What is a mic pre, and do I need one?
A “mic pre” is short for “microphone preamplifier”, and yes, you do require one. The electrical signal coming from your microphone is still very small, and a mic preamp is required for that signal to be loud enough for recording, or for further amplification into a PA system. Luckily, many recording tools and PA systems have built-in mic preamps, so it may not be necessary for you to get a mic pre as a separate piece of gear. However, the quality of the mic preamp will have a big effect on the sound of the mic, and for a high-quality system, it’s a good idea to have at least two channels of high-quality preamplification for important purposes like recording lead vocals.
