Five Reasons Microphone Preamps Matter

They can be a mystery. But preamps are more important than you might think. 

In audio production, few topics stir up more debate than preamps. After your microphone or instrument, a preamplifier is the first thing that actively shapes the sound of your recordings. 

And yes, they do more than just add volume. 

But even low cost audio interfaces have built-in mic preamps. So why would you want to upgrade from the preamps you already have? And why would someone need more than one — let alone several — in their recording rig? 

 

In a recording studio, preamps do more than boost the signal from a microphone or instrument. They can also shape your tone.

 

1. They Make Your Entire Signal Chain Sound Better

Preamps boost low-level signals from a microphone or instrument to line level. The preamps built into most audio interfaces do this well enough. But onboard preamps on low cost interfaces can add undesirable noise, coloration, or brittleness.

Higher quality mic preamps do more than make your signal louder. They can also give you added headroom and lower noise or distortion. This results in a cleaner foundation for the rest of your signal chain.

 

2. They Amplify Your Sound Naturally

In many cases, the goal of a preamp is to make your signal louder in as transparent a way as possible. So the color — or lack thereof — that a preamp imparts is one of the first things that you'll learn to evaluate when deciding which preamp is right for you.

Does it make your mic or instrument sound darker, with unwanted bass or midrange? Does it sound more brittle or noisy as you turn up the gain? The mark of many higher-end preamps is that they amplify your signal in a pleasing manner, without odd EQ shifts or added artifacts.

 

“Tone starts at the preamp. Tube designs like the UA 610 are best for sources where tone really matters, like vocals and bass.”

Will Shanks, Sr. Product Designer at Universal Audio

 

3. They Add Warmth, Color, and Punch

Recording engineers combine microphones and preamps like a painter chooses brushes and colors. Different combinations can yield very different results.

To understand how to choose a mic preamp, you’ll first want to understand some essentials. Tube designs such as the UA 610 channel strip tend to be smooth, with added warmth when the gain is pushed. Solid state designs like those found in Neve and API consoles are fast and punchy, because they receive and amplify transient information quickly.

 

The tube channel strips in the UA 610 console were designed by UA founder Bill Putnam Sr. These classic circuits are known for adding warmth and musical saturation to any source.

The solid-state preamps found in SSL and Neve consoles are fast and punchy. They have arguably powered more platinum-selling records than any other piece of audio recording gear. 

 

4. They Come in Many Different Forms

As music producers, we all have different needs. Some engineers have studios with lots of outboard gear and monitoring sources. Others have hybrid spaces centered around a laptop and portable audio interface that they can take anywhere. Many of us fall somewhere in between.

Hardware preamps found on your audio interface are accessed alongside other knobs and metering. Many pro engineers also have a collection of mic pres in the form of rackmount devices, for a palette of additional sounds that they can choose from.

 

“Having the 610 tube preamp as a UAD plug-in allows me to use it anywhere, and at any point in the recording process.” 

John Paterno (Robbie Williams, Badly Drawn Boy, Bonnie Raitt)

 

For creators working in the box, it can be easier and more cost effective to use software-based mic preamps. These plug-ins allow you to access more instances of a particular preamp across multiple tracks in your DAW.

 

5. They Are Your Starting Point for Better Recordings

When starting out, you’ll generally get the most consistent results by exploring one microphone or instrument through a simple preamp like the UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection. As you become familiar with that setup, you can start to explore more complex preamps and channel strips for different use cases and sonic textures.

 

Continue Your Journey with Mic Preamps

There are hundreds of incredible preamps out there. So don't be afraid to explore. But remember — many pro engineers have just one or two combinations that they rely on in every session for a specific instrument or vocal style. So while it can be tempting to jump right in and try them all, best to start slow.  

These are just a few of the top-selling plug-ins from our UAD library: 

Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection – A top-tier Neve design with EQ that continues to be one of the most popular UAD plug-ins. 

UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection – A faithful recreation of the iconic tube preamp and EQs prized for adding warmth, presence, and harmonic depth to any source.

API Vision Channel Strip – A classic preamp with EQ and dynamics that’s hugely popular for vocals, guitars, and drums. 

Manley VOXBOX Channel Strip – A studio staple for vocals and broadcast chains, combining tube front end with compression, EQ, and de-essing. 

 

— UA Staff

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Related Articles:

• How the Pros Choose Mic Preamps

• Best Plug-In Chains with the UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ

• UA 610: The Console That Changed Recording Forever

• Watch Analog Hardware Versus Unison UAD Plug-Ins Shootout

• 5-Minute UAD Tips: Neve 1073 Preamp & EQ Collection