A U S T R A L I A N ||| W E B S I T E

PC-pre2 Application Notes
PC-pre2 Benefits Professional Balanced XLR mic inputs and jack Line inputs True 48v phantom power Runs into the Line inputs of ANY sound card - uses the card you've already paid for	High headroom = clean recordings Compatible with non-computer audio equipment Professional performance and specs in a user friendly package

The ARX PC-pre2 represents a new way of looking at how we bring audio into the computer for hard disk recording.

It's been designed by pro audio professionals for the highest possible sound quality, not by computer engineers for the lowest possible cost! While modern computers usually come with a sound card that has an input for a microphone, the quality of sound it delivers leaves most people wanting something better. Professional sound cards realise this and have line inputs only, leaving the pre-amp option open.

Previously this has meant using an external mic preamp designed to fit into a 19" rack, plus external equalization and all the extra cabling required to connect to the computer. But now all this has changed with the launch of the PC-pre2 from ARX. A truly professional microphone pre-amp, with all the sound qualities you'd expect from a 'State-of-the-art' design using the same components as high end mixing consoles, yet one that fits in a spare 5¼" drive bay in your computer!

Ruler flat response, ultra-low noise, input gain and output level matching to suit all sound cards and microphones, as well as true 48V Phantom power for condenser microphones.

	The Input 'combo' connectors allows you to use the 3 pin balanced XLR section for the Mic pre-amp, and the ¼" balanced jack input for Line.
Multiple output connectors: On the rear of the PC-pre2 there are summed mono outputs on both RCA type and 6>%mm jack sockets, Left and Right 6.5mm jack sockets,plus a 4 pin MPC3 socket for connecting to the internal Audio input (CD in) connector of the sound card if fitted.
	While the PC-pre2 needs no external power supply by using a spare connector from the computer's power supply, we haven't forgotten mobile/laptop users. An extra DC input socket on the rear lets you connect up an external 12V DC power supply (either wall-wart or battery) for recording in the field.

Connecting a microphone
	Condenser microphones need Phantom power to make them work, so press in the Phantom switch on the front panel after you plug them in		Dynamic microphones need no phantom power and will just plug into the inputs on the front panel

Choosing which outputs to use
If you have the lead and a CD audio in connector on your sound card, then this is a useful option, although it will stop your CD playing audio through the sound card (but should play OK through the CD ROM's headphone out)
You will need to find a hole to route the leads out of the back of the computer and into the sound card. Suggestions are - use one of the punch out serial/parallel port holes on the rear of the computer chassis; or the PS-2 port next to the mouse serial port (if you use a PS-2 mouse, then use the unused serial port 1 hole after removing the connector) If you have a sound card with a mini jack Line Input, then you will need adapter leads to match up with the output connector that you are using on the rear of the PC-pre. Just make sure you connect it to the LINE input of the card, not the MIC.

Using the PC-pre2 with a laptop/notebook computer

Inspiration doesn’t always strike when you’re at home in front of your desktop machine, and a lot of people like to do recordings in the field, well away from it all - sound effects, interviews, live music and more Use an adapter lead from the PC-pre2 to match up with the mini jack LINE input found on most notebook computers We’ve included a DC input jack for a 12V DC power supply (either a wall-wart or battery) so that the PC-pre2 can be used mobile. Its compact size and light weight means that the PC-pre2 is the perfect tool for the audio-recordist on the go.

Using the PC-pre2 without a computer

The PC-pre2 is a true professional Microphone pre-amp, and has the flexibility that audio professionals expect. Although it is in a compact, computer friendly package, it does not have to be used with a computer. It can be used to record to any recording media - DAT, ADAT, Audio for Video, MiniDisk, reel-to-reel or cassette. The ¼” (6.5mm) mono or stereo output jacks, or the mono RCA on the rear panel can be used with adapter leads to link to the inputs of any piece of recording equipment, and deliver the same flawless sound that it would to a computer’s sound card and hard disk.

A word about Sound Cards

Nearly every computer these days comes with a sound card. They vary immensely in sound quality, features and input/output options. Obviously a computer manufacturer wanting to provide sound at the lowest possible price will choose to bundle the cheapest possible sound card with the computer. Many have sound card functions built into the motherboard to further lower costs. Sound cards fall into two distinct groups - consumer and professional. The card that comes with the computer would slip into the consumer group. It's usually the cheapest card that the computer manufacturer can find, and is put there to make noises for computer games. Professional (or ‘prosumer’ - an in between category) cards often have multiple inputs and outputs, a much higher price and are usually bought later as an add-on. As an audio professional, your audio needs are rather different from someone who just needs sound to enhance computer games. Do some hard disk recording and pretty soon you’ll find out the problems with using the MIC input on your generic sound card - lots of noise, plus lack of headroom, lumpy frequency response, thin sound. You start to realise why people can pay very large amounts of money buying microphone preamps! Professional audio equipment runs at a nominal level of +4dB, consumer at -10dB. Sound cards that are designed to link to other pro equipment will run at +4dB, and have greater headroom (accept a louder signal without clipping) than a -10dB consumer card. Pro cards usually have LINE inputs only, leaving the Mic pre-amp option open for users to choose. But no matter what type of card you have, the PC-pre2 will work with it

To PC-pre2 page