Audio signal levels explained: Mic level vs line level vs instrument level
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- Опубликовано: 25 июн 2024
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We explain mic level, instrument level and line level, but also 3 other signal levels that are useful to know: speaker level, phono level and modular level.
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00:00 Line Level
00:45 Mic Level
01:14 Instrument Level
02:20 Phono Level
02:51 Speaker Level
03:43 Modular Level
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This is very helpful. Thanks a lot :)
Phenomenal video quality, sound and presentation. Thank you!
This is great info! Clean presentation🔥
Thanks for your support!!!
great video. thanks
Thank you so much for shring for all of us. The don't have a very clear understanding.
Thanks very informative ✌️👍
Thank you!
you are very welcome!!!
Phenomenal video, thanks
Thanks! Much appreciated
Just found your channel, it's exactly what I needed! Really well made videos!
Quick question: what level would an headphone output on an iPad be? I'm basically trying to record songs played from my iPad on my computer (as backing track, I record myself playing drums at the same time). I connected the headphone output to a pre amp, and the pre amp to the line level of my audio interface. Is that safe? Is there a better option? I can't crank up the volume on the iPad as I also connect my IEM to it to hear the backing track while I play.Thanks! :)
The headphone output should be line level already so you can connect directly to your interface. The only problem being that the output of the ipad is stereo so you're going to need a Y cable to split it into 2 separate channels to connect to 2 inputs on your interface :D
can i connect a line level output to a mic level device like my wireless mics live rode wireless PRO?
Ideally you should be using a DI for something like this. Most likely the line level signal will be too loud for the mic input.
You can but gain should be set quite low as the signal can clip very easily. Generally I connect headphone out from a mixer to the Rode wireless pro ii and turn the gain down quite low as it can clip.
Super helpful! Where would a headphone signal factor into this? Intuitively I would think they are on the spectrum between a high line-level signal and a low speaker voltage signal? Technically they are powering passive speakers... but people often use headphone outs and line outs interchangeably.
Indeed! The base level for a headphone out should be line level and then you are amplifying it more to drive the headphones. The main difference between the outputs is impedance, since line out is meant to drive an amplifier whereas headphone out is meant to drive a little speaker.
Great video! Can I connect headphone out to line in?
Yes you can, but you should keep the volume low and also note that headphone out is stereo, idk what kind of line in you want to connect it to :D
@@arbitersofsound well I have Korg Volca Keys that only has headphones out. I need to sample it somehow. In principle it is mono but outputs two identical channels via the 1/8 inch headphone out. So I can use a 1/8 to 1/4 cable and plug it into a1/4 line input of an audio interface, or a 1/8 to rca cable and connect to rca stereo input
@@mrwhitemantv 100% Thats what ive done with my volca as well :D
Hi there, thanks for the great presentation. I connected my digital piano Yamaha DGX660 left/left+right output to the DI/instrument input of the preamp Focusrite ISA One. They seemed and worked fine. Nothing blew up, I did not hear any distortion or weird noise etc. Did I potentially damage the DI/Instrument input of the ISA One? I now use the DI/Instrument input of the ISA One for my Fender bass and it seemed fine, produced good sound. Thanks!
Hey! No, you didn't damage anything and everything is going to be ok :D
Most likely, if you keep your keyboard volume low and the preamp level also low you can get a usable signal. But, you should ideally be using the line input for keyboards and the Instrument for bass and guitars.
@@arbitersofsound Thank you very much for your confirmation. So I should not send it back LOL
and what about headphone inputs and outputs?
Headphone outs are line level that can be amplified further with the headphone amp.
Headphone output!!!!!
Is all ready amplified!!?????
Hi, I just got a microphone like a dynamic one but it uses TR jack output? Can it be used ?
Yeah of course! But if you want to connect it to an audio interface / mic pre then usually the jack input is for line level signals and the xlr for mic level signals. So in that situation you'd need an adapter/cable to convert the jack output of your mic to xlr unfortunately.
Do I need a DI if I use multi effects pedal with amp and cab sim to connect to line in on a mixer? Home practice only
No, most likely the amp sim has a line out and you are connecting to a line in, so you're good :D
Which vintage keyboards and synths do you have in mind that use instrument level with high Z ?
From what I have seen, all of the virtual analog from 90's are using line level and I don't think any have high Z (although 90's synths are more on the modern side of vintage).
Maybe I am misleading though?
Yeah probably I'm too old :D because when I was saying vintage I was thinking more along the lines of 60s rhodes, wurlitzers and the like.
I would expect all 90s digital gear to be line level
I have hi z input on my electro classic guitar, can i plug in my guitar directly through the cable in to the line input on my PC ?
Does your guitar have a built-in preamp (with battery etc)?
If it does then you can (although the line input on your PC might be much noisier than an input on an external audio interface).
If your guitar only has an output jack without a preamp, then you can't, because the level of the output will be way too low and the impedance too high.
I have a question: I have a yamaha ex5 (quite an old keyboard) and I would like to connect it to an audio interface (behringer umc204hd) to use the Ex5's sounds (both mono and stereo possibly) on my DAW. should I use TS or TRS cables?
