If you have a line input with no gain knob associated with it, use that one. Since we are using an external preamp to bring the microphone signal up to line level we don’t need the gain on the interface. The gain knob on your interface controls the preamp on that interface. Now that you have your preamp hooked up to your interface, the last thing we need to look at is your gain staging and signal flow. Keep in mind that Line inputs are different than Instrument inputs although both use a 1/4 connection. If this is the case, you’ll likely have a switch that tells the interface that you want to use Mic or Line level on that input. Some interfaces have a combo connection that allows you to plug in XLR cables and TRS cables in the same input. Plug your preamp’s output into a line level input. Your interface may have some microphone XLR inputs as well as some 1/4 inch TRS inputs for line level sources. Then using a balanced 1/4 inch cable (called a TRS cable) you run the output of that preamp into an available line input on your interface. You plug your microphone (using an XLR cable) into the external preamp’s mic input. However, if you start to use an external preamp, like the ART Tube MP mentioned above, then you need one extra step. It turns your signal into a digital one and you’re golden. If using an audio interface, that’s all you need to know.
But in reality, microphone audio levels are very quiet, and the built in preamp in your interface is turning that signal up to what’s called a line level source, which is much more useable. When you plug a microphone into your audio interface’s input, you never have to really think much about whether it is a mic level or line level source. Let’s start at the beginning… Mic Level To Line Level One question…If you need more level into ProTools, do you increase the ART preamp output or the audio interface input?” For guitar I’ve been cranking the input into the red for a cool driven sound. One of my readers on Twitter recently purchased an ART Tube MP on my blog’s recommendation for bass recording and had this question: “I picked up last night. It is a common issue, but an important one to address. If you ever venture into the world of external mic preamps to compliment the ones built into your audio interface then you may be wondering what is the best way to hook it up.
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