Klarinet Archive - Posting 000382.txt from 2001/11

From: Janet McNaught <mcnaught@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Random bits (long reply)
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2001 13:08:41 -0500

A note of clarification:
on my sony mini disc recorder; the "line in" and "optical line in" are on the
same jack, with a connector that distinguished the type of input. So I have two
input jacks; one for a digital mic, and one for optical/analog line in; these
two jacks cover three input types. .

Benjamin Maas wrote:

> Gotta clear up some mis-information here... Mr. Moody is a tad bit off.
> Line in versus Mic In versus Optical In. These are three different kinds of
> inputs with their own specific uses. The first I'll hit is the optical
> input. This is for inputting a digital signal from another digital device.
> This usually (in the world of MD) means a CD player with a Toslink digital
> output. The digital signal is converted to light impulses that are carried
> down a piece of fiber-optic cable. This is actually a pretty common thing
> in professional circles. There are Fiber connections in the pro world that
> can deliver up to 8 channels of high bit-rate information (the ADAT
> protocol).
>
> Line in vs. mic in... These are not quite as cut and dry, especially in
> consumer electronics. Line level is generally a much stronger level of
> signal than mic level. The impedance of the inputs is generally different
> as well. What does this mean? If you plug a mic into a line in, you won't
> get as much signal (as you can't get as much amplification) to your tape as
> if you plug the mic into a microphone input. The line level jack is meant
> to take an analog output from a consumer device with analog outs on it (ie.
> a CD player, Tape deck, etc...)
>
> While you *may* be able to make one of these cheap microphones work with a
> line input, I certainly wouldn't recommend it.

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