Pre-Amplifiers
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Awesome limited edition amp!
Pre-amplifiers are used extensively in the music industry and are commonly used in conjunction with guitars (to enable low volume
overdrive and distortion), with microphones (to increase gain levels) or with bass guitars (to increase the signal level so that
the bass guitar can be routed – for example through the PA system).
In general, the function of a preamp is to amplify a low level signal (possibly at high impedance) to line-level. A list of
common sources would include a pickup, microphone or other transducer – for example on an acoustic guitar that requires
amplification, equalisation and tone control may also be applied.
Preamplifier Housing
These may be located as follows:
- Incorporated into the housing or chassis of the amplifier they feed
- In a separate housing (Direct Injection Box)
- Mounted in other pieces of equipment, such as microphones and electric basses
- Close to the signal source, remote from the next amplifier. For example: beside the hi-fi system and then feeding into a computer
in a home office
To reduce noise the metal chassis are interconnected and shielded cables are so connected at the source end only. The use of
battery power is good both for audio preamps and amplifiers.
Examples of Pre-amplifiers
- The integrated preamplifier in a foil electret microphone
- The first stages of an instrument amplifier
- A stand-alone unit for use in live music and recording studio applications (Direct Inject Box)
- As part of a stand-alone channel strip or channel strip built into an audio mixing desk
Pre-amplifiers are used extensively in recording studios to boost instrument signals so that a particular instrument(s) may be
routed directly through the mixing desk. They are generally referred to as "D I Boxes" or "Line Driver's".