Hey Booli. Does the iRig have a practical use or benefit when used with an active pick-up like a MiSi? By this I mean plugging the pick-up directly into the iRig controller with a patch cord of some sort, not using both iRig mic & pick-up at the same time. I know you talked about it being useful with a passive pick-up. Does it still act as a preamp to control tone & volume? Just wondering if I should keep my iRig or not now that I have a MiSi pick-up?
Yes to all.
You can still use the iRig Acoustic Stage with an active pickup such as the MiSi going into the aux input of the iRig's preamp.
You have the option of using the iRig's included mic or the MiSi alone and there is a balance control on the iRig's preamp to control the relative volume of each, and you can also NOT use the iRig's mic and just use the MiSi alone with the iRig preamp and it works fine.
The benefit of using the iRig's preamp AND the MiSi, is that you get a volume control, as well as the EQ profiles, AND the feeback suppression of the iRig preamp unit.
You would hook up the output of the MiSi to the aux input of the iRig preamp using a short patch cord, of ~2ft, which are commonly available for use when connecting a series of pedals together.
I've done all the above myself and enjoy the control and variable tone possibilities when combining the MiSi with the iRig preamp, whether simultaneously using the iRig's soundhole mic or not.
Typically I will clip the iRig preamp either to my strap, my belt or onto a front pants pocket (if standing).
Connecting it all together, you would then use the OUTPUT of the iRig preamp to go to your amp or PA which will then carry ALL of the input signals summed together and mixed as per the preamp settings.
Since you already have the iRig kit, if you spend ~$8 for a 3-pack of 2 ft patch cords (they are usually sold in a pack) you can test out all the options and decide for yourself with little cost and no hassles to see if it works for you.
I would not get shorter than a 2ft patch cord since shorter may not be long enough for you to connect everything and hang/hold the uke and preamp in a comfortable manner.
Also if you get a cord that has a
right-angle plug at both ends (instead of the straight plugs, either way should be same price), it will be easier to manage and also to conceal the wires instead of looking like some kind of robot with all kinds of wires sticking out from your MiSi and the preamp.
Hope this helps!
