Power Amps

Sound that is being recorded or played live goes through numerous processes (some of them lightning fast) on its way to becoming a finished product. One of the first steps, as well as one of the last steps, is amplification.

Sound coming from a recording mic, such as a dynamic mic or a condenser mic, needs a microphone amplifier to give the signal more power. To start this process, the sound generally runs from the microphone (or other recording source, like a digital piano) into a pre-amp. This piece of hardware increases the audio power enough for the other recording equipment to make use of it easily. A preamp can also help to eliminate background noise. Then, a power amplifier can increase the signal more.

Some recording setups include a compressor. An audio compressor tailors its amplification to the level of sound coming in, so soft sounds will get more amplification than loud ones. This creates more volume consistency in the signal and is ideal for recording both musical instruments and vocals.

When you’re buying a power amp, preamp, condenser or equalizer for your recording setup, you want to be knowledgeable about how this piece of equipment will work together with everything else. So, begin by identifying all the components that you plan on using. What recording microphones do you have? Do you want a compressor? How about an equalizer?

While a basic microphone, audio interface and mixer may be all you need for recording a podcast, pieces of equipment like equalizers and compressors play key roles in mixing audio on more complex projects. In terms of amplification, you have a big choice between the compressor model—which responds to varying volume or a simple limiter that amplifies the same amount and taps out at a peak volume.

Interestingly, the stages of amplification aren’t just important for recording. Pre-amps and amplifiers are also integrated into playback systems, like a home receiver/amplifier, a home theater pre-amp or your car stereo system amplifier, to help listeners achieve high volumes without distortion.