Ok...i am an idiot?

[geekformayor]

Alright so I've been looking at diffrerent mics..and I have what could be the stupidest question ever...Do most mics need to be powered?
I was looking at the Rode NT3 and it said it can be powered by an internal battery or phantom power. Can someone explain this in layman's terms? I prolly going to buy a C1 or a V67....do they require power as well? What do you need to power them?

I feel so dumb. Humor me.

[gnarled]

Almost all condenser mics require phantom power (or a battery in some cases). What mixer or mic pre are you using...any? That might already have phantom power. Both the mics you mentioned require it. If you already have a mixer or mic pre that doesn't have phantom power, you can by phantom power units by themselves, too.

[geekformayor]

well i have been using a multi-track recorder as a pre amp. it's a Tascam portastudio 564, a 4-track digital midi disk recorder. It's worked fine for me when just using a SM57. think this will work for the C1 or V67?

im an idiot.

[warlock]

not if it doesn't have phantom power

Keijo

[gnarled]

The SM57 is a dynamic mic and doesn't require phantom power.

[Mark H.]

I looked at reviews of the 564 around the web and found this comment:

"What I didn't [like]:
No phantom power. I had to purchase a separate phantom power box for my Audio Technica condenser mic."

However, most other comments about the unit were raves, so don't give up on it. It was a state of the art $1500 machine in 1996.

Most condenser mics require "power" to bring their output up to the levels needed at the 4 XLR inputs of your 564. As mentioned, dynamic mics do not to be powered. The power is supplied either by a battery/transformer that is either in the body of the mic or in a separate unit right before the XLR output, OR by "phantom power," which is supplied through the XLR cable to the mic from a microphone preamplifier or mixer, OR both (in some cases).

In catalogs, condenser mics will be listed as "battery," "phantom" or "both" (meaning either). As condensers have become less expensive and therefore more universally available, "phantom only" has also become more common. Today, Tascam wouldn't think of putting out a $1500 digital Portastudio that didn't have phantom power capabilities -- it shows you how much things can change in 5 years.

Your options at the moment are to stick with dynamic mics, look for condensers with the battery option (some will be older mics), or find an inexpensive mic preamp or phantom power supplier for any condenser that you buy. I noticed an NT1 on eBay the other day that was being sold with a phantom power supply, for instance. Likewise, I recently bought a Rane MS-1 for about $63 (haven't received it yet) to use with recorders that don't have any microphone capability (just RCA inputs).

Yours was/is not a stupid question at all. By all rights, you'd expect Tascam to have included phantom power capability in your MD multi-track recorder. Since they didn't, you'll need to find a work-around.

Best wishes,

Mark H.

[gnarled]

Originally posted by Mark H.

Most condenser mics require "power" to bring their output up to the levels needed at the 4 XLR inputs of your 564. As mentioned, dynamic mics do not to be powered. The power is supplied either by a battery/transformer that is either in the body of the mic or in a separate unit right before the XLR output, OR by "phantom power," which is supplied through the XLR cable to the mic from a microphone preamplifier or mixer, OR both (in some cases).

Just to clarify, the main reason condenser mics need phantom power is because they require a voltage difference between the diaphragm and the back plate in order to work. This voltage difference can be provided either by a permanent charge like with an electret mic (AT4033, etc) or via an external 48V power supply - phantom power. Some mics, like the AT4033, that don't need the charge, do need phantom power for active electronics, however.

[detuned6]

a phantom power box is going to cost around $40. You should buy a ART mp1($89), a tube pre w/ phantom power. Your going to need a mic pre for your c1 anyways.

[geekformayor]

Thanks you all are awesome.

I'm begining to realize I have so much to learn about everything.

Where can I find this ART mp1 pre-amp?

Also, if anyone of you get bored you can go listen to the stuff I have recorded with just an SM57 and N-Track. I'd love to hear opinions.

rock on.

www.mp3.com/moderndaymiracle

[geekformayor]

ok...disregard the question about the ART mp. i found it.