In Line PreAmp with Minijack 3.5mm inputs AND output

[Brian Reynolds]

With any increase of audio it needs energy input… that means power like batteries or external powering etc, so how do you want your unit ‘powered’?
Batteries are fine for location work but not a studio as they go flat in time.
So that means a ‘wall wart’ power pack might be needed.

3.5mm mic plugs / jacks are not regarded as pro level XLR’s are.
So are you after pro level results from a ‘domestic’ level product?
There many external preamps / computer interfaces out there from Sound Devices, M audio, Presonus etc etc but are NOT an inline solution.

[Steve Crow]

This isn’t going to be my pro solution by any means, for that I have a variety of XLR and Lav Mics at my disposal.

Bottom line, my new Plantronics headset has two minijack 3.5mm plugs as output (one to get sound from the computer to the headset and the other to send audio from the headset mic to the computer)

The mic portion doesn’t work my 2006 Macbook Pro because its Audio Line In jack requires a “line level microphone or digital audio equipment”

So what I’m trying to get to is finding the most simple, inexpensive, solution to pump up my headset microphone’s output signal to the required line level.

Also I don’t want to simply convert my headset microphone from minijack to a USB connection which is possible with a special adapter.

Steve Crow

[Eric Toline]

I don’t know if they’re available any more but I’ve used the mini amplifier speaker from radio shack, # 277-1008c, takes a mono 3.5 mm in and 3.5 mm out. Runs on a 9v or wall wart. Mic level in and variable line level out. Should do exactly what you want. I’ve got few new ones that I’m not using. Contact me: audioetc@bellsouth.net

Eric

“I push the RECORD button and hope for the best”

[Steve Crow]

Hi Eric,

I checked out this mini amp online and it does indeed look like what I need, thanks!

I don’t really need the speaker part of it and overall I wish it was smaller but for what it is, the price is great and is probably the direction I will go unless someone else chimes in with a better alternative.

https://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062620

It was interesting to read a comment on the product page left by a TV news photographer about how they use this all the time to raise their audio signal level high enough to broadcast

Steve Crow

[Eric Toline]

When you connect up to the output the speaker turns off.

Eric

“I push the RECORD button and hope for the best”

[Steve Crow]

I found this interesting little device that has more of the form factor I am looking for. It’s advertised as a portable headphone amplifier but I think the concept is right – it boosts the audio signal…well they say volume and I’m really talking about signal level (mic to line level) but isn’t that the same thing????

“Boostaroo Revolution R234-2 (R2342) Portable Headphone Amplifier and Splitter” from Sonic Electronics
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_30366_Boostaroo-Revolution-R234-2-R2342-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-and-Splitter.html

I like the form factor but I’m not sure this “booster” is actually doing the same thing as the Radio Shack device. What it does have going for it is the form factor which is a very simple tube like the iRig or Blue Microphone’s Icicle

Steve Crow

[Eric Toline]

The Boostaroo is not made to accept a mic level signal only a
pro-sumer headphone level signal. Get the one from Radio Shack, it will do exactly what you need. Form be dammed.

Eric

“I push the RECORD button and hope for the best”

[Bill Davis]

Steve,

If you’re “sensitive” to the look – then here’s the recipe.

Buy the cheap and effective but ugly device. Open it up. Carefully remove the parts.

Order this: https://www.dhgate.com/store/product/5-pieces-a-lot-project-box-aluminum-electronic/167942279.html

Then spend between 3 hours – and 3 days – taking the components out of the initial device and reconfiguring them to fit into the new form factor.

Bingo. Useful AND pretty.

The issue is that it’s going to cost you is a huge host of uncompensated hours of effort and about 5 times the amount of money. If that’s worth it to you – then go for it.

If it’s not, then you’ve come to understand that while aesthetics certainly have their place in the production space, we kinda tend to focus more on getting the darn job done as quickly and simply as possible.

Your call.

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[Jeff Legresley]

hi steve, did you end up getting the amp? did it solve your problem?

i too am wanting to increase the volume level of my voice/mic coming from the 3.5 mic end of my headset, which too has the two 3.5 male connectors. Please let me know

[Steve Crow]

Hey Jeff,

Not yet but just the other day I ran across this article saying agreeing that the A/D amp thingy was the way to go and with a promise of a follow-up article with the details

https://provideocoalition.com/atepper/story/review-plantronics-accidentally-enters-broadcast-headset-market

Steve Crow