In-line, battery operated mic preamp?

2015-10-30 11:54:48

Hi guys, been looking for something like this in the past few days but can't find it. I have a Yamaha "silent" guitar which I use with headphones. It has an AUX IN, for mixing in audio with the sound of the guitar. I want to mix in a mic and have it all self-contained on the guitar. The mic is nothing fancy, I got a cheap Audio Technica lavalier. I just need to hear outside sounds and mix them into the guitar's headphones output.

I haven't tested the mic directly into the input yet, but I believe I will need a preamp. Archos had basically the perfect set up for my usage... about 10+ years ago. Shure also made something that could have worked, and they marketed it as a mic to switch ambient sounds on/off when using their noise-isolating earbuds. Is there anything like it available today?

In-line, battery operated mic preamp?

Reply #1 – 2015-10-30 16:34:59

Yes, you  need a preamp to boost the mic signal to line level.    Sometimes a small mixer (with a mic input) is more economical than a stand-alone preamp.    Or if you get a small mixer with the right inputs, you can plug the guitar, mic, and headphones into the mixer instead of plugging everything into the guitar.

But there's another issue...    The mic interface on a preamp is different from a computer or phone.    The microphone input on a computer or phone is high impedance unbalanced (2-wire) and it provides 5V power for electret condenser "computer mics".    Stage & studio mics are low impedance balanced (3-wire) with an XLR connector, and the preamp/interface/mixer optionally provides 48V phantom power for studio condenser mics.

Your microphone might work with a normal preamp/mixer (with a the proper adapter cables), since the mic apparently has a battery and shouldn't need 5V power from whatever it's plugged into.  But, quality will be unpredictable.

In-line, battery operated mic preamp?

Reply #2 – 2015-10-30 22:57:25

Thanks. The mic works when plugged directly into the guitar, but it's too quiet as expected. I want something that I can rig directly into the body of the guitar though, that's what I meant by "self-contained". Right now I already have it working similarly to what you describe. In my desk I have a Samson USB mic which has a headphone output for monitoring, but unfortunately it doesn't just need USB power, but it needs to be connected to a computer and recognized as a USB device.

I think I may have stumbled into a workaround though, looking through very small voice recorders, it seems like I can use one of them http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Voice-Record...amp;node=227758. Just need to find one with headphones output.

So now I'm thinking if I can find one with a mic or line input that can mix it with its main mic and record, I'd probably go for that.

In-line, battery operated mic preamp?

Reply #3 – 2015-11-01 14:30:30

I've also seen an inexpensive mic that came with a little preamp of its own (using standard minijacks). Probably nothing too exciting but may get the job done here.

In-line, battery operated mic preamp?

Reply #4 – 2015-11-01 21:23:38

Would you happen happen to remember where? That sounds exactly what I'm looking for.