While it is completely possible to get a decent sound out of a microphone without using a preamp to boost the signal, most people who are serious about their sound prefer to use one. In fact, I would say mic preamps are more prevalent now than ever, even if they’re less obvious as they use to be. Preamps, which were usually once only available as a external pieces of gear, have started to become built internally into other recording gear that people already buy. As a result, some people may never really feel that they need a preamp for their particular studio setup.  Those that do need a proper mic preamp are always on the search for something effective.

This brings me to the second piece of gear that I’d like to talk about in the Tools of the Trade blog series, the Fethead Mic Preamp.