Do I need a poweramp for Home Recording?

[entrasticemperor]

Hi everyone,

This is something I have not yet understood fully. I am a complete noob when it comes to effects, preamps, power amps etc.

With my limited knowledge, I believe that I can use a setup like this for home recording:

Guitar -> optional effects -> pre-amp (to add flavour as well as to boost the signal to line level) -> Audio interface (I have a POD Studio GX).

Is this correct? Does that mean I do not need a power amp since I am not interested in increasing the wattage of the signal to drive the cabs? I know some of you prefer to mic the amp and record, but this is not something I want to look at right now.

There are many discussions on this on various forums on google, but I thought I would ask you guys at SOFT. Go easy on me if this is a stupid question.

Thanks

 

[zesn]

You don't need a pre-amp nor a power-amp since you have a POD but even if you do it's fine.

Pedal output straight into POD Studio GX.

Then open the POD farm software and use the emulated amplifiers and cabs.

I don't know if the POD farm software comes with a recording function, if it doesn't then you'll have to find a free digital audio workstation (DAW) like Audacity, Reaper, Cakewalk, Logic Pro etc.

 

[zesn]

edit: Logic Pro is not free! Just listing some possible DAWs

 

[entrasticemperor]

Dear Zesn,

Thanks for the reply. I got confused with all the threads online talking about instrument level and line level signals.

When you select an audio interface, do we really have to check what level of signal it accepts? If so, what should I look out for?

Also, I know I can use an amp/effects simulator in pod studio. But in case, I want to get some effects of a preamp, I believe the signal coming out of the preamp can go directly to Pod Studio GX right? I am trying to understand if I can use preamp without a poweramp.

 

[zesn]

Regarding Instrument Input, Mic Input, Line Input, they're just technical jargon that honestly makes little difference at our current level.

Audio interfaces usually allows for selectable MIC/LINE inputs.

Yes you can still use
Preamp -> Pod -> Line Out -> Computer.

You don't need a poweramp because the poweramp is a unit that has enough power(watts) to drive multiple speakers.

-----------------------

MIC level : The signal coming out from a microphone is weak and requires a preamp to amplify it to line level before it is usable. This preamp can come in the form of a dedicated $5000 microphone preamp, or this preamp could be in your $200 audio interface when you use the selectable MIC/LINE mode.

LINE level : Any signal that has gone through a preamp.
"Consumer line level is rated around -10dBV and is what you’ll find in products like a CD player. Professional line level is rated around +4 dBu and is found in things like mixing desks and signal processing equipment." (sweetwater.com)

Confusing huh. Unless you're dealing with real amplifier heads, the speaker outs of amp heads shouldn't go into the input rated for line/mic/inst cause it might just blow the preamp. If you would like to record with any amp head or a combo amp, take the line out into an audio interface/mixing board.

Conclusion: "Generally speaking if you send an instrument-level signal into a device that needs line-level input, you will get weak sound, inadequate processing, and probably extra noise as you boost the signal to compensate. If you send a line-level signal into a device that's meant for instrument or mic-level input, you will get distortion." (http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/linelevel.shtml)

 

[entrasticemperor]

Conclusion: "Generally speaking if you send an instrument-level signal into a device that needs line-level input, you will get weak sound, inadequate processing, and probably extra noise as you boost the signal to compensate. If you send a line-level signal into a device that's meant for instrument or mic-level input, you will get distortion." (http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/linelevel.shtml)

Perfect. This is what I was looking for and clears up a lot for me.

I have recently started collecting studio quality effects processors that are not dedicated guitar effects processors. For example I have a dbx compressor which states that the input directly from the guitar is too weak to process and I should use a preamp first. This was what caused most of the confusion. So if I want to record with the dbx, I need to go Guitar -> preamp -> dbx compressor -> pod studio -> Computer. I believe I am right this time

 

[zesn]

Yup, you're right.

Just to add that if your dbx compressor has an input gain you could do away with the preamp.