Originally Posted by Mike Halloran
Another nonsense armchair expert video. I am not going to write a page pointing out all the ways it is crap.

I have tested 43 current USB and TB interfaces for a company that, unfortunately, I cannot name (it can be guessed but I cannot confirm). None of them have adequate gain for dynamic mics except M•Audio — and they actually do recommend using a Cloudlifter with dynamics.
The videos are definitely slightly simplified and take a few liberties, perhaps not 'his fault', but are discussing the noise floor of the pre-amps not the gain of the pre-amps. He says "if your Ein is below -129 dBu you likely don't need a pre-amp". Bearing in mind that the Johnson noise at room temperature of the 150R source most use is -130.9 dBu, I'm inclined to agree with him. It would be better if the specifications given by manufacturers were consistent, though, for example on the weighting used for the measurements, otherwise one makers -129 dBu may not equal another's -129 dBu, which is not too helpful.

Of course this thread is headed "If your audio interface doesnt have enough gain...read on." and the videos don't address that.

The videos were aimed at "ordinary people" to give a guide about how and when to consider parting with their money in the search for a better noise performance. I think they do that well.

Edit: One other thing Mike may imply is that that 'standard' 150R source is not a microphone, and a microphone can be a fairly significantly different source of noise within the signal chain. 150R is "representative" but not "actual".

Last edited by Gordon Scott; 12/30/23 04:03 AM.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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