Either should be fine. I checked the ex5 manual and it doesn't specify if the outputs are balanced or not (but based on the release date, I'd guess they are, so in that case TRS is the balanced one).
But in any case, if you already have TS cables lying around, just use them and as long as there's no noise issues you should be good!
@@arbitersofsound Thank you very much for the comprehensive answer and for replying to me in such a short time! Much appreciated!👌🏻
@@Zzibbubby Happy to help!😄
do you or anyone here in the comments know of a device that will take a single audio input using RCA connection "say from my desktop computer" and have 8 amplified outputs with level control? I'm would be using it to send the same audio signal to multiple separate devices which have there own amplification which power a set of speakers. Imagine having 4 different A/V receivers that power 4 different types of speaker pairs along with 4 different individual self powered speaker units. I need them all to play the same thing simultaneously while having the ability to send one device a more powerful signal to make up for the distance it is away from the source and/or the devices needed a higher input voltage for whatever reason. thanks Rick D.
This might sound a bit ghetto, but I believe a multi-channel headphone amp will do do what you want. (this for example: www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_ha8000_v2.htm)
Since these operate around line level, with some careful gainstaging you should be ok. Then all you need is the correct cables / adapters to go from your pc to the amp and ultimately to your other amps.
Does this help at all? Or is there something I don't understand in your setup?
Any chance to get connection between Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX and the Arturia microfreak? 😢
The only way I can think would be to plug the Microfreak into the mic input of the Numark.
But in order to do that you will need to connect the Microfreak to a DI first (probably also with a pad switch) and then the DI to the Numark. Does that help at all...?
@arbitersofsound yes if you are able to explain me what's DI and how thats gonna be worked out together
Please
and ABOUT pad switch? 0 😱
So, the output of your synth is Line Level, but the input on the Numark is Mic Level. If you just connect them probably you're going to get distortion because the output of the synth is too loud for the mic input (you can try it). If it sounds noisy and distorted, you need to get yourself a simple small passive DI box, which converts Line Level signals to Mic Level signals. (something as simple as this: www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_pocket_di_1.htm). This is passive and doesn't need any power to work. The pad switch is a little switch on the DI that drops the volume so you can connect the two devices without overloading the mic input on the Numark. Let me know if you need more help!@@jankowalsky3931
@@arbitersofsound all done
But still not enough for me ^^ but all of your infois are good and works too
mic level + 20 dB = instrument level (nominal)?
Nice info. I have an electric guitar, a phono turntable, an electroacoustic guitar, various midi keyboard and electric piano. Now i'm not into a band or anything.. i just in the learning phase.
So my question is: the electoacoustic guitar and electric guitar are the same? I have a dedicated speaker-amp cube for the electric guitar. Can i use that on the electroacoustic guitar?
Also i have an old hi-fi amp with phono input where the turntable is plugged in. Can i plug the electric guitar there?
You can most likely use your acoustic on your guitar amp. Check and see if you like that kinda of sound.
On the other hand don't try your phono input, you'll get a super distorted sound from that...
It is max voltage, isn't it? It looks like most of them have voltage bias.
It’s their approximate voltage ranges. You’re right that especially with mics and instruments they will tend to be on the lower end of the scale. But super powerful power amps could easily be outside the right end of the scale :D
@@arbitersofsound
That means, for example, that a voltage of around 90 mV is considered silent for instruments?
Yeah, i think vintage style single coil pickups on guitar should be around 100mV. Hotter humbuckers are around 400mV. Obviously the output will depend on the notes and the strength of your playing etc
I don't get it. wish there was an actual diagram of setups and what cables to work with. I am so confused because its too much spoken words.
What's the setup you are dealing with? Maybe we can help :D
@@arbitersofsound Thanks for reaching out. My new band has a practice room and we've connected two guitars, one bass guitar and a mic to a two big speaker through a mixer. The sound is very compressed as in its rly not clear and the mic sounds low most of the times. we are too poor to get an actual good guitar amps so..... I am afraid to crank the volume up of mic cuz i am scared of breaking the speaker so, i never let the signal bar of the mixer to reach the red dot but sometimes its inevitable. I mean just in general i would like to know more about the cables and set ups for future. Also, I browsed through your channel last night and i really appreciate your videos.
@@CloudxOut OK! So the first problem is that you are trying to connect instrument level signals (guitars/bass) to a mixer that most likely has mic and line inputs. In order to do that properly you'd need a DI-box (or guitar and bass preamplifiers).
Also the sound of electric guitar plugged directly into the mixer is not really what we are used to listening. It's not necessarily a "bad" sound but usually you'd expect some coloration from your guitar amp and your guitar speaker cabinet.
Tbh I'd probably consider getting some basic amp modelling pre for guitar because I think that will solve most of your problems and you could connect that directly to your mixer.
As for the mic, I don't think you'll blow the speakers unless you're really abusing the gain.
Do you know if your speakers are active? Or are you using a PA amplifier? Or is your mixer powered?
Anyway, if you want you can message me on Discord and I can help you with your setup, cables etc :D
So complicated (to an AV ignoramus).
Do you need help with anything specific?