Increasing volume on a unidirectional PA style mic

[Guest]

I have a large, PA system style unidirectional microphone I wish to use with
WindowsXP - its working, but even with the volume set at maximum I get very
low volume output. I suspect the standard computer mic, being much smaller,
amplifies sound as an input device more significantly than this larger mic.
Is there a work around to increase the mic input volume beyond the maximum
capability offered in the audio control panel? I could about a 200% increase.

 

[Nero]

Nearly all computer mics are powered and have a FET as a pre amp.
Moving coil mics need a pre amp.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a large, PA system style unidirectional microphone I wish to use
with
WindowsXP - its working, but even with the volume set at maximum I get
very
low volume output. I suspect the standard computer mic, being much
smaller,
amplifies sound as an input device more significantly than this larger
mic.
Is there a work around to increase the mic input volume beyond the maximum
capability offered in the audio control panel? I could about a 200%
increase.

What is the mic? Many professional-style mics have low-impedance outputs,
while most soundcards have high-impedance inputs.

To use them together successfully, you need a matching transformer, and
possibly a pre-amp. Simply using adapters to make the connectors fit
isn't enough.

Without the transformer (whose function may or may not be provided by the
preamp - it depends on the preamp) signal levels will appear to be very low.

You can use a small mixer to provide both level-shifting and
pre-amplification. An example:

http://www.behringer.com/UB502/index.cfm?lang=ENG

That particular unit lists for around CDN$54, and I see it for around US$30
online.

This unit does not provide phantom power, so it cannot power condenser
mics. But, it will work well with most dynamic mics.

HTH
-pk