos! I watch almost all of them even if I am not planning on buying anything that expensive or fancy. Your presentation and attention to detail on the different items you review is awesome to watch, plus it doesn't hurt to know what the best is and what the expectation for good audio is. Question good sir. What VST/plugin/software do you use for the spectrum analyzer when you are analyzing noise from mics or cables, like in your video on "Are Expensive XLR Cables Worth It?" video about cable shielding. Thanks!

[@danielgaudet6114]

From the looks of it, @Podcastage is using iZotope Insight, the first version (and not the newer iZotope Insight 2).

[@Jdpanzone]

@@danielgaudet6114 Thanks a bunch!

[@lakejeaz]

I would have liked to have seen if that equipment came with any stickers.

[@YUNGJIMMY]

hello sir, before i hit the 48v botton, do i have to make sure the preamp and the interface are power off ?

[@CristianVelaMusic]

I can't find any reviews on the portico 5017 how do you like it ? I use to have the wa73. So I'm debating on either one

[@CristianVelaMusic]

@podcaststage

[@plutonurecords2820]

f I use an at 2035 connected in DBX 286s (with 48v activated) do I have to activate 48v from the audio interface (FOCUSRITE Scarlett 2i2)? thank you!

[@joshuaharrover3205]

Would you consider doing a video on the pros and cons of using a desktop mic stand.

[@sapelesteve]

So how did you connect all this stuff to your computer & what does DBU stand for? DUH?

[@billie8156]

Ah your new to interfaces as well? Well the red box he is connecting the preamp to, is called an audio interface, the one he's using here is the focusrite scarlett 2i2. The audio interfaces job is to convert the analog signals coming from the microphone and through the cables, into digital signals that the computer can understand. The most popular budget interfaces like this one connect to the computer via USB. I'm by no means a professional at this, so please do research or watch other videos explaining this if you want to know more about how they work, just figured i'd explain the basics.

[@IshmaelDixon]

your amazing. Thank you! i just liked and subscribed.

[@bantilan3065]

Hello. Did the focusrite 2i2 mic pre bypass when using TRS cable?

[@gracenotes5379]

If someone had a MOTU M4 or a Focusrite 4i4 where 2 of the 4 analog inputs are balanced line level (presumably pro +4dBu), would he be better off using one of those dedicated line-level inputs (with no option to trim the level) or using one of the front-panel inputs in line-level mode (as you did in the video)?

[@chillywilli]

Both the Motu M4 and Focusrite 4i4 have four balanced inputs and outputs. Makes sense to use the line input so you can still use both XLR/TRS combo’s for your microphones. That’s why they are four channel, otherwise save your money and buy a two channel.

[@gracenotes5379]

@@chillywilli There are definitely occasions when I have a 4-input interface on hand and don't need all 4 inputs simultaneously, so the choice of which to use may not be made for me. My instinct would be to use a dedicated balanced line input when I had a choice, based on the supposition that it would provide a shorter and simpler signal path, and less room for gain structure errors as discussed in the video.

[@Arctect]

Very useful, thanks!

[@xsidiousx3]

is there a way to connect a digital grand keyboard to a audio interface. and i don't mean a mini.

[@biteme263]

Depends on what the outputs are on the keyboard. If it has a midi output or line outs then yes depending on what inputs your pre amp/interface has. Some have midi ins, some don't. Most will have line level inputs though. Now if the keyboard is like my Komplete midi keyboard that only has a USB out then no you can't. It has to run right to the computer. There might be a way to do some kind of loop through depending on the interface and software it has though.

[@xsidiousx3]

@@biteme263 thanks alot

[@chillywilli]

Nice explanation again! Is your Sony headphone gone to heaven? You are using your Sennheiser in your latest video’s.

[@ManosPairis]

I got an ASUS Essence stx II sound card that has trs input for line/mic. I'm assuming I can connect an xlr mic to xlr of portico 5017 and from the trs output of portico to the input of my sound card, without an interface, right?

[@michalkovar1999]

Hi, I have a Behringer MIC2200 mic preamp, which I use with a Scarlett Solo 2nd Generation and a Shure SM7B mic. I can't hear my microphone when I plug my headphones into my audio interface Scarlett. When I connect my headphones to the preamplifier's output, I can't hear the soundtrack in my DAW to record my vocals. Does anyone know how to solve this problem so that I can hear both my microphone and the musical background at the same time? Thanks a lot!

[@HalatKamal]

My friend please help me : which mic is beast i want buy / AKG 414XLii it's beast Or neuman Tl-102?? please answers me ..

