Mic Inputs Vs. Line Inputs

I have a Tascam 1800. It has 8 mono mic inputs on the front. Could I use these inputs to create 4 stereo inputs to hook up my gear?

I understand mic inputs have +db added. Would this produce an overdriven sound? If I was to lower the volumes of the inputs would it work?

whats to stop you trying yourself?

gertie wrote:whats to stop you trying yourself?

Well, I know theoretically I could do it, but when it comes to mixing down, and recording into the DAW. Would there be noticeable sound differences that would affect the overall mix that might not be audible.

I spoke to the guy at the store and he was saying if I was to spend the same money on an alternative card, I am not going to get the same inputs for that price. It does have 6 mono line ins on the back and a digital in, but using those mic ins would be a blessing if they could be used.

JamesJeffery wrote:Would there be noticeable sound differences that would affect the overall mix that might not be audible.

noticeable differences that you don't notice?

yes you *can* do it.
so try it and decide for yourself if the differences are noticeable or not.
yes you can distort a mic input more easily with a line level signal.
this is not what they are intended for but you can do it.
if it already has line inputs i would use those.

honestly if you are so concerned about 'not audible' differences and you cant/wont try yourself, then you'd probably be better off getting a device that will work as intended and fit what you need. if you want to work with what you got and do it your own way then who cares what we say anyway?

tapedeck wrote:

JamesJeffery wrote:Would there be noticeable sound differences that would affect the overall mix that might not be audible.

noticeable differences that you don't notice?

trying to give the benefit of the doubt, maybe you meant things that you cant hear in each track itself, but when added together, all 8 tracks, you might notice (noise floor for instance).

my opinion still stands...its gonna depend entirely on the track + the particular mix. you still really need to try it yourself to see if it's ok for you.

the way i interpret it, you are asking for the rule on a subject that works really well whether you follow OR break the rules - so if you want to follow the rules, then don't do it (but you knew that already). if you want to break the rules and experiment, then just do that.

in my experience, you have to turn line level way way way down and you have to kill all gain on a mic input to make it work.

so yes, noise floor might be an issue at that point. yer gonna have to try it, or just use it as intended.

good luck. hope that clears it up.

there will be no "overdriven sound" if you keep the gain at the lowest setting.

if you plug a line level device in to a mic pre input it'll add nasty noise... it's not advisable for anything more than messing around for fun IMO. usually i'll have a mic going to a separate mic pre and then in to my mixer's line level input. get it?

Sorry to bump this but...

What about Tascam 688 tape outs US-1800 mic ins ?



RCA tape outs from my Tascam 688

to



US-1800 mic ins ?

I can't try it yet cause i am still waiting for my us-1800 to arrive.

I will be using 8 of those cables:



Hosa 10 Ft XLR Male-RCA Male Audio Cable XRM-110

Would it have been better with line ins instead of mic ins (meaning an audio interface with 8 line ins instead of 8 mic ins )?

My thoughts are that mic ins are better for tape outs. What do you guys think ?

Hey Lampdog,

Yeah, i know he's in jail. I was just bumbing his thread cause it is kind of related to my question, wich was not espacialy asked to him in particular.

Maybe i should start a new thread instead...

New thread started here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=161433