Line signals through the HiZ or Mic input of a preamp?

[EveningSky]

Hi,

On occasion, I want to mildly boost a line signal.

Is it a bad idea to connect the line signal to the HiZ port or Mic port of a preamp?

If so, how to best do this?

Thank you,

ES,

[where02190]

Boost it going into what and coming from what? Please be more specific?

[Kiwiburger]

Do you mean balanced line +4db or unbalalanced line (-10dB)?

 

Mic inputs are for low-z balanced sources, and Instrument is for Hi-Z unbalanced. Use whichever is appropriate.

 

Many mic preamps can be used as a Line driver. They might have a Line switch, or just set the gain lower.

 

Make sure you don't turn on phantom power if using a mic preamp as a line driver. It might make some noise, or even damage stuff.

 

Ideally - set your level at the source, so you don't need more gain.

[EveningSky]

Examples would be a speaker simulation out of a guitar amp intended for recording purposes.

I find the signal too weak to feed directly into my AD converter.

I want to boost the signal by running it through a preamp at a low amplification setting.

I notice that some preamps have line input, mic input and instrument input.

Some only have mic and instrument input.

 

Is there a problem with feeding a line signal through a hiz or lowz input?

 

Kiwi, help me understand what a -10 db versus +4 line signal means?

Does it always mean that the -10 is unbalanced while the +4 is balanced?

Is the +4 stronger than the -10db? Perhaps a dumb question, but I need to ask.

 

Yours, ES