Pre-amp, DI, Mixer Confusion

[netgeist]

Folks,

Been reading (and reading...and reading..) about recording from my bass to my laptop. I'm a very technical guy where computer equipment is concerned but seem to be really having a mental block for understanding the recording devices.

I'm confused about the differences between a pre-amp, DI and a mixer in deciding which I need for recording. Do mixers and preamps have a DI built in to them? Are they seperate devices?

Thanks,

- netgeist

 

[projectMalamute]

They are three different things, but many products exist which combine the functionality of two or more of them.

A DI converts an unbalanced, high impedance signal (like comes out of a bass guitar) to a balanced, low impedance signal (like comes out of a microphone).

A preamp takes a low level, low impedance, balanced signal and amplifies it by whatever amount is required to drive balanced, line level equipment such as tape machines or rack mount signal processors.

A mixer typically has a bunch of microphone preamps as well as means for manipulating the signal (almost always some kind of EQ, sometimes also compression and gates and more) and routing it to and from a bunch of different places.

Some preamps have low impedance inputs, essentially combining the functions of DI and preamp.

Some (active) DI's have enough gain to drive line level equipment without a seperate preamp.

Some audio interfaces have preamps built in. Some audio interfaces have preamps with low impedance inputs built in.

 

[netgeist]

Ok...the fact that there are several cases where devices might do more than one thing might be one of the things that started my confusion.

What I want to do is record both active and passive bass into my laptop (bass->amp->?->laptop). While that would usually mean just one instrument, there are times when I might want to do more than one the same way.

So should I be looking for a mixer with built in DI?

- netgeist

 

[EricF]

Want to learn more about the recording process, and the gear involved? Spend some time reading Invalid Link Removed. Then, read it again. Keep reading until you understand it.

 

[projectMalamute]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a mixer with a built in DI.

You also need some kind of audio interface for the computer.

Best bet is probably a small USB or Firewire audio interface with integrated preamps and high impedance inputs.