[@andrewmesh]

Isn't there still the preamp coloration of for example the Audient ID14 if you connect it that way?

[@kianbasilio9247]

Can you do a review of Muslady 222a audio interface, because your the only one i know who can explain it more understandably .. the other ones that i saw on YTvideos is too vague 😅

[@JoseyStranded]

Or a Thunderbolt interface.

[@COPiX]

I've currently got a daisy chain from my ART PRO MPA II Pre to a dbx 266XL Compressor/Gate into my UMC1820 interface. What would your cable choice be for that scenario?

[@christopherparker7530]

Maybe I read past it if anyone else asked & anyone can feel free to advise: I only have a Rode NT1a & a Scarlett Solo for home recording for myself when I complete a song. Is this example to say that THIS is how I SHOULD be recording my vocals, with an external amp? Or is my simple setup just fine?

[@Podcastage]

Simple setup is perfectly fine.

[@Shareef2610]

thank you amazing tips help me so much

[@jason01095]

So this is very interesting, as I have a similar setup for my daily driver. Heil PR40 -> dbx286s -> Rolls MS111 mic switch -> Scarlett Solo -> MacBook Pro. The Solo doesn't have a combo XLR jack, so I went with a 1/4 balanced TRS to male XLR cable (from dbx286s to Rolls mic switch), 6 inch M to F XLR cable (from Rolls mic switch to Scarlett Solo). Gain is set to 0 on Scarlett. Gain is set to about midpoint between +45db and +60db on the dbx286s (the PR40 is pretty gain hungry as you know) and output gain on the dbx286s is set to around -15db. This setup and configuration gets my peak levels to a decent sweet spot without any clipping, so I've been pretty happy with it. So my question is what do you think of this configuration, and would you have any recommendations on improving on it at all? It works for me, but at the same time, if I just got lucky or could be doing this a better way, I'd love to know about it. Thanks!

[@jason01095]

I should probably add that I use this configuration mostly for conference calls for work and voice chatting while gaming; that's why i have the MS111 mic switch as a physical button is way easier to hit quickly than scrambling with a mouse to find where ever the mute button might be in whatever application I'm using at the time. :)

[@nissangamba]

thx man this solves my problem. btw if my usb mixer has its amplifier do i still need the preamp? And lastly, my mixer does not have a usb out(trs to a 3.5m jack connected to my mic jack of my pc) , is there any device that can make my output quieter?

[@sylla2]

What is a good pre-amp for voice work? Thank you 🙂

[@xHadesStamps]

I really wish the Scarlett and U-Phoria audio interfaces accepted line-level XLR

[@gabebourgeois3]

Thank you for this man

[@Utkarsh_A]

You just wanted to show off your 5017 and your U87 hehe, love it Jokes aside, very informative video

[@artshawaii]

Does the focusrite control app not allow you to select Line level for XLR in?

[@outerbanks854]

I want to plug my KingBee mic to my smart phone...help!

[@GSRP7777]

Ok, that one was for me.. lol thank you sir for all you do.

[@geocordovaXsoystudio]

Awesome info! Thanks Bandrew.

[@joshified7023]

can someone help me? my samson c01u pro has a lot of like static noise and i cant remove it somehow......when i lower the volume of the mic, my voice wont be heard, and when I turn it up, it just picks a lot of static noise or the hissing sound. Please help me :(

[@MAntisLew1]

Hahah, you are exceptional with your videos thanks for the tips!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you very much!

[@__orangejulius]

Is there a difference between using the line level input on an interface and using a quarter inch insert on the same interface?

[@LifeInSpacePodcast]

What if your just using a usb mixer and just going XLR to XLR and just adjusting the gain on the mixer? Do you loose any quality or is it always better to use a pre amp when going into any audio interface? I am currently using a Tascam Model 24 usb mixer and the using it as an audio interface in my DAW then adjusting my doobly do’s in the pre effects panel.

[@ThePilate30]

I take it other external gear (compressors, EQ) can go between pre amp and audio interface via balanced patch cables?

[@aaroncobeng]

What's the difference between a preamp like shown in the video vs those mic boosters like klarkteknic and cloudlifter?

[@robertszybowski81]

Great information

[@midimoog]

For us, ye olde lads, TRS is Tandy Radio Shack.

[@LoffysDomain]

0:58 i've also heard and seen "high z", where does it fit among the other types?

[@Podcastage]

Hi-z is the “instrument” level input.

[@LoffysDomain]

@@Podcastage thank you so much for all your well-made educational videos

[@PaperBoyJim214]

question, how to connect mic to Neve 5017 to Distressor to DBX 286s ~ ID44 ? please.